The Maple Leafs’ Leadership Has Changed. Has the Room?

Brandon Carlo is no longer with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but his recent comments about the team's leadership got me thinking about something that has very little to do with what Carlo actually said. Carlo named Jake McCabe, Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews as the players who really spoke up in the room. He had good things to say about all three, and described Matthews as someone who doesn’t need to constantly talk to command attention. When Matthews speaks, people listen.

But there was one name missing: John Tavares. That doesn't mean Carlo thinks Tavares isn't a leader. It doesn't mean Tavares isn't respected. And it certainly doesn't mean he's doing anything wrong. But it does raise an interesting question about what happens when a former captain remains in the room.

Sometimes when one leader is replaced but doesn’t leave, it can cause problems.

There's an old idea in churches that when a pastor retires, sometimes the best thing he can do for the new pastor is actually leave the church. Not because anybody dislikes him. Quite the opposite. Everybody may love him and respect everything he did.

But if the former pastor is still sitting in the same pew every Sunday, there's always the possibility that people will continue to look over at him. Leadership succession can be complicated that way.

Could something similar happen with Tavares and Matthews?

Tavares was the captain before Matthews. He has been the face of this organization, carried the expectations, answered the questions and lived through the same playoff disappointments that Matthews has. Even without a letter on his jersey, he's still John Tavares.

And maybe that's precisely why Matthews' leadership is interesting. The Maple Leafs have formally passed the captaincy to Matthews. But has he completely inherited the room? That's not a criticism of Tavares. In fact, it probably is a compliment. Sometimes the former leader can make succession difficult simply because everyone still respects him so much.

The challenge for Matthews isn't necessarily getting Tavares out of the way. It may be figuring out how to become the unquestioned voice of the room while the previous captain is still one of its most important people.

Leadership can be a delicate transition.

And perhaps Carlo's answer gives us a tiny glimpse into where that transition stands. Matthews, McCabe and Rielly were the names that came to mind when Carlo was asked about who spoke up. Tavares wasn't. Maybe that means absolutely nothing.

Or maybe it tells us that Toronto's leadership transition is further along than we think. Either way, it's worth considering.