I've been pretty bad with keeping up with my posts lately, but I wanna do a piece today about the captains of the NHL teams. Calgary is among 8 teams that are looking for a new captain for this season. Some teams elect to go with a rotating cast of alternates, or just keep 3 alternates. I like that thought, but only on a team that doesn't have a natural leader to begin with. If you have a leader on your team, it helps rally your team better getting behind a guy willing to put the work in to keep his place.
So I'm going to go through each NHL team, and discuss their captaincy situation, whether they have one or not, and if not, who should be the team's next captain.
Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf (Koivu/Selanne)
Its hard to argue Getzlaf as the captain of this team. He's pretty much the best leader this team has, aside from Koivu. But Koivu came to Anaheim late in his career, and wasn't part of the core group, so I think he's fine staying alternate. Selanne should keep the 'A' if he stays. But if he doesn't, then expect Beauchemin or Perry to take his place.
Boston: Zdeno Chara (Bergeron/Kelly)
Again, it's hard to argue Chara being captain of the team. He's a great leader and the face of the franchise. Bergeron and Kelly are also great picks for the alternates, as both are key guys in the dressing room and on the ice. They get behind their teammates and try to make everyone around them look good. Lucic might get the 'A' eventually, but not for a while yet as long as this group stays.
Buffalo: Vacant (Stafford/Ott/Vanek)
This team doesn't exactly have a leader on their team, but the 3 'A's that they've picked are pretty much spot on. Stafford and Vanek have spent more time on the team than almost everyone else, and are key guys on the team. Ott is fairly new to the team, but is great to lead the team and fire them up when needed, either with his words or with his actions on the ice. He's a great lead-by-example type of player, although he does have a thing for getting in trouble around the league. If I was to pick a captain from this group, I'd go with Vanek based on what he brings to the team.
Calgary: Vacant (Cammalleri/Giordano/Glencross)
Calgary lost their captain of 10 years, Jerome Iginla, last season, and find themselves in the same place as Buffalo. No one on the team really stands out as a captain on this young team, and my pick would have been Tanguay...but now he's in Colorado. Assuming Kiprusoff retires, no one has been on the team longer than 10 years, or since before Iginla was captain. Giordano is close, being on the team since 2004, and is probably the best bet for the next captain. But Glencross has really stepped up his game lately and has emerged as a fan favourite and team leader the last few years as well, and he's been there since 2008, which is longer than all but 3 players in the lineup. Cammy is the team's best player IMO, but hasn't been part of the core long enough to really be a good leader to the team, especially since the team has been a revolving door of players for the last few years. I'd say Glencross is the best fit of a captain, but Giordano will likely get it.
Carolina: Eric Staal (Gleason/J. Staal)
While I don't necesarrily agree with little Staal getting an 'A', no one can argue big Staal's captaincy. He's a leader and has been the face of the franchise for quite some time now. I'd keep Gleason's 'A', as he's been one of the very few core players kept since 2008. Personally, I'd give Staal's 'A' to Tuomo Ruutu, but that's just a small change. It's not like Jordan Staal is a bad leader, he's just too young and too new to the franchise to be leading the team. It's not like they're deep with leadership though.
Chicago: Jonathan Toews (Keith/Sharp)
I've said a few times in previous posts that I don't think Toews is all that great of a leader. Maybe it's just my grumpy opinion, but he didn't act like much of a captain during their Cup run this season. If it wasn't for Seabrook, I think Toews would have lost Chicago the Western Finals, never mind the Stanley Cup. However, he is as good of a leader as any of Chicago's alternates, or could be alternates; like Kane, Seabrook, Hossa, and Bickel. Unlike Carolina, this team is loaded with leadership potential.
Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog (Hejduk/Stastny)
On paper, Hejduk should be the captain. But he didn't like the role, as he isn't a leader-type of player, and passed off his captaincy after one season. Landeskog became the youngest captain ever when he was named captain last season, and recently signed a long-term deal with the club. I like this guy, and he's a hell of a player, but naming him (or anyone) captain that early really worries me. However, if anyone was going to do it, its him. He's the definition of a natural leader, and leads his team by example. I just hope all of his hype doesn't go to waste after a mere 2 seasons in the league. Plus its hard to pick a captain of your team when only 10 players have been there since 2009. 4 of those are only 22 years old and are by far not captain's material yet, 4 of those are players who are low in the roster and don't make a huge deal on the ice. The other 2 are Hejduk and Stastny.
