Has the time come to name a Captain?

[major major]

The players would not accept Ryan Murray as captain over Dubi or JJ, or Tuts or ...... No how, no way. In six years maybe Murray. But if a captain were to be named now, Ryan Murray would not even be in the discussion. I cannot take this suggestion as even a serious idea for the current team.

I'm in the no-captain camp, because I see all the benefit of leadership you get from someone like Dubi you get whether you put a C on his chest or not. When I game out what would happen if Murray was given the C I doubt the players would "not accept" Murray. He would be a leader even if there was also the leader. And Murray will be here for 20 years, and be a steady if unspectacular leader. The steady part is kind of key to me.. Total speculation, but if Dubi has a C I can see different camps in the lockerroom as Dubi has his ups and downs.

 

[major major]

I can accept it. It's great to see that something that has always been a weakness for this team (leadership) is now a strength.

Do you mind sharing what you're accepting, for the broke-***** on the other side of the paywall?

 

[Derby]

Do you mind sharing what you're accepting, for the broke-***** on the other side of the paywall?

Go into web browser settings. Clear your cookies. Reload and you're through the paywall. Dispatch ain't smart.

 

[CBJx614]

The players would not accept Ryan Murray as captain over Dubi or JJ, or Tuts or ...... No how, no way. In six years maybe Murray. But if a captain were to be named now, Ryan Murray would not even be in the discussion. I cannot take this suggestion as even a serious idea for the current team.

How can you possibly know that? Are you in the locker room? Are you joiningthenm during off ice workouts? Are you on the buses and planes during road trips. It's almost impossible for us to know what's going on between everyone during those times. A captain needs to take charge and lead by example on and off the ice. Someone with a hot head and is in the box and lot doesn't make for a good captain. Murray is very composed level headed and knows what it takes to lead, he's done it for the past 10 years. I don't think a captain will be named this year. But I see Murray with a letter of sorts next season.

 

[bizzz*]

I don't think you name a second year man as Captain. at least not with the other options available to this team in Dubi and JJ or even Boll for that matter. Murray has enough to handle. Yes he is developing very well and should continue to do so but he is still a long way from a polished NHL'er. Why put more on his plate when you don't have to. Give him some time, there is no need to hurry.

I never suggested that Murray will get the C this season, but my prediction is that he will be named the next Blue Jackets captain prior to the 2013-14 season. He's been a captain on every team he's ever played for.

The players would not accept Ryan Murray as captain over Dubi or JJ, or Tuts or ...... No how, no way. In six years maybe Murray. But if a captain were to be named now, Ryan Murray would not even be in the discussion. I cannot take this suggestion as even a serious idea for the current team.

I totally agree with major major and slightlystewpid420. Just let me remind you that giving the "C" to a young studs tends to be a good thing for their teams. Look at the 3 youngest captains in the NHL history.
The Pens have named Crosby and won the Cup.
The Hawks gave it to 20 y.o. Toews and won 2 Cups.
The Avs with Landeskog are tearing up the West now.

All those teams had their veterans and locker room leaders, but preferred to begin a new era with young kids as their captains. Veterans could be traded any day. Hell, all of our leaders already have been traded! The "franchise defenseman" tag is written all over Ryan Murray and at this point looks like he's gonna stay with the Jackets for a very long period of time. And no one in the world has ever questioned his leadership abilities.

 

[EspenK]

I never suggested that Murray will get the C this season, but my prediction is that he will be named the next Blue Jackets captain prior to the 2013-14 season. He's been a captain on every team he's ever played for.



I totally agree with major major and slightlystewpid420. Just let me remind you that giving the "C" to a young studs tends to be a good thing for their teams. Look at the 3 youngest captains in the NHL history.
The Pens have named Crosby and won the Cup.
The Hawks gave it to 20 y.o. Toews and won 2 Cups.
The Avs with Landeskog are tearing up the West now.

All those teams had their veterans and locker room leaders, but preferred to begin a new era with young kids as their captains. Veterans could be traded any day. Hell, all of our leaders already have been traded! The "franchise defenseman" tag is written all over Ryan Murray and at this point looks like he's gonna stay with the Jackets for a very long period of time. And no one in the world has ever questioned his leadership abilities.

From the guy who said Gretzky wasn't that great we now know that Dubi and JJ aren't leaders. I learn something new everyday on this board.

 

[Crede777]

The topic of who's captain is largely for the fanbase, not for the team itself. They are adults and professional players. They don't need someone besides the coaches telling them what to do or "leading" them.

It's one of the most overrated aspects of professional sports and is largely a publicity thing. Yes it does have one practical aspect of deciding who gets to talk to the refs while on the ice. But that's about it.

Murray is an extremely talented hockey player with hockey IQ beyond his years. I can see Dubinsky, Johnson, or perhaps someone else getting the "C". That said, we cannot rule out Murray if the organization wants to reinforce the concept of a youth movement to the fans.

 

[bizzz*]

From the guy who said Gretzky wasn't that great we now know that Dubi and JJ aren't leaders. I learn something new everyday on this board.

Thanks for putting in my mouth the words I've never said.
They are leaders, but they were traded to the Jackets from their former teams. Our previous leaders were traded away. Every single leader the Jackets have or ever had has been traded at some point of his career. Now is it easier to understand?

And thanks for taking my comment about Gretzky's greatness out of context.

