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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits and Musings: Tortorella, Captaincy, Coach-Media Relationship
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Bill Meltzer
Editor
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 07.13.2006

Jun 22 @ 11:30 AM ET
In the five full seasons Poulin was captain, he was 3rd on the team in scoring with 299 P in 364 games.

https://www.nhl.com/stats...ssists&page=0&pageSize=50

In Laughton's past four seasons where he has been a 3rd liner, he is 7th in scoring with 109 P in 251 games. There's a huge gap between Laughton and Poulin as players.

https://www.nhl.com/stats...ssists&page=0&pageSize=50

- Feanor


Again, Poulin getting the C had nothing to do with his point totals. He got it because of his emotional maturity, work ethic, the way he unified the guys in the room and because he was a great spokesman (both to the media and as an intermediary with Keenan).


hockeylover
Atlanta Thrashers
Location: There's always next year., NT
Joined: 08.03.2006

Jun 22 @ 11:30 AM ET
Risto for Captain.

































I'll show myself out.....
SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Jun 22 @ 11:35 AM ET
Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits and Musings: Tortorella, Captaincy, Coach-Media Relationship
- bmeltzer

Please don’t name a captain. Three or five “A’s” is just fine.
rayc16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Free Frosty
Joined: 06.29.2006

Jun 22 @ 11:36 AM ET
Since points and skill apparently don't matter and it's fine for the Flyers to have the least skilled captain in the entire league, why not make Nick Seeler captain? According to Torts, the Flyers brass are all super impressed with his fight against Deslauriers.
- Feanor

This is why this franchise is going in the wrong direction.
rayc16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Free Frosty
Joined: 06.29.2006

Jun 22 @ 11:38 AM ET
There was some speculation among this group that TK and Provy will not do well under Torts. Who can say? They might thrive with more accountability and a strong coach and leadership group. Provy hasn't seemed to respond well to criticism in public, but who knows.

I think the C and the leadership group will be key. Adding a few pieces along the way is a must.

Is it telling that TK and Provy were NOT mentioned as candidates for the C?

Big trade coming.

- cdearth23

I hope they both get a chance, that will tell us one way or another.
rayc16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Free Frosty
Joined: 06.29.2006

Jun 22 @ 11:39 AM ET
It was over Val Filppula.... but which player it was isn't really relevant to the blog. It was really about a coach overreacting to being pressed in the moment and then apologizing the next day.

Gagne didn't name names but I think Nedved had already been dispatched by that point. Unfortunately, there were multiple players with the wrong attitude... for different reasons Mike, Mike York, Kyle Calder and Geoff Sanderson all fit the description of players who had to be moved out.

- bmeltzer


Bill, Do you feel there is any player on the current roster that needs to be moved out?
missingmike
Joined: 07.08.2011

Jun 22 @ 11:40 AM ET
Since points and skill apparently don't matter and it's fine for the Flyers to have the least skilled captain in the entire league, why not make Nick Seeler captain? According to Torts, the Flyers brass are all super impressed with his fight against Deslauriers.
- Feanor


Your lack of conversational maturity is on the full display here. No further discussion needed.


rayc16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Free Frosty
Joined: 06.29.2006

Jun 22 @ 11:41 AM ET
Risto for Captain.


































I'll show myself out.....

- hockeylover


The pure entertainment from the reactions on this board would be worth it.
hfc355
Joined: 06.17.2013

Jun 22 @ 11:42 AM ET
Please don’t name a captain. Three or five “A’s” is just fine.
- SuperSchennBros

Couldnt agree more. Play the year out with no C
StepfordSam
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 02.06.2017

Jun 22 @ 11:46 AM ET
All this talk of Nick Seeler fighting and Rasmus Ristolainen throwing the body has me fired up for some FLYERS hockey this season. These guys are the sandpaper of my eye.
Deasr1
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Joined: 06.21.2009

Jun 22 @ 11:51 AM ET
Risto for Captain.

































I'll show myself out.....

- hockeylover



You can't spell suCk without the C.


