Babcock: Marleau, Tavares, Rielly will wear a letter for Leafs this season

Patrick Marleau, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly will all wear a letter for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, head coach Mike Babcock told TSN's Darren Dreger.

This, of course, would leave out Auston Matthews.

Related: Dubas: Leafs won't name captain 'from the outset' of season

Two of the Maple Leafs' alternate captains from a year ago - Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov - departed via free agency this offseason. Rielly was the third alternate captain, while Marleau, a former captain of the San Jose Sharks, wore an "A" on occasion last season.

Tavares spent the last five seasons as the captain of the New York Islanders.

In late August, Matthews said he would be ready to accept the Leafs' captaincy if called upon.