Dubas: Leafs won't name captain 'from the outset' of season

The Toronto Maple Leafs will apparently not have a captain to begin the 2018-19 campaign.

"Not from the outset, I don't think," Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas told TSN's Bob McKenzie in an interview posted Wednesday.

"I want to get into a day to day with these people and see who's best suited to handle that, if we do determine that we need somebody to handle that (and) if we feel we have a void in leadership because we don't have a formal captain, then I think it's something we can address," he said.

The GM added that in studying teams, he found it's best to be patient with naming a captain, rather than rushing a decision and having to correct it.

Auston Matthews recently said he'd be ready to wear the 'C' if called upon but also acknowledged new teammate John Tavares' experience in the role with the New York Islanders.

The Leafs haven't had a captain since Dion Phaneuf was traded to the Ottawa Senators in February 2016.