Just kidding.
SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Jun 22 @ 11:52 AM ET
Couldnt agree more. Play the year out with no C
- hfc355

Naming a captain right now just seems like a bad joke. Like “Ristolainen should be captain!” bad joke. That’s not even clever.

Bill Meltzer
Editor
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 07.13.2006

Jun 22 @ 11:59 AM ET
Bill, Do you feel there is any player on the current roster that needs to be moved out?
- rayc16


Without naming names, because I don't think it's fair to do so when I haven't set foot in the locker room (due to NHL Covid restrictions) since March 2020, I get the sense that not everyone avoided sulking or finger pointing last season and that some teammates didn't like it.

So, yes, I would say that there's an attitude or two that needs to change after reflection on last season or it might be better off for all parties to make a trade.

But that's my own speculation.

Quetzalcoatl
Location: Buffalo Sabres / Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 12.02.2009

Jun 22 @ 12:00 PM ET
Again, Poulin getting the C had nothing to do with his point totals. He got it because of his emotional maturity, work ethic, the way he unified the guys in the room and because he was a great spokesman (both to the media and as an intermediary with Keenan).
- bmeltzer


Bill, I agree with everything you’ve said in your blog, but I’m just not sure it’s the whole story. I truly believe a good captain should be everything you mention PLUS be a difference maker on the ice - offensively or defensively. He’s one of the guys other players look to when the chips are down - scoring a timely goal or huge defensive play to prevent a goal. Something that can change the momentum of an important game.

That’s not Scott Laughton, no matter how many of the other characteristics he possesses. Decent player, reliable defensively and chips in occasionally offensively, but just doesn’t have the ability to pull that magic rabbit play out of his hat.
BiggE
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: SELL THE DAMN TEAM!
Joined: 04.17.2012

Jun 22 @ 12:02 PM ET
Who should be the next captain? Before answering, lets take a look at the various captains in team history.

Lou Angotti: the most experienced player on the inaugural club and the logical choice to wear the C

Ed Van Impe: while not a superstar, he was, at that time, the teams top Dman

Bobby Clarke: superstar, no brainer selection

Mel Bridgman: hard nosed player who was solid middle six forward. He got the C when Clarke became a player/assistant coach. Personally, I think it should have gone to Bill Barber.

Bill Barber: Barber wore the C for a very short time after Bridgman was traded and until Clarke decided to relinquish his coaching duties and take it back. He was a star player and a heart and soul guy as well.

Dave Poulin: Poulin was a top 6 forward and often played top line minutes at ES between Propp and Kerr. He was also arguably the best penalty killing forward in the NHL during his prime and the definition of a warrior. Without a doubt, the 2nd best captain in club history.

Ron Sutter: Sutter was basically Poulin lite. An ok choice, but the way they did it was extremely distasteful.

Rick Tocchet: Very good player, not a great captain in my opinion. Toc was still too emotional at that point in his career.

Kevin Dineen: Solid 2RW and a good captain. Would have got the C sooner if his dad wasn't the coach.

Eric Lindros: Amazing player, but not a great captain. I get why they gave it to him and it probably had to be done, but again, IMO, Rod Brind'amour would have been the better choice

Eric Desjardins: Handled the C well during a very difficult time, especially when you factor in that he didn't really want it.

Keith Primeau: A very good player, he was the perfect C for Hitchcock.

Peter Forsberg: Excellent short lived choice, too bad he couldn't stay healthy

Jason Smith: As Bill pointed out, he did a great job

Mike Richards: Struggled with the media/pr aspect of the job but he was a fine on ice leader.

Chris Pronger: Too bad he couldn't stay healthy, he would have been a great captain

Claude Giroux: Captained the team through the worst decade in team history. Can't blame most of that on him though.

So, where do they go from here?

