San Jose Sharks: Future Captains of the Deep
San Jose Sharks Captain Joe Pavelski is in no danger what-so-ever of losing that big C this season. However, Little Joe’s contract is up at the end of this year, and at 34 years old, the San Jose Sharks might want to start thinking about his future replacement.
The San Jose Sharks have a rich history of guys who’ve worn that big C. From current General Manager Doug Wilson, the teams first Captain, to Owen Nolan, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski who’ve worn the C for multiple years. And the one off’s like Mike Ricci, my guy Vinny Damphousse, and a 40-year-old Rob Blake, which absolutely nobody remembers.
The captain doesn’t always have to be your best player. The C is given to the player who is the embodiment of the franchise as a whole. The guy who has a few years under his belt, and understands how the team is supposed to operate. A vocal leader who can explain his case to the referees, but more importantly, the guy everyone looks to in a big situation.
The San Jose Sharks have a rich history of Captains, see the guys listed above, (I left a few out). At times, they have been the best players on the team for that season, other times they’ve been vet’s who’ve spent years in the teal jersey’s and were fan favorites.
San Jose, right now, has a list of guys who meet the requirements for the big C in the future. Guys who embody the mentality of this franchise, set forth by, well, the most important person in this franchises history, Doug Wilson.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
The man they call Pickles is the leader in the clubhouse as the next guy to dawn the C in the coming seasons for the San Jose Sharks. He’s the model of a professional on and off the ice. He goes out and grinds game in and game out, and you can make the argument that he’s the most important player on the team.
He’s their defensive anchor, and leader on the Penalty Kill. And he’s not too shabby on the offensive end either.
Vlasic is one of the most popular guys in the dressing room and is a favorite of the coaching staff and front office.
Vlasic would be the first San Jose Sharks defenseman to dawn the C since Rob Blake for one season in 2009, and Todd Gill before him in 1997.
Logan Couture
If Vlasic is the leader to dawn the Captains jersey, then Logan Couture is 1A to Vlasic’s 1. Couture is the San Jose Sharks best player, and often times that alone is the criteria for the captaincy. But Couture brings so much more that just stats.
Again, he’s another guy who embodies what it is to be a San Jose Shark. He’s spent his entire career with this team, and he’s going to be the one Peter DeBoer hands the reigns over to when Jumbo retires.
We already saw a glimpse of that last year during Thornton’s absence. Cooch, as he’s lovingly referred to, put up a career high 34 goals centering the second, and most dynamic line. Expect Couture to have a similar year with Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier more consistently on his flank.
Timo Meier
For me. This is the guy. He may not be named captain in the next two years, but make no mistake about it. Timo Meier, the former 9th overall pick, is destined to be captain of the San Jose Sharks.
The way he plays calls for it. If you asked Doug Wilson to craft a hockey player out of ice and clay and earth, it would be Timo Meier. Big, physical power forward with tons of skill and wise beyond his years. At only 21 years old, (he’ll turn 22 October 8th against the Islanders), he’s already a 20 goal scorer, and has shown the ability to make the gritty plays in the corner and in front of the net. And hes not afraid to mix it up every now and then.
Next. San Jose Sharks Offseason: Where Do We Go From Here?. dark
There are other good candidates. Brent Burns could be one, as he’s under contract for the next seven years. And other guys could come out of nowhere and become leaders of this team. But for right now, its Joe Pavelski ’til its not, and then the line starts with Pickles.