Captain, My Captain

Roberto Luongo, goaltender and unequivocal leader of the Vancouver Canucks (who happen to be my favourite hockey team), was named captain by the team yesterday, despite the fact he is unable to wear the "C" or perform some of the on-ice duties of the captain due to a rule in the NHL from the 1940's. He already leads the team in the dressing room and in the media, as well as leading the team from the ice surface. The only place he cannot play an active part in is on the bench (because he's on the ice for the full 60 minutes).

A great article supporting the notion that a goaltender should be the captain is in today's Globe and Mail. Rather than quote it, I'll let you read it if it interests you. But it's a solid, well-written, eloquent article, with a bit of humour thrown in.

Contrast that with an article written by Sean McCormick from Sportsnet.ca. Sean is a well-known Sportscentre anchor, who happens to suffer from the inenviable disillusionment of being an Edmonton Oilers fan, and outspoken Vancouver Canucks hater. Sean had this to say about the Canucks honouring of their leader.

First, he goes through several other candidates, and then provides a reason for why each of them weren't the best choice for captaincy (including both Sedin twins, Bieksa, Ohlund and Mitchell). Then, he ends his ridiculous post with this conclusion:

The Canucks had plenty of legitimate candidates and options for the
captaincy before they had to turn left down Gimmick Street this week. This
is clearly nothing more than a stroke of Roberto's ego in hopes of persuading
him to re-sign next summer.

And if Gillis and his boys think that's
what it's going to take to help keep Roberto in Vancouver,
it sure isn't
saying much about the rest of the equation. In fact, it reeks of desperation. To
assume anything more would make you a member of the Gillis family tree.

This is clearly NOT simply a stroke of Roberto's ego, for the exact reasons that Sean says in his 2nd paragraph. Well, Sean, I'm not a member of the Gillis family tree, and neither is Gary Mason (who wrote that nice Globe article).

What this is is merely yet another chance for Sean to take another shot at the Canucks. I look forward to seeing his next post explaining why Hemsky is better than Gretzky and Crosby combined, and why the Oilers will finish 30 points ahead of the Canucks this year.