Melrose: Vinny would be "the perfect captain"

Perhaps the decision already has been made. Perhaps coach Barry Melrose already knows star center Vinny Lecavalier is the Lightning's next captain. If so, he is not saying. What Melrose did say is he wants to look at Lecavalier in a team setting before anything is finalized.

"Vinny would be the ideal guy," Melrose said. "But I'm not picking Vinny because he is the best player."

Nor, owner Len Barrie said, will Lecavalier be named because of his recently signed 11-year, $85-million contract extension. Barrie said naming Lecavalier captain was not part of the negotiations.

No, Melrose said, if Lecavalier is to be captain, he is going to have to earn it, and the final step will take place at training camp.

"Look," Melrose said. "I've only spent two days with Vinny."

So Melrose said he will watch. Speaking generally, Melrose said he has a criteria for what he looks for in a captain.

"I'll watch the dressing room. A leader will take over the room," Melrose said. "I'll watch at practice. Are they leaders and the first guys in drills? I'll watch workouts and how they are with the younger guys. I have a captain and three assistants to name, so I have a lot of work to do."

Lecavalier was captain previously, of course. Named on March 11, 2000, at age 19, he was the youngest full-time captain in NHL history (Steve Yzerman was 21 in 1986, when named captain of the Red Wings). But that honor was taken away from Lecavalier before the 2001-02 season, when the organization deemed him not ready.

Is he ready now? Lecavalier, 28, the first Lightning player to twice score 40 goals and the NHL's leading goal scorer in 2006-07, will have some competition. Veterans such as Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi, though newcomers, will command instant respect. Jeff Halpern, though injured, has quiet intensity. Marty St. Louis has become a growing locker room voice.

But Lecavalier is the face of the franchise and one of the best players in the world.

"I love the way he plays," Melrose said. "He would be the perfect captain. But that doesn't mean he will be captain."

We'll see.

Comments

[coach bill]

ATTN: Bloggers--
I posted this a few weeks back and will do it again soon.This article seems to have drawn many of the "regulars". What would you all think of meeting for a Bloggers Happy Hour on Oct. 25 ( San Jose) at the restaurant behind 201 from 6-7?\
So far I've heard fron Don in St. Pete that would be interested. Let me know via. this venue or contact me at bbcorr711@aol.com so I can reserve a table to accommodate us.
RSVP

[coach bill]

These are some of the best posts of the year ( What year?)
I'm going to backtrack a bit and alter my tune. I really agree that V4 deserves the C. My concern that he is a bit shy and may not be vocal enough to fit the C qualifications, is still on the table ( what table?)
So what? Let him have the C. He deserves it. He's done more on and off the ice than any Lightning I can remember. I'm sure he'd be honored to wear a C.
As far as the "verbal" leadership in the locker room, let some other vets help him out. He really does lead through his play on the ice.
Don- don't let Leo get to you. We love ya'

[keith]

Agree with you Casper MSL would be a great C. Respected by all around him. Leads by example on the ice....(ever see him quit on a play?)and speaks articulately and coherently enough to pull a locker room together. Would love to see Vinny with the C but the retiscense in naming him makes one wonder if he really wants the spot or maybe there are other factors us hockey geniuses are not aware of at this point.

[David]

I'd read Gretzky's comment "He's a tremendous coach" as code for "He let me do what I wanted"

I'm not bashing Melrose, just saying I don't necessarily take credence in any player saying a coach is tremendous. Even the player I consider the greatest of all time.

I can't imagine it being anyone but #4 unless he doesn't want it. Though anyone would be better than having an absentee captain. I may not be a hockey genius, but I'm confident in my opinion that you can't be an effective captain when you sit at home.

[PD]

Twiner bring back Don Cherry while you are at it.

[Twinebulge]

"Who has Melrose ever led"?! Heard of Google, why not give it a try? Read about the championships he won as coach in the minors...oh, and he also coached an NHL team to the Stanley Cup Final. "He's a tremendous coach," said some guy who used to wear 99. Other than that, his resume' and experience are thinner than yOu-knOw-whO's. I'm not in the tank for the guy by any means here, he's absolutely gotta prove he still has it--just in favor of giving him a chance to show what he can do behind a bench instead of a desk.

