Future Watch: “New York Islanders Captaincy”
Adam Malmut | May 11, 2010 | Comments 32
As the race for the Stanley Cup continues, it’s still a bit too early to start getting amped up about the fifth overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. For the playoff starved Islanders fans, it might be time to look elsewhere for excitement and think about an issue that must be resolved before the puck drops on October 7th, 2010 – Who will be Captain of the 2010-2011 New York Islanders (and beyond. . .)?
Here are the general consensus candidates. . .aka “The Big Three.”
#2 – Mark Streit – The Skilled Veteran
Mr. Streit has been the back-bone of the blue-line for the Islanders since he signed on the dotted line on June 1, 2008 as an unrestricted free agent. He was the Islanders’ lone representative at the 2008-09 NHL All-Star game and has led by example on the ice ever since. He was named captain of the Swiss national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Streit played well, but led the team to an 8th place finish. If Doug Weight doesn’t re-sign with the Islanders, Streit will be among a small group of seasoned veterans on a very young Islanders team.
Mark Streit 2009-2010 Statistics:
Goals: 11
Assists: 38
Points: 49
Plus/Minus: (0) Even
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#21 Kyle Okposo – Skilled Power Forward – Budding Star?
Okposo is young but he’s certainly no rookie – not anymore. He broke the 50-point mark in 2009-10 but was streaky over the course of the entire season. Between Okposo and teammate John Tavares, this blogger isn’t certain who should don the crown for being “King Post-Hitter.” There were many highlight-reel goals and assists from Okposo, but just as many close calls and missed opportunities. Okposo is a good player who has the potential to be a great one. Islanders fans have been yearning for a homegrown player with special talent, and Okposo looks to be one of them. He showed signs of being an emotional leader, but is he ready for the role of Captain? An oft-forgotten element to a good captain’s resume – being an excellent communicator, not just with the team on the bench, but also with the fans and the media – Okposo has all of these qualities and thus, must be considered for captaincy. Yet, he needs to “turn up the juice” in the point production department.
Kyle Okposo’s 2009-2010 Statistics:
Goals: 19
Assists: 33
Points: 52
Plus/Minus: -22
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#91 John Tavares – 2009 First Overall Pick – “The Franchise”
Tavares was hyped and drafted to much fanfare in Islanders Country. Many fans may have expected a Crosby-like rookie season, but the rookie season hype took a nose-dive when Tavares seemed to hit a wall after a quick start. Tavares is certainly no slouch and put up a very respectable and team-leading point total in 2009-10 with 54 points – Not bad for a 19-year-old. He showed sporadic flashes of exceptional talent throughout the season and has the potential to be a team leader in points and jersey sales for years to come. Imagine – would a Tavares jersey look even better with a capital “C” sewn on? Absolutely. But the flashy young centerman has to earn it and has plenty of time to do so. After the Olympic break, Tavares returned to the Islanders refreshed and began to display why he was selected first overall in ’09. There are many young captains in the league (Toews 22, Ovechkin 24, Crosby 22) so it wouldn’t be fair to say “He’s too young to be ready.” Let the players and the organization decide.
John Tavares’ 2009-2010 Statistics:
Goals: 24
Assists: 30
Points: 54
Plus/Minus: -15
There is still an outside chance that the new Islanders captain can arrive through free agency, but given the teams’ direction during the “Garth Snow Era”, the captain of the future should come from within the organization.
CAPTAINS OF THE PAST:
- Denis Potvin
- Alexei Yashin
- Clark Gillies
- Ed Westfall
- Kenny Jonsson
- Bill Guerin
- Doug Weight
Feel free to comment, criticize, agree, or disagree. Thanks for reading.
Follow Adam on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AMalmut
Filed Under: New York Islanders • NHL
Isles internally have not quite considered Tavs captain material. Just a personality thing, not a detriment.
I’d go with #3….person to be named later.
BD,
Would you not consider Streit or Okposo for Captain, at all? I agree Tavares may not command the respect of the squad – yet. But if he has a monster sophomore season, it wouldn’t surprise me if they used Streit as a stop-gap to a Tavares captaincy. If Okposo is named captain and Tavares totally outshines him a year or two down the road, does Okposo become a bad choice?
