THN.com Blog: Lightning to anoint Vincent Lecavalier as captain
The first overall pick in 1998, Vincent Lecavalier will be named Tampa Bay's captain in the near future. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
Adam Proteau
2008-08-25 12:00:42
• It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will name Vincent Lecavalier their captain sometime in the coming weeks, a Bolts official told The Hockey News.
“You would not be in the wrong to expect that kind of announcement,” said the official, who requested anonymity. “There’s no doubt this is Vinny’s team and we’re going to recognize that officially.”
I thought signing Lecavalier to an 11-year, $85 million contract in July meant he was the cornerstone of the franchise, but the added prestige of the captaincy should help him dictate the tone of a Tampa Bay dressing room that will have more new faces than returning players this season.
• The Quebec Major Junior League’s highly anticipated committee studying violence in hockey revealed its recommendations Saturday and once again demonstrated why the sport is unable to police itself.
Although there were many admirable aspects to the committee’s proposals – including an anti-violence campaign, penalties for on-ice verbal abuse and automatic fines for coaches whose teams are involved in over-the-top acts of viciousness – the fact it wouldn’t automatically eject participants in any fight, as virtually all other professional sports leagues do, speaks volumes in regards to the lack of progressiveness among this game’s gatekeepers.
I understand you’re never going to completely put a halt to on-ice fisticuffs. In fact, depending on the situation and players involved, it’s obvious why fights will happen from time to time.
However, the idea hockey is inherently separate from every other sport in the way it disciplines those acts of over-aggression is simply preposterous.
The QMJHL still has the chance to smarten up and adopt the much more sensible suggestions – such as a two-game suspension for any player who fights and an indefinite suspension after a player’s third scrap – recently made by Hockey Quebec.
But if the league takes the coward’s way out and sticks with a slightly altered version of the status quo, it shouldn’t be too long before another one of their players winds up being charged with assault. Or worse.
• Acting legend Paul Newman has been battling cancer for the past couple years – and sadly, it looks as if the disease is about to claim him.
Of course, the hockey world always will see Newman as player/coach Reg Dunlop in Slap Shot, still the greatest film ever made about the sport. That role is the one I’ll associate most with the racecar enthusiast and amazing philanthropist, but Slap Shot isn’t quite my all-time favorite Newman film.
My three favorite Newman movies:
1. Fort Apache, The Bronx
2. Slap Shot
3. Nobody’s Fool
Adam Proteau is The Hockey News' online columnist and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Mondays and Wednesdays, his Ask Adam feature appears Tuesdays in the summer, and his column, Screen Shots, appears Thursdays.
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T.Roy (Posted 2008-09-11 01:28:08)
Isaac, wake up. Hockey is the ONLY game.
EBGB (Posted 2008-08-27 03:40:27)
I think I like the title "Progressive". It sounds kind of cool. Sounds like one must be Smart to be known as one, no, not just Smart, but Smarter than most others. Enlightened, Intellectual, and Educated are terms that help define "Progressive", and "Progressives" then are in the best position to help Society and thus Hockey, aren't they not?... NOT!...they are senseless, media driven superfine hypocrite Dorks who continue to throw what has proven not to work at the wall over and over again till the cowards and mindless join in and declare "it sticks". "Progressives" need a Lie, perceived Victims, and a double talking anointing Messenger- Thanks for fitting the template Adam! Go ruin society but Leave Hockey Alone. It is all the people with hearts and minds still connected have left for entertainment.
whatsthatsmell (Posted 2008-08-26 22:08:23)
Best Paul Newman movie: CARS
sulko (Posted 2008-08-26 21:27:15)
Well I have never called out another fan but FAVE you are unbelievable ignorant about the the game. The nhl season is like a war and there are battles and sometimes you win and loose. the main thing is you send a message that next time you better keep your head up because we will not be pushed around and calling a canadian a bonehead decerves too have your shirt pulled over your head and given the pistons.Comments like that shows all that you are a puss and should stick too bowling...
