In 2008, two days before their October 10 season opener vs. the Montreal Canadians, Head Coach Lindy Ruff announced that recently acquired d-man Craig Rivet would be named team captain.
It was a somewhat surprising move considering the fact that he'd been acquired a mere three months earlier in a trade with San Jose', with the operative word being "somewhat."
Ruff had used the rotating captain thing for the 2007/08 season--the first season without departed co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere--trying to find out which player had what it takes to lead the team. Although there may have been a player in his eyes which could take the reigns, none, it seemed, felt themselves worthy, and it ended up with the team voting Rivet captain.
“The players showed a lot of instant respect for him and what he’s done,” Ruff said as he introduced the new Sabres captain. “Was I a little bit surprised? Yeah. I’ve liked, and loved actually, what he’s done in practice and games. But to come in and garner that much respect and trust from his teammates in a short period of time… it says a lot.”
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| And now, "Deep Thoughts," by Lindy Ruff. "Who Will Be My Captain This Season?" |
Three years later, the Sabres are once again looking for a captain as Rivet was off to Columbus on re-entry waivers late last season.
The Core Is Older, But Have They Matured?
"The Core" consists of these players who were brought up in the Sabres system and were/are looked to for leadership: Jason Pominville, Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, Paul Gaustad and to an extent Drew Stafford. One other player, although not drafted by the Sabres yet has been with the team for eight years and may be considered a core player, is Jochen Hecht.
All have worn the "A" (save for Stafford,) two--Pominville and Hecht--wore the "C" during the 2007/08 captain's rotation season and all (save for Hecht) are entering various stages of their primes.
With four years under their belts since the departure of co-captains Drury and Briere, and with varying degrees of success both individually and team-wise, the jury's still out as to whether or not one of the group has emerged as captain material.
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| Is it deja vu all over again for the Sabres and incoming d-man/leader, Robyn Regehr? |
In a bit of deja vu, recently acquired d-man, Robyn Regehr, like Rivet, has leadership attributes and may end up wearing the "C" in Buffalo. It would be easy for the team to vote him captain considering he wore an "A" in Calgary.
And the same quote Ruff used to describe Rivet can be used to make a case for Regehr, “I’ve said all along first of all [a captain has] to be the guy you want to follow on the ice,” Ruff said. “[his] actions on the ice dictate more than what he can say in the room... He’s got good character. He’s going to be right there for his teammates.”
This time around, unlike 2008 when "the core" players were mired in youthful insecurities and shunned the responsibility of the captaincy, there may be players on the team this year who feel as if they are ready to lead.
Leadership Qualities That Teammates Follow
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| 2007 NHL Hall Of Fame Inductees: Mark Messier, Scott Stevens, Ron Francis and Al MacInnis |
"The guy you want to follow," pretty much sums up a hockey captain. Some have it when they come into the league, are named captain real early and are successful (Sidney Crosby.) Some adapt after the initial shock of the weight (Ron Francis.) For some it's a process that's either short-term (Joe Sakic,) mid-range (Mark Messier) or long-term (Dave Andreychuk.) And then there's some, as we come to find out later, who never had it to begin with (Alexei Yashin.)
But for the majority, it's the mid-range process, where they enter their prime after hundreds of games on the ice, much like where this current crop of core players are right now in their careers.
In a November, 2007 piece, Paul Grant of espn.com interviewed four 2007 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees who were all captains in the NHL, and who had all hoisted the Stanley Cup, about what it takes to lead.
The "Captain's Captain," Mark Messier along with NJ Devils' Cup-winning captain Scott Stevens, Calgary Flames Cup-winner and St. Louis Blues captain, Al MacInnis and Hartford Whalers captain/Pittsburgh Penguins Cup-winner, Ron Francis all chimed in on what it means to be the guy that you'd want to follow.
Comfortable In Your Own Skin
Ron Francis played 23 years in the NHL, scored at a point/game pace for over 1700 games, won the Lady Byng Trophy three times, and was captain of the Hartford Whalers--the team that drafted him 4th overall in 1981--for six of his ten seasons with the team. He won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992.
He was one of the 2007 Hall of Famers interviewed by Grant, and although he didn't win the Cup as captain of the team, he does provide an important jump-off point.
Francis was named team captain at a very young age and it was a difficult transition. One point that really jumped out as he talked about what it takes to be a captain was this, "It's about being comfortable in your own skin," he said.
It's a factor that pretty much eliminates the younger Sabres' players still trying to find their niche in the NHL. That includes Stafford, who had a breakout season last year yet is still trying to find consistency. Although young defensive stud Tyler Myers seems to exude leadership qualities and has garnered plenty of respect in his two NHL seasons, he not only has youth against him right now, but must also master the intricacies of his position.
