I’m Calling It – Dan Boyle Will Get the Captaincy
September 11th, 2009, 10:19 am
Thanks to sharkspage for posting a link to the recent interview with Dan Boyle on Chronicle Live. The first question was about the C&A controversy, and immediately I was struck by the exchange (emphasis mine).
Greg Papa (talking about the captaincy): Is that a job you would like to have?
Boyle (immediately): Of course. It’s an honor. You look back as a young kid, a captain is an important thing you look up to. It’d be an honor. I certainly want to lead this team. I’m ready for it, but it’s in the coaches hands, and management’s hands, and whoever gets those roles, I’m sure they’ll do a great job.
Now let’s compare that to Joe Thornton’s answer about his leadership role that happened at the State of the Sharks, it was the first question of the night. Keep in mind Marleau was still captain at the time, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate for Joe to say he wanted the captaincy, but let’s go to the tape:
Guy: how will I know when you own this team so I know when you can bring it for us?
(applause)
Thornton: Thank you. i think this team is just… I said (what I said) the last day I was a little irritated about the questions I was getting and I said it’s patty’s team, but ultimately, I think there’s key guys on the team- I’m a big part of that- yes in some ways it’s my team, in some way’s it’s pattys’ patty’s the captain and i think he’s done a great job. (light applause) Now I think with all this disappointment, we’ve been kicked down and I think we didn’t expect to be here, I think it will be a long summer. … I’m ready for this team to go to the next step, and eventually it’ll be my team, yes.
Kind of a difference in tone there, doncha think? It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but I’ve heard a lot of Jumbo inteviews. I doubt he would have said the same thing Boyle did above. Would Joe say “I want to lead“?
After hearing that, I’m more convinced than ever that Dan Boyle should be the captain. Does anyone doubt that he’s going to come into camp and earn the C now?
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Joe thornton was asked a different type of question if you want to take it into account. The question that little man asked was one of the stupidest questions ive ever heard. but he asked something like “when will this be your team”. how is anyone suppose to answer a question like that when Thornton was already an alternate captain. it isnt like he was niether a captain nor alternate. If Joe was asked if being captain was something he would like to have. i think he would generally say the same thing. its not like he would say no. haha
I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. Joe was asked the question just a couple of weeks after team exited the playoffs, I’m sure he was as in pain as anyone at that point. Patty was still the Captain at this point. It’s also worth noting it was the first question to anyone that night. I think we were all caught off guard by it.
Boyle was asked months after the season was over, while he’s really excited about the season, when he knows the vacancy is open, and so forth.
With that said, I have no doubt in my mind Boyle will be our next captain.
Given the coverage and stories we’ve heard about Joe, not only since he’s been in SJ, but while in BOS, it doesn’t seem like he would want to be captain. Right or not, a lot of the media chalked up his early success in SJ to a) not being in a hockey-centric market and b) not having to shoulder the captain role. Even if that was all media spin, having seen Joe in SJ for the past few years, it’s not unreasonable to believe. Boston didn’t trade Joe because he couldn’t produce — his regular season numbers are unquestionable. They traded him because of his leadership (tied to playoff performance) or because they didn’t think he could lead them.
It’s ironic to link to a Bucci article right now, but here’s what he wrote when Joe got traded:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=2248710
I think it still holds up. Look at comments from JR just a few months back about how Joe can’t just pick his spots with his intensity and how he can’t just be “one of the guys.” He needs to be at the forefront in his play and his leadership.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2009/04/26/sharks-ducks-day-15-he-cant-pick-his-spots-roenick-says-of-thorntons-game-5-intensity/
That doesn’t sound like a guy that wants to be captain. From everything we’ve seen and read, Joe wants the captaincy as much as he wants to be one of the 3 shooters in a shootout.
I’ll say it for the third time……
It would be a mistake to NOT make Dan Boyle captain.
End of story. Really, did anyone actually think Pavelski or Blake was going to get the C???
Agreed. It will be a shock of Danny Boy isn’t the captain.