Chris (Posted 2008-08-26 15:11:37)
so you are telling me Kolzig went there knwoing hed never get a shot..hahah you have no clue bud
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-08-26 14:31:08)
Chris, if Kolzig signed in Tampa because he thought he was going to be the starter, he wasn't paying attention to how badly his game has slipped. The only way Smith isn't the starter is if he falters badly, and even then there's no guarantee Kolzig gets the nod over the other young goalies in the Tampa Bay system. anthony, there is no way anyone can possibly think that is a good deal for Tampa. Toronto, yes, Tampa, no. Vinny is a 50 goal, 100 point 28 year old. Sundin is a 30 goal, 80 point 37 year old. Mark Bell doesn't even begin to make up that difference, and neither does a third round pick.
Chris (Posted 2008-08-26 12:10:22)
maybe so, but i give it two weeks before kolzig starts. and do you really think he signed to be the back up or because he knows he has a chance to start there
Daniel (Posted 2008-08-26 11:57:17)
Anthony, I wouldn't go so far as to say that Sundin is as good as Vinny, but it is nice to see a Leafs fan who has some respect for Mats. That guy gets so much undeserved crap from his hometown fans. It's really pathetic.
anthony (Posted 2008-08-26 11:11:43)
i wasn't kidding about the toronto trade. sundin is just as good as vinny and tampa would be getting mark bell who may have had an off season but with the right team might turn around and have another 20 goal season! i spoke of a third round pick , which is reasonable when its toronto's. they have no chance of making the playoffs this season. infact i think the bolts will come above the leafs in the rankings. believe it or not im a leafs fan...... thats just how bad flecher has made the leafs. i mean joseph? i thjought the leafs were rebuilding! josephs only there for publicity reasons.
John (Posted 2008-08-26 10:57:17)
Joey is right Chris, Kolzig was brought in the mentor and back up Mike Smith. Kolzig ain't anywhere close to what he used to be and Tampa thinks a lot of Smith. Unless Smith plays god aweful at the start of the season, he's the number 1.
Debbie Machalow (Posted 2008-08-26 10:18:55)
Well, of course it's Vinny's team! The new ownership traded away any legitimate threat to Vinny's being the cornerstone of the team. Two years ago, Brad Richards signed that huge deal, and there was speculation that he'd be named captain. Dan Boyle challenged for the 'C' with his leadership and his taking young defensemen under his wing. I mean Marty St. Louis could in theory be named captain, but he's getting up there in years.
David Christensen (Posted 2008-08-26 08:36:26)
Yeah... Vinny definately deserves to be Captain now. I always liked Tails for leadership, but honestly, Vinny should have got the C when Andy left. And I hate to admit it but if they can't pick up another decent defenseman, they will wind up being sorry they traded Boyler. Go Bolts!
Chris (Posted 2008-08-26 07:23:34)
Joey YOU'RE an idiot because a. you dont know the difference between your and you're and b. TB is gonna blow, if you think Kolzig signed there to be a back up you are sadly mistaken.
daniel (Posted 2008-08-26 06:46:30)
i love the game of hockey. the emotions that run through the game are as much as playing football. fighting in hockey has been in the game ever since it started. i think mainly cause the adrenaline and emotions run so high that some stuff is just going to happen. the talk about taking fighting out of the sport is just utterly rediculous. me being a player myself and loving the speed, intensity, integrity, the physicality of the sport is just mind boggling that people want to take fighting out of a game where fighting comes naturally. fighting is actually a strategy in coaches books, it is said they use it to rest there star players for that 5 seconds or 1 minute the fight lasts, then it goes to TV timeout so there is more rest for the players. it creates like a mini timeout. you can't stop the fighting in this sport. it's too high of an emotional sport. that being said though, the NHL has done a good job in cracking down on fights before they even start. it ain't like the older days where you know you were gonna see 3-5 fights a game. nowadays your lucky if you see 1 maybe 2 fights a game.
thedeke (Posted 2008-08-26 01:21:44)
anthony is obviously being sarcastic. It is such an obviously stupid trade (Mark Bell? c'mon, guys) that it could be nothing but sarcastic. Lighten up a little on the poor leaf fans - they have 40 years of misery to look back on, and 40 more years coming (or more if MLSE doesn't sell). Have pity on them instead of hating them.
