No Captain, My Captain For The Habs

Greeting Habs Nation,

Over the last few weeks there has been quite a debate in regards to who should don the "C" for the Canadiens in the upcoming 2014-15 season. When asked on the www.montrealhockeytalk.com show "Habs Under the Sun" in August who I felt should be captain, I expressed my belief that the team didn't necessarily need one right away. I echoed that same sentiment just last week on CBC's Daybreak and so with the announcement that the Habs will go with four alternates and no Captain I am not surprised in the least.

From left to right Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec, P.K. Subban
and Max Pacioretty have all been named alternate captains of the
Montreal Canadiens.      THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

I am not sold on the thought that a team without a designated captain lacks leadership. Whether or not a player wears the "C", if he is a leader, he will lead. It doesn't take a letter sewn on your jersey to stand up in the locker room and tell your team what it needs to hear. A leader will hit the ice and give it everything he has on every shift without letting up to make it clear to his team that half efforts are not acceptable.

If the Detroit Red Wings went without a designated captain, would Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom not be viewed as leaders in the locker room and on the ice? To me it's just silly to put so much stock into who is viewed as the captain by the fans as opposed to by the players.

With that said, here's a look at the four players chosen by Montreal Canadiens management to serve as alternate captains.

1. Andrei Markov

Andrei Markov is  content to wear the "A"
on his jersey.

No surprise there. 35-year-old Markov will be entering his 14th NHL season as a Montreal Canadien, longer than anybody else currently on the roster. While he's not the most charismatic man, he addresses the media when called upon and has been known to let teammates know how he feels about their performances and work ethic in typical intimidating Russian fashion. After the departure of Saku Koivu in the summer of 2009, it was said that Markov wouldn't accept the title of captain. Markov has been a top-tier NHL rearguard for the Habs organization for years and with his freshly inked three-year deal with the club, will more than likely retire as a member of the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. Whether he wears the "C", an "A" or a Youppi! sticker on his jersey, his teammates will undoubtedly look to follow his example on and off the ice.





2. Tomas Plekanec

Tomas Plekanec celebrated a goal while wearing
a turtleneck.

The longest serving member of the Montreal Canadiens second to only Andrei Markov. TurtlePlek (A name I've given due to his insistence on constantly wearing silly turtlenecks and my insistence on constantly using bad puns. I'm hoping this is the year the name sticks) is entering his tenth NHL season with the Habs. Plekanec has held himself accountable when he feels he is under-performing and hasn't ever complained about the never ending rotation of wingers that have been thrown on his line over the years. Last I checked he has played with 528 wingers over the last three seasons (don't look that up). He plays his part without whining, gives it all he has and rocks turtlenecks on a nightly basis, which is why he would get my vote if I had one.

With neither of the aforementioned candidates chosen to be the Captain, it leads me to believe that management wants a fresher face who can hold the title of captain for a longer period of time. At 35 and on legs that are roughly 45, there is little to no doubt that Markov will retire at the end of his current contract.

While Plekanec is only 31 the annual "Pleks is getting traded" rumours are due to begin swirling in about a month or so. With Lars Eller, David Desharnais and Alex Galchenyuk on the roster the rumours may hold some merit. It's never a popular move to trade your captain and with the possibility there, Pleky just wasn't the ideal choice.

In my opinion, there's more to it than the whole trade possibility scenario. Plekanec still has some years left in him and if's named captain and remains on the team, it will be years before we go through this debacle again just to give it to P.K. Subban which is pretty much the plan. Three to four years from now is too long to wait yet this year is too early for the young star defenseman. The Habs are playing it quite smart by having the top leaders share the responsibility while at the same time giving Subban the opportunity to learn how to handle it on his own next year.

3. Max Pacioretty

Max Pacioretty with his 2012 Bill Masterton
trophy.

Out of the four players given the "A", Pacioretty is the one who I would least expect to see as the team's leader. I get that he can fall four stories from a burning building and land in a pool full of glass shards only to return to the ice the following day. He scored 39 goals last season and that's nothing to scoff at (do people still scoff?). He never hides from the media. So in short, he's determined, talented and comfortable with the media. All great qualities... I just don't see him getting the "C". I don't see him as a passionate enough player, which I'll probably get ripped on for saying and that's somewhat fair.

Yes, he's come back from broken ribs, broken vertebrae, concussions etc. He's not only come back but he's returned each time without losing any of his game. There is passion there. However, I don't see him as the type of player to stand up and be heard when his team has taken the night off, I don't see him as the type of player who can rally his troops after his team has given up the tying goal late in the game in the playoffs. I don't see him ever not being so monotone in his interviews. That last one may not matter but everything he says just sounds so rehearsed and robotic.

As I mentioned, Pacioretty is basically indestructible, knows how to find the back of the net and doesn't shy away from the cameras. Those are all great qualities and why I have no qualms with him being an alternate captain after Markov and Plekanec have moved on (Jeez, that sounded a little morbid, no? I'm referring to retiring and/or being traded just to be clear).

4. P.K. Subban

P.K Subban is a safe bet to wear the "C" for the Canadiens
next season.

Make no mistake, Subban will be the Montreal Canadiens 29th captain. He is the most exciting player to don the "CH" since Alex Kovalev, yet he shows up more than 35 games a season. With Subban it's not a matter of getting him to face the media, it's a matter of him stepping away from the camera once in a while. He is a fan favourite, the media can't get enough of him and there is no doubt he will speak his mind to his team and lead by example on the ice. He has all the qualities needed, he just needs time to take them on without putting too much pressure on himself.

Subban is coming off of yet another contract issue which was turned into a media circus. He still lets him emotions get the best of him at times and is rumoured to have a rocky relationship with coach Michel Therrien. Giving him the captaincy this year would be too much, too soon. Having him share it with a teammate his age in Pacioretty, and two veterans such as Plekanec and Markov, will take the load off his back and give him time to gradually learn what it takes to be the leader of the most storied franchise in the history of the NHL.

I couldn't agree more with the decision to hold off on naming a captain. Hopefully, this whole situation won't be made into a distraction throughout the course of the year and to all you Subban supporters out there, relax... Subban will be named captain for the 2015-16 season.

One last note, a friend pointed it out how it is quite fitting to not have a captain the same year that Saku Koivu calls it quits. If I were GM I would offer Koivu a one game contract so he could retire as the captain of the Montreal Canadiens. The send off would blow the roof off of the Bell Centre and would show Koivu just how much he mean,t to not only the organization, but to the entire city of Montreal who he did so much for.

Thanks for reading and of course don't forget to share your thoughts.

1. Will not having a captain affect the team's play?
2. Did management choose the right players to share the responsibility?
3. Is there any doubt the Subban will wear the "C" next year?
4. Koivu on a one game contract, too cheesy or well deserved?

Posted in: andrei markov,habs,max pacioretty,montreal canadiens,p.k. subban,saku koivu,Tomas Plekanec