Just curious, where are people getting this notion of Vinny being "forced" to wear the C and if Melrose "forces" him to, that spells trouble, etc.? Did I miss a news story about Vinny loathing the idea of being the leader of the team? The guy's been wearing the A for years now, has worn the C before....this is "forcing" him how again?

If I'm not mistaken I believe there's a sightless 96-year-old widow in a nursing home in Leland, Mississippi...a second grader in Pahrump, Nevada...and one of those throat singers in Kyrgyzstan...comprising the three people on earth who still don't know Vincent Lecavalier, "the perfect captain" according to his coach, has earned the C. Sorry if I'm not on the edge of my seat here >:^D)

[Casper]

I take Heart & Soul into consideration for Captaincy.
A guy who leaves it all out there on the ice, and leads by example. A guy who epitomizes and really knows what it means to be a Bolt. Rather, a Bolt Champion. A guy who plays not for the glamour or bucks. Simply, your shorthanded goal guy.

Marty St. Louis gets my vote, only because I don't think Gratton plays with the smarts to lead anybody, anywhere.
But Grats is a powerful 'A', or sergeant at arms in the locker room.

Go Bolts!

[Hockey chic]

Well it is great to be back and arguing about hockey and players once again.

PD IMHO while Torts may have guided Vinny to be a top player no one can give someone the wicked natural skills Vinny has.

With that being said I think Vinny is ready for the C but again that is not up to us. The role of the C is not something to be taken lightly and I am glad that OK is not flippant about it.

The C needs to be one of strong character, leadership in the room, as well as on and off the ice and that is not something that the fans have a say so on. This is not a popularity contest having said that it is one of great importance. I want the best player for the job to wear the C and if the that is Vinny then so be it.

Go Bolts!!

[PD]

Marlborough you glass over the fact that Torts made Vinny a top 5 player and had to drag him all the way to do it.

You make another great point that with his lifetime contract Vinny can now do as he pleases.

Lets hope the old Vinny, the one they wanted to get rid of doesn't resurface.

[Amanda]

Leo-
Not always a fan of your posts, but your first one this afternoon gave me a chuckle. Have to give you props for that.

[léo]

Whereas you DO affect the selections on your team, Don? No?
Then you must be incoherent as well.
See, we're in the same boat.
P.

[Not The Marlboro Man]

The reason V4 was not the Captain was because of the lousy relationship that V4 had with Tortarella. Tortarella never got along that well with V4, maybe on the outside and in front of cameras or in lip service but not for real. Now that Vinny is easily one of the top 5 players in the NHL its just plain retarded not to pick him as your Captain. Vinny was Captain of the Bolts before until Torts dissed him. V4 should have gotten that honor back when Tim Taylor was out with his hip surgery. If Melrose decides not to make V4 his captain then I predict problems unless it is V4's idea. Vinny may want to concentrate on scoring or on his foundation with his spare time or he may feel that there are others worthy of the post. V4 is an unselfish team player but Vinny alone should be the one given the yay or nay decision.

[don in St. Pete]

Leo. While you must be reading a french- canadien dictioary to get the result's you desire that in no way influences the Lightning and the selection of their team.

[léo]

Wow, you know me so well, Don. How you can pinpoint the motivations behind my posts is astounding.
So I'm "incoherent" from lack of Sundiness, is that right? (I love that, btw, "incoherent". All it means is that the receiver doesn't understand the emitter, not that the emitter isn't emitting properly.)
But if I really AM batty that Sundin won't Join my 1st place team...
Imagine how totally off-the-wall, goofball, utterly-bananas, pervasively ULTRA "incoherent" my posts will be if We finish LAST!
Oops.
I'm sure YOU'RE not affected by it though. Sane and "coherent" all your posts, right?
For the record?
Vinny is your captain. How many times have I said this? I was here before you Don. Ask around. How many times have I said this? I've even said that if Vinny is NOT your captain?
We will laugh at you.
Cuz that's something you CAN do something about.
As opposed to finishing last.
Oops!
Again! I'm such a klutz!
Sorry.
P.

[Tom M]

Well, Don, let's hope Barry isn't dumb enough to force Vinny to accept a captaincy he doesn't want...and if he does force him to accept it, then we should force Barry to accept the Art Williams Dumb and Dumber Award.

