Babcock uncomfortable discussing Matthews' chances of being Leafs' captain

Mike Babcock doesn't yet want to acknowledge the possibility of Auston Matthews being named the Toronto Maple Leafs' next captain.

"I’m not comfortable talking about anything like that," the head coach told reporters Sunday, according to Postmedia's Terry Koshan. "Right now we have (alternate) captains."

Leo Komarov, Tyler Bozak, Morgan Rielly, and Matt Hunwick are all wearing an "A" as Toronto's alternates this season.

The Leafs have been playing without a captain since trading Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators in February 2016. Phaneuf wore the "C" for parts of six campaigns beginning in 2010-11.

Matthews leads the club with 38 goals and 66 points, and the 19-year-old rookie has already broken a pair of franchise scoring records.

The Edmonton Oilers made Connor McDavid the youngest captain in NHL history when they gave him the honor in October at 19 years and 266 days old.

Matthews will turn 20 on Sept. 17, just a few weeks before the 2017-18 campaign gets underway.