El Capitanos, Round 2

CAROLINA:
Current captain: Rod Brind’Amour. There are reasons this man is called a freak of nature in some hockey circles, none of them having to do with his personality. First, the man is strong as an ox. Seeing him with a shirt off strangely takes me back to my He-Man days. Second of all, he’s a clutch performer who seems to play his best when a game, season, or championship is on the line. Third, he truly does look like, well, a neandrethal. Rod Brind’Amour has to be one of the top three guys in the league I would want captaining my team, right up with Iginla and Joe Sakic. His will to do whatever it takes to win is apparent in every scar on his battle-worn face. That will and fiery determination inspires his teammates, and that’s what makes him a natural leader. I also wouldn’t want that gorilla face bearing down on me if I was a teammate who was slacking…
Future captain: Eric Staal. They’re breeding him to be captain, a position he should hold for the rest of his career. I see him as a quiet, but effective leader.

CHICAGO:
Current captain: Jonathan Toews. You knew there was something special about this kid last year when then interim-captain Martin Lapointe was already offering the “C” to Toews, who was a 19-year-old rookie. Luckily, they gave Toews the rest of the season to “mature” before handing over the captaincy to him, filling a leadership void that has been a black hole for years on the ‘Hawks roster. Naming a 20-year-old as team captain is a risky move, but it’s a step in the right direction. The Hawks have a lot of youth and a lot of talent on their roster. Letting them grow together, with Toews at the helm, will pay off big dividends in a few years. Toews does carry the Yzerman essence about him, someone who’s wise beyond his years and who players naturally follow. I think we’ll see a lot from him. We may see him become to the Hawks what Sakic is to the Avs or Yzerman to the Wings…

COLORADO:
Current captain: Joe Sakic. The man is a legend already, and the perfect leader. His style of play and classy personality simply demand respect, without Sakic ever opening his mouth. When was the last time you ever saw an opponent cheap shot Joe Sakic? That’s what I thought: Never. He’s elevated himself to such a high status through his mad skills and determined – if quiet – demeanor that players just don't mess with him. He’s become something of a hockey god. He alone convinced players like Ryan Smyth to come to his team. He’s won championships, he’s won scoring titles, heck, he even won Colorado’s sexiest man once. All this in the form of a quiet leader who gets the job done. Injuries have begun to take their toll on the aging star, but when he’s playing he still looks like he’s just pushing 30. He’s one of the number one leaders to ever play the game.
Future captain: Paul Stastny. He just has it in him to be a leader. I don’t know if it’s the Stastny blood or what, but this guy will take over Sakic’s reign in a couple years and should continue his gutsy play. I hope he always keeps that gap-toothed smile. Brilliant.

COLUMBUS:
Current captain: Rick Nash. It was only a matter of time until Nash was named captain of the franchise he is at the head of. The change in the superstar’s attitude didn’t hurt, either. The former one-dimensional scorer is nicely rounding out his all-around game under coach Ken Hitchcock, a drastic change in attitude. He is now a fixture on the backcheck and even the penalty kill, and it is no doubt due to this about-face in his attitude that accelerated his rise to the captaincy. Plan on seeing Nash at the helm for a long time.

DALLAS:
Current Captain: Brendan Morrow. Another awesome captain, Brendan Morrow is like a wolverine on skates. There is not a Dallas Star that works harder or wants it more than Morrow. And not one who will pay quite the price that he does. After the beatings he’s taken in front of the net and in defense of his teammates, his face is startingly beginning to remind me of a certain neandrathal who plays for a certain team in Carolina. Morrow is vocal to the point of obnoxious, tough to the point of enforcer, and talented to the point of superstar. All in all, a good leader. I was a little confused when Dallas brass took the “C” from Modano while he was still on the team, but now I see why. Not a knock on Modano, but Morrow has established himself as the bleeding heart and soul of this franchise.
Future captain: No real prospects for this one. We’ll have to see.