Sundin: Matthews right pick as next Leafs captain

From one leader to another.

Mats Sundin, who captained the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997-2008, believes Auston Matthews should be next in line to wear the "C" for the iconic franchise.

"In my book, he's obviously the right person to be captain, no doubt about that," Sundin told Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star. "He leads on the ice and you can tell he's a good man off the ice."

The Maple Leafs have not had a captain since 2016, after former leader Dion Phaneuf was dealt to the Ottawa Senators.

The team has been coy on when it will name its next captain, as general manager Lou Lamoriello noted in September, "With the number of leaders we have in that room, we don't feel it's necessary."

Matthews, 20, leads the Maple Leafs in scoring this season, with 22 points in 20 games. The reigning Calder Trophy winner - the first Toronto skater to take home Rookie of the Year honors since 1966 - finished last year with 69 points.

"I have (Matthews) right up there with Connor McDavid," Sundin added. "The Leafs have waited so long to have a young franchise player to build around. He's that player."