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Markov Most Likely Choice for Captaincy

August 13, 2014, 8:58 AM ET [2792 Comments]
Habs Talk
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As the debate is sure to rage on between now and training camp, I can see the rationale for four current players on the Canadiens to be captain of the team.

Tomas Plekanec. He does everything the coaching staff asks of him and more. He'd be an appealing pick for them because he's the most likely player to sell their vision to the team. Add all of that to the fact that he's seasoned veteran, drafted and developed by the Habs, and tutored by their former captains, and Plekanec's the safest choice the team has.

The rub: Plekanec isn't their most clutch player. He's their most versatile forward, but he's never really emerged to the forefront when all the chips have been down. Perhaps owning that level of responsibility would push him to be more of a clutch leader.

Andrei Markov. The entire team respects his work ethic, and they all rave about his dedication to the gym. Management made a significant commitment to him this summer, and as the longest serving vet, his clout in the room can't be understated.

Markov's served as an excellent mentor to P.K. Subban, and will likely serve as one for Nathan Beaulieu too. But aside from what he's done off the ice, what he showed last season--particularly in the playoffs--is that he's a huge leader on the ice. He took every hit to make big plays out of the Canadiens end, he blocked more shots than he's ever blocked, and he came up with some huge plays to generate offense when the team needed it most.

The rub: Markov wasn't interested in being captain back in 2010. A lot's been made of his shyness and his communication with the media, but in truth, Markov's become so much more comfortable in those situations (not to say he's become forthcoming in them). Would he be interested this time around, considering that at his contract term, he offers the perfect transition to one of the young vets taking over?

Brendan Gallagher. You could tie this guy to a post with a steel chain, and he'd try to bite his way through until he eventually broke free. He would never give up. Tenacious is underselling what Gallagher is. He's relentless. He scores clutch goals. He sets the example every single shift he steps on the ice for. He's a consistent presence in front of the net. He can dish it out just as well as he receives it, and he receives a lot of it. He doesn't have to stand up in the room to rally the troops, he doesn't have to get in anyone's face, he just has to do what he does without anyone asking him to do it. And he's getting better.

Gallagher is a hockey coach's dream. He's also a darling with the media. He says the right things, he takes responsibility, and he's more than willing to share the credit and the spotlight with anyone of his teammates. All that said, it will always come back to the fact that Gallagher's main appeal is that he'd never ask anyone else to do something he wasn't willing to do himself, and he proves that all day, everyday.

The rub: He's only been in the league for two years. Would the Canadiens appoint such a young captain with veterans like Plekanec and Markov waiting in the wings? Unlikely, though you'd be hard-pressed to find any other player in their room who fits the mold better than Gallagher does. If he were a five-year vet, he'd be the consensus pick among management, the coaching staff and the players.

P.K. Subban. He's the team's best player. He's their most clutch player. He's their highest paid player. They've made a longer commitment to him than any other player in their ranks. He's their best ambassador by a country mile. He's unflappable. He laughs down scrutiny. He's an exceptional teammate.

Subban's rise hasn't been a direct skyrocket. He's had to win over teammates with his work ethic and his willingness to mature and be more of a team player. But make no mistake, he has won over his teammates. He took incredible strides on the ice on his way to a Norris Trophy win in 2013, and in 2014 he emerged as the confident leader we all knew he'd be when he was drafted.

The rub: He's a controversial figure--and not by design. Everything about P.K.'s game is loud, and hockey doesn't love loud. As a result, he's become much more understated with the media, and given the amount of money he just banked, and given his status as one of the team's two biggest superstars, he knows it'll be a balancing act to keep the attention from being solely on him. His teammates likely appreciate the fact that he's been more subdued and reclusive when the cameras and reporters hit the room after games. The captaincy may very well make it impossible for him to deflect attention. Perhaps the team would prefer to wait on naming him, while they bide their time with Plekanec or Markov.

I think the Canadiens will proceed as follows:

Markov will be named the team's next captain. Plekanec, Subban and Pacioretty will rotate A's. And when Markov's contract expires, Subban will be named captain, and Gallagher will ride shotgun with Pacioretty.
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