Matthews, 27, led the NHL with 69 goals last season and won the Hart Trophy in 2021-22, when he scored 106 points in 73 games.

Matthews was named captain of the Maple Leafs on Aug. 14, taking over for John Tavares, who passed along the role to star forward. Matthews is the 26th captain in the club's history and the first US-born player to wear the "C' for Toronto.

Leafs star center Auston Matthews has been given major news ahead of the Four Nations faceoff after his return from injury a few weeks earlier. After coming back a first time from injury, Matthews re-aggrevated the injury,

Auston Matthews being named Team USA captain comes as no great surprise but it is a testament to his health as he’s looked better in January than any other month this season.

As speculation rises over which players may decide to sit out the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews will be suiting up for Team

Auston Matthews will wear the ‘C’ for the red, white and blue. The Toronto Maple Leafs star has been named captain for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament set for next month in Montreal and Boston.

Matthews has looked closer to himself since returning to game action on January 4 against the Boston Bruins – his second full comeback of the season. In the 11 games back in the lineup, Matthews has recorded at least a point in nine of those appearances – registering nine goals and six assists for a 15-point total.

Auston Matthews will lead a new generation of American stars at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain will wear the ‘C’ for the United States at the upcoming best-on-best tournament.

The hot streak comes at at perfect time for Matthews and the United States. The center, who grew up in Arizona, will join Team United States for the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal and Boston from Feb. 12-20 and begin play against Team Finland at Bell Centre on Feb. 13 (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS).