The Buffalo Sabres won their second straight exhibition game on Tuesday night. The Sabres were impressive in all keys ares: offense, defense, goal tending special teams.
Another area of strength for the Sabres in Columbus was their leadership group.
Coach Rolston is rotating the "C" and the "A's" for the exhibition games.
On Tuesday night in Columbus, Thomas Vanek wore the "C", while Cody Hodgson and Christan Ehrhoff donned the "A's".
On Sunday night in Montreal, Steve Ott earned the "C", while Drew Stafford and Hank Tallinder wore the "A's".
At the end of training camp, Rolston and his assistant coaches will convene to discuss and decide upon which player will become the new captain of the Buffalo Sabres.
Vanek and Ott are your front runners right now to be named team captain for the 2013-14 season.
On Day 1 of training camp, said that he didn't have a problem assigning the "C" to a player who is on an expiring contract.
@FrankLeonard18 tweeted me this sentiment on Wednesday morning:
Frank got me to thinking. Who will the next Buffalo "C" be?
I think Vanek and Ott are both fantastic hockey players. I happen to think that they are both natural born leaders. Each has his own style of leadership. Each do all of their leading on the ice. They are vocal in the room, on the bus, and on the bench. The Sabres already have a strong leadership group right now with Vanek, Ott, Ehrhoff, Myers, Weber, and Stafford. The leaders on this squad are going to have to be more patient and more mentoring then ever before what with all of the new, younger faces in the Sabres room. The youth movement will only be as successful as the veteran leadership group will be. In other words, Foligno, Grigorenko, Girgensons, Larsson, Armia, Ristolainen, Zadorov will succeed when they prepare their bodies and minds for the rigors of the NHL grind, and they feel like they are supported by the vets. Knowing that they can take the ice with the confidence that that their veteran brothers have their backs, then they will be able to focus on maximizing their ice time. Also, the kids have to know that their on ice mistakes are going to be tolerated. In a lot of cases, rookies and prospects struggle after they have made critical mistakes on the ice (turnovers, soft goals, blown coverages) because they are disappointed that they have let down the head coach and the veteran leaders. Mistakes and gaffes happen. Thats how the kids will learn. hell, 10 year vets make mistakes on a regular basis in the NHL. Its to be expected when you play in the best hockey league in the world. its not the mistakes you make, its how you learn from it by staying positive and correcting the errors. Thats where the "C" and the "A's" have to step up and support the coaching staff in the romm and on the bench.
Vanek is the home grown hero who we've seen grow up before our very eyes that past 10 years. From the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Frozen Four championship in Buffalo, to developing into a 40 goal scorer, Vanek has achieved a level of respect inside the NHL and in the WNY community. He'd make a great captain.
The Sabres have an opportunity to make things right with Vanek by installing the "C" on his sweater before the 10/2 season opener in Detroit. You'll recall on 10/611, while on the road to start the regular season in Finland, Lindy Ruff announced his team captain and assistants at a team dinner. Then head coach Lindy Ruff announced that Jason Pominville would be the team's new captain.
Thanks, sabres.com
Was Vanek snubbed by Ruff? Some say yes. Some observers say that Vanek was not happy with Ruff for his public commentary about Vanek's handshake on that evening. Thats all ancient history now. Two years removed from that awkward situation Vanek is older, wiser, and better suited to be the Sabres captain. Perhaps the "C" will be the cherry on top of a new long term contract extension for Vanek to stay in Buffalo. When the team needs a goal to tie or win a game, or a shootout attempt buried, it knows that it can trust Thomas Vanek. He takes a brutal beating every night setting up his office in enemy creases. He gets hacked, slashed, knocked down, speared, and even hit by friendly fire in his ribs and skates. He wears his bruises like badges of honor. He dives on live hand grenades for his team. his valor, courage, and consistency make him the ideal team captain.
Steve Ott learned how to be an NHL leader by listening to and modeling himself after his former teammates Brenden Morrow, Mike Modano, and Bill Guerin. Not bad company, eh?
He's as heart and soul a player as you will ever meet. He has his finger on the pulse of his players both on and off the rink. He's an excellent communicator and is a master motivator.
On a team that averages just 26.1 years of age, Ott and Miller are the only two thritysomethings. Ott's the perfect balance of raw emotion and tactical planning. He's the son of two military parents, so don't let the visor licking and chirping fool you. Ott is a mater motivator/startegist and he inspires everyone from the zamboni driver to the equipment manager to his teammates to give more of themselves at their job. he's a Buffalo guy through and through because of his blue collar, 'whatever it takes" work ethic. Ott will run through a burning building if Ron Rolston asks him to. He's selfless and team-first. Otter doesn't ask his teammates to do things that he wouldn't or hasn't done. He holds the room accountable. Thats why he'd make a great team captain.
Who do you see as the next captain of the Buffalo Sabres? There's no such thing as a bad selection. Vanek and Ott are both very deserving of the honor of being selected the leader of the Sabres. The great thing with Vanek and Ott is that even of one doesn't get the "C", that player will still be a leader and a role model for all of the young kids in the Sabres organization.
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