NHL.com Says OTT should wear the "C"

[SkateZilla]

Buffalo Sabres -- Steve Ott

The Sabres have been without a captain since Jason Pominville was traded to the Minnesota Wild at the NHL Trade Deadline in April.

Pominville was a Sabres draft pick and a fixture in the lineup for seven seasons, including two as captain. He was part of a core group that includes goalie Ryan Miller, forwards Thomas Vanek, Jochen Hecht and Drew Stafford, and defensemen Henrik Tallinder and Tyler Myers.

Vanek is the team's most skilled player, but he's entering the final season of his contract. General manager Darcy Regier admitted to investigating trades for Vanek during the summer, and Vanek has said he's not ready to sign any extension with the club, all of which makes him a tough sell as a captain you might have to replace at any moment.

That makes Ott the best candidate to wear the "C." He arrived last summer from the Dallas Stars as part of the Derek Roy trade and quickly became a fan favorite with his gritty, physical style of play. Also, he's never been shy about speaking his mind -- and when the Sabres opted to unveil their third jersey, it was Ott who was picked to be part of the plan for the online reveal.

The fact that the club chose him for a big public-relations campaign speaks to where he stands within the organization. Making him the next dressing-room leader appears to be the next step.

[DetDannyWilliams]

and Ron Rolston was asked that same question on Sabres Hockey Hotline this morning on WGR550 by Kevin Sly and Rolston's response was Otter doesn't want to be captain...he would be a good one we tried giving it to Otter after Pominville was traded and he didn't want it, some players want to be captain and some players don't want to be. I'll tell you who should be the Captain Drew Stafford would make a good captain after Pominville was traded he was the one that took over as a leader in the locker room, he's got a loud voice and the leadership that we are looking for".

[SabreEleven]

I want George Babcock to be captain before Stafford. This team will go backwards (if that is possible) if he is named captain.

[DetDannyWilliams]

I keep saying this... Stafford is Rolston's favorite, back in 2004 Stafford was on the World Juniors Cup Team USA and they won the gold, it was also Rolston's first year working for USHL

[SabreEleven]

Then Rolston needs to be fired.

[Meathead]

stafford?!?

maybe ronnie knows something i dont but stafford would be one of the last guys i would ever want to be captain. idk i guess maybe its different when youre in the room but holy cow thats alarming

[PTI]

They will play this year with no captain.

[DetDannyWilliams]

They will play this year with no captain.

The head coach said he would ultimately decide on a captain but will rotate it through the preseason. "Getting our new staff in here, we've got a couple new members that need to really get a good feel for the players too," Rolston said. "So we're going to let things play out early in camp and then see how it pans out."

[SabreEleven]

They will play this year with no captain.

I'd be happier with that then Stafford being captain.

[SkateZilla]

For Ott not wanting to be captain..... then why is he always the one to get everyone going, the face of every public event now, taking interviews and discussing what the team needs to do etc etc.

For not wanting to be the capt. he's sure acting like the Capt.

[DetDannyWilliams]

went to the game last night and Vanek had the "C"

[Meathead]

For Ott not wanting to be captain..... then why is he always the one to get everyone going, the face of every public event now, taking interviews and discussing what the team needs to do etc etc.

For not wanting to be the capt. he's sure acting like the Capt.

its been said that a captain cant play his level of agitator style. i suspect hed like to be captain but just understands its better for the team if he helps out in that role unofficially instead

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went to the game last night and Vanek had the "C"

i hope it means something. but it probably doesnt

[DetDannyWilliams]

Foligno?
“I don’t think he was happy with the way the end of the season turned out,” coach Ron Rolston said. “Whether they think it’s me or them, they have to make that change. He took the ownership on that.
“He really had to come back. He wants to be an elite player in this league. He had to come back and show that.”
The Sabres’ preseason goal leader has shown the drive the coach wants.