My choice would be Couturier. He leaves it all on the ice, is the team's best all around player by far, and plays the hardest minutes and often through various injuries. I like Laughton and understand the relationship between Atkinson and Torts, but the C should go to Couturier. Hayes, IMO, should not even be in the conversation.
BiggE
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: SELL THE DAMN TEAM!
Joined: 04.17.2012

Jun 22 @ 12:04 PM ET
Bill, Do you feel there is any player on the current roster that needs to be moved out?
- rayc16


I'm not Bill, but I'll chime in anyway. When you have back to back seasons as crappy as the last 2, I think there are quite a few players that need to hit the road. Honestly, the only guys I wouldn't be looking to move are Hart, players under 25 with 3 years or less of NHL experience and a few vets like Couts and Atkinson. Everyone else should be on the market.
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Jun 22 @ 12:08 PM ET
I'm not Bill, but I'll chime in anyway. When you have back to back seasons as crappy as the last 2, I think there are quite a few players that need to hit the road. Honestly, the only guys I wouldn't be looking to move are Hart, players under 25 with 3 years or less of NHL experience and a few vets like Couts and Atkinson. Everyone else should be on the market.
- BiggE

Why not move ex selke?
ClaudeFather
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: west haven, CT
Joined: 08.14.2015

Jun 22 @ 12:09 PM ET
Wasn’t someone on here telling me no chance the Panthers were moving on from their coach? You think you know way more than you do bud.
cdearth23
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Joined: 08.06.2015

Jun 22 @ 12:09 PM ET

Article about Landeskog. Interesting.

Read the room
Psychology Today defines emotional intelligence as "the ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others." The emotionally intelligent "are able to shift gears and lighten mood, both internally and externally."

Daniel Briere played more than 1,000 NHL games spread across five franchises. He's shared the ice with a ton of people, including Landeskog for a season in 2014-15. Landeskog, Briere says, fits the description above.

"People assume that being a captain is grabbing people by their throats and throwing them against the wall when they don't do their job. It doesn't work that way," said Briere, a co-captain in Buffalo for three seasons. "Maybe, I don't know, it worked like that in the '60s or '70s, but nowadays it doesn't work that way. Emotional intelligence is, I think, a key in being able to understand other players, to rally them to be together."

Briere knew in an instant that Landeskog had the "it" factor. Guess who was the first person to approach Briere, then 36, when he walked into Colorado's dressing room? "He came directly to me, shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, 'Danny, welcome to the Colorado Avalanche.' I was so impressed by that," Briere said, emphasizing it's both a small thing and a big thing for a captain to be so on point with the intangibles of the role. "I was so impressed that a 21- or 22-year-old at the time felt strong enough to get up in front of everybody and come and welcome somebody new to the team."

Lightning defenseman Fredrik Claesson says reading the room is in his childhood friend's DNA. "Honestly, it's kind of scary. He's a born leader." Within the team bubble, it can go deeper than that, too. Teammates of all ages watch a captain's body language, looking for cues on how to act. For the most part, it's subconscious and unnoticed, yet it happens every day.

"He just knew when to turn it on and turn it off," Ben Fanelli, a junior teammate and close friend, said of Landeskog's social instincts. "He just had this ability, and still does today, to show his loving side and enjoyment for life but can also dial it in and flip the switch and get into action mode. I think that's one of his many gifts."

Landeskog admitted he can feel uncomfortable talking about his captaincy. "Ultimately, I'm not the one that's judging my leadership." Well, MacKinnon, the Avs' superstar, has lauded Landeskog on multiple occasions for being the "perfect captain."
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Jun 22 @ 12:12 PM ET
Wasn’t someone on here telling me no chance the Panthers were moving on from their coach? You think you know way more than you do bud.
- ClaudeFather

whoa....
ClaudeFather
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: west haven, CT
Joined: 08.14.2015

Jun 22 @ 12:18 PM ET
Article about Landeskog. Interesting.

Read the room
Psychology Today defines emotional intelligence as "the ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others." The emotionally intelligent "are able to shift gears and lighten mood, both internally and externally."

Daniel Briere played more than 1,000 NHL games spread across five franchises. He's shared the ice with a ton of people, including Landeskog for a season in 2014-15. Landeskog, Briere says, fits the description above.