 

[EspenK]

Thanks for putting in my mouth the words I've never said.
They are leaders, but they were traded to the Jackets from their former teams. Our previous leaders were traded away. Every single leader the Jackets have or ever had has been traded at some point of his career. Now is it easier to understand? Yes

And thanks for taking my comment about Gretzky's greatness out of context. I'm not sure that saying Gretzky wasn't great can ever be put in a context where it makes sense /QUOTE]

Replies in bold and I apologize for taking your words literally.

 

[bizzz*]

Speaking of Gretzky I tried to say that he gets too much credit for his role on Edmonton dynasty teams. Messier led the Oilers to another Cup without Gretzky and led the Rangers to their Cup.

Speaking of captaincy. Dubi's contract is up in 2015. At this point no one can guarantee that he will be a Blue Jacket after that. It's a salary cap era, young kids will be knocking at the door and sometimes teams have to lose their good players to make room for them.

 

[Viqsi]

Speaking of Gretzky I tried to say that he gets too much credit for his role on Edmonton dynasty teams. Messier led the Oilers to another Cup without Gretzky and led the Rangers to their Cup.

That sounds to me less like an issue with Gretzky and more a reflection on the fact that hockey is a team game.


Still don't care about the C over here, for the record.

 

[XLJ]

I think Murray has the potential to be a future captain, but that would be 4 or 5 years from now. I think their is zero chance he is named captain next season.

 

[Smile More*]

Gonna go off the board here, give Boone the C, he's the future!

 

[NotWendell]

If you're gonna go off the board, go with Derek MacKenzie. The dude embodies what it means to be a Blue Jacket.

P.S. I still vote for Duby.

 

[Robert]

No Captain needed as of now.... every player should have a "C" as this is what champion teams are made of....

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

I never suggested that Murray will get the C this season, but my prediction is that he will be named the next Blue Jackets captain prior to the 2013-14 season. He's been a captain on every team he's ever played for.



I totally agree with major major and slightlystewpid420. Just let me remind you that giving the "C" to a young studs tends to be a good thing for their teams. Look at the 3 youngest captains in the NHL history.
The Pens have named Crosby and won the Cup.
The Hawks gave it to 20 y.o. Toews and won 2 Cups.
The Avs with Landeskog are tearing up the West now.
.

There is also Vincent LeCavalier who was name the youngest captain in NHL history. Had it taken away from him and then renamed captain 7 years later.

I don't see Colorado tearing it up because Landeskog is captain, I see them tearing it up because Patrick Roy lit a fire under their bums to make them stop under performing.

Crosby is Crosby. Hard to compare him to anyone.

 

[Smile More*]

If you're gonna go off the board, go with Derek MacKenzie. The dude embodies what it means to be a Blue Jacket.

P.S. I still vote for Duby.

That's a great point, will be interesting to see how it pans out

 

[db2011]

I think the context of this discussion has changed since the thread was started. The Jackets are 1-5 since the thread began; would naming a captain help in the midst of this losing streak? Does the team need the rallying point now?

 

[blahblah]

I think the context of this discussion has changed since the thread was started. The Jackets are 1-5 since the thread began; would naming a captain help in the midst of this losing streak? Does the team need the rallying point now?

So we are going to try and resolve a losing streak with the gimmick of trying to pick out a leader that is standing out during said losing streak?

Well I suppose it might work once a decade or two.

 

[db2011]

So we are going to try and resolve a losing streak with the gimmick of trying to pick out a leader that is standing out during said losing streak?

Well I suppose it might work once a decade or two.

I'd think picking a guy who's standing out during the streak probably isn't the way to go, or shouldn't be the only criteria. But I think it's possible that picking a captain would help the team to self-organize and rally. If the team is looking for answers, it could help to have someone to look to besides the coaches.

The problem with picking a captain now is that it puts pressure on that guy immediately. A good captain, the right choice, would handle that pressure, though.

I won't address the "gimmick" part of your comment except to ask what part of captaincy isn't basically a gimmick?

 

[IBleedUnionBlue]

I am off the pin a "C" on Duby bus. As I look around the league, I dont see other captains show the same despair as he does. Leaders dont rant and rave, break sticks, etc. Not saying what he does is bad or wrong,and I think the team needs someone like him. But I would rather have a C that leads in a positive manner, even when the going gets tough.

 

[blahblah]

I'd think picking a guy who's standing out during the streak probably isn't the way to go, or shouldn't be the only criteria. But I think it's possible that picking a captain would help the team to self-organize and rally. If the team is looking for answers, it could help to have someone to look to besides the coaches.

If Dubi's words aren't having an impact now, putting the C probably isn't going to change anything.

 

[Kev22]

If Dubi's words aren't having an impact now, putting the C probably isn't going to change anything.

I think Dubi is having an impact on some and being undermined by others. Hence all the talk of division. The fact that Dubi and Richards comments are similar, I'll continue to back Dubi for a C. My off the board choice might be Ryan Johansen.

 

[Mayor Bee]

I am off the pin a "C" on Duby bus. As I look around the league, I dont see other captains show the same despair as he does. Leaders dont rant and rave, break sticks, etc. Not saying what he does is bad or wrong,and I think the team needs someone like him. But I would rather have a C that leads in a positive manner, even when the going gets tough.

Weird to see that so many blasted Nash as captain for not being more outwardly demonstrative, and now people have backed off on Dubinsky for being too demonstrative.

 

[Fro]

Weird to see that so many blasted Nash as captain for not being more outwardly demonstrative, and now people have backed off on Dubinsky for being too demonstrative.

i haven't backed off him for what he's said...its just that i've heard it too many times already...they're just words now...we need action, not cliches