i must say, it felt like 8 months for the flyers preseason to start, and now it is almost over. which brings the flyers to their next decision....after downie of course...the captaincy.
all fingers are pointing at gagne at this point. and the team hass clarified it will have a captain in place by game 1 in calgary. but is this really a smart move? albeit i am just a big fan taking in all the media perspectives available. but basing from my own experience as an above average athlete (soccer, not hockey), captains emerge over time. i would rather see this very squeaky clean and new group play together for a while before just choosing a figurehead.
this team is not a playoff team yet. maybe come march, they will be. but watching them play the washington's sloppy seconds was indication enough to even a casual observer that this team needs to be patient. so why rush the captaincy? if there had been a clear cut favorite all along, the decision would have been made. but there wasn't.
the flyers are looking to go in-house with a player who has been on the team. well, play until november and you will have 3 more choices who fit in that category.
thanks for reading. would love to get away from the downie stuff straight down the middle of hockeybuzz and talk some flyers.
I look at it in two ways, do we want a captian now that will be the awnser for the long haul or a shortterm solution to wait to give it to richards. Although I loved the way Gags stepped it up when Forsburg left and really worked hard for every point he got, I still think his time is better suited worring about scoring goals. I like Kappy as the captain for now and Richards when he retires.
i agree with giving it to kapanen. he has sacrificed a lot for this team through its good and bad. but crowning richards captain my dear gags12 is a bit premature. i mean lets not forget, we do have a guy named briere on our team for the next 8 years as well.
Hey "B.A." Baracus, cut the smugness. I think Richards in the next 2 years will show he's the man for the job. "we do have a guy named briere on our team"
Kapanen-C, Jason Smith-A, Gagne-A ... just how I'd like it to go down. With Briere, Timonnen, Richards, and Umberger as a few proven and a few up-and-coming leaders, the Flyers definitely won't have a lack of those that can take the reigns in times of need.
Buddy pretty much summed up my response. Well done.
I'd name Gagne, still. There's enough complimentary leaders to help him and he's matured enough to wear the C. His attitude and effort was vital to the team last year after the Forsberg trade.
I agree with Buddy's choices. I think gags is a bit to laid back to be an effective captain, while Kapanen is the hardest working player on the team, and will not be afraid to challenge a teammate who is not giving his all.
I also agree with Buddy's choices. Why not Kapanen??
Downie talk is killing me too. I would put Gator on it because truely I want to win now and he is going to be on the ice more then Kappy and is proven. But second choice would be Kappy. Not Gange- I dont care if he says hes ready, he doesnt know how he will react if he doesnt score like he used to. He might start second guessing himself and wish he didnt take the C. The risk is too big for giving it to Gange (as it was for forsey). If he falls this teams isnt making the POs. Isnt even winning many games on a regular basis. Gnage with the C= a big big risk. Play it conservatively.