Judging by interviews from when he was on the team, Zenon brought a different personailty to the locker room, I wouldn't call it "leadership" though. To me it seemed like he was a blue collar worker in a room of buisnessmen. He was able to light fires under the team's ass when no one else would/could. To be honest, what he brought to this team personality wise can be filled with a player of better talent. At the end of the day he seemed like a meathead, but I think every team needs a meathead, it's just Zenon is not that good.
True, but I do think Konopka was part of the meaner mentality they had halfway through that season. I think Capuano was willing to let the team 'pick it's "leader"/image' as well, and Konopka just kind of slipped into that role.
Pretty soon though, we'll have 3 or 4 defensemen of a similar grittier temperament with a chance to break into the line-up - a whopping THREE with captain/alternate experience - Reinhart & Pelech have been recognized as leaders, Hamonic's already been so on both the Island and Bridgeport, and Mayfield & Pedan are still on the way.
Factor Martin, Cizikas and Ullstrom to this, and I think the sort of snarl both the Islanders and Soung Tigers benefit from will be built-in if all ends up properly, and they all have upsides that Konopka, couldn't offer (other than some quantity of inspiration and face-offs.)
