Matt Stajan To Captain Toronto Maple Leafs in 08-09? Why Not?

Matt is also the Toronto Maple Leafs NHLPA Player Representative.  During the lockout, Bryan McCabe, the Leafs rep at the time, went overseas to play (which didn't go well, but another story for another day.) 

The Maple Leafs had no one attending PA meetings, at possibly it's most important time.  Stajan virtually volunteered to do it, showing leadership and dedication.  Not long after he was instilled as the teams PA rep, which is decided by a vote amongst teammates.

Matt Stajan and his girlfriend Katie Fairweather are the leaders of the organizing committee for the Maple Leafs annual Hockey Fights Cancer night.  Along with volunteers, Matt and Katie usually organize games, and giveaways throughout the night at the arena. 

They also organize the pink ribbon sale, which happens at the arena that night.  They are also in charge of helping to gather equipment from both teams, which is auctioned off with all money going to cancer research.

Aside from organizing that event, Matt does extensive work with other charities and the fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  

Here is a video from this past season where Jordan Primeau, a young Maple Leafs fans who suffers from cancer, gets his chance to meet the Maple Leafs.  The whole piece is great, and worth watching.  At the four-minute mark, Matt Stajan does something unexpected, unannounced, and fantastic.

Ask anyone around the organization, or anyone who has had the privilege to meet him, and they'll tell you that Matt Stajan is an outstanding young man, who could handle the role as the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  

A hometown boy wearing the C.  Sounds about right to me.

 

Here are some more vids of Matt, to sell the point a little further

Here is Matt meeting with kids and showing them the locker room at the Maple Leafs annual Blue and White game

And my favourite, here is a video of a competition that Rogers Sportsnet did called Extreme Maple Leafs Survivor.  It's Matt Stajan in the finals against Bryan McCabe in a competition to see who knows the Maple Leafs trivia the best.

Notice how Matt embarrasses McCabe, and talks smack while doing it.  The guy knows his Maple Leafs, understands what it would mean to wear the C.

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