Who Will Be The Wild's Next Captain

[Dr Jan Itor]

I'm surprised at everybody saying Kunin... Guy's not even guaranteed to make the team and people are penciling him in for future Captain.

The assumption for the younger guys is that they live up to the expectations. People see Kunin captain the USNTDP and Wisconsin, it's an easy connection to make.

 

[Nharris31]

I'm surprised at everybody saying Kunin... Guy's not even guaranteed to make the team and people are penciling him in for future Captain.

Just trying to make his dreams of being an NHL captain come true.

 

[gphr513]

If Parise has a bounceback year, I think it's him. If he has another down year, I think Suter gets it.

I hope Mikko has a few more productive years with us, though.

 

[BigT2002]

If Parise has a bounceback year, I think it's him. If he has another down year, I think Suter gets it.

I hope Mikko has a few more productive years with us, though.

Being the Captain has nothing to do with production or who the best player is. Parise has become the face of this franchise. Namely because he is "one of us" and because he has Captained everything out there, to include the US in the Olympics.

 

[gphr513]

Being the Captain has nothing to do with production or who the best player is. Parise has become the face of this franchise. Namely because he is "one of us" and because he has Captained everything out there, to include the US in the Olympics.

I don't know, if he has another bad year, and starts looking like he may be trending down fast, they might want to avoid a Dustin Brown situation where you have a captain who is giving you 3rd/4th line production, with an albatross of a contract.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I'm surprised at everybody saying Kunin... Guy's not even guaranteed to make the team and people are penciling him in for future Captain.

Dude is a natural born leader. I could see it easily happening.

 

[Jacks7833]

If management is smart they will give it to one of the someone other than Sutter or Parise. Im fine with them keeping the A's. The younger guys need to move into leadership positions.

 

[57special]

I don't know, if he has another bad year, and starts looking like he may be trending down fast, they might want to avoid a Dustin Brown situation where you have a captain who is giving you 3rd/4th line production, with an albatross of a contract.

If management is smart they will give it to one of the someone other than Sutter or Parise. Im fine with them keeping the A's. The younger guys need to move into leadership positions.

Parise has a been a REALLY good player in the NHL. Only problem is, most of those great years were in NJ. Unless he reverses the trend of the last two years then I don't want a lame duck Captain, AND i want the younger guys to start taking over the team.

 

[123TripleDoge]

Mikko a few more years then Zucker

 

[Minnesota]

If management is smart they will give it to one of the someone other than Sutter or Parise. Im fine with them keeping the A's. The younger guys need to move into leadership positions.

I'm not sure I understand your reasoning? Are you hoping the C will somehow boost younger guys' production?

I don't see any drawbacks of having Parise as the next captain.

 

[57special]

I'm just amazed that I voted for Granlund.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Matt Dumba has worn a letter several times in his career, including for Team Canada. Joel Eriksson Ek plays like a captain, if that makes sense. And Kunin has that pedigree as well.

Can't believe people saying Parise.

 

[Bazeek]

So many possibilities... return of the rotating captaincy?

 

[gphr513]

Matt Dumba has worn a letter several times in his career, including for Team Canada. Joel Eriksson Ek plays like a captain, if that makes sense. And Kunin has that pedigree as well.

Can't believe people saying Parise.

I don't know if I'd go that far. The dude captained an American team that had Canada on the ropes in a gold medal game on Canadian soil. And he was a captain for several years of a team that went to the Cup Final.

I don't know if I'd necessarily pick him, but I certainly think he'd be a valid choice.

 

[Minnesota]

Matt Dumba has worn a letter several times in his career, including for Team Canada. Joel Eriksson Ek plays like a captain, if that makes sense. And Kunin has that pedigree as well.

Can't believe people saying Parise.

We're talking NEXT captain... 2019. No guarantee any of Dumba, Zucker, Eriksson-Ek, Kunin... Hell, even Granlund will even be on the team in two years. Who will be on the team, guaranteed? Parise.

Parise is the hometown guy that CHOSE to come here, and easily the most popular player the franchise has ever had. His resume is damn impressive when it comes to leadership. He captained New Jersey and Team USA - both of which mind you had strong picks for leadership positions.

Only way I see a different / young captain assigned will be if the team flops these next two years (talking bottom-5) and desperately needs to take a 180 degree change from top to bottom.

 

[Wabit]

This is why the Wild need to trade for Landeskog...


Watching people's heads exploed in 3...2..1...

 

[Minnesnota]

Well Koivu will be re-signed most likely to a 2 year deal after next season. If that happens, I can't see a scenario where he ISN'T the captain.

After Koivu has retired, I would like to think that a guy like Kunin or Ek will be stepping into the Captain role. It will probably be Parise though which I'm okay with. He's a lead by example type guy - just not sure what sort of dynamic he brings to the locker room considering he's part of the "old guard".

I would think the team and organization would want to embrace the youth they have coming in, which is why I think Ek or Kunin would make great captains.

 

[57special]

Parise the most popular player ever to play here? Sez who? I'll take the Mr. Grumps anyday. Parise had a couple of good years, a couple of bad ones(when his salary is taken into account), and hasn't taken us anywhere in the playoffs.

 

[gphr513]

Parise the most popular player ever to play here? Sez who? I'll take the Mr. Grumps anyday. Parise had a couple of good years, a couple of bad ones(when his salary is taken into account), and hasn't taken us anywhere in the playoffs.

I think he's pretty unquestionably the most popular/well known player that the Wild have ever had.

Ask any casual fan (particularly younger ones) who their favorite player is, and I think a LARGE majority say Parise.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Matt Dumba has worn a letter several times in his career, including for Team Canada. Joel Eriksson Ek plays like a captain, if that makes sense. And Kunin has that pedigree as well.

Can't believe people saying Parise.

It's a pecking order type thing.

Kunin and Eriksson Ek will be, what, maybe 22/23 years old when Koivu retires or leaves (and this assumes a 2 year contract extension). Not only would they have to leapfrog two very accomplished veterans who'll be in their mid-30's, but also the entire group of the current mid-20 somethings. Pretty unrealistic if you ask me.

It'll go Koivu until he retires/leaves; then one of Parise/Suter for a couple years (my bet is Parise) and one of the current 25 year olds will get the other "A"; then when Parise/Suter retire, whoever held the 'A' will probably be first in line for "C" and the whoever out of the Kunin/Eriksson Ek age group will get the "A's"

 

[Minnesota]

Well Koivu will be re-signed most likely to a 2 year deal after next season. If that happens, I can't see a scenario where he ISN'T the captain.

Probably the most likely scenario.

 

[TaLoN]

I'm just amazed that I voted for Granlund.

You're starting to believe...

Well Koivu will be re-signed most likely to a 2 year deal after next season. If that happens, I can't see a scenario where he ISN'T the captain.

Easily the most likely scenario. I think Koivu retires in a Wild sweater, and will be Captain until that day... but this thread is a what if he doesn't re-sign discussion.

 

[Lapa]

Granlund makes sense as Koivu's successor to wear the C. They seem to treat the media really similarly, plus like Koivu, Granlund seems to be like Koivu on the ice: doesn't quit, focuses 100% in every game.

Plus, I think they're friends off the ice, so I'm sure Granlund has learned a lot from Koivu.

 

[57special]

I think he's pretty unquestionably the most popular/well known player that the Wild have ever had.

Ask any casual fan (particularly younger ones) who their favorite player is, and I think a LARGE majority say Parise.

Not in my house.

 

[57special]

Granblunt is in front!

Brodin has a vote (Vegas has 3-2 odds on it being Jesus Brodin)!