There have been many Toronto Maple Leafs captains over the years. Find out which ones led the team to success in this Toronto Maple Leafs captain wrap-up.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been a member of theNHLsince their inaugural 1917-18 season, and the role of captain has always been central to defining leadership on and off the ice. Over the decades, legends from Hap Day to Auston Matthews have worn the “C,” shaping a rich Toronto Maple Leafs captain history that mirrors the franchise’s triumphs and challenges.
This article traces the lineage of those who’ve led the Blue and White, highlighting how each captain and alternate has left an indelible mark on one of ice hockey’s most storied franchises.
Who is the longest serving Toronto Maple Leafs captain?
George Armstrong captained the Maple Leafs for 12 seasons, from 1957 to 1969, which is the longest tenure in franchise history. He led Toronto to four Stanley Cup titles and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.
How many Toronto Maple Leafs captains have there been?
Since the inaugural 1917-18 season, the Maple Leafs have appointed 26 different captains. This means that over the course of more than a century, the average tenure of a Toronto Maple Leafs captain is roughly four seasons.
Who is the current Toronto Maple Leafs captain?
Auston Matthews was officially named the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 26th captain on August 14, 2024, becoming the first American-born player to wear the “C.” He led the NHL with 69 goals in 2023-24 and brings elite scoring leadership to the role.
Who is the assistant captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Toronto carries three alternate captains: John Tavares, Morgan Rielly and Mitchell Marner. Together, they share leadership duties on-ice and support Matthews in driving team performance.
Who is the most successful Toronto Maple Leafs captain?
With so many amazing players who have taken on the role of captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it can be tricky naming just one as the most successful. However, five individuals stand out due to their tenure as the Toronto Maple Leafs captain when the team won the Stanley Cup.
Hap Day was captain from 1927-1937 and led the team to its first Stanley Cup in 1932, so he definitely belongs on the list. Syl Apps was captain from 1940-43 and again from 1945-48, during which time the team captured three Stanley Cups (1942, 1947 and 1948).
Bob Davidson was only the captain for one season (1943-45, between Syl Apps’ two tenures) but he too guided the team to another Stanley Cup in 1945. A few years later, from 1948-55, Ted Kennedy took over as captain and the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1949 and 1951.
Last but by no means least, George Armstrong was captain from 1957-69. As mentioned above, he holds the record for the longest-serving Maple Leafs captaincy. During this time, he steered them to win four Stanley Cups in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967, which was the last time the team won the cup.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain history
Ready for a more in-depth history of Toronto Maple Leafs captains? Here they are listed from the current captain all the way back to the very early days.
2000 – present
Auston Matthews: 2024 – Present
The first American-born captain in Leafs history, Matthews brings elite scoring and leadership after being named captain in August 2024.
John Tavares: 2019 – 2024
A veteran center and former captain of the Islanders, Tavares led Toronto for five seasons before passing the “C” to Matthews.
Dion Phaneuf and ‘No Captain’: 2015-16
Phaneuf began the 2015-16 season as captain but was stripped of the role mid-year, after which Toronto briefly played without a designated captain.
Dion Phaneuf: 2010 – 2015
A physical defenseman known for his shot and presence, Phaneuf wore the Maple Leafs’ “C” for five seasons before being traded to Ottawa.
Mats Sundin: 1997 – 2008
The club’s longest-serving single-season captain before George Armstrong, Sundin led Toronto for 11 seasons and remains its all-time leading scorer.
1980s and 1990s
Doug Gilmour: 1994 – 1997
A fiery center and playoff hero, Gilmour captained the Leafs during a run to the 1994 Eastern Conference Final.
Wendel Clark: 1991 – 1994
Toronto’s beloved power forward, Clark served as captain for three seasons, epitomizing grit and passion on the blue line.
Rob Ramage: 1989 – 1991
The veteran defenseman led the team for two seasons before being replaced, anchoring the back end with experience.
Rick Vaive: 1981 – 1986
The first Leaf to score 50 goals in a season, Vaive wore the “C” for five seasons in the early 1980s.
Darryl Sittler: 1975 – 1981
Renowned for his franchise-record 10-point game, Sittler captained Toronto for six seasons during a high-scoring era.
1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s
Dave Keon: 1969 – 1975
A Selke Trophy winner and club icon, Keon led Toronto to the 1972 Stanley Cup Final before retiring as captain.
George Armstrong: 1957 – 1969
The longest-tenured Maple Leafs captain, Armstrong steered the team to four Stanley Cups over 12 seasons.
Jimmy Thomson and Ted Kennedy: 1956 – 1957
Thomson and Kennedy shared captaincy duties in a transitional season before Kennedy took sole charge.
Sid Smith: 1955 – 1956
A skilled forward, Smith wore the “C” for one season between Kennedy’s two tenures.
Ted Kennedy: 1948 – 1955
A Hall-of-Famer nicknamed “Teeder,” Kennedy captained Toronto for seven seasons, winning three Stanley Cups.
1930s and 1940s
Syl Apps: 1945 – 1948
The athletic center led the Leafs to back-to-back Cup titles in 1947 and 1948 and was celebrated for his sportsmanship.
Bob Davidson: 1943 – 1945
Davidson captained the team to the 1945 Stanley Cup amid World War II roster upheavals.
Syl Apps: 1940 – 1943
In his first stint as captain, Apps guided Toronto to the 1942 Stanley Cup before military service interrupted his career.
Red Horner: 1938 – 1940
A tough defenseman, Horner wore the “C” during two seasons as Toronto’s anchor on the back end.
Charlie Conacher: 1937 – 1938
A high-scoring winger, Conacher served a single season as captain in the late 1930s.
Hap Day: 1927 – 1937
One of the franchise’s earliest captains, Day led Toronto to its first Maple Leafs-era Stanley Cup in 1932.
1910s and 1920s
Bert Corbeau: 1926 – 1927
A rugged defenseman, Corbeau captained the team for one season in the mid-1920s.
Babe Dye: 1925 – 1926
An elite goal scorer of his era, Dye wore the “C” for a single season before retiring.
John Ross Roach: 1924 – 1925
A pioneering goaltender, Roach served as one of the few netminders to captain the Leafs.
Jack Adams: 1923 – 1924
Before his Hall of Fame coaching career, Adams was a player-captain for one season in Toronto.
Reg Noble and Jack Adams: 1922 – 1923
Noble and Adams shared captaincy responsibilities in a transitional season for the franchise.
Reg Noble: 1920 – 1922
A forward and early NHL star, Noble led Toronto as sole captain for two seasons.
Frank Heffernan: 1919 – 1920
Heffernan captained the club in its second NHL season, anchoring a fledgling roster.
Ken Randall: 1917 – 1919
The inaugural captain, Randall led Toronto in its first two NHL seasons after the franchise’s creation.
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