daniel (Posted 2008-08-26 01:08:17)
i think any leafs fan would of loved to see that anthony. Vinny definetely deseves to be the captain of the team. He was the captain at 18-19 years old if I remember. with the lucrative 11 year deal with a no trade clause, it would make no sense at all if he weren't the captain of the team. He is the face of the franchise and will be for 11 more years. I ain't no Tampa fan at all, but you just don't sign a guy for that long and not make him the captain. Speaking of captain's, who do you think is going to captain the LA Kings? I'm really curious to know that. Vinny is a definate, but the Kings? That's what i'm interested to see.
bolts_26 (Posted 2008-08-25 22:55:35)
With a trade thought like that you must be a Leafs fan. I thought I heard some ridiculous ones around Deadline day, but that slides right in the top five asinine 'potential' offers (or should-have-beens ) created by 'fans'. So Lecavalier's numbers dropped for one season. Oh no, wow so did almost everyone else's on the team. And they dropped 3 times before anyways.
anthony (Posted 2008-08-25 21:07:51)
roberts is definitley the right choice for the bolts captain! roberts has shown improvement over his last almost full seasons! vinny on the other hand has dereased his numbers from last season. vincentshould have been traded to the maple leafs for mark bell, mats sundin and possible a third round draft pick
Jessie (Posted 2008-08-25 21:06:29)
If Recchi and Roberts have things go their way things will be fine, but if not, Vinny will have his work cut out for him. Those two will run the show anyway, and it will be tough for Vinny to go above them, C or no C.
Just because the bolts added a ton of players doesn't mean they are going to make this huge turn around. That defense of theirs needs a huge overhaul before this team will get near the playoffs.
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-08-25 19:56:27)
Martin, yeah, I remember when he choked big time when he won that Cup, and when he was named MVP of the World Cup in 2004. Definitely a choker, and I would not want a guy like that on my team. No sir, no way, big time choker.
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-08-25 19:51:35)
Good for Vinny, he deserves it. It is his team now, regardless of what some might say. As for fighting, get rid of the scripted "let's go so we can justify our existence" garbage, but real, spontaneous fights are always welcome. Guys banging into each other for an hour, eventually tempers will flare. Me, personally, I'd rather the flaring of tempers took the form of mano y mano punches, rather than going Bertuzzi. Allowing fighting isn't going to completely stop Bertuzzi-like idiocy, but at least if angry men have some outlet, they will hopefully get it out of their systems, instead of letting it fester, with guys putting "bounties" on other players heads. That kind of garbage needs to be punished severely, but fighting definitely has a place in hockey, and I'll be honest, what makes hockey great are all the ways it differs from the other major sports.
moonknight (Posted 2008-08-25 19:28:05)
Yeah, Lecavalier's playoff stats aren't mind-blowing but they're certainly decent. and his junior playoff stats ARE mind-blowing. What has the guy screwed up?
Shane (Posted 2008-08-25 19:04:03)
Dylan, I couldn't have said it any better myself.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-08-25 18:26:04)
Give some examples of Vinny choking under pressure. That's and odd thing to say.
Martin (Posted 2008-08-25 18:21:56)
Poor choice, the guy chokes under pressure, they should of named Roberts or Recchi Captain. Those are real leaders.
moonknight (Posted 2008-08-25 18:14:40)
yeah, Kolzig might not be as good as he once was but i'd still say it's his job to lose over Smith's. What a lot of people don't realize is that Kolzig has been consitently great and even sometimes amazing throughout his career. Think about: only Brodeur has held the starting position on the same team for more seasons. Kolzig played for average teams at best and won a Vezina and made it to the Finals. he played on some very weak teams and kept them respectful. not to mention how loyal's he's been - sticking around for rebuilds and now look what's happened - things are finally looking up and they ship him out. Maybe it was the right move to help the team but it sure must have been a slap in the face to Olie.
Popcorn Shrimp (Posted 2008-08-25 16:58:52)
Seriously Prashanth?
