San Jose Sharks: Breaking Down 2010-2011 Captaincy Candidates
August is nearly over, and despite the fact that the San Jose Sharks have yet to name a captain for the 2010-2011 season, captain’s practices have begun at Sharks Ice in San Jose. Sharks mainstays and likely captain candidates like Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, and Dan Boyle have been practicing with a growing number of teammates for more than a week now.
The Sharks entered last year’s training camp without a captain, after head coach Todd McLellan stripped captaincy from Patrick Marleau and alternate captaincy from Joe Thornton (Mike Grier had left via free agency). Thornton would regain his alternate role, joined by Dan Boyle, but Marleau gave way to seasoned veteran defenseman Rob Blake.
Now a year later, Blake has retired and the Sharks again find themselves entering training camp without a captain. Here is a brief look at some Sharks who could potentially don the “C” in 2010-2011.
Left Wing No. 29 Ryane Clowe
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On the surface, Clowe may seem like a long shot. In fact, if you read the rumor mills, Clowe may have a better chance of being traded away from San Jose before the regular season than being named Sharks captain.
However, on closer inspection, there are a variety of aspects that indicate Clowe may be a more likely candidate than one would assume at first glance. Clowe plays a critical role for the Sharks, providing energy and toughness and making his linemates better with gritty workman-like plays. Clowe virtually embodies the Sharks 2009-2010 motto of “Less Pretty, more Gritty.”
Moreover, when the Sharks took a grueling and well-publicized nose dive late in the regular season last year—temporarily losing control of the Pacific Division lead to Phoenix and leading many to speculate that the Sharks would wind up a middle-of-the-pack playoff seed—Clowe and Boyle were perhaps the only two players on the roster who continued to play solid, fundamental hockey throughout that stretch.
Clowe is an outspoken voice on the team as well, and averages nearly as much ice time per game as Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, all indicators that make him worthy of consideration for the captaincy.
Left Wing No. 12 Patrick Marleau:
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Marleau served as Sharks captain from 2004-2009, after former captain and face of the franchise Owen Nolan was traded to Toronto following the 2002-2003 season.
During his captaincy, the Sharks enjoyed a trip to the Western Conference Finals (losing to Calgary in six games in 2004), three division titles, and a President’s Trophy (2008-2009), but were never able to break through into the Stanley Cup Finals and often suffered significant playoff upsets (such as losing to the eight-seed Anaheim Ducks in 2009).
Throughout his captaincy, Marleau’s outwardly reserved personality drew criticism as analysts speculated that he lacked the passion and drive necessary to be a successful captain in the NHL. He was also plagued by underwhelming personal playoff performances.
After being stripped of the captaincy prior to last season however, Marleau had a tremendous season, posting a career high with 44 goals and tying a career high with 82 points. He also produced in the playoffs, particularly in the later rounds. He tallied 14 points and eight goals with two game winners, coming up big against the vaunted Detroit Red Wings in the second round and leading the Sharks back to the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Marleau was perhaps the only Shark pulling his weight in the conference finals, scoring five goals over four games and accounting for nearly all of the Sharks’ offensive production in the series.
Marleau’s renaissance after being relieved of the captaincy could speak either toward or against his getting it back. Pundits would likely criticize Coach McLellan for being indecisive were he to return the captaincy to Marleau after a year off, but his performance last year clearly shows he is worthy of it. Then again, many would argue—and probably rightly so—that his dramatic turnaround without the “C” on his shoulder is better justification to keep it elsewhere.
The latter concern, along with the possible ridicule in the court of public opinion, will probably keep Marleau out of the main stream conversation.
Center No. 8 Joe Pavelski:
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Second line center and emerging super-star Joe Pavelski is another strong candidate to don the “C” this coming season for the Sharks. Pavelski is fast emerging as one of the premier young players in the league, and his impressive performance in the first and second rounds of the playoffs last year—nine goals and 14 points over the first eight games—speaks to his ability to carry a team in big games, something every team wants in a captain.
Pavelski would make a strong push to be the top-line center on many other rosters, and as the anchor of the second line he deserves strong consideration for the captaincy. He is still young at 26-years-old, but Patrick Marleau was only 24 when he assumed the captain’s role.
With a new four-year contract, ever-improving production, and some national publicity following last year’s playoff performance, Pavelski should make a strong contender to be the designated leader of the team in 2010-2011. If he were to obtain the captaincy, Pavelski would make history as the first American-born player to hold the position with the Sharks.
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Defenseman No. 22 Dan Boyle:
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With Rob Blake’s departure, Dan Boyle stands as the clear No. 1 defenseman on the roster. Boyle ascended to the role of alternate captain in just his second year with the team last season, and serves the critical role of being “quarterback” of the Sharks’ power play.
Boyle has posted 15 or more goals and 40 or more points in each of his two seasons with the Sharks and consistently logs more ice time than virtually anyone else on the team. He is a seasoned veteran, at 34-years-old, with a pedigree of success throughout his NHL career and—like Rob Blake before him—has something that no other likely candidate for the captaincy does, a Stanley Cup ring.
Boyle’s value to the Sharks is unquestionable and it would not be surprising at all to see the team name him their captain for the 2010-2011 season and beyond.
Center No. 19 Joe Thornton
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If anyone is more likely to become Sharks captain than Dan Boyle, it might be Joe Thornton. Since arriving in San Jose via trade in 2005, Thornton has unquestionably assumed a leadership role and many look to the top-line center as though he already was the captain. Despite his incessant claims that the Sharks were “Patty’s team,” play on the ice undeniably revolves around Thornton much more so than any other player.
Thornton has been an alternate captain since 2006 (serving in spots in his first season with the Sharks then permanently starting in his second season). He has led the team in points every season in San Jose, and was named the Art Ross Memorial (top points scorer) and Hart Memorial (league MVP) Trophy winner in his first season in 2005-2006, a year in which he helped Jonathan Cheechoo to 56 goals and a Rocket Richard Trophy scoring title.
Thornton has an undeniably dominant presence on the ice and makes all his teammates better. However, two common knocks have always been his proclivity to pass before shooting and his disappointing output in playoff games. His 15 points in the playoffs last season, and in particular his eight points in the five games against Detroit, should silence some of those concerns, but until he proves them with more consistency, they are likely to remain.
Nonetheless, I see Thornton as the most likely candidate to assume the Sharks captaincy.
Anyone Else?
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There is still a slim possibility that another Shark could emerge as the captain for what will be the twentieth year of Sharks Hockey. Right wing Dany Heatley would probably be the most likely name on that list. The Sharks could go the route of the first half of the 2003-2004 season, where they employed a rotating captaincy in the wake of Owen Nolan’s departure, before finally settling on Patrick Marleau for the next five years.
There is also an even more slim chance that the 2010-2011 captain may be a player who is not yet on the roster, with virtually everyone expecting a major trade for a top-four caliber defenseman. Still, with Dan Boyle already on the roster, it is very unlikely that the Sharks would go that route, especially because it contradicts their normal modus operandi of growth and progress from within the organization.
Then again, that policy has not netted them the ultimate prize as of yet, so maybe it could be time for a change.
Perhaps the only thing that is certain is that fans are unlikely to know the identity of the new captain for some time yet. Rob Blake was not named until 30 September last year, and Coach McLellan has said publicly that he is in no hurry to make the decision. With such a strong veteran squad, that likely will not hamper the Sharks as they enter training camp.
Fans will just have to wait. As long as the new captain has a passion for beating Ryan Getzlaf and the Anaheim Ducks, he will fit in just fine.
Keep the Faith!
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