"Slap in the face": Don Cherry makes his feelings known about Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews captaincy decision

The Toronto Maple Leafs, after several seasons, decided to replace John Tavares as captain with the young and talented Auston Matthews. That decision has resulted in two wins and a loss, with the early standings reflecting the Leafs at the summit of the Atlantic Division.

However, it was not a decision made without pushback, with former player and coach Don Cherry among those criticizing what they did. The chief complaint, as the ex-player said on his podcast on Sunday, was how they handled Tavares.

He said (1:50):

"I think they sat down and said 'We need a new captain.' I really believe they went to Tavares and they said 'Look we'll give you another couple years...' It is a slap in the face, I don't care what anybody says. To take the captaincy off of one player and give it to another, there's something wrong somewhere."

The initial rumor that the Leafs would move on from Tavares was a surprise, but they eventually made the switch.

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Auston Matthews reflects on John Tavares ceding captaincy to him

Auston Matthews was named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs over the summer. John Tavares was approached by the team about the change, and he reportedly ceded the role rather than being pushed out.

John Tavares ceded the captain's role to Auston Matthews (Credit: Imagn)

Tavares said it was Matthews' time to take the reins, a decision that left Matthews "shaking."

“After he let me know and everything, I told him I was shaking," Matthews was quoted as saying by NHL.com. "I had chills.

“For him to call me and kind of let me know that he wanted to pass on the captaincy to me was very emotional. I felt a lot of things, but it's truly an honor."

Tavares also said that Matthews had his "full support" in bringing the Stanley Cup back to Toronto. The Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens in 1967 and seek an end to a drought that has lasted 57 years.