Maple Leafs Eyeing Another Star to Step Into a Leadership Role in Toronto
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton - Imagn Images
Replacing Mitch Marner is going to take a team effort, but the Maple Leafs have identified who they would like to see take over his leadership responsibilities in Toronto.
While a lot of focus shifts towards which players need to step up in lieu of Mitch Marner's absence on the offensive side of the puck, one question that isn't being asked nearly enough is who will take over his leadership role.
One very obvious answer for who will likely need to step into that role is William Nylander, which is something that head coach Craig Berube is hoping to see. Berube alluded to this on Saturday.
"For me, I think [William Nylander] can take a bigger step in the leadership role. He's been a player a long time on this team. He's been around these guys. We lost (Marner), so in my opinion, Willy can step up and take a little bit of a bigger leadership role here."
It has been mentioned several times this off-season that the Leafs' leadership group doesn't revolve around one singular player. Even when John Tavares was the captain, players like Marner, Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Morgan Rielly were still vocal.
Now that Matthews is the captain, nothing changes in that regard, but someone does have to step up and take on a larger role. Berube described what he's looking for and it's something that Nylander is very capable of.
"I think stepping up in the dressing room, on the bench. Just the voice, more than anything, for me, and leading with playing the right way. Just things like that. That, for me, is leadership. Taking care of your teammates, helping them out in situations, maybe they need a little kick in the ass, you know? Like, that's all leadership for me. That's what leadership's about."
Despite Marner's departure, the Leafs aren't in a hurry in giving his 'A' to a new player. Rielly and Tavares will remain the alternates under Matthews' captaincy. However, it's something that Nylander could find stitched on his jersey in the foreseeable future.
"It's a discussion that me and (Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving) have about that. We're going to leave the A's where they're at right now. I don't think we need a rotation."
The Leafs believe strongly in their leadership group as is but it will be interesting to see how Nylander fares this season with a lot more responsibilities now on his plate.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 20 | 1490 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Eyeing Another Star to Step Into a Leadership Role in Toronto Will William Nylander have an 'A' stitched onto his jersey at some point this season? | ||
| Yes | 1055 | 70.8 % |
| No | 435 | 29.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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