Last year was only year in the new nhl where two southeast teams didn't make the playoffs.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-08-25 16:50:52)
Easy Joey, the thought of Kolzig starting over Smith is hardly idiotic.What's Smith done so far in this league?And with that defense is it really going to make that big of a difference who starts?
joey (Posted 2008-08-25 16:44:47)
chris your an idiot kolzig was braught in to backup mike smith not to start
bostonblueline.blogspot.com (Posted 2008-08-25 16:40:57)
While anointing Lecavalier with the "C" is a natural move for the Lightning, it really bothers me to see quotes referring to "_______'s team". Hockey is not basketball, the team does not revolve around one man. Vinny might be a key player, and he might carry extra media pressure, but that doesn't make the team "his". If they finish last in the division, is it "his" screw-up or the team's? If they win the Cup, is it "his" victory? It just doesn't seem consistent with the unwritten rules of the game to hold up one player as the guy who runs the show, while everyone else plays a supporting role. My 2 cents. www.bostonblueline.blogspot.com
Rob M (Posted 2008-08-25 15:54:28)
Good for Vinny. Really deserves it. I don't think that fighting should be abolished from the game altogether and I think the notion of removing it completely ridiculous. It does bother me though about the idiotic fights that take place as an intention to hurt somebody or the Roy family incident. I think the fighting situation needs to be looked a little more deep to make a decision on it. Hockey has fighting because I believe hockey players have more passion for the sport than any other sport and sometimes passion can turn to frustration...so it happens.
Dylan (Posted 2008-08-25 15:48:30)
I agree with you Adam, we should get rid of fighting in Hockey. In fact with all the injuries tacking place we reelly need to get rid of all contact in the sport. I meen, guys are getting injured! And what about those poor goaltenders? Having to block all those shots! It's just not right to put them in harms ways like that. They have rights! We need to get rid of all these potentially injuring aspects of this game before the game I love falls apart! Oh, wait, hockey's been alive and well for over a hundred years. But we obviously need to make all the changes the journalists want if we want to ever please a bunch of americans who are not hockey fans. But wait, aren't there already americans who like hockey the way it is, WITH the violence? Or maybe I should just shut my yap.
PS. If we got rid of goalies then we could have tons of scoring like in basketball!
gary B (Posted 2008-08-25 15:44:11)
Only hockey has fighting. That's because only hockey has ice, skating, high speeds and contact. What a great sport.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-08-25 15:37:28)
Web, I agree, if someone only watches hockey because of the fighting they aren't much of a fan to begin with. I also think if someone doesn't watch hockey because of the fighting they likely weren't much of a fan to begin with either. Don't forget, fighting in hockey has dropped to it's lowest level ever. It's just that with today's media coverage and instant access to what happened one second ago the ugly incidents receive far more attention than in the past.
Jim Reinecke (Posted 2008-08-25 15:35:30)
So many new elements with the Lightning (really, Adam, no pun intended!) that it will test the mettle of Lecavalier to bring the newcomers together with the holdovers but I believe the man is up to the task. It seems like only yesterday that Vinny was a kid, but the clock has really crept up on him (and us as well!). He's seen numerous teammates arrive and depart and won a Stanley Cup and this is HIS team now. Regarding the Quebec League's progressive steps, you knew that the usual collection of simian mentalities would stop peeling bananas with their feet long enough to reach for the keyboard and offer their customary misspelled collection of improperly punctuated sentence fragments to vent their spleens. (It's interesting that those criticisms don't apply to WEB, isn't it? Mere coincidence? Not hardly!) Regarding Paul Newman (and speaking both as a hockey lover and die-hard film buff): Sad news about a thorough professional who has graced and contributed to his art for over five decades. But, Adam, I would place "Slap Shot" at number 2 on my list of favorite Newman flicks with "The Hustler" being number 3 and his superb, star-making performance in Robert Wise's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" copping the top spot.
