From the NHL Rulebook, Rule 14: One Captain shall be appointed by each Team, and he alone shall have the privilege of discussing with the Referee any questions relating to interpretation of rules which may arise during the progress of a game. He shall wear the letter "C", approximately three inches (3") in height and in contrasting color, in a conspicuous position on the front of his sweater.
Mark Messier, often described as “the best captain sports” has retired. Scott Stevens, another great leader and captain has also left the game. Steve Yzerman, already the longest serving captain in league history, is keeping his plans to himself, but may be in his final season.
No other sport attaches more importance to the role of team captain than hockey. While every baseball team has a captain, their role does not go much beyond occasionally trotting the lineup card out to the umpire before the game.
Outside of Yankee captain Derek Jeter and Jason Veritek of the Red Sox (who even has a “C” on his jersey), not many baseball captains are known. NBA teams have captains (who knew?) and Kobe Bryant is among them. This alone is proof that captains don’t mean much in hoops. In the NFL, one captain is simply not enough. Five or even six are required to call a coin toss, which is their primary function now that virtually every play call is either signaled in from the sidelines or transmitted directly into the quarterback’s ear.
In the NHL captains are more than just the on-ice spokesman for their team. The best ones, like Lemieux in Pittsburgh or Koivu in Montreal, inspire those around them. When a team is struggling, good captains will lead by example and convene the infamous “closed door players-only” meeting to air grievances and turn the team around. After a tough loss, some captains, like Mats Sundin in Toronto, try to take the heat from the media, leaving others to duck out of the dressing room unnoticed or through a back door.
In selecting a captain, teams look for different qualities. Many default to picking their most talented player. Others lean toward experience, giving the “C” to a player based on a combination of tenure with the team (or years in the league) and the implication of loyalty to the franchise. Still others look for grit and determination. Mike Millbury, possibly suffering from amnesia, seems to think that the guy with the fattest wallet should be given the Isle's captaincy. He has obviously forgotten Ottawa's bitter experiment with Captain Yashin.
Looking around the NHL, it is easy to identify different “types” of captains.
“Best Player On Team” Captains – Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh), Joe Thornton (Boston), Mats Sundin (Toronto), Markus Naslund (Vancouver), Olli Jokinen (Florida), Jerome Iginla (Calgary), Joe Sakic (Colorado), Shane Doan (Phoenix), Mike Modano (Dallas), Patrick Marleau (San Jose), Steve Yzerman (Detroit), Saku Koivu (Montreal), Keith Primeau (Philadelphia - well he was the best until Forsberg arrived)
“Been Around a Long Time” Captains – Luke Richardson (Columbus), Dave Andreychuk (Tampa Bay), Dallas Drake (St. Louis), Scott Mellanby (Atlanta), Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim), Adrian Aucoin (Chicago)
“Well We Need Somebody” Captains – Greg Johnson (Nashville), Jeff Halpern (Washington), Mattias Nordstrom (LA)
“This Guy Bleeds (insert team colours here)” – Jason Smith (Edmonton), Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa), Rob Brind'Amour (Carolina)
“Ridiculously Overpaid” Captain – Alexei Yashin (Islanders)
“We Like the NFL Approach” Captains – Daniel Briere & Chris Drury (Buffalo), Jaromir Jagr, Darius Kasparaitis & Steve Rucchin (Rangers)
“Lemaire Is An Iconoclast” Captains – Alex Henry (Wild – October) & everybody else on the roster. Wild Coach Jacques Lemaire thinks a rotating captaincy is a great motivational tool; "I noticed whenever we named a guy captain, he did a little more for the team that month.''
“Can We Give it to Brodeur” Captains – New Jersey Devils have yet to name a successor to Scott Stevens, a job that would certainly have gone to Niedermayer, had he not moved West to Anaheim. If Lou Lamoriello could get his way he would likely try to amend NHL rule 14(d) barring goalies from being captains.
Rarely will a team strip the "C" from a player. Vincent Lecavalier was named Tampa Bay's captain at age 19. The Lightning were no doubt hoping young Vincent would grow into the role the way Steve Yzerman did when named Wings captain at age 21. Instead, the young and immature Lecavalier, who initially failed to live up to the club's very high expectations, was burdened by the captaincy and he was "demoted" at age 21. He seems poised to regain the honour when (if?) Dave Andreychuk decides to step aside.
It is interesting to speculate on who is the "best" captain in the league at the moment. Lemieux combines legendary talent with a personal story of heroism and since returning to the league he has been more open and vocal than he was as a younger man. He has also won the Cup, adding to his credentials. Iginla is tough, talented and as hard-working as any player in the league, he must be counted among the best leaders in the sport today. Modano, Sakic and Sundin surely deserve consideration as well.
Mattias Norstrom is one of the best defensive defencemen in the league and has, for large portions of this season, been the Kings' best player.
Posted by: James Mirtle | February 11, 2006 at 06:47 PM