Thursday, September 16, 2010

Brian Gionta Named Captain of the Montreal Canadiens via Twitter

1:43 PM  Bryan Willey  6 comments

By Willey

If you haven't learned by now, I am the eternal pessimist.

Some people believe the glass is always half full, others believe it is half empty and for me it’s more like completely drained and on the point of dehydration.

Fact is that hockey is just a sport and like many things in life there will always be disagreement when it comes to what is better for our beloved team.

For about a year now there has been much debate as to who should ultimately be named the 28th captain of the Canadiens.

At first there was a consensus for Andrei Markov—our best and longest serving player on the team. Then, as we familiarized ourselves with the boys, Michael Cammalleri became the front runner. Now it appears as though the consensus choice is none other than Brian Gionta.

Despite my reservations with this selection I know that much of the hockey world would agree with this choice and none more so that Tony Marinaro of the Team 990.

You see Tony has been a supporter of Brian Gionta as team captain of Les Glorieux for quite some time. Perhaps a result of the Italian commonality between the two but more likely a result of Tony having his pulse of the team locker room and day to day operations of the organization.

Yet despite this re-assurance from one of Montreal’s very best hockey analysts, I cannot help but feel a little pit in my stomach because of one nagging concern that I have with Gionta as captain.

Now before I get chastised by you all and my inbox fills with hate mail, let me say that I am a fan of No.21 and that he is the type of guy you can't help but cheer for.

Gio absolutely gives it his all on a nightly basis. He is a hard worker, a stand up guy, a veteran of the league and a proven winner. He carries himself with class and dignity and is as far as I can tell highly regarded by his peers.

My good friend Tyg clearly pointed out all of these reasons and ultimately made a pitch as to why he should be named captain he one of her latest blogs (http://aa.habsaddict.com/2010/08/she-said-who-should-be-montreal.html).

I will admit that after reading her fantastic analysis, heck, even I was starting to be a believer. There is however one missing element in making a case for Gionta: his pedigree.

I am willing to bet that there are very few among us who know anything about Gionta other than what we see in the Habs locker room after a game.

Sure we know the basics; like he is a quiet and reserved player off the ice. We know he is a good family man who has settled some roots here in Montreal and who is starting to take French lessons.

But apart from the odd interview on RDS or TSN do any of us realistically know anything more about the man?

He is a private person who doesn’t air his laundry in public and who keeps his off ice life completely sheltered from his responsibilities on the ice. I therefore question how a player with a demure personality can pull a 180-degree turn and go from a private person to a player with the most responsibility on the team.

Unfortunately, we have seen too many examples of players who were given the responsibility of team captain only to fall flat on their face.

Why?

When you are named captain it is no longer just about a game. No longer is your sole responsibility to produce and win games.

Your entire life changes.

As captain of the most prestigious hockey organization in the world, it's about being the focal point for the entire franchise and city. It’s about selling tickets, selling dreams and increasing corporate sponsorship. It’s about public appearances and mandatory pre and post game interviews.

Let’s be honest, it’s about everything other than just hockey and often times that is just too much for a player to handle.

When it comes to who should lead my team and ultimately wear the “C”, I put a lot of value into somebody who has been there before and knows the responsibility that comes along with the honour.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Gionta is a great player and stand up guy but as far as I know he has never been a captain for any team that he has ever played on. As such, we and he surely do not know what to expect.

It is because of this one reason that Gorges has always been my choice.

When a player is named captain of one of the best junior teams ever put together—in the Western Hockey League—and is selected ahead of teammates like Shea Weber and Duncan Keith, there must be something to him.

So before I go I'll leave you with one final thought:

I do not have an issue naming Gionta as captain but I do have a concern.

Chances are he will do well but as the consummate pessimist I cannot help but feel like he is not the perfect man for the job.

Although I would prefer to see a player who has excelled at leading his team, ultimately I think we can all agree that the team will be in goods hands.

With a roster that is complete with players like Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Mike Cammalleri, Andre Markov, Hal Gill and Josh Gorges, leadership will be by committee and the transition of the Habs new captain should be fairly easy.

Now let's drop the puck already.

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Willey was the shinning light among the wicked growing up as the lone Habs fan in Toronto. Pray to Holy Ghosts of the old forum and all shall be answered I was told, and just like that my family was transferred back to Montreal and away from the damned. Olé Olé Olé.

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6 comments:

Great piece, Willey!

I see your point and while what you are saying makes sense, I can't completely agree with you.

I think that while Gio has not yet held the captiancy position at any level, he has learned from some of the best (Neidermayer, Stevens, Brodeur, etc.)

Moreover, I think it speaks volumes that in a room filled with leadership (Cammy, Gorges, Gill, et al.), that Gionta is the one who has emerged at the head of the class.

While there is no denying what you've said that Gionta has never held this role, to me he seems like a man who has arrived. i.e. he has learned enough and had enough tutelage that he is now ready to hold the captaincy reigns all by himself.

At the end of the day, I feel that Gio was the best choice in a sea of good choices and, ultimately, it was like splitting hairs in choosing between the different candidates.

But, as you pointed out, the team will be in good hands not even so much because of Gionta by himself, but just because the leadership team is strong.

Now the question is who will get the 'A's?

Markov? Gorges? Gill? Cammy?

So many choices!

Kamal Kamal Kamal......thats what great about sports. I am always right !!!!!

Ok I am joking.

Our leadership is currently the #1 quality of the team. I can't wait to see if they can take it to the next level.

Hehe...agreed....

I think that at the end of the day it was hard to make a bad choice for captain and that ultimately this team will be lead by committee.

I don't think naming Gionta, or anyone else for that matter, as captain, will change the leadership dynamic in the dressing room.

By all accounts, Gionta was front and center of the leadership group anyway.

Should be interesting to see what this group can do this year!

Gotta agree with Kamal here, Willey. I don't see leadership as an issue to be concerned about with this team, regardless of who is actually wearing the C. And no one has officially been announced yet, have they? Thanks for the kind commentary re: my blog post!

If it helps any, Willey, turns out Gio was captain of his Boston college team. :)

Ya....I found that out as well. He lead Boston College to the NCAA Frozen Four Championship.

As we say in the business.......don;t beleive anything you read and only half of what you see.

What does this ahve to do with anything I have no idea but it sounded good.

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