Who will wear the ‘C’ for Vancouver?
It is no secret that Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had a difficult season last year, which seems like a strange thing to say considering he won an Olympic gold medal and got through to the second round of the Stanley Cup play-offs. However, Luongo was not his usual dynamic self all year long, causing many to question the Canucks choice to name him captain.
As a National Hockey League captain, he had a great deal of pressure and responsibility, and coupled with his goaltending duties it seemed to be too much for the Canucks net-minder to handle. This drop off in production has led many to speculate that the Canucks will be stripping the 31-year-old of the captaincy and giving it to a skater. Below is a list of Canuck players who could be donning the ‘C’ in the 2010-11 season.
Roberto Luongo – Goalie
Although rumours have been running rampant about the Canucks taking the ‘C’ away from Luongo there is still a chance that the Quebec native could remain the captain next season.
Luongo is a fierce competitor and it is unlikely he will part with the captaincy easily, which may lead the Canucks brass to leave him in the position. Moreover, Luongo is locked up to a gigantic 12-year deal and therefore will be with the franchise for quite some time. The sheer contract length and consistency achieved keeping Luongo captain could also see him retain the title.
In addition, Luongo with or without the ‘C’ is the Canucks' de facto media liaison. Whether he is captain or not reporters will be arriving at his locker first when the game is over. For this reason it may seem doubtful that stripping the ‘C’ will relieve any real pressure.
However, Luongo still lacks the ability to perform the basic duties of a captain, such as talk to the referees and ensure energy level on the bench is always high.
Henrik Sedin – Centre
Henrik Sedin is a prime candidate to take over if the Canucks are to strip Luongo of the captaincy. As arguably the team’s best player, Sedin is a perfect example of how a player can lead on the ice. Sedin is coming off of a season in which he won both the Art Ross and Hart Trophies as the League’s best player. He topped the NHL in points and assists and led the Canucks in nearly every offensive category.
Sedin is able to keep a calm head and is not a liability on the ice, playing in every situation. Moreover the Swedish-born forward has been with Vancouver since he was drafted in 1999 and recently signed a new contract which will keep him with the team until 2013-14. At 29 years old he is old enough to take on such a responsibility as well as being young enough to remain with the club long enough to ensure they do not need to go through another captain search in a year or two.
However, Sedin still may not be the perfect candidate as he rarely shows a great deal of emotion and is generally a quiet player. Also, language is still an issue when dealing with the media and fans.
Ryan Kesler – Centre
Ryan Kesler provides the Canucks with a third option to take over as captain. The hard-nosed, defence first centre may be able to provide the fire necessary for a Canucks side that struggles in the post-season. Kessler is an all-around hockey player who back-checks hard and is still able to produce 70-plus points.
Always playing on the edge Kesler could help to spark a Vancouver side that can sometimes look lazy in important games. Although he is 25 years old and therefore not the most experienced candidate, he appears to be a strong leader and would provide a face for the franchise going forward.
However, Kesler has a hot head and may not provide the voice of reason in an emotional situation.
No matter who the Canucks choose, next season is already shaping up to be another interesting one.
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