Other Sabres like Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe could be future leaders and seem comfortable in their game, but like Myers, are still very young and, like Stafford, will need to show consistently over the long haul.
Lead by Example
Former NJ Devils captain Scott Stevens and former St. Louis Blues captain Al MacInnis were both big defensemen who won the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Stevens, a stay-at-home d-man, was noted for his intimidating presence and vicious hits. MacInnis was best-known for his blistering slap-shot and offensive acumen recording 1274 points in 1416 NHL games.
Both stressed "lead by example" first and foremost when talking about being a captain.
"Lead by example," said Stevens, "that's the biggest thing. It's more about work ethic, coming to play every night, working hard in practice, showing up for practice, showing up for games, and what you do off the ice, how you carry yourself, because everyone is watching you. All the players are watching you."
Said MacInnis, "You want to lead by example. If your teammates see the work ethic that you put in, the consistency that you put in, not only games but in practices, I think your teammates will follow."
None of the Sabres' core in the mix have the intimidating presence of Stevens, yet all have the some of offensive acumen of MacInnis.
But, do any of them lead by example both on and off the ice? Does Lindy Ruff have, in his words, "that guy you want to follow" amongst his core players?
Trust
Trust
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| The NY Rangers, lead by Mark Messier, hoisted the Cup for the first time in 54 years. |
For the past three decades the benchmark for leadership has been "The Captain's Captain," Mark Messier. After leading the Edmonton Oilers to five Stanley Cups in the 80's, Messier headed to Broadway to a team that hadn't won the cup in 50 years.
In the '94 playoffs, with the Rangers down three games to two vs. the NJ Devils, Messier guaranteed a victory in Game 6 and backed it up with a hat trick in their victory.
The Rangers downed the Devils in seven games and went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 54 years as Messier scored the game winner in Game 7 versus the Vancouver Canucks.
Messier's career is legendary. and when looking at what it takes to lead, he said, "I think the biggest thing, if you had to pick just one, would be trust." He continued, "Your players have to trust you. They have to be able to look at you and know that you're consistent in your approach and your philosophy and what you believe in. Establishing a relationship where they can trust you is very important."
Who Will Ruff Be Looking To This Season?
Back in 2008, it would seem as if none of the core players had the trust of their teammates. It could probably be said that none felt comfortable enough in their own skin to take on the reigns of leadership as well.
With training camp underway , and the season set to begin in less than a month, Ruff, a former captain himself, will be looking at his options--he could go with the alternating captain thing (which is highly unlikely,) he could continue using four alternates and no captain (which would be a good possibility) or he could look at his group and name one captain with two home alternates and two away alternates.
But who would be the guy that the team would "want to follow?" Who amongst the core is comfortable in themselves, leads by example, and would be a player that the team would trust?
Ruff's Core Options
Jason Pominville
Pommer is the type of player who's game is as consistent as the sun rising. He's a smooth skater who plays a smart game with no fanfare or flair and Ruff counts on him to play in all situations on the ice.
People tend to get caught up in numbers and point to his statistical decline in production, which isn't to the point where it's alarming. And they also yearn for him to play a game that's not his style--they expect a more rugged game, more hits, more aggression.
But, that's not Pominville. He is comfortable in his game and it's easy to forget that when Drury and Briere left, he had his best statistical season in 2007/08 while taking on the mantle of leadership that season.
The subtlety with which Pominville plays the game is usually lost upon the casual fan, but a look at the penalty kill in his absence shows just how important he is to the team. And, although he will never show the bravado of Messier, and probably will never have the "Captain Clutch" moniker of Drury, he will be on the ice at every crucial point and the team will count on him to do what he's always done--take care of the task at hand.
As a player who's been in a leadership role for the last four seasons and as a veteran that the youngin's can look to for guidance, he would make a solid, if unspectacular, captain.
Derek Roy
We all know what Roy brings to the table, and over the past four years, he's consistently put up offensive numbers. Unfortunately, many times it's been at the expense of the "team-first" philosophy, as evidenced by more than a few sit-downs with Ruff.
His on-ice demeanor, at 28 yrs. old and in the midst of his prime, still leans towards immature. An example came early last season. WGR's Paul Hamilton pointed out, after a drubbing by the NY Rangers, that while Ennis was on the break streaking up ice and looking for a trailer, Roy was trailing, albeit far behind. He was busy complaining to a ref about a non-call.
His issues with diving and complaining to the refs are well documented and known throughout the league. And although they've abated over the past year or so, you're left to wonder whether he has it within himself to shuck those tendencies. Can a leopard ch...(well, you know the rest.)
