The Next to Wear the "C"

Another weekend, another crazy Mats Sundin rumour.

It's been that way for a while, and it's going to stay that way until Sundin decides on his future, a decision that seems no closer today than it was in April July.

Good for him. The man's in a position to call the shots on his own career, and who among us wouldn't cherish such an opportunity.

The Maple Leafs are still hoping No. 13 will make the most illogical decision of all and return to them, perhaps so they can try to trade him for a third time next February.

That's at least part of the reason why the club hasn't named a new captain, a situation that may not change any time soon.

In fact, the current leadership vacuum is comparable to the period from 1986-89 when the Leafs didn't have a captain at all in the wake of a trade that sent 50-goal shooter Rick Vaive to Chicago. Eventually, the "C" was awarded for the 1989-90 season to Rob Ramage, a solid, veteran defenceman who became the first player in team history to be named captain without having played a single game for the team.

During the years in which the club didn't have a captain, there were young players like Wendel Clark, Gary Leeman, Al Iafrate and Russ Courtnall who were strong prospects but deemed to be too young to assume the leadership mantle left by Vaive.

Which brings us to today, a time when again the Leafs have many youngsters, none of whom have been through the wars enough to lead the team, and a large group of mostly undistinguished veterans. Assuming Sundin doesn't return, the most sensible choice might be to at least temporarily assign the captaincy on a rotating basis like teams such as Buffalo and Minnesota have done in recent seasons.

Then again, Cliff Fletcher's into bold decisions these days. If he and new head coach Ron Wilson decide there must be a captain for the 2008-09 season, here are the candidates:

-- Tomas Kaberle: Classy puck-moving defenceman is the longest-serving Leaf, although new backup goalie Curtis Joseph was on the roster when Kaberle broke into the Toronto lineup in 1998. Kaberle would be a quiet leader in the same mold as Sundin or Nicklas Lidstrom, although he's not been the player over the course of his career that they have been. The biggest problem might be that Kaberle was also on the trading block in February but refused to waive his no-trade clause.

-- Nik Antropov: Last year was his best, but it was just one year. Doesn't have the personality to serve as captain.

-- Vesa Toskala: Sorry, goalies can't be captains according to NHL rules.

-- Matt Stajan: Has many of the proper qualities, but still too young.

-- Alex Steen: His father, Tomas, served as Winnipeg's co-captain in the late 1980s. Unlike Stajan, however, Steen hasn't established himself as a credible leader inside the dressing room.

-- Bryan McCabe: No chance, although he's been an NHL captain before. McCabe is slated to be moved in a trade ASAP.

-- Carlo Colaiacovo: Has many of the best qualities, but would need to be healthy for a lengthy period to establish himself. Then again, Clark served as captain despite an injury-scarred career.

-- Jamal Mayers: The Leafs acquired the veteran winger for his experience and personality as much as his talent. Giving the "C" to Mayers would be like giving it to Ramage in '89, and we all know how the Leafs love to repeat history.

Comments

[Ryan]

"It's been that way for a while, and it's going to stay that way until Sundin decides on his future, a decision that seems no closer today than it was in July."

Dude, it is July....July 21 to be exact. You've been away too long...snap out of vacation mode Cox!!!

I think you forgot to include Tlustly to the list of potential captains. I keed I keed (a la Doug Smith ie: best blogger on the star and most other corners of this interweb thing)

[Jambone]

Looking at that list of candidates, it's hard to pick a winner. Hard to imagine picking a captain who you wouldn't really want on the ice in the last two minutes of the game. I'm already dreading the winter and it's only July.

[joe]

chances are, kaberle gets it. but i wouldn't mind stajan one bit.

[Steve Barnett]

By default Cab-Earl will get the "C"...Now as for the "A"'s?..I like Domenic Moore and Mayers...If we had more guys like Moore on the team we would be ok...But as someone said, the longer Mats takes to decide the more it looks like he will come back here..which is fine in my book..Mats in a Hab sweater is unthinkable and he might get assasinated. Plus the french media is even worse than Cox and his band of crap disturbers...

