I don't see anyone else stepping up or taking a leadership position. Besides Vokoun, nobody on the team seems to take accountability for where they ended up in the standings. I don't see any other player on this team who can inspire the rest of the players to compete, game in and game out.
I just don't see JM going out and signing Campbell or any other very good to great free agents, so talking about one of them wearing the C is just fantasy hockey stuff at this point.
I was kind of hoping you'd give Olli some credit for agreeing to do what you've wanted to hear from him for a long while now. Isn't there anything he can say or do that will satisfy?
actually, i meant to post something along those lines. took me a bit to get to it because, well, for reasons that should be obvious, i wasn't seeing the link at the top of the thread and didn't feel like logging out at the time just to see it. i really got a warm, fuzzy feeling reading that quote, though. it does sound like he wants to stay and i can appreciate that. i also appreciated his comments earlier in the year about moving to wing. hey - the guys a very, very good scorer and if we can rework the environment so that he can be effective and not deal with the captaincy (which i don't think he's suited for), i'm all for keeping him. i still think there are some character/personality defects there though and the stuff about the golf tournament, the potential influence of that kind of subversion (which could just be the tip of the iceberg) really worries me. that's something JM, if he's around, has to think about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KWGoon
Ok, fair enough. I read more into Olli's admission that he was "absolutely" willing to give up the C, than to his condition that "If there's somebody else who's capable of doing a better job, then I don't have any issues giving it to somebody else." I could argue further that Olli's condition statement shows that he cares enough to want to make sure there's a BETTER captain to take his place. In other words, he admits he's not the best in general, but the team has to go out and get someone better. I could argue that he'd be happy to see that. But I'm speculating (duh).
The really INTERESTING thing is though that Olli would say anything at all. Was it because he's trying to stay in Florida and has some actual fear of being traded? Or is he trying to make amends with JM - by making the admission, and mentioning that it's the coach's and management's decision? Or is he trying to slight JM by not mentioning him by name, only be the generic position, hoping there'll be someone else making decisions?
well, we could go round and round on this. my take (an extension of the interpretation i offered last week) would be that he realized that he made a big mistake saying the things he said last week (both in terms of the power struggle and wrt losing the fans' support) and felt he had to supplicate, in a sense, to get back into our good graces (and cohen's and even, perhaps JM's).
i think whoever is the next captain should have captain experience and winning on the Nhl level (Not Necessarily Cup Final Experience) in his background. That eliminates anybody currently on the roster.
So possible free agents with that background and have a real chance at changing teams (and I took only a quick glance at the UFA list so undoubtably I missed a few):
Holik, Bobby
Peca, Mike
Smith, Jason
Weight, Doug
Ralston, Brian
Naslund, Markus
And of course you could go the trade route which may revive the Jokinen-Marleau rumors (I hope not)
Of that group Ralston would be my pick. Kill two birds with one stone. Add an experienced Captain who is also a scorer. Would be looking for a BIG RAISE over his current $2.42 million. Likely $5+mil.
For once, I absolutely agree with you. I'd love to have Ralston here. The rest don't do much for me either.
Ok, fair enough. I read more into Olli's admission that he was "absolutely" willing to give up the C, than to his condition that "If there's somebody else who's capable of doing a better job, then I don't have any issues giving it to somebody else." I could argue further that Olli's condition statement shows that he cares enough to want to make sure there's a BETTER captain to take his place. In other words, he admits he's not the best in general, but the team has to go out and get someone better. I could argue that he'd be happy to see that. But I'm speculating (duh).
I got the same impression from his statements. Seems like a subtle challenge to ownership & management to bring in top line talent that can also provide fresh leadership.