My bet (and hope) is that if V4 is offered the opportunity and the privilege of serving as the Lightning captain that he will accept it with the same dignity and determination that he has demonstrated in recent years.

[Nan]

Sorry about the two posts, I thought I had lost the first one!

[Don in St. Pete]

Tom ans Nan. While i respect and agree with your opinions, V4 shouldn't be forced to accept the captaincy if he doesn't want it. If he says no, then Gratton is my first choice folllowed by Recchi and Roberts.

[Nan]

Well said Tom. Vinny has shown commitment to his team, organization and to the community. Didn't Vinny just recently receive the King Clancy award given for leadership both on and off the ice and for his humanitarian work in the community? Maybe Vinny is quiet in the locker room who knows but he sure is a class act and leads by example both on and off the ice. The NHL has recognized him, let's see if the Lightning finally will too by giving him the "C".

[Tom M]

Great post, Nan! I didn't even mention what he's done for kids in the Tampa Bay area and the "giving back" standard he's set for his NHL peers.

And while that doesn't count in the goals and assists stats, it does speak loudly to his King Clancy attributes.

[Nan]

Well said Tom, totally agree. Vinny has shown commitment to the team, organization and the community. Wasn't he just given the King Clancy award for leadership both on and off the ice? Hopefully, the Lightning recognizes Vinny's character and commitment as well by giving him the "C".

[Tom M]

With all due respect to the Lightning organization for what they acccomplished in the off-season, what would Barry Melrose know about leadership? Would be be able to recognize a "leader" if he tripped over one in the locker room? Has Barry Melrose ever led anyone anywhere?

"I love the way he plays," Melrose said. "He would be the perfect captain. But that doesn't mean he will be captain." Huh?????

In my humble opinion, there are at least three or four players that could do a great job as the Lightning captain. Having said that, V4 is the man in my book. If character, competence, and commitment have anything to do with being an NHL team captain, Vinny gets my vote.

[Don in St. Pete]

No thanks to Leo for polluting our blog. As his insecurity grows with the lack of a Sundin decision, he becomes more and more incoherent. While I respect his hockey knowledge, he should abstain from posting if he has nothing constructive to add. Twiney, Turtle and Coach, wise post's as always. It's a delicate situation, as while V4 is the face of the franchise, he leads more with his actions and demeanor on the ice. I would suggest Chris Gratton as Captain, he's been our Captain before and was here last year while newcomers like Recchi and Roberts might better serve the team as alternates with V4.

[coach bill]

Gentlemen- All posts are on target. Vinny is a leader and really has the pulse of the team in his heart. My take on this is that " is he really a voice"? Vinnie is a great leader and can do on ice what few players can do, but can he speak with authority and gain respect of the officials and other captains? He is kind of shy and not a "take charge" kind of guy. That's his persona. It's not a dig. He really leads through his play,but he might suffer when he has to be vocal. Taylor,as little as he played, was a good speaker and got respect when he spoke. So was Andruchuck. Vinnie's "shyness" might be a problem ( although he would be a perfecy C if he could be more vocally assertive).

[Casey]

I don't know what Vinny's like in the locker room, but it doesn't look like he's the team leader when he's on the ice. Don't get me wrong, he's a great player, but I see him as more of a follower than a leader.

[léo]

Vinny would make a great captain?
Holy cow! I like this new guy Melrose!
He's pretty insightful.
What next?
Smith would make a pretty good goalie?
P.

[Voice of the Turtle]

Teams have experimented with 1) having no captain (just A's); 2) rotating captaincies (useful for taking the pressure off of one individual and using the "C" as a temporary motivating tool); and, 3)allowing the players to select their own leader (this was often done years ago). Today, of course, the captain is most often selected by the coach or by general management decision.

I suspect that if the selection was left to the players, they would choose the guy for whom they had both the most respect and recognized as their natural leader. Typically, that is how leaders emerge anyway. Could somebody explain to me why that would be such a bad idea?

I offer this generic question to you, but I, personally, have no qualms about Vincent Lecavalier as the leader of this team.

[Twinebulge]

Maybe Melrose forgot that he said on stage the day they signed Vinny's contract extension, he already knows who the captain will be.

He was seated next to Lecavalier at the time.

Please, spare us the fake intrigue. It's been obvious ever since Tim Taylor decided to have hip surgery years ago that the next captain would obviously be #4.