[marc]

My vote is for Stajan... He is the players union representative already, so he does have some leadership qualities.

He is also quite good with the press too it seems; very important quality in Toronto.

[Matt]

give it to Stajan if Sundin doesn't come back. He's not someone you build a team around, but he seems to be on e of the few who was willing to take responsibility last year. He's the NHLPA rep, which speaks volumes about how his teammates view him.

[Ken]

As much as I hate appointing a new Leaf as Captain, it seems like he'd be the perfect candidate. A Captain needs experience, needs the type of outgoing personality (The quiet Capt Sundin did not take us that far...).

Unless we have a 40 + goal scorer in the line-up, which we do not, then the quiet Capt scenario just won't work. Quiet Capt lead by example, but so far, nobody in the lineup can score on demand like Sundin could in his prime.

I've always pictured a Defensive Capt as somebody who is hard hitting, solid and just down right mean. Kaberle doesn't have any of these features!

[Johan]

Not having a single player other than Kabele (who will be traded, packaged with McCabe), to be considered for the Captaincy, confirms the mess this management team has created over the years. Even wishing for five seconds Ballard was around makes this situation scarey, and that must be happening more and more. Well another forty years ain't that bad eh. If Sundin has been sitting in the middle of the Sahara Desert in the mid-day sun and has had his brains liquify, he might consider coming back to the Leafs; as you say, to be traded in February. February is about when the 'fans' stop believing the Stanley Cup will be won by the Leafs and start booing them.

[Jacques]

I say don't give it to anyone yet. Let's see how they do in the first half, then decide. Let Kabele be the only one with the A on his jersey, you don't want to put to much pressure on him.

[Ryan]

I think they should just have 3 or 4 A's and no C until there is someone who truly deserves it. Other than Kabs, Stajan is the obvious pick if I had to choose one. A captain need not be a scorer but instead I think most captains are smart, can play BOTH sides of the ice and can be a leader on the ice and in the dressing room. By the way, Kabs has a no trade clause so and seems to want to stay so probably won't be packaged with McCabe. The difference is that the organization likes Kaberle, but seems to be really pushing McCabe out. I also hope they move Kubina during the next 15-20 day window where his no trade clause is void. I like the guy but if we are truly rebuilding, they need to move him and get some prospects and picks that they still seem bent on trading away for spare parts.

[Ryan]

No mention of Kubina? He has been with the team 2 seasons now, Cliff seems to be keeping him by choice, has a cup on his resume and is known as a very hard worker.

[Gordon Sumner]

Whether the Captaincy of the Toronto Maple Leafs warrants its lofty status, its hard to argue that this patronage is right up there with the Hockey Night in Canada's theme, timbits, and toques, which means, its a situation that's not to be taken lightly. 50 years from now, I just don't foresee the Maple Leafs' trivia guide will have long list of past captains. Its an institution awarded to a chosen few.

So, does anyone on the current roster *really* deserve wearing the "C"? Not in my humble opinion ... Kaberle, Stajan, and Steen have been mentioned, but all are of the same mold, that is, they're too much like Sundin in character. We also have to stop awarding this title to our most skilled player. This only works if the guy is a certified superstar. Otherwise, why put the added pressure on a marginal superstar, if at that?

This city is crying for a badass-type captain in the Clark and Gilmour mold that also gives himself off the ice in various charities and team-related functions - this is not an option btw, its part of the "job description" in Toronto. Outside the Leafs, someone like Brendan Morrow (but stop dreaming, he's not available)in character. Not a superstar, but a super stud.

So, look for a guy like that to trade for and bring on the team if possible. Otherwise, rotate the "A" and let's just see who in the system steps up to the task with his character.

[David]

Who says Stajan is too young? There are much younger captains in the NHL, including recently appointed Toews, and even though Stajan may not be the offensive leader like these other young captains, he IS a leader and should be seriously considered.

