We’ve had a poll up here at Boltsmag the last few weeks asking for fans votes on who would be Lightning team captain come opening day… There have been quite a few responses up to this point.
The St. Petersburg Times reports this morning it’s a two-horse race between Tim Taylor and Brad Richards for the “C”. There are no juicy quotes given by John Tortorella or general manager Jay Feaster for you to ponder and chew on — just the musings of Damian Cristodero and the conclusions drawn within.
last updated September 5, 2006 at 1:46 pm
I think it is official now that Tim Taylor is THE captain. A little surprising to me. How many seasons do they think he has left in him? I really felt like they have been grooming Richards to be the face of the Lightning, especially with that hefty contract. I guess I was wrong.
Final Results of the Boltsmag Captaincy poll:
Who should be named the Lightning team captain?
* Martin St. Louis: 13% (13)
* Tim Taylor: 10% (10)
* Vincent Lecavalier: 32% (32)
* Brad Richards: 39% (39)
* Other: 2% (2)
* Don’t name a captain – just have Assistants: 4% (4)
Total Votes : 100
Having just discovered this site, I regret that I didn’t learn of this poll earlier so I could have voted (not like it would’ve mattered anyway).
Anyway, here’s my two cents: I was in the same class as Martin St. Louis at UVM (we still run into one another every now and then) and watched every collegiate home game he ever played (I actually played on a line with him and Perrin in a pre-season captain’s practice; right before I was cut!). Sitting in the front row, right behind the UVM bench and within ear-shot of all that went on, I can only say this: Marty is probably the most driven, intense and selfless hockey player I’ve ever witnessed. Just the mere fact that he came out of nowhere to become what he is now in the NHL, especially considering the barriers he had to break through (size, un-drafted), warranted – at the very least – an “A” on his jersey, if not the “C”. He possesses all of the qualities you would expect out of a captain, and given his career circumstances, as well as the example he has set both with his clutch play and determination, you would think that the Lightning higher-ups would have given him more consideration.
Nothing against Richards, Taylor and Lacavelier (well, I could bitch about Vinnie a bit), but the little-man-that-can deserved the honor of an “A” or a “C”, and I can only hope that he’ll be rewarded with such by no later than the 2007-08 season. Nobody on that team has overcome more obstacles or achieved more success in the last 3-4 years. Just one admittedly-biased Lightning fan’s opinion.
ps – Speaking of snubs, why the hell hasn’t Marty been considered for the Lady Byng??? Zero career fights, misconducts or major penalties. Not to mention the fact that he hardly ever talks trash. Jeez, Datsyuk wins it last year?? The guy had 2 game misconducts and 3 unsportsmanlike penalties!!