If the Toronto Maple Leafs decide to name a captain for the 2016-17 season, Brooks Laich is a well-prepared candidate.

"I was one of those kids, a Leafs fan growing up who wrote school papers on being captain," Laich said Monday, to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. "But I think all that will sort itself out. I haven’t had any discussion like that, I’ve not been approached."

Laich, a Saskatchewan native, appeared in 21 games for the Maple Leafs last season after being acquired from Washington, and helped fill the leadership void after former captain Dion Phaneuf was dealt.

Team president Brendan Shanahan has indicated he'll discuss the possibility of naming a captain with head coach Mike Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello once training camp begins Sept. 22, but Laich is going to lead by example regardless.

That's just who he is.

"I’ve always believed that well done is better than well said," Laich opined. "Just because you don’t have a letter doesn’t mean you aren’t a leader. The game today is done by a core, not by individuals, so people will follow actions more than words.

"If we have a captain, that’s great," Laich said. "If not, there’s a great leadership group in the room."

The next captain will be the 19th in franchise history.

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