as someone who knows Sid a bit, i’d love to see him as captain, but saying that, he’s going to be put under such a spotlight that most others aren’t regardless of the captaincy or not i kind of hope he doesn’t get it this year.  Iginla is a great leader and will be there 4 years from now as well, so I’d take him over Neidermayer, and maybe have Scott N as assistant and any of Sid, Lecavalier, Pronger, Mike Richards wearing the other A.  I’m sure I’m forgetting others too….

Posted by Greg on 08/24/09 at 07:23 AM ET

In invisible ink, maybe.

Posted by Stevis on 08/24/09 at 08:04 AM ET

If there is a God, he will ensure Iginla is the Captain.  Based upon his arrogance and whining (NHL’s #1 biggest crybaby by player vote) I would be ashamed if Rosby was given the C.  Rosby is talented, but ge is not a leader.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 08/24/09 at 08:16 AM ET

Does Canada feel comfortable with using the “he’s young and he got caught up in the moment” excuse if Sidney does something silly?

Methinks a captain should probably be someone old and experienced enough so that this argument does not apply.

Oh and crotch-punching should be criteria for selection as well.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/24/09 at 08:18 AM ET

Iggy wouldn’t skip the handshake line…

Posted by drimo from Cincinnati, OH on 08/24/09 at 08:48 AM ET

Iggy wouldn’t skip the handshake line…

iggy would also wait for the winners to finish celebrating and not storm off crying that they didn’t shake his hand.

Posted by enough on 08/24/09 at 08:53 AM ET

iggy would also wait for the winners to finish celebrating and not storm off crying that they didn’t shake his hand.

so true…

Funny how it’s only Red Wings fans saying Crosby doesn’t deserve it…When Yzerman changed the way he played and focused on Defense, it was because he was a great player and knew that he had Fedorov and others to help carry the load.  So why is it that if Crosby only gets 3-4 pts in the finals, all the other little things that he did gets overlooked?  Wings fan are still taking it tough after a couple months…

Posted by Greg on 08/24/09 at 09:11 AM ET

Tough choice.

Crosby is someone who has been tagged as a potential superstar since he was 15 years old (or younger)...  Came into the Q as maybe the most hyped player since - uh ever - and went on to win 2 CHL player of the year awards and let his team as far as he could.  So he was more than able to handle that pressure…

Next he headed to the NHL where, again all eyes were on him (from what I read here many wanting him to fail) - and what does he do?  Lead his team to the Stanley Cup in 4 years…  not bad considers that was what he was “supposed” to do.

So I don’t think the pressure is going to be an issue, as he has proven he can handle it with flying colors.  This handshake thing is something only you Wings fans are holding to… you lost, move on.  the guy is not perfect, he’s human - or have you forgotten that?  I would love to see any of you deal with what he has had to deal with and succeed, every time…  oh right, but I forgot you guys and your team are perfect - my bad…

That being said, it might be a good idea to hand the C to one of the vets this time around, Iginla is a great choice.  I think Mike Richards could do the job as well.  Those would be my top 2 picks I think….  then, next time there is a big international tourney (World Cup or Olympics) maybe the time would be right for Sid to step in… but for now I don’t see the need considering there are a few others who are maybe due.

Posted by WingMan from Qc on 08/24/09 at 09:17 AM ET

the guy is not perfect, he’s human - or have you forgotten that?

It’s easy to forget that when we have the perfect human.

Nobody said anything about his point totals in the play-offs or the fact that he is a ridiculously talented player.  The fact that he is amazing at hockey doesn’t automatically earn him the right to wear the ‘C’ on his chest.  Actually, speaking from experience, making the most talented players on a hockey club the captain can be a really bad move.  Leadership qualities, both on and off the ice, have to come into play, not just who is putting the points up on the scoreboard. 

Also, with the games actually occuring in Vancouver, you need someone who is mentally mature and strong enough to deal with all of the Canadian media that will be surrounding the games.