Roy seemed to be turning the corner on maturity last season, but he ended up injured and missing the entire back-half of the season. During his season-ending injury, the Sabres got on a roll and went from 11th in the conference to 7th, and on many occasions it was said that "team-play" lead to the surge.
Roy is a valuable point-producer for the team and he plays in all situations, but he doesn't seem as if his teammates will follow his lead anymore, especially when his team missed the playoffs two straight seasons and were bounced in the first round with him in a leadership role. Nor does it seem as if the team will look to him as the one to guide them out of dire straights.
As the team transitions to the "new core," should Roy be looked upon as a leader? Or should he be left to focus upon his game?
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| Thomas Vanek wore the "A" last season. Is he ready to take the next step? |
Thomas Vanek
Vanek is an interesting case study in the maturation process of a highly skilled player thrust into extreme circumstances.
His incredible sophomore campaign made him multi-million dollar, poachable commodity and his transition from third line player on an offensively deep team to a top-line player on a team devoid of top-line talent made for a difficult on-ice transition.
The departure of Drury and Briere also left Vanek to his own devices when handling both on and off-ice pressures. He, basically, had to figure things out on his own, and because of all this, his maturation process was slowed.
But Vanek has shown continual progress the last few years, and he seems to have quietly passed through numerous thresholds to reach the point where he's become a complete player.
And last season he really came into his own as a leader on the team. Early in the season with the team in a deep funk, he was pivotal in overtime wins--scoring an overtime goal vs. Washington and harassing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamuis into a turnover that lead to a Myers overtime goal.
When Roy went down for the season and with Rivet in no man's land, Vanek seemed to willingly take the reigns of leadership and the Sabres went on a run that got them into the playoffs.
It took a while, but Vanek finally seems comfortable with who he is and what he's capable of.
Throughout last season WGR's Paul Hamilton looked at Vanek as a captain via extremes saying he would either be great or it would be a failure.
As of now, it could be said that the former would apply more so than the latter. He seems to have the internal drive to continue to grow, mature and bust through doors that are blocking his path.
And it showed last season that he really wanted to take on the mantle of leadership.
Paul Gaustad
Throughout his seven seasons in Buffalo, the big forward has taken on responsibilities thrown his way while playing a sound game for the Sabres. "Goose" is solid in his own end and is more than capable on the faceoff dot.
He has the respect of his teammates in the locker room and has a presence about him to where his teammates will follow his lead.
Unfortunately his lack of offensive acumen has limited him to third-line minutes which is determent to his being named captain. But you can bet that, even though he may "only" wear an "A" on his sweater, every teammate will look to him for leadership at one point or another.
Still In Transition, But In Much Better Shape Than 2007
Four seasons after the departures of Drury and Briere, the Sabres are still in a period of transition when it comes to naming a captain. But the team as a whole has matured and is in much better shape after four seasons of various successes and failures.
That being said, the results for this core without the departed co-captains are two seasons outside of the playoffs and two seasons of getting bounced in the first round. Granted, there are a myriad of reasons for the teams' lack of success, but the bottom line is that they didn't get it done.
The closest they came to a breakthrough year was last season with Roy out and Pominville sidelined by, and/or recovering from, injury. With Rivet on the bench as well, the leadership void seemed to be filled quite competently by Vanek.
It was still a very young team, especially on defense, and it seemed as if they played well over their heads during their playoff push.
With that being said, there are really only two choices for captain this season: Robyn Regehr or Thomas Vanek.
Either would be a good choice.
Were Regehr to be named captain, it would seem as if the team continues in it's transitionary mode and is looking to allow Tyler Myers to develop as the future captain of the team two or three years down the road.
Of the core mentioned above, Vanek seems to be the only one who's separated himself from the others and should he be named captain, it would be yet another threshold for him to breakthrough and conquer.
The choice for letters this upcoming season:
"C"--Thomas Vanek. Another step for Vanek and I think he's ready for it as he turns into the complete package. He's proven his mettle over the last two seasons and is the only Sabre to bust his way meaningfully on the score sheet in the playoffs. His willingness to play through pain and do what's necessary for team success is a strong foundation to continue to build trust in himself and of his team mates. Of Hamilton's previously mentioned extremes, I'll take the former and say that it will be a success.
"A" (home)--Jason Pominville. The team always had a tendency to get fancy at home, but Pommer helps the team dump that.
"A" (home)--Robyn Regehr. Regehr will be in charge of making sure it's F'N difficult for the opposition at The Center.
"A" (away)--Paul Gaustad. "Goose" brings it on the road to help guide the team in enemy territory.
"A" (away)--Tyler Myers. Myers will have the chance to develop into the Norris candidate that's within him. Regehr as his mentor will help with that and guide the kid as to what leadership is all about.
Oops!
I forgot about Vanek's dream. It could change everything.
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