Is Josh Gorges the next captain of the Habs

[aaa]

Gionta looks like a lame duck captain as of late and looking over the roster he seems like the likeliest candidate. Whether or not he was a captain in Kelowna is impossible to prove so I'll leave that out of the debate.

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[Stive Morgan]

Yes.

 

[Alexdaman]

Obvious choice right now, I'd wish we could get a forward to get the job but Gorges has more leadership than any of the current roster up front.

 

[lou4gehrig]

I say no. Not too many great teams have their 10th best player as captain. My guess is they make a bold choice (as many other of Bergevin's decisions) and make a MaxPac and eventually Galchenyuk captain.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I'm thinking we join the trend of younger captains who also happen to be our best players: Max or Gally

 

[matt77]

I'd wait a few years and give it to Tinordi if he does well with the team, this guy is a real leader.

But Gionta has to go, this guy is definetely replaceable and we need to get bigger if we want to win a Stanley Cup. So Gorges in the meantime is the logic choice.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

He's vocal and a "warrior" but I don't think I'd pick him as captain. Some things he's said publicly kinda pushed me the wrong way. I like Max.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Easily. No one else eleven comes to mind as a better leader on or off the ice.

 

[Shaby23]

Georges: C
MaxPac:A
Markov:A

 

[Price is Wright]

Georges: C
MaxPac:A
Markov:A

Don't see Patches as much of an A wearer.

If we need an A on a player we got Plekanec, Moen and Prust as the best candidates.

 

[Account Terminated]

Once Gionta's time has come to move on to greener pastures, I'd go with Gorges.

 

[Freaky Habs Fan]

Have you guys seen 24CH? Gorges is always the one talking in the locker room. As for not giving the C to our 10th best player, I'd say Josh is better than Gionta...

I don't see Pacioretty as a leader... At least not captain material. Galchenyuk, maybe one day but not short term. Right now, I think Josh is the frontrunner.

 

[Kebekoi]

I don't think that Gorges can be captain: he never was one in juniors.

 

[Stjonnypopo]

I don't think that Gorges can be captain: he never was one in juniors.

That's a good point, I'd like a captain with some captaining experience.

 

[MXD]

I would have been all for him when Gionta leaves... before he opened his mouth regarding Subban's comeback.

Since then, Gorges is close to "want him gone" category. Especially considering he's the ideal guy to replace if we want our D to get bigger and meaner, as he brings ****all to the table, offensively speaking.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Pacioretty is an awesome player but at this point he's nowhere close to the leader Gorges is. Gorges gives it 100% every time he's on the ice, he's a vocal leader and you can tell all the players love him.. I won't even be surprised if we see Gionta unloaded in the summer and Gorges takes over as captain as soon as next year.

 

[Kriss E]

No.
I thought it should have been Markov when Gionta got picked, and I think Markov should be the next one. This is of course considering he remains on our team.
Gorges said some real stupid things during lockout. He's our warrior, but I have a sense that when Markov speaks, everybody shuts up and listens, that includes Gorges.
To me, Markov is the most respected guy both on our team, and across the NHL.

He is mostly a leader on the ice. His hard battle through big major injuries only to come back and be as good as he has been speaks for itself.

To me it's not even a question. He is the guy.

 

[Slew Foots]

No.
I thought it should have been Markov when Gionta got picked, and I think Markov should be the next one. This is of course considering he remains on our team.
Gorges said some real stupid things during lockout. He's our warrior, but I have a sense that when Markov speaks, everybody shuts up and listens, that includes Gorges.
To me, Markov is the most respected guy both on our team, and across the NHL.

He is mostly a leader on the ice. His hard battle through big major injuries only to come back and be as good as he has been speaks for itself.

To me it's not even a question. He is the guy.

I agree with you. I don't think Gorges would be the best pick.

Gorges strikes me as the type who really wants to be the leader. He's very vocal. Sometimes too vocal, as he does sometimes say some stupid divisive things, as he did during the lookout or during Subban-gate. He reminds me of a teacher's pet - forcefully repeating what the coach says, trying really hard to be the one who speaks up all the time. It gives off a little bit of a disingenuous vibe. On my teams, that type of person has a tendency to irritate me in the dressing room, and I have a feeling others on the Habs would feel that way about a Gorges-style captain and tune him out.

To Gorges' credit, he plays hard and he sets a good example, but so does Gionta. At least Gionta doesn't seem like the type to speak for the sake of speaking. Like Markov, I feel like when Gionta speaks, people would listen. However, I wouldn't have picked Gionta as captain either at the time. Markov or Plekanec would have been better choices given their seniority and commitment to the team (they also happen to be much better players - then and now).

However, if Gionta isn't a member of the team by next season, I'm not sure I would want Markov being captain, even though he should have been the guy back when Gionta was picked. I'm not sure how many more seasons he has left in him. Despite his superior poise with the puck and vision, his legs struggle to keep up. Maybe Markov or Plekanec is the guy you give the C to for a little while until one of our young skilled forwards is ready to take it (e.g. Gallagher or Galchenyuk).

 

[DDIHH]

I want this team to become Chuckie's team.

 

[SnapVirus]

Markov. Then when he retires, one of : pacioretty, galchenyuk, plekanec, tinordi, subban, gallagher.

Because Markov could still be playing for 3-4 more seasons in a smaller role.

 

[uiCk]

Hearing Josh speak, don't think he's the smartest tool around, nor do i think he has a leader-type personality. He sure does seem to try, but i doubt many people really listen to what he has to say. i catch myself roll my eyes when he starts talking, and im sure there are a few teammates of his who feel the same.

That said, we need D that play like Josh and teams needs him.

 

[danyhabsfan]

Georges: C
MaxPac:A
Markov:A

You want to sign Laraque and make him captain

Seriously It's Gorges

You should know how to spell the name of our future captain.

 

[loudi94]

Easily. No one else eleven comes to mind as a better leader on or off the ice.

I miss Saku too...

 

[Rickkins]

Markov.

 

[Patccmoi]

Markov. Then when he retires, one of : pacioretty, galchenyuk, plekanec, tinordi, subban, gallagher.

Because Markov could still be playing for 3-4 more seasons in a smaller role.

I wouldn't give C to Markov at this point with what I've seen from him in the last 10-15 games. He obviously has slowed down significantly, and sure he can likely play for a bit in a smaller role. I wouldn't have much of a problem keeping him around as a PP specialist being our #4-6D on 5v5, I think he's still valuable this way.

But if he comes back as Captain, then there will be pressure to play him more, for him to produce, etc. that I don't think we should add to him or to the coach right now. Do you seriously think Gionta would be playing this much if he wasn't Captain? He's been as bad as Cole if not worse, yet he's been given every possible opportunity to shine, being sent in the SO twice, in 4v3 PP in a crucial situation (I still have a hard time with this one...), on most PPs, he's never been retrograded to the 3rd-4th line (although you could argue that he's on the 3rd line right now with Bourque out).

I think it's very hard to have your Captain being a fringe/role player (unless he was Captain of the team for a good 5+ years before in a dominant role), and I really think Markov is going there in the next years, his legs just can't hold.

I'd be fine with Gorges as C for the moment until a younger guy grows into the role in some years. For the moment he seems like the guy that should gets it, I don't see anyone else that would be a perfect fit, captaincy experience lacking aside.

But most of all, I REALLY want Gio gone this Summer. I can see how you wouldn't trade your C in the middle of the season, but I would definitely do it in the off-season, it's also easier for Bergevin/Therrien because he wasn't their guy. The team DOES need to get bigger, but the only sucky small player we have is Gionta, Desharnais and Gallagher are actually producing and still improving.