Columbus: Vacant (Aucoin/Dubinsky/Johnson)
As far as available leadership goes, this is a sad bunch right here. Not to knock off any of the alternates mentioned, but they don't exactly strike me as captain-players. Only 6 players have been on this team since 2010, none of them have the 'A'. That's a sign of a team rebuilding. RJ Umberger has been on the team since 2008, and is one of the only key players on the team the whole time since. I think he's a bit of a dark horse, but in my mind is the best Columbus has for a captain of their team. I'd keep Dubinsky and Aucoin as assistants, or Johnson if Aucoin decides to retire.
Dallas: Vacant (Benn/Robidas/Whitney)
Similar to Columbus, this team has been a revolving door through trades and free agency through the last few seasons, and is undergoing a huge rebrand, retool, and rebuild. Only 3 players have been on the team since 2010, and only those 3 and goaltender Lehtonen since 2011. Benn and Robidas are part of that core group. Benn is the face of the team and deserves his shot at leading this team. He's a little quieter and not as much of a fire-starter as most captains, but he's a solid player who could lead by example. Robidas should stay as alternate, as should Whitney. Whitney is rather new to Dallas, but is a skilled, wise player even at 41, and can be a good veteran asset to this team come playoff time.
Detroit: Henrik Zetterberg (Kronwall/Datsyuk)
Detroit's 3 best players, and 3 longest-serving Red Wings on the roster. Pretty much perfect set-up of captaincy.
Edmonton: Vacant (Eberle/Hall/Schultz)
There's only 5 players over 30 on this team, and none of them have been there before 2011 (Except Hemsky, who they tried to get rid of and will probably not be getting the 'A' anytime soon). It's hard to pick a young captain to lead a young team. I'd say Smyth deserves to be captain, but sadly his role on the team is declining rapidly, as he doesn't fit in with the young, fast style of hockey. This is one of the rare cases where I say having 3 alternates and no captain is a good thing. The only thing I'd change is Gagner should get the 'A' instead of Hall. Gagner is more of a leader to the team, and Hall is only 21, 3rd youngest on the team behind RNH and Yakupov.
Florida: Ed Jovanovski (Campbell)
Jova was hurt most of last season and didn't play, and oddly Florida only has 1 alternate. Jovanovski is also questionable for the start of camp, so that put's the captain's status in even more limbo. If he's healthy, he's the obvious 'C' on the team, with Campbell and Shawn Matthias as the alternates. If he isn't good to go, than Campbell should captain with Matthais and Upshall or Kopecky as alternate.
Los Angeles: Dustin Brown (Greene/Kopitar/Richards)
Although I'm not a fan of Brown, I can see why he's the captain of the team, and why the alternates are who they are. I'd probably switch Brown with Kopitar as captain, but thats just nitpicking.
Minnesota: Mikko Koivu (Parise/Suter)
Koivu is a lock for captain, as he's been the franchise's main guy since Gaborik left. But I don't like how Parise and Suter can sign with the team and be named alternates right away. They aren't standout leaders (Parise would have been the next captain of NJ for sure), but they aren't bad choices, considering Minny doesn't have any good veteran players that could fit the leader role and have been there longer (besides Heatley, but that wouldn't happen). So I guess this is fine for now.
Montreal: Brian Gionta (Gorges/Markov)
Unlike many of the teams just mentioned, Montreal has had a good core group of players around for quite some time. Markov has been on the team the longest (1998) and deserves an 'A'. Gionta is a good captain too. I'm not sure he fills the shoes left by the legendary Montreal captains of history, but he's the best they have now. I'd probably give Subban the 'A' over Gorges, simply because it may force him to be more responsible, since it's more than likely going to be Subban's team in the next few years.
Nashville: Shea Weber (Legwand/Fisher)
Like Detroit, seems about right to me.
New Jersey: Bryce Salvador (Elias/Greene)
How Salvador got the captaincy over Elias is beyond me. Elias has been on the team since 1994 and has been a very key player every year since. Salvador is an older player with veteran leadership, but I still would give Elias the 'C' before Salvador. Greene is a fair alternate, but could be substituted with Zubrus, Zajac, or even Jagr.
New York Islanders: Vacant (Okposo/Tavares)
Anyone who thinks Tavares isn't going to be the next captain is delusional. It's as natural of a fit as Giroux was in Philly. He's the team's best player, best leader, and the face of the franchise. I'd say he's still a bit young and inexperienced to lead an NHL team, but the Islanders don't have many better options. Okposo is okay as an Alternate, and expect Nielsen or Moulson to nab the other 'A'.
