Oh Captain My Captain!

But A.O. doesn't want it.

My full time job picking up steam and my class starting up conspired to make me a little late to the party.

Am I the only one who thinks that there might be a little Bere Rabbit "don't throw me in that there briar patch" in this? A.O. isn't stupid, he knows that this is Olie Kolzig's team whether or not he (Kolzig that is) wears the "C". A.O. could still be named captain and I would like to think that it is better than 50-50 that he will. The (Com)Post says Chris Clark, Brian Sutherby, and Dainius Zubrus are all contenders for the Capitals death wish (I'll explain below). Clark isn't likely be with the team for the long haul, (which might be a good reason to give it to him) Zubie doesn't strike me as the leader type, and Suts has always been billed as a "future captain type."

But A.O. isn't just saying he doesn't want to be captain, he isn't even acting like one unlike some others. (Welcoming players to the team????) And being Caps captain isn't all it is cracked up to be. Of the previous 12 captains, only Doug Mohns and Yvon Labre finished their careers with the Capitals. Some were traded (Bill Clement, Ryan Walter, Dale Hunter, Adam Oates, Steve Konowalchuk), some were stripped of the "C" and then later traded (Kevin Hatcher, Brendan Witt), others were stripped of the "C" and then later released by the team (Guy Charron, Rod Langway), and one (Jeff Halpern) was allowed to walk away as a UFA.

However, the Caps find themselves in this bind because they have such a young team. It is only a matter of time before A.O. does take over the "C" and let's hope that he avoids the fate of his predecessors. But while Kolzig is still around, I think the Caps would be well advised to rotate the "C" among the team like Minnesota did a few years ago. Either that or petition the NHL to allow Kolzig to wear the "C"....

In other Caps news, the informal workouts have started so all you puckbunnies and stalkers can get back into business. And A.O. gets involved with community work.