Does the Captain of a team always have to be a GREAT player? Is being a "C" more about locker room morale?

While you ponder that, I'll get to the point:

Can you bench the fucking captain if he sucks (cough-RIVET-cough)---or is that just bad for morale?

I believe the Captain of your team needs to be a skilled player that has leadership skills and can get the other players fired up or calmed down when the team isn't playing well. On the sabres current roster it would be very tough to have a captain because their really isn't anyone deserving of it other than Miller.

True.

It really does say a lot that nobody jumps out as captain-worthy, other than Miller.

I realize it's a bit unorthodox to have a Goalie be Captain, but wasn't Luongo or somebody a "C" at one time?

Miller really should be capatin.

Miller doesn't want to be the captain.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

No, the Captain does not have to be a great player, nor should that person be a morale officer.

At the end of the day a Captain is a leader, they lead the team by "EXAMPLE"!
Miller is in a unique position as a goaltender, he does not have the ability to have influence in the offensive zone with "communication". I have always believed goalies should not be captains or assistants for that matter due to the limiting ability to be in all plays due to the very nature of being a goalie.

With this being said, I do not believe Rivet should even be on the ice. I was against this pick up as a player to begin with.
He is not a leader on the ice, nor is he a spokesman in the locker room IMO.
Buffalo had a leader, and he may be able to be had again. His name was Chris Drury. This is the type of player that leads by example. Do I mean bring Drury back? No, but look for a guy with those qualities, yes.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Immeidately comes to mind:

--Drury was the one who posted a picture of the Cup on the lockerroom wall.
--Drury scored in the fianl seconds of game 5 (2007 semi's)against the Rangers, sending it to OT where Max scored the winning goal. That was a pivotal game, since the series was then 3-2 Buffalo.
--Drury took a puck to the face toward the very end of game 5 in the 2007 ECF. He was down on the ice, bleeding. Then, off to the locker room. DON'T LOOK NOW! Before you knew it, he was back out on the ice in OT trying to keep the season alive.

Leader.

I think I get your point. It kinda sucks that Rivet isn't looking very good, and he happens to be the captain, but I don't fear that's a big issue. I believe these guys look up to Craig like you did your favorite bosses. The captaincy is a non-issue, imo.

...and even if Miller did want to be captain, I think I'd want to keep his emotions inside as much as possible. He seems to be "coming into his own" this year, and he just seems a little different mentally. Let him concentrate on playing net. That way the Olympics won't interfere any worse than they already are going to.

I thought that goalies couldn't be captains or alternates anyways... Mainly cuz the refs didnt want Goalies leaving their crease... isnt that right?

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

Thats what I thought, they can be un-officially captains, I knew about Luongo, cuz he has a C on his mask somewhere. BUT Like i stated before, Goalies cant be actual LETTER Captains... Miller could be a un-official captain, but who knows if he would want it?

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

This team doesn't deserve a captain at the moment. If there is one guy who commands that position, though, it would be Myers, but no way a rookie gets that title. Next year, though, the C goes on his chest.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

You don't think that it might be a little much to put a C on Myers' chest, even next year? Don't get me wrong, I think long term he's the man, but he's still getting his NHL legs under him. I think a letter in the second year might be a little much, although the kid has handled everything else he's had thrown at him.

It's worked well in Chicago with Toews, who was also made Captain at 20. I think Myers is the one player who commands the awe of his teammates, and if he speaks next season the others will listen. I normally would agree with you on a 2nd year man, but Myers is the exception to a lot of rules.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Kaleta, Gaustad and Myers. Give it to the players that work the hardest.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

One of the reasons I don't like Rivet as a Captain is that he sucks at playing defense. Plus, he doesn't hit big, nor does he score much. I'd much rather have a guy like Ovie be Captain. If the team is dragging, then he'll come out and electrify the whole team with a big hit, or a scoring chance, or a goal, or something. Rivet just can't do that.

Benching your Captain COULD be horrible for morale. Or, the team says, "Hey, we love Captain Craig. We're playing crappy and HE got benched? Wow. We should pick it up."

Good point.

The more I think about it, the more I feel it's something this team should seriously consider.

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Wheelhouse

You can't make a 19 year old rooke with hardly 50 games played a captain. Come on now.

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

Next season. Not this season.

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Wheelhouse

We're talking about next season, Kneegrow, not this season. Oh, and he's 20 now, remember.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Didn't catch that part. I'd be open to the Myers as captain discussion next year though. If he wins the Calder I think its a very reasonable option, all things considered.

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking