Babcock hints Matthews will be next Maple Leafs captain

Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock was pretty candid when speaking about his 19-year-old rookie sensation and No. 1 center Auston Matthews.

"Obviously he is a special talent. More importantly, Matthews is a special person," Babcock told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "That's going to allow him to be a good leader because he does it right every day. In the end, that'll allow him to drive a franchise and it'll allow him to win."

The Maple Leafs, of course, clinched their first playoff spot since 2012-13 - and their first in a full 82-game season since 2003-04 - with a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday night.

Matthews potted his 40th goal of the season in the closing seconds of the game on an empty net. He has been remarkably consistent for the Leafs all season long, as the only player in the league to record a shot on net in every single game his team has played. He's also been exceptional down the stretch, recording nine goals and five assists in his last 12 games.

Yet, what's perhaps most impressive is that Matthews was able to a lead a rookie-filled team to the playoffs after the Leafs finished dead last in the NHL a year ago.

With regards to the captaincy, Matthews is the obvious choice. It's seemingly more of a question of when rather than if.

Aside from all of his on-ice accomplishments, Matthews carries himself differently than most 19-year-olds. He has displayed impressive maturity in his handling of the media, which is never an easy thing to do in the hockey-crazed Toronto market.

If Matthews does end up being named captain to begin next season, he would be the first Maple Leaf to don the "C" since Dion Phaneuf, who was the Leafs captain from 2010-2016.