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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.
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.
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