Who do you see when you think of the Montreal Canadiens? What player do you picture? Is it Guy Lafleur bursting down the right wing with his blond hair flowing in the wind? Do you see Rocket Richard’s red glare, his eyes burning a hole through you? Is it Patrick Roy making a miraculous save and winking at his opponent? Do you see Saku Koivu saluting the Bell Centre crowd with the lights gleaming off his bald head after his battle with lymphoma?
As fans the player you picture depends on when you first came to love and follow the Canadiens. In adolescent romance and hockey you never forget your first love. The jersey unites us all over years and even decades, but it is the player that wears the jersey that gives it life. That is why for some their fondest Habs memory features Mats Naslund, while others immediately picture big Pete Mahovlich. The players change, but the jersey remains the same.
The Montreal Canadiens are about to name a Captain in the next few days. Carey Price is the undisputed leader and the best player, but he is a goaltender and thus cannot be captain. Max Pacioretty is probably the safest choice to be captain. He is the Habs most skilled forward. If scoring was on par with 1980’s and early 90’s levels, he would be a 50 goal man. He is good with the media, respected around the league and has grown into his role with the team. Most importantly it seems as if Pacioretty really wants the position. Of course, he honours the hockey code and says the right things, but it feels important to him. And that is important to the fans that have cared about the Habs sweater longer than most of the players. Pacioretty would be a solid choice. There is no doubt about that.
PK Subban is aiming for something bigger than the Captaincy. He is aiming to have an impact. His $10 million donation to Montreal General Children’s Hospital transcended hockey. It swallowed twitter and allowed everyone whether they followed PK, the Habs or even hockey in general to take notice. In modern terms he was trending. In larger terms PK is creating a legacy far beyond the ice.
Whether PK becomes Captain or hoists a Cup in Montreal or not is to be determined. Yet with his donation and his play on the ice, it almost does not matter. PK will be the face of this team going forward. For a generation of fans, the image of their favourite Hab will be #76 curling out of his own end, puck on his stick as his free hand grazes the ice.
The captaincy is a ceremonial role. The player who wears the ‘C’ is responsible to the media and takes pre-game photo-ops. In the modern NHL players can lead with or without a letter on their jersey. It does not ultimately matter whether or not Subban is named captain. He will lead with his play and his words and perhaps one day his legacy will hang beside 24 others in the Bell Centre rafters.
A generation of young children in Montreal will also come to know his legacy. It will have nothing to do with what he accomplishes with a pair of skates, a stick and a puck. It is a nice time to be a fan of the Montreal Canadiens. Take a second and enjoy this moment. There will be time soon enough when the Habs lose back-to backs in November for everyone to lose their mind and want to trade the entire team.
For now, enjoy another generational talent working magic on and off the ice in Montreal.