Michel Therrien joined the boys on
RDS' L'antichambre, and naturally, the subject of who will be the next captain of the Canadiens came up.
Therrien admitted that management and the coaching staff will be making this decision, and that he'll be happy to announce the result in the near future. So, the idea that the team would move on without a captain for the season can pretty much be stricken now.
Therrien singled out Desharnais, Pacioretty, Subban and Price as young leaders who are capable of taking on more responsibility, and he pointed as well to character guys in Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Markov being capable of taking on being captain. Manny Malholtra, Mike Weaver and Brandon Prust got honorable mention in Therrien's discussion with the panelists.
In all of this circling the wagon on the captaincy debate, we haven't spent too much time considering what it would mean for some of these players to not receive a letter. Not to put too much emphasis on the importance of being named an official leader of the club, but it's hard to imagine some of these players not being given that recognition.
Assuming the Bergevin and Therrien choose safely with Plekanec or Markov--as it's widely speculated that's where they'll be leaning--then one or the other would likely get an 'A'. That leaves one more letter--likely slated for Subban or Pacioretty.
So, how would either of those young players feel about one being chosen over the other? Publicly, there's no doubt they'd tow the professional lines you'd expect them too, but privately, it's hard to imagine either one of them not taking that personally.
How would Markov or Plekanec view not receiving any type of letter? Imagine one of the two longest serving Canadiens being left out of the equation... it's unimaginable. It's a good thing Therrien said this will be resolved soon, so we can quit with all of the imagination.
Subjects also addressed included the possibility that a young player might steal a spot up front, that P.A. Parenteau has a lot to prove--and that he'll be given a great opportunity to do so, and that Beaulieu and Tinordi are ready for more. Therrien also confirmed that Alexei Emelin would be moving back to the left side.
Rookie camp gets underway Friday. The Canadiens annual golf tournament is set for Laval sur le Lac on Monday.
In other news, Saku Koivu retired from his 18-year career in the NHL.
Here are my thoughts on all of that and more... 
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»