Both are considered part of the “team core.” Do you foresee a Kovalchuk signing and captain crowning? It’s just an example but I’m sure you can smell what I’m cookin’.
oh, definitely. Sorry for not making that clear.
I am not buying Okposo, because i feel personally he’s not quite developed all the way yet. Streit…I’m all aboard on.
The captaincy isn’t about outright point production as much as it is about being able to lead, scoring at the right time, kicking your fellow players in the butt, and talking to the fans and media. I saw Okposo do all of these things this season, so he gets my vote. He will be here longer than Streit and even if Tavares become the point scoring dynamo we hope he will be, he doesn’t seem to be comfortable with having all the weight on his shoulders, so why not put it there? He could become a better player for it.
I have been saying all along no one on this team deserves a “C” yet and after Okposo’s (non) performance when Bailey got the cheap shot against the Pens and him doing nothing the last time they played the Leafs I don’t want to see him with a “C”. Not captain material in my book. Tavares maybe, my dark horse would be Matt Martin depending on if he can become more than a 3rd or 4th line player and my favorite would be someone who is not on the roster right now.
Captains are not fighters, thats a job for enforcers but standing up for you teammates is what captains do and I saw KO do that when Nielson got smashed last year.
Captains are not fighters, you’re kidding right?? Do you realize you don’t have to be an enforcer in order to drop the gloves ONCE IN A WHILE. Do you realize you don’t have to be an enforcer to drop the gloves when while YOU ARE ON THE ICE your teammate takes a cheap shot. Go watch a replay of the Bailey play Okposo did NOTHING. He has NEVER dropped the gloves in his NHL career and if he doesn’t drop them on that obvious cheap shot I don’t know if he ever will. Pittsburgh played Okposo hockey against Montreal that’s why they are going home, instead of paying a price out there and getting their hands dirty they tried to be too fancy while Montreal was getting dirty by blocking shots and keeping it simple. Being too fancy and not wanting to pay a price defensively gets you a team worst MINUS 22 for the season.
Hes still a budding star, hes played in 2 seasons and Im encouraged that he will become a great player, both ways. How many fight has Crosby had in his career???I think he might have had 2 so I stand by that statement that enforcers are there to fight, not your stars but I would like to see KO drop the gloves once in a blue moon when its appropriate. I think you’re a rarity when it comes to Kyle because most of us realize he was only a rookie 2 years ago.
“Budding star” take it easy there. You’re not comparing Okposo to Crosby now are you???? Crosby’s 2 fights are 2 more than Okposo plus Crosby has a TON more points than Okposo. Ovechkin even mixes it up way more than Okposo. You have no idea what the concept of “TEAM TOUGHNESS” is Rob.
Okposo will be the Captain of this team next year. Mark it down!
MJS,
I totally agree that point production doesn’t equate to a good/bad captain. There are many factors that go into it, as you pointed out. I like to certain stats in there for those who don’t follow the Isles – so they can get a brief on-ice production perspective.
I think Streit would be a good choice for many reasons, but it also would give Okposo and Tavares time enough to develop into the players that they inevitably will turn into. He seems to have the character to be a mentor-type who can bring along guys like DeHaan and Hamonic.
I’d be interested to hear if anyone has any other suggestions, or name players that haven’t been mentioned yet.
Is there anyone else on the current roster that’s worthy of consideration?
Bruno??? :)
Montreal who had NO Captain this season and whose team was basically built through last summer’s free agency has moved on to the Eastern finals, very interesting.
Dark horse in this race is Josh Bailey. The last man out of the hallway each period after a fist pump to every teammate, and last man off the ice in warmups. He’s also a favorite by the team and Gordon and Snow.
Bailey was always chosen due to his leadership, but after this season, you can see he has many thins to work on…and the captaincy just isn’t something that should be added to it.
Team Captain… It doesn’t mean the same thing to all teams.
