Why Bucyk lost his captaincy for awhile?

[Mohar Ikram]

Just read the history of one of the most solid team in the history of the sports - The Bruins and these periods confused me.

Bucyk was appointed as a Captain in 1966 replacing Leo Boivin and...... directly lost it in 1967.

He was consider as "honorary captain" but unofficial one until he got it back in 1973.

As a result for this, Bruins 4th and 5th title being lifted.... captainless

Mind to you, Bucyk is already a mainstay and already produced 543 points in 651 games in 1967......

What Happen?

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[Michael Farkas]

A lot of personalities in the room at that time, so I think they just went with the "co-captains" route...I believe Bucyk is presented the Cup first in '70 and '72. I think Esposito, Ed Westfall, and...I think Ted Green were also considered leadership group (not to mention, the league's best player by a mile, gentlemanly number four there). Contemporary materials at the time freely refer to Bucyk as the captain though...

 

[vikash1987]

Harry Sinden basically explained it this way:

“That was in 1967, when we’d made the deal with Chicago for Espo, and we were starting to put together a good young club. I thought it was important to spread the responsibility around, so we named four co-captains.”

But Sinden also said that Bucyk never stopped playing the role of a de facto captain during those Cup years: he remained the team’s spokesman and leader.

 

[Crosby2010]

Also, I think the players at the time unofficially considered Bucyk as the captain even if there wasn't a letter on his chest. I am not sure though why in 1973 they just didn't give it to either one of Espo or Orr by then. I am sure Bucyk would have conceded the captaincy to either one of them.

 

[VanIslander]

@seventieslord sold me Bucyk's autobiography about 12 years ago. I read it. I donated it years later to a library. I recall he said the pressure of being a captain made him uncomfortable. I assumed it was the media role, but i can't recall details. He just DID NOT WANT the 'C', for whatever reason.

 

[ForsbergForever]

@seventieslord sold me Bucyk's autobiography about 12 years ago. I read it. I donated it years later to a library. I recall he said the pressure of being a captain made him uncomfortable. I assumed it was the media role, but i can't recall details. He just DID NOT WANT the 'C', for whatever reason.

If that's the case then I think Esposito should have worn the C. He was a born leader, and especially after his '72 Summit Series speech I think he had that reputation league-wide. I always thought it odd that a quasi-dynasty like the 70s Bruins never had an establish captain like Montreal. Similarly, it's weird to me that Howe only wore the C for a few seasons in Detroit. But maybe there's a whole other back-story there.

 

[VanIslander]

Howe always heralded others. His praise for Lindsay, Kelly, Sawchuk, ... had no bounds.

 

[scribe114]

If that's the case then I think Esposito should have worn the C. He was a born leader, and especially after his '72 Summit Series speech I think he had that reputation league-wide. I always thought it odd that a quasi-dynasty like the 70s Bruins never had an establish captain like Montreal. Similarly, it's weird to me that Howe only wore the C for a few seasons in Detroit. But maybe there's a whole other back-story there.

Howe had to give up the C when he was named Assistant Coach. After Lindsay was stripped of the C Jack Adams approached Red Kelly about being the captain but was reluctant to wear it because he didn't want to undermine Lindsay. Kelly was the most senior Assistant which is how they worked it on the Wings. Howe and Pronovost took A's from Kelly and Goldham, and Howe took over as captain in 1958-59. Pronovost became an Assistant captain after Pavelich retired.

 

[Crosby2010]

He'll be 90 in a couple of months. It would be a good question to ask him if you met him.

When you see the clip of him in 1970 taking the Cup and then skating with it off the ice I think that says it all right there as to who the captain was. Bucyk was the elder statesman on that team, the leader if only unofficially. It might surprise people that Bobby Orr was never captain of an NHL team in his career.