moonknight (Posted 2008-08-25 15:14:05)
it's good that it'll be official now for the Lightning. Especially after that contract, he's the obvious choice. What's funny is how many people seemed to assume he already WAS captain last season. i'd often read articles where he'd be referred to as "The Lightning Captain" but he wore an A all last season, like he had for all the seasons since the lockout at least. Technically, Tim Taylor, who was injured and pondering retirement all last season was still the team's captain. He took it over after Andrychuck (misspelled, sorry) left. We all know Vinny was made captain like ten years ago and had it taken away after it was proven to be way too much pressure but I don't remember exactly how long he held the position for or who immediately replaced him back then (if anyone did) I can't stand when NHL teams won't name an official captain or rotate the C (i'm looking at you Sabres and Wild)
Chris (Posted 2008-08-25 15:05:03)
Sorry web but fightin is part of the game, has been for 100 years and will continue to be. Also Antiques are you kidding me..the lightning the team to beat in the east.ahahahah with an ahl defense and a 60 year old goalie? unless they can win games 7-6 every night they are doomed.
WEB (Posted 2008-08-25 14:44:33)
As I've said many times, whether anyone wants to listen or not, fighting is not "part of the game". It is allowed in North American pro and junior hockey and that's all. If you go to or watch a game just because of a fight, or stop being a fan if fighting should be banned, you're not much of a fan to begin with.
John (Posted 2008-08-25 14:26:53)
I hate to agree with a guy who has the Flyers in his name, but... Why is there no fighting today in pro football, baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, synchronized swimming or other sports Adam loves? Because they never had fighting as a part of their game in the first place. Hockey has and does. The reason we're not all "progressive" here is that you're asking to change a basic element of the sport, a part of what drew most of us to support this multi-billion dollar business in the first place.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-08-25 13:56:47)
It's really dumb to compare hockey's fighting to other sports. The only sport that comes close to hockey for physical play and intensity is foot ball and they only play for a few seconds at a time before everyone stands around and talks about the next play. In hockey the play continues with less interuptions, you are enclosed in a confined space, guys are skating at high rates of speed and are carrying weapons. Tempers will flare and the spontaneous fight will break out. I would like to see the meaningless "fight because we have to justify our place on the team" fights gone.Ejecting a guy for pounding a guy who just took a cheap shot at your best player will make for more of the Bertuzzi/Mccsorly incidents. No matter what you think of those incidents the fact remains, if the victims in question had just stood up for themselves and faced their attacker (in both cases the "victims" actions prior to the assault were major factors) then things likely would have turned out much differently. Just my opinion.
Brad (Posted 2008-08-25 13:43:16)
Isaac, the reason these numbskulls want the N.H.L. to be like every other sport is to complete the alienation process that begun under Bettman's watch. For years they have been willing to lose the faithfull follower to grab a casual fan and, if fighting scares the casual fan then there shall be no fighting! Has it ever occured to anyone that the fact that fighting is subtly tolerated may be ONE of the things that distinguishes us from the ho-hum placidness of say... baseball.
Isaac (Posted 2008-08-25 13:26:31)
Could someone please explain to me why hockey has to be like every other sport?
antiques (Posted 2008-08-25 13:23:07)
this should not come as a surprise to anyone. i am a ranger fan but i have to admit the lightning could be the team to beat in the east.
Prashanth (Posted 2008-08-25 12:47:40)
I think this is one of the few times in this new NHL that TWO teams from the horrid southeast division will make the playoffs. Last year we had the Capitals and they are still surging. The Canes got worse with the loss of Erik Cole and are going nowhere. The Florida Panthers just traded their best player and got hardly anything back. Atlanta lost Hossa, and still doesnt have a defense, a goalie, or anybody to help Kovalchuk. But Tampa Bay looks like it could make a run at the 8 spot even though there a million of teams that are competing for the Eastern Conference.
Matt F. (Posted 2008-08-25 12:32:01)
Not a big fan of the Lightning, or anyone in the Southeast Division for that matter, but I have high respect for Vincent. Making him captain isn't a big surprise, but it's worth noting and showcasing. With Tampa Bay's Philadelphia-makeover-like off-season moves, I wouldn't be surprised to see the team Vinny captains to be playoff contenders (for probably the last available spot in the east, but still, you never know) or at least contenders to win the Southeast. I think Washington will beg to differ in that regard, seeing as they will undoubtedly be the most fun team to track in the awkward Southeast. I feel this will be a very interesting season and that no one should write the Bolts off just yet.
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