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Auston Matthews has made appearances in the NHL All-Star Game the first two years of his career and on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs center was announced as one of four divisional captains for the upcoming game in San Jose, CA on January 25-26.
Matthews received the most votes in his division and will captain Team Atlantic, while Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid will lead the Central, Metropolitan and Pacific Divisions on All-Star weekend, which will consist of a three-game 3-on-3 tournament, made up of 11 players from each division: six forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders. The Leafs could have more representatives on Team Atlantic, with goalie Frederik Andersen tied for the NHL lead with 20 wins, defenseman Morgan Rielly leading all defensemen with 44 points, John Tavares third in the league with 24 goals and Mitch Marner fifth in scoring with 50 points, but with each of the eight teams needing to be represented and Tampa Bay leading the NHL with 58 points, that means that someone deserving may get left out.
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Three of the four Leafs prospects participating in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Tournament made their debut on Wednesday.
2018 first round pick Rasmus Sandin and sixth-rounder Pontus Holmberg played for Sweden in their 2-1 win over Finland and fifth-rounder Filip Kral skated for Team Czech in their 2-1 overtime victory over Switzerland.
Here, Rasmus Sandin starts the breakout on the powerplay and it leads to a nice chance for the Leafs 2018 6th round pick Pontus Holmberg. pic.twitter.com/wFAL1y5E0E
— Nick DeSouza (@NickDeSouza_) December 27, 2018
The 18-year-old blueliner quarterbacked Tre Kronor’s second power play unit, played 19:04 (less than Sweden’s team captain Erik Brannstrom, but more than Chicago first rounder Adam Boqvist) and had two shots on the night.
Sandin is expected to handle more responsibilities with Marlies teammate Timothy Liljegren absent with a high ankle sprain and did not miss any time after getting hit with a high stick.
Holmberg (drafted as an overager and currently playing for the SHL’s Vaxjo Lakers) played on the Swede’s second line and had one shot on goal in just over 15 minutes ice time.
The 19-year-old Kral has seven points in 17 games for the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs and showed no hesitancy in jumping up into the rush in a tight game against the Swiss.
Goalie Ian Scott will make the start for Canada against the Swiss on Thursday, but that may be the last action the Leafs prospect will see for awhile, as head coach Tim Hunter indicated after the 14-0 trouncing of Denmark that starter Michael DiPietro will be his go-to guy after making 14 saves for the shutout.
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