Although the Maple Leafs aren't 'stripping' Tavares of the C, this has sparked a conversation about why the switch is happening. The Leafs have made it past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs once since Matthews entered the league in 2016.
The Sharks have replaced the team captain twice. In 2009, San Jose announced that Rob Blake would be the captain instead of Patrick Marleau. Once Blake left the Sharks, San Jose named Joe Thornton captain. Sharks fans remember the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs as one of the worst performances in history.
Not only did the Kings become the fourth team to win a series down 3-0, but they went on to defeat the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup.
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