I don’t have any stake in how Canada does in the Olympics, I’m merely stating an oppinion that Crosby is not the best choice for captain of the team.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/24/09 at 09:26 AM ET

I think Crosby is a very good leader and qualified for the Captaincy of Team Canada . But I also think that this issue is a non-issue. Team canada is going to be packed with NHL lettered players. So leadership should be the least of thier concerns.Having said that,I also think they should give the C & A’s to the older players with more international experience though (i.e. Nidermayer,Iginla,Lecavalier ect.). The younger players with letters in the NHL such as Crosby,Richards & Getzlaf will get thier chance in the future. Or maybe not depending on what happens vis-a-vis NHL players/Olympics.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 08/24/09 at 09:40 AM ET

Actually, speaking from experience, making the most talented players on a hockey club the captain can be a really bad move.

he is not only the most talented player (and that’s debateable if you want to get in the Malkin/Crosby dispute).  who’s the first on the ice for practice?  who’s the last one off?  who’s the one if he loses a key face-off in a game is working the next day on his face-offs?  who sets the tone for the team?  fights in traffic and doesn’t back away from people?  who is the face of the team and it’s leader?  take off your red and white glasses.  crosby has been the leader of this team since he first got the ‘a’ his rookie year.  it’s funny.  no one complains about toews and his ‘c’.  no one says anything about ovechkin and his ‘a’.

Posted by enough on 08/24/09 at 09:43 AM ET

take off your red and white glasses.  crosby has been the leader of this team since he first got the ‘a’ his rookie year.  it’s funny.  no one complains about toews and his ‘c’.  no one says anything about ovechkin and his ‘a’.
Posted by enough on 08/24/09 at 10:43 AM ET

They’re off…idiot.  We’re not talking about Toews and we’re not talking about Ovechkin.  This article is about Sidney Crosby and whether he deserves to be captain of team Canada.

who’s the first on the ice for practice?  who’s the last one off?  who’s the one if he loses a key face-off in a game is working the next day on his face-offs?  who sets the tone for the team?  fights in traffic and doesn’t back away from people?  who is the face of the team and it’s leader?

Notice the word “leader” doesn’t enter into all of these questions until the very last one.  Now, granted most of what you’re saying is a “lead by example” sort of mentality.  And that would qualify someone for at least an “A”...if it’s true.  But I doubt that you yourself are there to see who is first on the ice for practice, who is last, who is working the next day on face-offs, unless you’re either a team member (not likely), a member of the press (not likely), or a stalker (possibly).  All other qualities that you mention are clearly speculation aside from what we can actually see out on the ice.

If I’m picking the captain of my team, I’m looking for more than just someone with a good work ethic who puts up points.  But again, that’s just me.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/24/09 at 09:59 AM ET

So a good work ethic, and putting up points doesn’t cut it?  The only two seasons as captain, the penguins made it to the finals, and other than the core players, it was with drastically different teams and coaches…

Whether you want to admit it or not, most wings fans, you included, are so biased and blinded by your hate/jealousy that you say it’s because he’s in the spotlight, or whines…

You’re jokes, and your posts are so transparent that I’m pretty sure most readers are laughing at your obvious bitterness….

Posted by Greg on 08/24/09 at 10:20 AM ET

So why is it that if Crosby only gets 3-4 pts in the finals, all the other little things that he did gets overlooked?

Yeah, but Yzerman wasn’t annointed as the best player in the world, and Yzerman played a great two-way game and Yzerman didn’t get completely owned by his counterpart.

Loving the revisionist history though, that Crosby didn’t light up the score sheet because he was so busy being the shutdown centre.  Good one.  I’m guessing he also scored both Pittsburgh goals in Game 7 and injured Johan Franzen with a booming hit in your mind too, Greg.

Oh, and Crosby didn’t get “3-4 pts in the finals”, he got 3.  That’s half as many as the guy who shut him down got.

