Who Will Take over the San Jose Sharks' Captaincy in 2014-15?

In the words of assistant coach Larry Robinson, the San Jose Sharks are "waiting for somebody to step forward and take charge of this team" following last month's announcement that Joe Thornton has been removed as captain.

This is just the latest move in what has been a decidedly bizarre offseason for Team Teal. If you haven't been listening, general manager Doug Wilson has changed his rhetoric and his plans throughout the summer, from  hoping for a large-scale rebuild to more or less accepting the team he has.

The announcement that the Sharks are "cleaning the slate" in their leadership group (including taking away Patrick Marelau's assistant captaincy) really epitomizes the Sharks' offseason: plenty of talk and public relations ploys but few tangible changes. 

Wilson and Todd McLellan will hold an open tryout of sorts for potential captains, waiting for someone to step up and fill the role.

The idea has been floated that San Jose could go without a captain this season. According to David Pollak of The San Jose Mercury News, Thornton could even earn back his old job, as crazy as it may seem.

It should be an interesting training camp to say the least.

There's certainly no exact recipe to be an effective captain. The captain needs to lead the team on and off the ice, setting a good example for all players. As the face of the franchise, the captain must deal with the media and hold himself to an incredibly high standard in all aspects of life.

Wilson and McLellan believe a lack of leadership in the locker room hurt the Sharks in their playoff collapse against the Kings. Robinson also suggested Thornton's sense of humor may have alienated some of the Sharks' younger players. Some media members would have liked more postgame analysis from Captain Joe as well.

If we are to believe the talk of the Sharks' young core stepping into leadership roles, then it seems the Sharks' new captain and assistant captains will be some combination of the following players, ranked from most to least likely.

Joe Pavelski

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Pavelski is the favorite to be the Sharks' next captain. Coming off a career year (41 goals, 38 assists) and in the midst of his prime, Pavelski is the natural leader of the younger group of Sharks.

The 30-year-old is entering his ninth season in the NHL, all with the Sharks. He has seen three different captains during his time in San Jose: Patrick Marleau, Rob Blake and Joe Thornton.

While the Sharks have made the playoffs in every year of Pavelski's career, the team has seen differing levels of success throughout, in addition to different leadership styles from the captains and coaches.

Kevin Kurz of CSNCalifornia.com sees Pavelski as the favorite to wear the captain's letter. "His work ethic on and off the ice is a great example to any young professional trying to make his way into the league," Kurz wrote.

Pavelski has respect from within the organization and throughout the league. He would be an obvious choice to wear the "C" in 2014-2015.

Logan Couture

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Couture might be the fiercest competitor on the team. He has extraordinarily high standards for his game and is one of those people who is never satisfied with his or his team's performance but always looking to improve.

Couture is in line to have a big year this season, following a disappointing playoff performance (one goal, two assists) and mediocre regular season, especially for his standards.

The fiery Couture could be the type of captain the Sharks need to ignite and excite the locker room. At just 25, Couture still has his best years ahead of him.

He may not have the NHL experience Pavelski does, but Couture would be a capable captain, very different from any the Sharks have had in the last 10 years.

While Pavelski is the slight favorite, Couture has a great chance to become San Jose's next captain.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

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Vlasic has been under the radar since entering the NHL at 19 years old in 2006. He gained more league-wide attention last season as he has blossomed into an excellent defensive defenseman, representing Canada in the Olympics.

Amazingly, the 27-year old already has eight seasons of NHL experience, playing in 600 regular-season games.

Vlasic's low profile may make people forget him as a candidate for the captaincy. But make no doubt, he is a leader in the locker room. Robinson, who works with the defense, sees Vlasic as a player who could take his leadership to the next level in the coming season.

While being named the Sharks' next captain is unlikely but not improbable, Vlasic is almost a sure bet to wear an "A" this season.

Others

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A few other players come to mind when talking about a new leadership group in San Jose. None of them have a realistic chance of being named team captain, but they all are in the running for assistant captain positions.

A somewhat goofy character who looks more like a mountain man than a professional hockey player, Brent Burns would be a good choice for an "A" if the Sharks think they need a looser and more fun environment in the team room.

Another defenseman, Justin Braun, has come into his own in the last two years. He is often mentioned as another component of the Sharks' new core and has an outside chance to garner a letter.

Finally, Tommy Wingels broke out last year and is likewise mentioned as one of the pieces to the Sharks' puzzle of building a Stanley Cup team. He might be a couple years away from being in a realistic conversation for a leadership role, but Wingels continues to improve and impress.