“I think he’s brought it,” Rolston said. “He’s moving really well out there. He’s big, he’s strong. He’s making room, making things happen out there with his size. That’s the way he’s got to play.
“He’s been really good in camp. For him now it’s just to continue that consistency to be the player we want to see. This is the player we saw for some of the games last year but just not a consistent level.”
The 22-year-old Foligno took lessons and wants to put them to use.

“I learned a lot last year, and I feel really good,” he said. “I think the preparation was the biggest thing. I wanted to be in shape and mentally focused. I think that’s the stage I’m at now, and I think that’s a good way to start.”
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/foligno-hitting-his-markers-with-sabres-20130922?sp-tk=95A1877EFB6E3476B22A344D8EB6EF71D1333AF330E9ADF78D2751C5F2D87A76F4544C9F751DA82B19E5E5734E2FB1CABC9970D98E33151F33A560C589165D0E6933566FDAF0230B42AB5DA707E7057D632EA92DA1A6B40481B24CEBBA9FC1B2AB3589116B8B65D16C8B0C49B915D2B4CB4F531E2AE27A526A821882C7F8FEC94BB335BA20FA3090C72837B262A04DA5309EBA05

[DetDannyWilliams]

and his dad was Captain also on 1980 Sabres team...following in his dad's skates

[JATMtheJATM]

For Ott not wanting to be captain..... then why is he always the one to get everyone going, the face of every public event now, taking interviews and discussing what the team needs to do etc etc.

For not wanting to be the capt. he's sure acting like the Capt.

you dont need a letter on your jersey to be a captain. ott is a captain with or without the letter.

[PTI]

Steve the Pirate from Dodgeball hurts this team as much as he helps, not an Ott fan at all.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Rolston said he will wait to name a permanent captain until after the final two exhibition games. He said he’s leaning to picking regular alternate captains as well rather than rotating those designations. The Sabres have rotated captains during the exhibition season with center Cody Hodgson wearing the ‘C’ on Sunday.
“We’ve kind of spread it out a little bit. We’ve let guys do it,” Rolston said. “We think we have a good pool. It’s just finding the right mix, the right representation to carry us going forward.”
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/sabres-notebook-mcnabb-ruhwedel-are-among-the-six-sent-to-the-amerks-20130923?sp-tk=46BC198C2A6D50E5936EBABE57BC0C80B5BA07809D69D8CD7E361C21679BD9E778ED2C125634CC28EA9680C84DBA2C76C0C30C49B6DD623355590D2B1A89748A57DB8D3001A93007CE1D437EC0B29BFFBCCE558AADF2ACD6E1D5E40FAA4B48C8FF621AEC1D7068ACD73DCC2E924FAE6DBA90E2C03310D26E0B6A0295A44123D2FFD9A9A6D3D6C6DFB0D618755E698541E024B760

[DetDannyWilliams]

more proof that Ott sounds like that he doesn't want to be Captain out of his own mouth, “I think it’s a huge honor to represent the team,” Ott said at the beginning of camp when asked if he wanted the role. “But we’ve got great leaders on this team, a bunch of guys very capable of wearing that letter.” http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/sabres-got-lots-of-answers-in-good-preseason-20130929

[PTI]

Dumb, Ott is Captain on the road, and Vanek is at home

[trapezeus]

so vanek is getting traded this season....the kiss of the C.

[PTI]

so vanek is getting traded this season....the kiss of the C.

I was thinking both will be traded!

They should just all wear the 'C' when the 3rd jersey is worn!!

[SabreEleven]

I don't understand the purpose of two different captains...

[Crisis]

Two pending UFA captains... where have I seen this before..

[PTI]

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/01/ex-sabres-captain-pominville-says-ott-vanek-combo-is-weird/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

Funny, Pomminville calls the Sabres choice, 'weird'

[SkateZilla]

he's jealous.

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Two pending UFA captains... where have I seen this before..


My thoughts exactly