Look at the ‘Nucks … They gave it to their franchise goaltender… so in effect it’s a cerimonial for that club because a goaltender by NHL rules cannot function as a captain on the ice. Does that hurt the Canucks? Who the hell knows? The fact that Luongo is captain isn’t the reason the Canucks aren’t going to the Semis.
Sid & Ovie captain arguably the most talented teams depth wise in the league. So the arguement that a skilled player must captain a team also doesn’t equate to producing a playoff powerhouse. Both the Caps and Pens however did have outstanding regular seasons. However in those cases was it because who was captain of those teams? I don’t believe so.
I think if anything … a good captain is a player who can bare the weight and actually flurishes with the responsibility. A player can score 100 pts a season, and tear it up in the playoffs … That doesn’t make him a good captain. The captain boosts the players on his team, and lifts them by example … The hardest worker on the team, the last one off the ice after practice, experience helps, the guy who can speak with the press in good times and bad, (Kinda sounds like a marriage eh?) and is a good role model and teacher for the younger players. Chatty players on the bench doesn’t equate to good captain.
Personally … and I’m not saying it’s a requirement … but I prefer defensemen as captains … only for two reasons.
1- They get more ice time on average then forwards.
2- They get a better perspective and view of the entire ice then a forward does. That aspect allows them to offer other players a glimpse of some opposition’s habits.
Other than that … I have no problem with forwards being captains. I think there actually have been plenty of outstanding captains that were forwards.
OK … to the beef of the matter. All that being said … Who has the goods to be a good Islander Captain. I don’t think the Isles have anybody that is what I consider a prototypical captain. Could Streit, Okposo or Tavares have what it takes? Well … technically … The Isles didn’t have a Captain much last season … Nobody filled that role from what I saw. That includes Streit and Okposo too.
I agree with Isles27 … I was very very disappointed to see Okposo do nothing on the Bailey hit … At the very least he should have given a very aggressive facial. KO is a bull … he should have no problem taking care of business. That being said … Remember Todd Bertuzzi? Remember Clark Gillies was asked to mentor Todd and help him get mean?
Of the roster guys I’m going to say that Streit, who may only have 3 years left (or less if he’s traded) as an Islander, has the best resume to be a captain. He just might not be the right man for this job.
Kyle has the potential … he’s just not there yet. Tavares also may have the potential … he just seems low key.
Bailey? He’s not there yet … and I’m not going to even consider a non roster prospect … We have no idea how they’ll handle NHL life yet to even consider it. Heck … they may not even develop into an NHL regular … So Streit wins by default. I think after 3 years … Kyle and the other young guns can fight it out for the “C”.
BTW … I think a team’s coach should put forth candidates he feels can handle the job … and then have the team vote. I believe Gordon did that this past season.
I do remember Bertuzzi with the Isles I also remember a game against the Rangers where he got a cheap shot and he did nothing then after he got traded he started to drop the gloves although he was very selective with who he dropped them with. But you understand my point in the Bailey incident a player (no matter how old or in what league) can’t nor shouldn’t have to be taught what the right thing to do in that situation is and what Okposo did is unacceptable for a professional hockey player. If he doesn’t have it “in him” to defend one of his teammates in that situation then in my opinion he doesn’t deserve a “C”. Hey 19 Isle get Steady on here.
Just like Bertuzzi, KO will develop and gain more and more confidence and eventually he will not be afraid to really man up…Hes only 22. Its not hard to see the potential in this young man…Its not hard to understand that it should take some time before a player has the balls to drop em against the leagues top veterans who have been doing this for years. Hes paying his dues and I guarantee he will be one of our best players.
I’m done with this anyway because we will just go back & forth to no end. You feel hes a pussy and I feel hes just young and learning to take on more and more responsibility…When he does learn then hes ready…I hope m right and if you’re an Isles fan you should hope I’m right as well.
Rob the guy on the Pens who laid out Bailey was not a goon, so no excuses there. BTW where are all the people who kept bringing up Park’s +/- during the season and knocking him for it yet when all was said and done Park was a -9 and Okposo a MINUS 22 and not a peep from these people. Why +/- not that important when Okposo has the worst on the team?
