Tough to replace Recchi/By S. Bradley
There seems to be some concern from readers of this blog about who will replace Mark Recchi, now retired, as the Bruins’ second alternate captain.
Obviously, a veteran-laden Bruins squad that just won the Stanley Cup features numerous solid candidates. Of course, no one will ever be able to duplicate the numerous contributions Recchi, a future Hall-of-Famer, was able to make on and off the ice. Nonetheless, the Bruins have a handful of players who could come close.
Here’s your chance to vote on who should wear the ‘A.’ I’ll post the poll result and my take on the situation later in the week.
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Published By mattk Tue. July 26, 2011 5:39 pm EDT
I drafted a few points about this around 2/3 through the regular season, right around when whispers started about Recchi contemplating retiring. From an outside-the-dressing-room perspective, it’s Thornton, and no one else comes close on any of the following factors:
•Plays the game the right way, hits the right way, fights the right way
•Respected by teammates, opponents, officials and league officials
•Vocal on and off the ice
•Mentor to younger players (Not enough can be said about Campbell’s and especially Paille’s play down the stretch. Word has come out after the SCF that he shared a lot with Seguin over the course of the season and playoffs to keep the kid’s spirits up when he wasn’t getting TOI.)
•So obviously appreciates the game and recognizes that it is a privilege to play NHL hockey for a living
•Proven winner
•Fan favorite
•Media favorite
•Coming off career year (pts, goals, team-success)
•Huge minutes in the 1st period of SCF Game 7 to energize B’s, wear down Vancouver and made huge non-stat sheet contribution to outcome of game)
His presence on the ice, on the bench and in the room is a tribute to not only big, bad Bruins tradition, but also to the game of hockey and its roots.
I disagree with Horton and Lucic for different reasons. While Horton is everything you have said asmaha, he isn’t a leadership personality or regarded as such as reported by MK earlier this year among others. Lucic is still too immature and prone to poor decisions on the ice. He may have more force of personality or just force, but his temperament and decision making lead me to believe that there are better choices on this team. I also expect Bergeron will be the next Bruins captain when Chara retires.
Just had a thought: why don’t we ever think of Horton? By the sounds of it, he’s tremendously respected in the locker room, and management was very quick to point out his great work ethic is practice and his doing the “little things” during his scoring slump. I don’t see it happening because of the others who are also worthy, but maybe at some point down the road?
I’m going to go with Ference but they’re all good choices. Lucic will be wearing a letter soon…maybe even a “C” depending on how long he and Bergy stay here.
I think it will be Ference. I am even more convinced of this after listening to him on the Stanley Cup DVD-especially when he was mic’d.
I think Thornton has a lot of what it would take to be a locker room leader and I think he definitely has the respect of his teammates, but he doesn’t seem like he really wants it.
I think Lucic is still too young for the A-and I don’t necessarily mean chrololigical age, but just in maturity and readiness. I think at some point in the future he will be ready.
Would actually like to see them rotate it every month like they did a few years ago. Otherwise, AF gets my vote.
….after hearing Ference calling out Paille for a high blind side hit,I have no doubt that he’s the kind of guy that calls it like it is……besides,the one finger salute to the Hab fans is a clincher for me..
Definitely Thornton. For what he does in the locker room hes a leader on and off the ice and motiviates and leads by example. It doesnt matter how much ice time he gets because he plays every shift like its his last and brings that mentality to the locker room. My 2nd choice is seidenberg after seeing his horse-like work in the playoffs the way he stepped up!
I voted for Thornton, and I’d be happy if Ference got the A again. I don’t think anybody else on the list, or really anybody on the team, has the captain’s personality. Krejci and Seids are too quiet, Lucic too inconsistent
I voted for Lucic and 2nd choice is Seidenberg as I feel they are both going to be big role players and on the ice lots and are looked on as leaders. Thorton is an emotional choice but not on the ice enough but they all know his importance. I don’t see Ferrence because I don’t think he will be resigned at the end of this contract so don’t make an A with someone not here for 3 or more years defense has better talent than what Ferrence brings in 2 years sorry
Tough one. I voted for Lucic. I see a lot of young leaders on this team but I really liked how Milan has grown in maturity and as a player over the past couple years.
He plays hurt, he steps up in big games and we all saw him stick up for his teammates this playoff run. He has been huge in clinching/elimination games. He puts up numbers. He has become much more accountable for his actions.
I’m sure they all respect Thornton, but you’ll never see him as a healthy scratch. He’s more vocal than Krejci. He’s probably not as vocal as Ference. I like Seidenberg as well, but he seems a bit quiet.
Krejci stepped into the role of top line center very quickly and had a great year. Then with his play in the playoffs, he has earned the A. Ference would be my second choice
If Thorty will take it, he gets my vote. That ‘A’ isn’t just about points – it’s about bringing in your previous ring and decorating the locker room prior to a SCF game to motivate teammates, it’s about coming out on your first shift after sitting for a few games and putting Burrows on his ass. Thorty has given every ounce of himself to the Bruins and the city of Boston, and if he was to get the ‘A’ on his jersey it would make me a very happy fan.
It’s entirely irrelevant what we fans think–only matters in the room. From Ference’s public comments on just about everything, though, he seems like a leader.
I really like Ference in this role. He has seemed to be paired with a younger player a lot this season and he is always one of the first players to stick up for a teammate. I have always been an AF supporter and think this would also make the people who were so against his re-signing eat a little crow as well.