puck daddy put up a real interesting article today about brad richards and his chances of getting the C. i think we all assume it's going to callahan but do you guys think there's a chance richards ends up getting it?
puck daddy put up a real interesting article today about brad richards and his chances of getting the C. i think we all assume it's going to callahan but do you guys think there's a chance richards ends up getting it?
IMO there's about a 2% chance he gets the "C". A first year guy on this team that has grown together is just not gonna be handed the C, I don't care about his relationship with the coach, it's not happening. I do think him and Dubi each have a 50/50 shot at that 2nd "A" with a slight edge to Richards.
Why? Because that's not what the new era of Rangers hockey is about. We promote from within. The new locker room culture is about accepting Richards into [/i]our[/i] team. Not bringing him in to make it about him. That's how we remain a close knit group. Richards is a Ranger. The Rangers aren't Richards.
I would have to think manament saw how youth core leadership took over the team and made it their own when Drury went down the 1st time last season, then when he came back it undercut that mentality and the team suffered for a stretch, then he blew out his knee and the kids went on a tear again with much more confidence and an aura the behoves leadership roles.
If this was a team of Semin's, Kovalev's, and Kessels then yes I would give Richards the "C" based on experience and leadership qualities but I really belive he is a role player on this team, albeit a elite level role player, but still a role that doesn't include the need to be a Captain to make a difference on the ice or in the locker room.
Last edited by x CALLAHAN x: 08-09-2011 at 08:04 PM.
Does he have a better chance than we thought? yes.
But Callahan still gets it hands down. For all the reasons every Ranger fans states, which I'll skip. I'll mention the "Gretzky" factor. He didn't get a letter here and it had no reflection on his leadership skills or standing. In fact, he transended the requirement to have a letter when talking to an official or talking to the team. It was a waste on him, he simply didn't need it. Now Richards is no Gretzky, but I imagine that he carries enough respect around the league that if he talked to an official they would listen regardless of the embroidery on his left chest. The team will listen to him regardless of the letter too.
I have to say, I think the wishful thinking that Dubinsky gets it is more about a popularity contest than giving it to the true leader of the team. I'm not knocking Dubinsky or implying he lacks leadership skills, but let's be honest, Richards has a better chance of being captain than Brandon.
I would have thought that they'll wait to see what shakes out in the locker-room during training and some pre-season games before deciding on who gets the C.
The way Torts and Sather talk about Richards and his leadership qualities, I wouldn't be surprised if he was given the C to be honest with you.
Rangers hasnt given a C to a player 30 years of age or younger in recent history, i hope its not Richards. it would be a slap to the face of Cally Dubi or whoever on the Rangers get it...
Rangers hasnt given a C to a player 30 years of age or younger in recent history, i hope its not Richards. it would be a slap to the face of Cally Dubi or whoever on the Rangers get it...
Why is it a slap in the face? Maybe all those players are big fans of the leadership that Richards brings to the group and want him to have the C....
Without knowing the innner workings of the team, it's very hard to say who deserves a letter over someone else IMO.
Cally is a good leader on this team.. but as we've seen with guys like Leetch and Drury the C can sometimes weigh you down. It puts tremendous pressure on a guy to perform above what he is. Callahan is 2nd line 25 goal scorer and great pker. I think the C to either Dubi or Cally would put unnecessary pressure on him. Wherei i think brad might be good because he seems to thrive in pressure and he can put up the numbers.
I think Torts is definitely considering him - don't think he'll follow through with it, though.
I do believe, however, that Richards is a lock for the second 'A'.
I see it as:
Callahan: 'C'
Staal: 'A'
Richards: 'A'
Don't really care either way, though. It's just an extra piece of stitching - for the first time in a while, the team, as a whole, is completely overloaded with leadership and character.
