Next HABS Captain Should Be?...

[Darche4C]

IMO Matthieu Darche.. In Hamilton he is our captain and in Montreal the 33 year old bring great leadership and plays a good role. Plays the 1st line and should be up fulltime and named captain for the 2010-2011 season

[primoe24]

My vote for next Habs captain would have to be Gionta. He's 31yrs old and knows how to win. Playing with New Jersey he was under some great coaching from Lemaire and can help our young guys develop as the years progress.

[kyleroussel]

I'm with you Primoe24. My choice has always been Gionta.

Let's add this name to the mix: Gorges. After taking a bomb to the head last night, many lesser men would have taken the day (or 2) off. He was back on the ice today practicing with his teammates. That shows dedication and leadership.

He'd be a dark horse for sure, but he's in my top 4 after last night. In fact, my captaincy list is as follows:

1- Gionta
2- Cammalleri
3- Markov
4- Gorges

[GucciPucciPrada]

I'm totally biased as hell (shocking, i know) and I still say Cammalleri, although I will admit after hearing all the comments last night about how strong of a presence Gorges is, I'd be okay with him being one too... Or Gio.

[kyleroussel]

Markov is coming under some degree of heat today for sitting out the last couple of games, but is out there and skating with his Russian teammates (and was doing so as of Sunday from what I heard). Whether it's true or not, I don't know, but we DO know that he was out for the season last year with the Habs, only to be good to go for Russia in the World Championships.

What say you? If he was skipping Habs games in order to ensure that he was ok to suit up for Team Russia, do you have a problem with that? Is that the type of thing you want to see out of a potential captain?

[Reza]

This kind of thing comes up a lot in soccer, sometimes for country sometimes for team. I can only say us Habs fan certainly have a right to question it but playing for your country at something like the olympics is something players dream of and push themselves to make it.

[SuperChris]

I have a problem with it. If this past weekend and the Olympics was the first time, I wouldn't. But doing it last summer shows a trend, that country is more important than the Habs. Granted, suiting up for your country is a HUGE honor. But you do that for a short tourney, he plays for the Habs all year. I'll give him a pass for the Olympics, but the World Championships happen every year. So it's not the same. And we can't have our captain ending his season early just because he's a little banged up and it looks like our ship is sinking.

[kyleroussel]

I completely understand Markov's desire to play for his country when the opportunity arises. That said, should playing for your country mean you put your pro team on back burner? I find it amazing how we will slag some guys that we don't necessarily like so much, but when it's a guy we love (and need) we'll excuse just about anything.

If someone believes Markov was truly too hurt to play last Friday and Saturday, yet was good to practice at full speed on Sunday with Team Russia, and play 20 minutes a couple days later...more power to you.

Personally, I have a hard time believing that he can be unable to play for the Canadiens in two crucial games, yet be good to go in the following day or two. Some will say that he had back spasms, and can be painful one day, and manageable the next...fine. I'm not a doctor so I won't dispute that.

The Canadiens would have been smart to disclose some information here. This is not the type of behavior that a captain engages in, and nobody will ever be able to convince me otherwise.

Given what he's done in the playoffs last year (i.e. stay away from the Habs, then play in the World Championchips) and this recent mini-scandal, you can't help but have some doubt in your mind about his commitment level. And I know what some would reply to that. "He's been here for nearly 10 years and is our best player..." Noise. Just noise. At equal talent, I'd rather have the guy who's been around for 2 months, who's willing to play hurt and lay it on the line for his team rather than the guy who's been around for 10 years but kicks his feet up when he's afraid to compromise his other plans.

[kyleroussel]

Just to bump this back to the top (anyone still out there?)...

We will probably revisit this conversation over the summer, so I'm just getting things started.

After the playoffs we just witnessed, we can safely say 2 things:

1- The Habs don't need a captain to succeed,
2- The Habs have a lot of guys who can wear the C, and wear it well.

The list got a lot more crowded in my mind, and I'm completely and totally blown away by how Josh Gorges has come from seemingly nowhere over the course of the year, to be one of the team's clear leaders by the end of the playoff run.

My list now looks like:
1- Gionta
2- Gorges
3- Cammalleri
4- Markov

Honorable mentions to Gill and Gomez.

In fact, the gap between 2 and 3 is now widening. I would not be disappointed if Cammalleri or even Markov were selected as captain, but I think it's clear as day that either Gionta or Gorges will get it. Certainly whichever of those 4 gets the C, the others will likely get an 'A'.

The only thing standing in the way of all this is contract status. Markov and Gorges are both entering the last year of their deals. Markov needs to prove his health to warrant a big extension, and Gorges will be RFA. He should be extended IMMEDIATELY. If he is, he will get a letter.

[Habbykins]

I hope and think it will be Gionta - but it of course may be Markov - new Canadian/old canadiens

[heymynameiswill]

I've been a big, big advocate for Gorges to be the next captain. He's very eloquent to the media, leads by example on the ice and I imagine he's very respected by his teammates. But I'm not sure he'd be named captain unless he signed a long-term extension. Would be a hell of a press conference if they announced both moves at once though.

[halak#1]

Cammy for me!

[bleedBLEUBLANCROUGE]

it's always been josh gorges for me. everything he does is for the team, he is a warrior and will do anything for the team. i really think he is a great leader and would be great with the C on his jersey.

[Habbykins]

I hope it is Gionta...classy guy...stays out of controversy..would be great.

[habsfan_4life]

Its diffcult for this year's captain very hard to choose but either Gionta or Cammy Josh and Markov, Gionta at first he is a teammate he looks out he has heart , Cammy he is alot of heart for the team he is not just playing hockey he is playing with passion for the game  and also leadership he has too , Same for Gorges and Markov I dont want to say anything bad about these players because they are very good how the perform . So i would say Cammy