Who Will be Our New Captain?

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

If Cally comes back he will retain the "C".

He's not coming back. Get over it.

 

[aemoreira1981]

I think that it will be Ryan McDonagh---but not until 2015-16. Next year, I see McD, Girardi, and Nash all wearing "A"'s. If Staal is not traded, substitute Staal for McD, but with McD getting a letter if any of the other letter-wearers are absent.

 

[clmetsfan]

I don't understand why so many people think Staal should be captain.

1.) He's very young for captaincy at 27 (I thought Callahan was too young too). He's not even the eldest on the blue line.

Age means far less than tenure with the organization, and Staal has been here just about as long as anyone, and has been in a leadership position for the past three years. Besides, 27 is not young for captaincy. In fact, two-thirds (18 out of 27) of the captains in the league were given their Cs at a younger age than Staal would be next year:

2.) He doesn't come off as very vocal. He would be the FOURTH captain in a row that was not considered vocal. (Jagr, Drury, Callahan) And YES, being vocal is important. Quiet captains are a one trick pony. Everyone is supposed to perform on the ice. That whole "lead by example on the ice" thing is great, but that can NOT be your only strong point as a captain. You need to know how to motivate by communication, and well.

He's a hockey player. Most of them aren't vocal. And besides, you have absolutely no idea what he's like in the locker room.

3.) He's thrown down the mittens like, once (we all know how that turned out). Captains don't have to be great fighters, but there's going to be instances where he's going to need to send a statement that we all need to stick up for one another... Even Boyle could give more inspiration from a fight than Staal.

He's got 4 NHL fights, more than Zetterberg, Stamkos, Sedin, Giroux, Koivu, Toews, Tavares, etc. Regardless, this is such an outdated mentality. Fighting is being phased out of the league as a whole, and judging a player's leadership by his fighting ability makes no sense whatsoever.

4.) He's got that whole Carolina factor going on with all three of his other brothers affiliated with the Hurricanes organization.

What does this even mean? He has brothers playing somewhere else, so he can't be captain? If he chooses to stay here even with such an enticing place to play elsewhere, doesn't that enhance his candidacy??

So where's the logic? Just give him the "C" because he's been on the team a while, has a big last name, and was drafted in the first round? I'm not saying he's a bad player, far from it, but I can't understand why people think he has this level of leadership to him. Maybe he is a general in the locker room, but who the hell would guess that based on what we see from him on the ice? I just don't see it.

No, the logic is give him the C because he's a top-level player that has been a leader on the team for longer than anyone. And as you say yourself, you have no idea what his relationship with his teammates is like. His past two coaches have deemed him worthy of being the only defenseman on the team to wear an A, so maybe we should use that a a barometer more than the uninformed opinions of fans?

 

[Nanaki]

I know this is a small possibility, but what if we are in position to win the cup? It's the captain that always gets called to receive the Stanley Cup. So if we did pull our stuff together who would receive the cup?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I know this is a small possibility, but what if we are in position to win the cup? It's the captain that always gets called to receive the Stanley Cup. So if we did pull our stuff together who would receive the cup?

Staal, since he is an alternate captain longer than Richards, which would be the deciding factor, unless there's some other plan among the players.

 

[Made Dan]

I know this is a small possibility, but what if we are in position to win the cup? It's the captain that always gets called to receive the Stanley Cup. So if we did pull our stuff together who would receive the cup?

Hank. Would be legendary.

 

[Leonardo87]

He's not coming back. Get over it.

Oh don't worry, I will be getting over it at the game tonight. Trust me on that one.

 

[haveandare]

Hank. Would be legendary.

That would bring a tear to my eye and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

 

[TheDave1022]

I think if Staal signs longer term this offseason, he becomes captain. If not, then McD

 

[Fitzy]

If McDonagh jumped straight to captaincy that would be all three letters on the blueline. Seems unprecedented.

 

[mulli25]

Threw my vote in for Staal, had no idea I was breaking a stalemate

Go staal go!

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

If McDonagh jumped straight to captaincy that would be all three letters on the blueline. Seems unprecedented.

I've always expected to see Moore or Boyle end up with an A.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

I officially change my vote to #27

 

[RangersFan]

Someone sure looked captainly tonight...


McD for those who were wondering.

 

[Zats Muccarello]

McD is the captain of this team, even if the C isn't on his jersey. Leads by example and plays well every single game.

 

[Doctyl]

Captain Clutch

OT GWG

[NHL]2013021073-679-h[/NHL]

Last game of season with playoffs on the line


Setting the tempo against the Pens


Sick Hands



Game tying goal



Big play responding to goal
[NHL]2013021051-472-h[/NHL]

The LOLZ

 

[acapps10]

I just want to say, for all those who feel Staal has it locked up long term if he resigns because he's the longest tenured alternate captain--I don't believe that matters. This is AV's first season with the team, there is no need for him to honor captains Torts named. Vigneault will choose the best man for the job.

 

[BroadwayHustle]

I really do think all the best options for letters on this team are from the blueline. Staal/McD being the best C options and Girardi being a good A along with whoever doesn't get the C.

However, for forwards I know this won't be popular but I really think Boyle is a big part of the locker room. It just isn't popular to give a C to a player who isn't "very good" even though he plays his own role. But that all depends on him being resigned

 

[Parker]

C McMonster
A Girardi
A ? Forward

 

[Holocene]

C McMonster
A Girardi
A ? Forward

The guy that already has an A? Unless you've already packed his bags and moved him to Carolina.

 

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

I know this is a small possibility, but what if we are in position to win the cup? It's the captain that always gets called to receive the Stanley Cup. So if we did pull our stuff together who would receive the cup?

I would be perfectly willing to step up and take that bullet. You know, for the harmony of the team and all...

 

[NYRCSKA*]

I know this is a small possibility, but what if we are in position to win the cup? It's the captain that always gets called to receive the Stanley Cup. So if we did pull our stuff together who would receive the cup?

The King will raise the Holy Grail and let forth a mighty roar.

 

[Matt4776]

I think I will honestly tear up if we win the cup and Hank gets to act as our captain.

 

[NYRCSKA*]

I think I will honestly tear up if we win the cup and Hank gets to act as our captain.

I'll cry like a baby. If I was wearing the C on this team though, I wouldn't hoist the cup first, I'd tell the King to go get it, because nobody on this team deserves it more than he does and at the end of the day he is the true captain.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Last night in Calgary it looked like Mcdonagh lead the team out onto the ice... Idk if this is the usual or if it's a sign tht the players have selected him? Just speculating but I think they chose to not name a captain in honor of Callahan as a sort of last respects kind of thing...