about what you’re doing on the ice.” – Steve Yzerman – Detroit Red Wings 19 year captain and current Lightning GM.
St. Louis and Stamkos were alternates under Lecavalier and both would be good choices. Many have posed the question, “Who deserves to get the captaincy?” This is a ridiculous question to try and answer, especially by locker room outsiders. Of course both Marty and Stammer are “deserving” candidates.
Stamkos is the hockey world’s most prolific scorer. He has scored 203 goals in his five year NHL career, which includes last year’s shortened campaign. The phenom has accumulated 386 points in 373 gamesand won two Maurice Richard Trophies. His durability is unquestioned as he has missed only three games in his career. He exudes class on the ice and in the community.
St. Louis has 912 points in 989 games in his 14 year career. From 2002 to the present, the diminutive winger has missed only seven games. He has a closet full of NHL hardware including two Art Ross Trophies, three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies, a Hart Memorial Trophy, a Ted Lindsay Award and of course a Stanley Cup. He is already the face of the franchise and the front man with the media.
Both players have the trust of the team, show up on time, all the time, have a tremendous work ethic and perform at a high level on the ice. The one fact that separates the two is that St. Louis has won and as his GM Steve Yzerman stated, winning is the most important thing.
No matter which way it goes both players will continue to be team leaders.
As an outsider looking in, the decision on the next captain is quite simply a no-brainer. The unquestioned inspirational leader of the Lightning team is Martin St. Louis and he has earned the right to wear the “C”.
Even Steven Stamkos agrees, “Marty is a guy that I've been trying to learn from since day one, everyone knows that,'' Stamkos said. “He's a heart-and-soul guy on this team and he's been here for a long time. He'd get my vote.''
The last remaining member of the 2004 Stanley Cup team, St. Louis is the heart and soul of the franchise. Stitching the “C” on the #26 sweater is affirming a leader that has bled and performed at the highest NHL level for the Tampa Bay organization for 12 years. St. Louis is a comfortable and recognizable leader and is the perfect fit for an organization that does not want to be portrayed as “rebuilding.”
Superstar Steven Stamkos’ time will come, but in the meantime, Martin St. Louis should officially be given the title of “face of the Lightning franchise”…The Captain. ◉
W.B. Philp is the Founder and Chief Editor of LightningShout, a comprehensive Tampa Bay Lightning website. He’s also a serial hockey blogger, including over at HockeyIndependent.com, Melrose hater, instigator, agitator and vindicator