I know I said I wasn't blogging again until Saturday's "IceFest" but one: I just got going here, two: we've missed out on some news before my arrival, three: I'm itchin' to run with this ball that I've been given and four: you folks deserve some coverage, no?
It was announced last week that Martin St. Louis will join Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards in wearing the 'A' this season for the Bolts as Lightning captain Tim Taylor is preparing for hip surgery and will more than likely miss the entire 2007-08 season. (At 38, he may be done for good, quite frankly.) St. Louis in Tampa's captaincy triumvirate ... talk about a no-brainer!
The trio known as "The Big Three" is simply what makes this team click. As they go, so go the Lightning. That said, why anyone else was ever even considered to wear a letter for this team still doesn't make sense to me. No disrespect to Taylor, he's one hell of a gritty hockey player, but is he the face of the franchise? Not quite. His 1 goal and 6 points from the 2006-07 campaign doesn't exactly impress either. Obviously, the scoresheet is not the most important measuring stick for a captain but I've always been of the opinion that your captain should certainly get significant ice time, to say the least. Few Lightning regulars played less per game than Taylor. But what is the blueprint for a captain these days anyway?
Hate it all you want - I do - but gone are the days of the old definition of a captain. You know, the guy who would literally do
anything - score, hit, block shots, fight ...
ANYTHING - for his team? Those days are over and it sure doesn't look like they're ever coming back. Cases in point - Daniel Alfredsson, Alexei Yashin, Daniel Briere, Adrian Aucoin, Joe Sakic, Nicklas Lidstrom, Mats Sundin, Markus Naslund ... all NHL captains as of last season ... you ever see any of these fellas scrap? I didn't think so.
As it pertains specifically to the Lightning, just who is the right guy? Well, even by the old method Vinny Lecavalier is the obvious choice. Only problem is, they already tried that in the 2000-01 season. Didn't work, for whatever reason. Why not now? Who knows for sure, but my quick thinking, aside from avoiding doing Taylor the disservice of removing the 'C' while he's injured, says someone knows something about the future of Mr. Lecavalier and the likelihood of that future being in south Florida. He's under contract for this season and next, but I remain slightly puzzled as to why he hasn't been shopped more. (Or has he?)
Candidate number two, Brad Richards, certainly doesn't fit the old mold of a captain (hell, he's a Lady Byng winner after all, isn't he?) but we've already established that that doesn't apply anymore. He's under contract (loftily, at that) through the 2010-11 season, so longevity is probable but Richards a captain? I'm not sold. While you may not have to be willing to trade haymakers with an opposing team's tough guy to be a captain anymore, I still think there's plenty of room for toughness, a nasty side and the ability to light a guy up occasionally. Richards? A leader by default strictly because of his talent level but a captain? Not for me.
So, that leaves little Marty. Also inked through 2010-11, St. Louis may be in Tampa for the long haul. (I said maybe cause who really knows for sure?) He's proven tough, returning early from injury on more than one occasion and who can forget the bloodied forehead during the 2004 Cup Final? He can be nasty, with the occasional snarl that would make even Darcy Tucker proud. He's just about as clutch as they come and, as for throwing the body around, ask Islander defenseman Brendan Witt about the diminutive St. Louis's checking ability. Number 26 sent the much larger Witt flying late last season about 20 feet in front of me. Hell of a sound one of those hits makes in person, that's for sure. Sets the bench - and the rest of the building - on fire. On top of all of this, this town is completely in love with the guy, which has to count for something.
Should the captain's 'C' automatically go to a team's most talented player? Not always. Is it a popularity contest with teammates, coaches, fans or a combination thereof? Hardly. But it's not what it used to be either and, in this day and age, though we may not be able to agree on what a captain should be, the Lightning could sure do a whole lot worse than Martin St. Louis.
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