"People assume that being a captain is grabbing people by their throats and throwing them against the wall when they don't do their job. It doesn't work that way," said Briere, a co-captain in Buffalo for three seasons. "Maybe, I don't know, it worked like that in the '60s or '70s, but nowadays it doesn't work that way. Emotional intelligence is, I think, a key in being able to understand other players, to rally them to be together."

Briere knew in an instant that Landeskog had the "it" factor. Guess who was the first person to approach Briere, then 36, when he walked into Colorado's dressing room? "He came directly to me, shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, 'Danny, welcome to the Colorado Avalanche.' I was so impressed by that," Briere said, emphasizing it's both a small thing and a big thing for a captain to be so on point with the intangibles of the role. "I was so impressed that a 21- or 22-year-old at the time felt strong enough to get up in front of everybody and come and welcome somebody new to the team."

Lightning defenseman Fredrik Claesson says reading the room is in his childhood friend's DNA. "Honestly, it's kind of scary. He's a born leader." Within the team bubble, it can go deeper than that, too. Teammates of all ages watch a captain's body language, looking for cues on how to act. For the most part, it's subconscious and unnoticed, yet it happens every day.

"He just knew when to turn it on and turn it off," Ben Fanelli, a junior teammate and close friend, said of Landeskog's social instincts. "He just had this ability, and still does today, to show his loving side and enjoyment for life but can also dial it in and flip the switch and get into action mode. I think that's one of his many gifts."

Landeskog admitted he can feel uncomfortable talking about his captaincy. "Ultimately, I'm not the one that's judging my leadership." Well, MacKinnon, the Avs' superstar, has lauded Landeskog on multiple occasions for being the "perfect captain."

- cdearth23

Speaks to why Laughton should be captain. 9 times out of 10 it is given to the best player. People put way too much weight into who wears the C. The guys in the locker room that speak up are going to be the same after the C is given. No issue with those 3 mentioned with the exception of Hayes as I said before.
Tomahawk
Location: Driver's Seat: Mitch Marner bandwagon. Grab 'em by the Corsi.
Joined: 02.04.2009

Jun 22 @ 12:19 PM ET
Emotional intelligence is, I think, a key in being able to understand other players, to rally them to be together.
- cdearth23


This.


BiggE
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: SELL THE DAMN TEAM!
Joined: 04.17.2012

Jun 22 @ 12:21 PM ET
Why not move ex selke?
- hello it's me 2050


Because
A. He's still the team's best player
B. No team is going to get rid of every veteran player
C. With 8 years to run on his new deal at 7.75 million per, you aren't going to get back enough value to make the deal.
jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Jun 22 @ 12:22 PM ET
Coots or Laughton or Hayes or Cam... is it really gonna make a difference at the end of the day? Just pick somebody and move on, no need to over-analyze.
-Tomahawk

Not true! Having played hockey I can honestly tell you who is wearing the 'C' means a lot. In other sports, like Basketball or Football it really does not matter, but with hockey, the 'C' still carries a lot of meaning and respect. It sets the tone for the team, and I for one would prefer a more vocal captain for this group versus a lead by example type of captain like G was. Cam has not been here long enough for me, so I think Laughton, who was drafted and developed by the Flyers, is the right choice.
ClaudeFather
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: west haven, CT
Joined: 08.14.2015

Jun 22 @ 12:25 PM ET
Not true! Having played hockey I can honestly tell you who is wearing the 'C' means a lot. In other sports, like Basketball or Football it really does not matter, but with hockey, the 'C' still carries a lot of meaning and respect. It sets the tone for the team, and I for one would prefer a more vocal captain for this group versus a lead by example type of captain like G was. Cam has not been here long enough for me, so I think Laughton, who was drafted and developed by the Flyers, is the right choice.
- jd250

Please enlighten us on what level of hockey you played that who was wearing the C mattered? Let me guess, high school, and one of the better Senior players was the captain?
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