Gionta For Captain?

by Robert L on Sep 22, 2009 7:31 PM EDT Comment 4 comments

After five exhibition games, Brian Gionta has not only been the best of the newcomers to the team, he has often been the best and most exciting player on the ice. His performances have displayed a gutsy perseverence that has so far endeared him to fans and teammates alike.

Prior to the start of the five game exhibition run, coach Jacques Martin spoke of Gionta's leadership traits, as many off ice as on. With a void in the Canadiens captaincy, many onlookers took note.

Could Gionta be on Martin's radar for the "C"?

Previously, the notion of having a newcomer be designated captain Montreal was a farfetched proposition. Such things just do not happen in Hab land. The perceived front runner was seen to be veteran defenseman Andrei Markov, who by all accounts, seems to have passed on the honour.

Gionta is one of several players donning the assistant captain's "A" in camp, which spells out that Martin surely has him in mind. Last night's 2 goals and 1 assist performance against the Penguins by Gionta represented the best showing of any individual on the club so far this camp.

After the game, Jacques Demers, who loves to scoop the Montreal hockey scene right or wrong, said Gionta will be the name. Today, an article by Scott Gordon of the Globe and Mail had this to say on Gionta.　

Jacques Martin has consistently praised Gionta's attitude and work ethic, he's combative (last night he got up in Geno Malkin's grille after a bit of a sneaky elbow behind the net) and he can obviously still put the puck in the net. Gionta has a telepathic understanding with Scott Gomez, which effectively removes any excuses for the formerly underachieving Ranger centre. He also makes Plekanec instantly better by showing him that small men can drive to the net. He demonstrates to the Matt D'Agostinis and Guillaume Latendresses that while they may not have thought they were mailing it in, they were.

There is one week left prior to the season's opening, and my guess is that a captain will be named by September 28, next Monday, with three days left for the media to get all over this before the drop of the puck in Toronto October 1.

Below is a choice between four players, some that have been discussed here in recent weeks. What your thoughts?

Poll

Who will be the Habs next captain?

Cammalleri - the club's best offensive player

24 votes

Gionta - he's demonstrating that he is up to the task.

205 votes

Gomez - the team's focal point in many ways.

41 votes

Markov - on record as denying he's turned down captaincy.

30 votes

300 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 4 comments |

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Comments

I would have to say that in my opinion Gionta is likely the front runner.

Personally, I wasn’t really sure he was a good pick up by Gainey at first….. I’m a believer now. Just seeing his effort…. how he positions himself around the net… so far he seems to naturally find openings a few times a night… only pre-season but still… just like you mention… he brings it every night and other guys will (and should) pick up on that.

He’s not scared to be bulldozed by much bigger men.

Still seems to have a ton of skill.

Again, I’m a believer.

He (Brian Gionta) may not be the only choice, but if he is chosen to be the team’s captain I don’t think I’ll have any objections.

- Yves -
http://yvesonhabs.com

by yves_on_habs on Sep 22, 2009 9:58 PM EDT reply actions

I wish Higgins had a role model like Gionta on the ice. Higgins played like Gio did when he was a rookie, taking abuse in front of the net to score garbage goals, but he lost that drive after a couple of injuries.

From the way things are going, the new guys are taking the lead and the younger vets like Gorges, Lapierre, Latendresse and Kostitsyn don’t know what has hit them. Markov seems to be doing just fine, and he remains a contender. But I think it’s just Markov and Gionta, and I think it’ll be Gionta.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Sep 23, 2009 12:35 AM EDT reply actions

I’ve been thinking Gionta before the preseason games started simply because every time Martin talks about the players, he lauds Gionta’s leadership qualities. So, I think he has been priming everyone for that selection for a while already.
I am a little concerned though that Martin or the organization will select the captain. Robert wrote about this a few weeks ago regarding Gainey’s appointment as captain by Berry. I think it is better for the players to select their captain. In this case, it might be different because this is not a team of veterans like the Habs of the late ’70’s and early ’80’s, however, I still think it is better the other way.
My question, Robert, is do you really think Martin is pushing to decide on a captain as sooon as the 28th? It does look like he might be in a hurry to decide on this. I don’t see the need to rush this. If they need to rush anything, it is to get some more consistent play from the younger players.

by nyhabsfan on Sep 23, 2009 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve said it somewhere, that the 20 game mark would be an ideal moment. By then, the worthy player will be evident, and it will occur just a few weeks prior to the actual centennial, giving time for the media fuss over the story to die down.

J.T. at the H does not stand for Habs wrote a great piece a month ago on why Gainey understands having the coach name the captain in Montreal is wrong. Evidently, Gainey is not a reader!

http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-bob-gainey-will-not-appoint-captain.html

by Robert L on Sep 23, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions