Your Say; Who Should Be The ‘Nucks Captain?

With the Vancouver Canucks announcement on Monday that Roberto Luongo has been told he’s no longer stepped down as the captain of the team after two seasons, it brings up a major question on a team who’s looking for the right type of leadership to push them over the top this season.

Who will be his replacement?

There are many options, but three in particular that should be explored and discussed.

Henrik Sedin

Last year’s reigning Hart Trophy award winner, and a well respected player and member of the community.  He has been with the team for ten years and last season was his first as an assistant captain with the team.  In that season, he had a career year, setting personal bests with 29 goals, 83 assists and 112 points.

I believe he is well deserved of the honor with his play on the ice, but if you are someone who thinks a captain should be well versed with the media, then Sedin might be not your number one choice.  Also, if you’re a traditionalist and believe that North American’s make the best captains, also statistically proven, then Henrik just doesn’t fit the mould.

Ryan Kesler

Arguably one of the most popular Canucks on the roster, Kesler fits the prototypical NHL captain; strong, tenacious, media-friendly, and North American.

His role on the US Olympic team was never in question, and shone under the bright lights of playing for the enemy Americans on pro-Canadian home soil.  He defends his teammates and isn’t afraid to take on the oppositions best players.

Entering his sixth full season with Vancouver, and his third as assitant captain, Kesler had his best offensive output of his career last season, notching 25 goals and 50 assists for 75 points.  He also had 104 penalty minutes, ranking him in the top fifty in the league.

Dan Hamhuis

The Canucks prized off-season acquisition, Hamhuis brings six years of NHL regular season experience, all with the Nashville Predators, as well as five years of playoff experience to a team desperate for help on the back end.

Hamhuis doesn’t have the tenure in Vancouver or the report with the fans like Sedin or Kesler, but is a solid defenseman and brings in  a vast knowledge of the teams/players in the Western Conference.  He has played with the likes of Jason Arnott, a very successful captain wherever he has played, J.P Dumont, Paul Kariya and Shea Weber, with the latter the current captain of the Predators.

Hamhuis will most likely not be selected as the captain of the Canucks, however, he should be in consideration.  The players and coaches have competed against him enough to know his character and what type of leadership he could bring to the team.  If he isn’t named captain, I fully expect him to be named assistant captain.

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Many within the hockey community are saying that Sedin is the odds on favorite to be named captain at prior to the start of the regular season.  However, it shouldn’t be because he is simply the “star” player.

That argument that skill on the ice is the deciding factor in determining the future captain should be put to the rest simply because Kesler is more of a multi-faceted player than Sedin is, and grinds it out every single night.

It’s a toss up, but whatever decision the Canucks make will be well thought out, and most players/management I’m sure will have a say in who they would like to lead the team into the future.

My vote is for Kesler.  What’s your say?