Ottawa Senators should avoid pressure of naming new captain

Bryan Murray, what’s in a captain?

"(The captain) is a guy that can relate to the coach, and the coaching staff, and have an idea of what the coach wants and communicate that back to the players … It’s important to have a guy that believes in what you’re doing and make sure that the players hear … what the purpose of our practice is, the purpose of the system we play."

That was the Ottawa Senators' general manager on Wednesday. For the second straight year, he faces the task of choosing a new captain.

• Kyle Turris has grown up, just ask Dave Tippett
• Jason Spezza traded by Senators to Stars

First, Daniel Alfredsson darted for Detroit, then this past summer Jason Spezza grew tired of being the scapegoat and he was traded to Dallas.

Now, Chris Phillips, with 16 seasons under his belt and Chris Neil, with 12 seasons spent in Ottawa are the longest serving Senators.  Each wore the “A” last season and, as a result, they are mandatory mentions in the leadership discussion.

Future is now

The franchise has no choice, though, but to focus on the future when choosing the next group of leaders.

To me, that takes Phillips, a 36-year-old defenceman who is signed for two more seasons, out of the discussion and possibly even Neil.

Other, younger candidates like Kyle Turris, Clarke MacArthur, Erik Karlsson and possibly Marc Methot make more sense.

That list also leads us to the best solution. The Senators should not name a captain this year and go with alternates, which teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets have become more open to in recent years.

There's also the option of rotating the captaincy, which the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres have done in recent years.

Turris and Karlsson are prime candidates to wear a letter. You likely have to give one to Phillips, too, for games he plays in.

No need for new captain

Murray, who continues to work through cancer treatments, hinted at a preference for several leaders in a locker room over one Mark Messier-type leader.

"Lately it has become more of a core thing. I’ve always thought we should have four or five minimum, that are the core players on your team that are involved in that group," he said this week.

The debate over what makes a good captain has several sides. There is no need to have that debate for a second year in a row. Pick that core and let their development dictate the next captain.

Who knows, it could even be none of the above. I’m looking at you, Curtis Lazar.