[C Ta]

Once again, Eddie Olczyk has been neglected in Leafs' history. Why he wasn't given the captaincy during that void is beyond me, with nary a mention in this blog post. There wasn't even mention that Olczyk was one of the players that came from Chicago for Vaive. But instead, Gary Leeman's name was brought up. Leeman enjoy limited success that only came about by being part of the GEM line (Gary, Ed, Mark Osborne).

[Pete]

Give me a break; Stajan, Steen? Can either one of them even grow a beard yet? Not to mention that they are at best, second to third line checking forwards (like Jamal Mayers). That the Leafs have put themselves in this position is another good laugh for some of the quality franchises in the NHL. Maybe they should trade for some real captain material, like Jason Smith...Oh right, they already HAD Jason Smith back in the Pat Quinn era, and he was discarded for playing like a real hard-nosed defenceman.

[Janed Malcolmson]

Kaberle for Captain in the event no Sundin.

[Mark N]

It will be Kaberle for captain . . . UNLESS Cliff Fletcher is successful in bringing back either Dave Keon or George Amstrong.

[Eoin Kenny]

I'd hold off if the C was offered to me. I think I'd want to see just how Grampa Fletch's off-season tinkering si goignto affect both the on-ice and in-the-dressing-room chemistry of the latest rebuilding exercise. If it all goes horribly wrong -- again -- and there's a major purge -- again -- or when the GM changes -- again, the C holder may not want the heavy lifting that comes with the job or might not be re-signed, in which case, the process begins again -- again.

[Kevin]

I'm for multiple "A" assignments, without a full-time captain. The Laffs did it 20 years ago, why not again? They like to repeat history, rather than learn from it, as Damien said. And let's start by ripping the "A" from both Kaberle and McCabe before the season starts. McCabe seems to be on his way out, and Kaberle's selfishness in refusing a trade (even if it was his contractual right to do so) is NOT leadership. Give the "A" to Stajan and Steen to start, and perhaps rotate it amomg a few players over the course of the season.

[Robert]

Since we have no suitable candidates for Captain from last years Leafs, and it's not right to give it to a player we just acquired. All we need to do is have three guys wear the A until we find the right guy for the job.

[Kevin]

If not Sundin, then it should be McCabe. If you take him at his word that he really wants to stay, then give it to him. He is experienced, and always seems accountable in the post-game interviews that I've seen. He leads the plays on the ice and is vocalizing direction all the time. Sure, he had some tough times this season, but he bounces back.

[Rory McConville]

This is a very tough call. Kaberle should stick with the A. I feel that giving a talented player like him the C during a rebuilding year is way too much added pressure. Let him keep doing what he's doing.

With out current crop, I say give the C to Jamal Mayers. The guy is the grittiest and oldest player on the team but is still your typical heart and soul type forward and would it not be great to see our Captain beating the snot out of a few guys? He may not be on the ice in the final minute of the game but he will be standing up for our players and he will most definitely earn the respect of his team mates. He is defensively responsible and will definitely help sell Wilson's system to the rest of the team.

I think Stajan's career should go the way of Kris Draper's. No higher than an A and no higher than the 3rd line. If he is happy in that role I am happy to have him on the team. If he thinks he deserves better in either of those categories I'll gladly dump him. Even if he had the leadership qualities (which I believe are greatly over-hyped) he is too young, much like his brother-from-another-mother Alex Steen.

Regardless, I still think the big Swede is on his way back to La-la-Leaf land so this is all pointless discussion.

[Sanj]

Why don't the Leafs name Hellwig as their next captain? Leaf fans always give hero status to their goon players (i.e: Domi, Belak, Tucker, etc, etc) and crap on their star players (i.e: Sundin). So Hellwig should make the perfect captain for this team.

[Paulie]

Damien,
Devereaux(?)is a guy I think could have helped a few teams at last years deadline. He was injured at the time. Do you know if there was any interest?
(I think Moore, Mayers, and Devereaux could be quite an energy line.)

[Tyler]

Stajan is a fringe player who barely deserves to be on the team. If he is captain I am done with the Leafs.