Who will wear the "C" for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

by Mike Jack, Mike Jack's Hockey Articles

With the possibility of Mats Sundin starting the season in Toronto unlikely, the Toronto Maple Leafs may be placing the “C” on a new shoulder, also Bryan McCabe has been traded, the Leafs will also need another Associate Captain.

Coach Ron Wilson has said that there is no rush to name their franchises 18th Captain in team history. He says he doesn’t know everyone well enough yet, and will wait for a leader to emerge. They may not even name a captain this season.

In the event that the leafs do name a new Captain this season, here’s a list of the Top 5 Players Most Likely to Wear the 'C' for Toronto:

5. Nik Antropov
General Manager Cliff Fletcher has said that Antropov is the only real top 6 forward left on the team. He may lead the team offensively this season, but will he lead them in the locker room as well?

4. Jamal Mayers
Mayers is an experienced veteran that wears his heart on his sleeve. He deserves to wear the "C" on his chest as much as anyone.

3. Pavel Kubina
Kubina is one of the few Leafs with a Stanley Cup ring. He'll most likely end up an Associate Captain. It's to the team's advantage to have defensemen wear the "C" and "A's" because only players on the ice wearing the "C" and "A's" can talk to the officials about rule interpretations and the average defenseman sees more ice time than the average forward.

2. Jason Blake
If Blake can regain the form that made him a 40 goal scorer, perhaps he could lead this team by example. His inspirational battle with cancer last season may inspire others to follow him.

1. Tomas Kaberle
Currently the only Leaf with a letter over their heart is Associate Captain Tomas Kaberle. He represented his team in last season's all-star game, and he's been with the Leafs longer than anyone else on the team. He'd be the ideal candidate.