New York Rangers: Ryan Callahan (Richards/M. Staal)
Callahan is the perfect captain, under Tort's system. I'm curious to see if AV is going to change some things around when he starts with the Rangers, but he'd be a fool to rid Callahan of the 'C'. He's not a glamorous player, but he gets the job done and leads by example better than any captain in the NHL. I wouldn't be shocked, however, if he's paired up with new alternates. If Richards can't improve his status under AV's system, then we wont climb much higher than the 3rd line, and shouldn't have the 'A'. Staal's play will very much be determined by the extent of his eye injury, still unknown. If either of those two can't return to their regular place in the lineup, expect Girardi or McDonagh to get the 'A's for the team.
Ottawa: Vacant (Phillips/Spezza)
I really can't see why Spezza WON'T get the captaincy, he's the team's most skilled player, best leader, best ambassador to hockey and the city of Ottawa, and pretty much the perfect fit to lead the Sens. Phillips definitely should keep the 'A', and Chris Neil should get the other one based on his dedication to his play and his team, and his ability to fire the team up when needed.
Philadelphia: Claude Giroux (Hartnell/Timonen)
Giroux definitely earned the 'C' on his jersey, and it's hard to argue against the other two as his alternates. I really have no problems here.
Phoenix: Shane Doan (Hanzal/Yandle)
Doan is the prime example of a team captain, and will be the frontman of the Coyotes until he leaves or retires. Yandle is an important player in Phoenix, and deserves to be alternate, as does Hanzal. Plus all 3 of these players are the longest-serving Coyotes. This is somewhat of a sad situation for Phoenix, given that their alternates are only 26 years old and have been a Coyote longer than anyone else besides former-Jet Doan.
Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby (Kunitz/Malkin/Orpik)
Crosby and Malkin are obvious, Orpik is the longest-serving Penguin (2000), and Kunitz is a solid veteran presence on the team. I'd maybe nitpick and switch Kunitz with either Letang or Dupuis, but it's not really necessary
St. Louis: David Backes (Jackman/Pietrangelo/Steen)
None of these guys stand out to me as a natural leader, but I can't argue their selection too much considering their roster. I'd maybe sub Steen with Bouwmeester, as his experience in the league would probably make him a good leader to the club, but just my opinion.
San Jose: Joe Thornton (Boyle/Marleau)
Marleau is a great player, but his leadership is somewhat questionable, hence why Jumbo Joe is now captain. He's a good leader to the team, but he doesn't lead by example well in the playoffs, much the problem of Marleau before him. Regardless, this is about they best leadership group they have.
Tampa Bay: Vacant (Ohlund/St. Louis/Stamkos)
Although Stamkos will be captain soon enough, I think a few years under the leadership of St. Louis would be to his benefit. St. Louis has been an all-star and key player for Tampa since he entered in 2000, and even at the age of 38, he is still one of the league's top point-getters. This will be Stamkos' team eventually, but not yet.
Toronto: Dion Phaneuf (Lupul/McClement)
Most would agree Phaneuf isn't great captain material, but I don't think he's done a bad job. He's still young, and slowly finding his place under such enormous pressure. Lupul is a fair assistant to him, but I'm curious why McClement has an 'A' and Phil Kessel doesn't. If Kessel doesn't deserve it, then give it to Clarkson this year, or Bozak, or Kulemin, or Franson, or even Colton Orr.
Vancouver: Henrik Sedin (D. Sedin/Kesler/Bieksa)
The problem is that most of these guys aren't accountable or dependable during playoff time, something I find important, as Tortz likely will too. He really isn't afraid to change captains around, once striping young-star Lecavlier of the 'C' because Tortz felt he was too young and immature, and I agreed with him. I can see Kesler getting the 'C' next season, with Bieksa and the Sedins alternating the 'A's.
Washington: Alex Ovechkin (Backstrom/Green/Laich)
There's no denying that this is Ovechkin's team. He didn't fit the leader role well at first, but deserves the job now. The alternates really can't be argued with here either, as these guys are the next best leaders of the team.
Winnipeg: Andrew Ladd (Jokinen/Stuart)
Ladd is the obvious captain, as he is a strong leader and vet than can carry the team or get behind them and push. However, there really isn't a strong candidate for the 'A's in Winnipeg. I like Jokinen as a player, but he isn't a strong leader. Stuart isn't a bad candidate, but I think there is better leader's on the team. If I had it my way, I'd give Dustin Byfuglin and Blake Wheeler the 'A's, with Evander Kane getting one the minute he smarts-up a little.
Well those are my choices, does anyone have any objections, or captaincy suggestions of their own? Let me know. Thanks for reading!
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