After Jaromir Jagr demurred (on the grounds that he doesn't speak English well enough), the
New York Rangers named Darius Kasparaitis their new captain. Just Wide's pal Jason hit on the perfect analogy for this weird choice: it's "like making the
Submariner leader of the Avengers."
For opening night, though,
the Blueshirts ironed-on three As and no C. (Note to
Star-Ledger eds: we like "none" treated as singular, but it's your call, obviously.) Whatever they've said to date, it's hard to imagine the Rangers will end up captainizing anyone but
Steve Rucchin. What else is he in New York for, if not veteran leadership?
Our notion of the ideal captain is someone in the Yzerman/Francis/Sakic mode. We'll concede that maybe (as Just Wide's pal Tim contends) the high-profile, media-saturated New York environment calls for someone with a somewhat flashier personality. Someone with a little more ego. Someone like the Rangers' last (and arguably greatest) captain. But it's still hard to believe that Dirty Darius — who'd already taken his first dumb high-sticking penalty of the year before the first intermission of New York's season opener — is the guy for the job.
Icebreaker question: Who's the least apt captain you can remember? Who, in your opinion, wore the C in spite of being, for whatever reason, poorly suited for it?
Here's Ted Montgomery's worst captains list, compiled from the
"Hockey Rewind" column he wrote biweekly for USAToday.com during the lockout. As far as I can tell, he didn't get around to reviewing the Penguins or Oilers.
Worst Captains (by Ted Montgomery):
- Hurricanes/Whalers: Russ Anderson (1982-83)
- Stars/Northstars: Paul Shmyr (1979-81)
- Islanders: Kenny Jonsson (for parts of the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons)
- Rangers: Kelly Kisio (1988-91), who just didn't have the bark or the bite to lead a team, on or off the ice
- Canadiens: Walt Buswell (1939-40)
- Wild: This is a tough one. The Wild have employed a system of rotating captains, and 13 different players have word the "C" at one time or another. I'd choose ... Filip Kuba as the worst.
- Panthers: Pavel Bure (2001-2002)
- Lightning: If you can believe this, Mikael Renberg was the team's captain for part of the 1997-98 season, not coincidentally the franchise's worst season.
- Sabres: Alexander Mogilny, for part of the 1993-94. Can you imagine Mogilny as your team's captain?
- Canucks: Chris Oddleifson (1976-77)
- Avalanche/Nordiques: Andre Dupont (for part of the 1981-1982 season)
- Devils/Scouts/Rockies: Gary Croteau (1978-1979)
- Mighty Ducks: Troy Loney (1993-94)
- Capitals: Doug Mohns (1974-75)
- Flyers: The Flyers have had a succession of excellent captains, one of the few NHL teams to entrust the right guy with this important position time after time. If I had to choose one, it'd be Mel Bridgman (1979-80).
- Coyotes/Jets: Lars Erik-Sjoberg (1979-80)
- Blackhawks: Denis Savard (1988-89)
- Blue Jackets: Ray Whitney (2002-2003)
- Bruins: Ed Sanford (1954-55)
- Red Wings: Terry Harper, for part of the 1975-76 season
- Thrashers: Steve Staios (2001)
- Predators: Greg Johnson (2002-present)
- Maple Leafs: Rick Vaive (1981-86)
- Kings: Terry Harper (1973-75)
- Flames: Jean Pronovost in 1979-80
- Senators: Gord Dineen (for a part of the 1993-94 season)
- Blues: Garth Butcher (1991-92)
- Sharks: Todd Gill (1996-97)