I also feel KO should stand up for his teammates as should anyone else who considers themselves a good teammate. I think next season he might consider himself a pro instead of a rookie and hopefully he takes that next step as a leader. I believe he will.
Rob the definition of a pro is someone who gets paid to play which Okposo does.
You’re kidding right???Thanks for clarifying that, doh…The point is he was essentially a novice and next season will be his 3rd full season. You are very critical of this kid and I can appreciate and agree with you but I also see his potential. KO is a big man and looks like a guy who could take care of business so hopefully he will take the next step and start using his size and possibly start sticking up for his teammates. I agree with you about that 100% but the difference is I see allot more positives than negatives with this kid. I also wouldn’t sell him out if he doesn’t become an enforcer type, look at players like Pierre Turgeon, he won the lady bing.
Im just baffled because you dont give th guy any credit at all. Im not one who bashes Taveras or Park like you talk about all the time and I dont bash KO either. I don’t know why you keep using these examples about how people bash everyone and they all praise KO because Im not one of them…
“I think next season he might consider himself a pro instead of a rookie” it looks like you did need clarification Rob, duh. Maybe you meant to use the word veteran? Nobody is asking him to be an “enforcer” all some of us want to see is him not stand around when one of his teammates takes a cheap shot, for him to stand up for HIMSELF like he should have the last game they played against the Leafs and see him go into the dirty areas instead of dancing around on the perimeter that’s all Rob. Have you watched the playoffs you think the style Okposo plays would be successful during the playoffs because I don’t. I just don’t get all the captain talk what has he done to earn a “C”? If you read all the blog’s you know Tavares and Park have gotten bashed this year while Okposo has pretty much gotten a free ride but as the season went on I see more and more people coming around to my way of thinking that his game needs a lot of work and he doesn’t deserve the “C” RIGHT NOW as was written by that hockey genus CB.
Great discussions in this thread. Great blog Adam, and great commenters and opinions.
What was your take on the Bailey incident BD? Do you think Okposo’s reaction was appropriate.
I agree, excellent comments! Speaking of which, I didn’t even think about the Isles going with 3 assistant captains. The more I think about it, the more I actually like the idea. But, when I float back down to reality, the Isles have a history of giving SOMEBODY the “C”.
I think KO is a great player … needs some finishing work, and some defensive zone work. I have a feeling that he doesn’t have much of a mean streak … You can’t fake that … you gotta get P.O’d sometimes. I’m not saying he needs to be a d@%k like Avery … He’s gotta have that bull in the china shop mentality… because I’m sure he can really lay some hurt on someone, and they’ll be less likely to want to take some liberties on the ice knowing he’s going to put the hammer down on them for screwing with anyone.
Isles27 … I haven’t seen Steady on any boards since early in the 2008/09 season on the Newsday blog.
I agree 100% and I believe hes maturing and will, in time, grow a bigger set of balls
When the season started I believed KO was going to be the next captain. After watching most of the games this year…not anymore. Im a big KO fan-I feel the Isles are very lucky to have a guy like him on the team-especially during the arena nonsense. But he lacks “it”. If KO is going to be captain-he needs to show more “spirit” on the ice. Isles27 is right about the Bailey hit-and Im sure KO regrets not doing anything-but thats ok-lesson learned. With that said-Im still a big KO fan.
Personally-put the “C” on Tavares. He is the face of the franchise. He will be the best offensive player on the team for many years (I cnt wait to see how much better Tavares plays once he has talent around him and he grows into his body). And by putting the C on him now-maybe Tavares will committ his playing career to the Isles.
I wouldnt complain if Streit wore the “C”.
Just to throw a different name out there-
Andrew MacDonald?
I would love to know if he regretted not doing anything on the Bailey hit but no one had the balls to ask him. I still say no one on this current roster deserves a “C” right now let someone earn it unless they pick up someone during the summer that might make a good captain but I doubt it.
Haha,I adore The Heat! They are the most talented team in bball! We will never ever see another 3 headed monsterteam like this again! Go James!