In any case, I'm glad Olli vocalized his willingness to relinquish the captaincy. It sure diffuses the whole elephant in the room tension this team has struggled with this season.
i think olli just isn't a good captain. this may sound a bit weird but he takes his captaincy too seriously. he just needs to relax a bit and have fun. he seems like one of those really uptight type of leaders. the type that can't relax and just lead naturally, as if he has to try really hard in order to be a leader type.
playersneed to take their jobs to perform seriously but they also need to have fun and i think olli no longer knows how to to do that. with a young team like the panthers, they see it in their captain and they feel the same uptightness and the need to be perfect. but what the team really needs is to play relaxed, with confidence and to play to enjoy the game.
not really sure what the solution would be but they need a new captain.
and sundin would never sign with the panthers, he's stated multiple multple times he wants to retire a leaf
What about Brian Rolston guys? I know he is 35, but the guy can score 25+ goals, and seems to be a good leader with the Wild. I think an offseason of Rolston, Prospal, and Campbell would be a successful one. Maybe too much money, but just a thought.
Woahhh there. Highly doubt we get 1 of those three.
i think olli just isn't a good captain. this may sound a bit weird but he takes his captaincy too seriously. he just needs to relax a bit and have fun. he seems like one of those really uptight type of leaders. the type that can't relax and just lead naturally, as if he has to try really hard in order to be a leader type.
playersneed to take their jobs to perform seriously but they also need to have fun and i think olli no longer knows how to to do that. with a young team like the panthers, they see it in their captain and they feel the same uptightness and the need to be perfect. but what the team really needs is to play relaxed, with confidence and to play to enjoy the game.
not really sure what the solution would be but they need a new captain.
and sundin would never sign with the panthers, he's stated multiple multple times he wants to retire a leaf
So true he puts so much pressure on himself, he might believe he is leading a military squad & w/e, so what I find funny is how can the troops find guidance if the leader doesn't say **** to lead them in the right or wrong direction,not even when in the barracks I assume(locker room) and lastly what leader doesn't try his/her hardest or show emotion? Oh yes it's either he doesn't have the passion/determination or he just has Soviet blood in his veins.
He's Finnish. No WAY does he have Soviet blood in his veins.
Finland was part of Russia about 80 years ago, it is one of russia's border neighbors,If i am recalling correctly in my 7th grade history book it mentioned during WW2the soviets invaded finland. Prove he doesn't have soviet nor russian blood !
Finland, if I recall, was invaded by Russia numerious times in it's history. Brings back fond memories of years back when one of our Finnish Fans was going out it with one of our Swedish fans and I interjected myself with my dry wit by commenting, "Isn't it time Russia invaded Finland again?
I believe Finland was where the first Russian Czar came from, actually. The Russians were disorganized and wanted protection from various factions, so they invited a prominant Finn in to rule them.
Have to check with my (Russian) wife on that detail - she's pretty well versed in Russian history, having been a tour guide for a number of years.
And I believe to be honest Russia actually failed to invade Finland on a couple of occasions. Otherwise they'd have been part of the Soviet Union, since the Soviets didn't let anyone go until they collapsed themselves. Poland on the other hand...well, they made a mistake in conquering part of Russia at one point, forever earning the bad blood of Russians, who returned the favor at least twice.
And this concludes our history lesson for the day...tomorrow I hope to continue with actual facts instead of half-remembered generalizations
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"...and ultimately it doesn't matter."
Finland was part of Russia about 80 years ago, it is one of russia's border neighbors,If i am recalling correctly in my 7th grade history book it mentioned during WW2the soviets invaded finland. Prove he doesn't have soviet nor russian blood !
90 years. Finland declared independence after Russia's 1917 revolution and have fought several wars against Russia. There is no way Jokinen has SOVIET blood. He may be of ancient Russian ancestry, but it's not likely.
And look at the guy. You think those weird facial features are prototypical of a Russian? Compare Jokinen's face to almost any Russian's. You'll see a difference.
Finland was part of Russia about 80 years ago, it is one of russia's border neighbors,If i am recalling correctly in my 7th grade history book it mentioned during WW2the soviets invaded finland. Prove he doesn't have soviet nor russian blood !
Question: Which 3 capital cities were never occupied in Europe during WW2? (among warring countries)
Answer: London, Moscow, Helsinki.
Regarding invasion by the eastern neighbor - and this is a big deal for those who care - Finland was not occupied by Soviet Union (which existed only after 1917) but it was an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia from about 1800 to 1917.
Having said that, I can't guarantee Olli has no Russian blood, but if he does, it's most likely from Karelia which is just on the Russian side of the border.
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