Posted by Garth on 08/24/09 at 10:24 AM ET

I see that the crying in Detroit is still going strong! I think that Sidney is more than qualified to be the captain but I think it should go to Iginla. he has paid his dues and is a very good leader even if not the best player. Mario was the captain in 2002 and he was not the best player on that team but he deserved it due to his body of work

Posted by Randy from Butler PA on 08/24/09 at 10:35 AM ET

Remember back in 1998 when Clarke named Lindros captain of Team Canada for much the same reasons (and some thought that it would help him back in Philly) when there were plenty of other options for the captaincy. I think they’d be better off going with someone who a) is a more experienced player and b) has been in the Olympics before and understands the pressure of leading a team to the gold on its own ice and I think Iginla is a perfect choice.

Posted by phillyd from New Jersey on 08/24/09 at 10:36 AM ET

Garth if you’re implying that Zetterberg shut Crosby down himself, you’re as delusional as the rest of the wings fans…Crosby wasn’t out against only Z, he was up against Lidstrom practically every shift as well, the only way they were going to be successful was to have a unit out against his line…so smart Coaching by Babcock.  But to say Z shut him down is totally wrong, Z was so out of gas they didn’t even match him up against Crosby every game…

But in the end, i bet you Sid would happily give up the points from last year when he lost to win this year…guess being able to contribute when having a tough time getting on the scoreboard is what makes him a good leader. 

Like you said though, Z getting 6 points is something you can hang on to all summer, i really can’t remember such a bunch of whiners when a team lost in the finals.  there definitely wasn’t this many Penguin fans crashing every story to say their team was robbed, or blasting red wing players last year…

Posted by Greg on 08/24/09 at 10:37 AM ET

guess being able to contribute when having a tough time getting on the scoreboard is what makes him a good leader.

Sorry…being able to contribute?

Yep, quite the contribution.

there definitely wasn’t this many Penguin fans crashing every story to say their team was robbed, or blasting red wing players last year…

You’re right.  Because last year?  The Pens didn’t lose despite deserving to win.  So why would you complain?

And for the record, I responded to your post.  Hardly “crashing every story”.

Posted by Garth on 08/24/09 at 10:44 AM ET

Forget the C…get him a G for GOD.  Wings fans can be bitter all they want after last season.  Pens fans weren’t sitting around the previous summer sayin’ “aww shucks, we’ll get ‘em next year”.  They were cryin like bitches too.  So Pens fans can learn to be more gracious winners like their “captain”....ooops, maybe not.

Posted by yreland from Van Dieman's Land on 08/24/09 at 11:17 AM ET

Garth, how did the WIngs deserve to win this year given that they choked and lost 4 of the last 5 games in the finals?  i think thats the main thing that most Wings try to forget.  How any team can win the Stanley Cup after playing through 4 rounds and NOT deserve to win is beyond me….

And you obviously have never played hockey if you think the only way to contribute to winning is by getting points…just shows that you are talking out of your @ss trying to find anyway possible to bash Crosby.

Posted by Greg on 08/24/09 at 11:18 AM ET

So a good work ethic, and putting up points doesn’t cut it?  The only two seasons as captain, the penguins made it to the finals, and other than the core players, it was with drastically different teams and coaches…

Well, Greg I HAVE played hockey and I’ve also taken advanced enough statistics courses to become familiar with the phrase “correlation does NOT imply causation”.  Let me explain how this is applied to the current topic:

The only two seasons as captain, the penguins made it to the finals

True…but did they make it to the finals BECAUSE Sidney was captain?  I’m guessing Mark Recchi in 2008 probably knew a little bit more about being a leader than Sidney, just as I would say that Bill Guerin did this year.

You can discount my logic as flawed because of the team that I cheer for, but I garuntee that there’s nobody laughing at it except you idiot Penguins fans who think it’s nothing more than a grudge because your team won game seven.

You can call it whining, you can call it jealousy…but you’re wrong.

There are better captains out there than Crosby.  There might not be a more talented player on Team Canada’s roster, but there ARE better leaders.

Deal with it.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/24/09 at 11:29 AM ET

Drew - I actually said I’d give it Neidermayer or Iginla, with the ‘A’ to any of Pronger, Lecavalier, Richards (MIke) or Crosby…but thanks for reading…

I took a few Stats courses too and know that by you writing “correlation does NOT imply causation” its just an easy way to dismiss any argument…but that in most examples it’s not something that can be proven either way…so it’d be another argument going in circles.

Posted by Greg on 08/24/09 at 11:38 AM ET

So how exactly does one prove Sidney is a good leader?  Do you think he sat down with Malkin after game 2 and said “Gino, man… you can’t go starting stuff like that.  The consequences are too risky for the Stanley Cup Finals to get an instigator penalty and suspension.”

Because I don’t think that happened.  A real leader would have done that.  Just like Dan Byslma stated in the press conference when he said “If he got an instigator in the last five minutes, I think there are rules that are clear. I don’t know.”

What did Sid say? “Those two guys weren’t even punching each other,”

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2009/news?id=4220529

Posted by drimo from Cincinnati, OH on 08/24/09 at 01:14 PM ET

There’s very little reason to exclude Crosby as a legitimate candidate for captaincy, eg. successful leadership involving integrity, dedication, magnamity, humility, and hard work; handling of external and internal pressure on and off the ice; immense skill, vision, creativity, openness and maturity with the experience of more than 300 games in the NHL at the age of 22.

There are other candidates, of course.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 08/24/09 at 03:18 PM ET

Drimo - lets suppose Crosby was the type of captain to come out in public/media and berate Malkin, or say he was foolish to try and get Zetterberg (i don’t think too many punches even landed), his detractors would then say that he’s not being professional or acting like a real captain should.  They would argue that he should have kept his mouth shut, and done it in the dressing room without the cameras and mics around right?  This is what i’ve been saying all along, no matter what this guy does, he’s got people coming down on him…

Just as an example, how many Hurricane players came out in the media and said Scott Walker was putting himself first before the team?  Does that make Brind’amour a terrible captain too?

Posted by Greg on 08/24/09 at 03:58 PM ET

Crosby is Canada’s captain of the future, everyone knows that. Give him an A this time and give the C to someone with more international experience.

Mine would be Iggy Captain, Sid as an Alternate and Neidermayer as an alternate.

Posted by Kstewy16 on 08/24/09 at 04:02 PM ET

Oh for Pete’s sake.

Iginla has done nothing not to deserve the C for Canada, while Crosby is perceived by his own peers as well as many fans as a whiner and a bit of a crybaby.  Is it fair? Probably not, not anymore - it was when he was a teenager, but perceptions like that don’t go away quickly.  Still, the perception is there.

Unless Jarome Iginla goes Patrick Kane on a cabbie, give him the C for Canada.  He deserves it for his many years of hockey with class and dignity.  Crosby can get it another time.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 08/24/09 at 04:11 PM ET

What it boils down to is who will the team follow? A leader can have all those wonderful qualities of hard work and skill and integrity and whatever else you please. But if the rest of the team doesn’t follow, that letter doesn’t mean jack.

I’ve heard it said that in Pittsburgh, it’s Sid’s room. That may be true. But most of the rest of team Canada doesn’t have that familiarity and will be significantly older and less likely to take direction from some upstart kid, regardless of his credentials. And judging from what has been said about him by players around the league, they largely respect him from a skill point of view, but less as a person at this point. Many have only even played against him 2 or 3 times. In the end it still comes down to earning that respect, even if some of those opinions are obsolete.

He is probably the captain of the future. But right now it would be foolish to give the captaincy to a player the team might not follow, or worse, even resent.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 08/24/09 at 10:11 PM ET