Staal, Brind’Amour Both Exhibit Class In ‘C’ Exchange
by Cory Lavalette on Jan 21, 2010 4:00 PM EST
25 comments
For those of you who are Facebook users, you probably know about "I’m With Coco," a fan page supporting Conan O’Brien in his struggles with NBC over control of "The Tonight Show."
The O'Brien-Jay Leno fiasco has its similarities to veteran Rod Brind`Amour passing on the Hurricanes captaincy to Eric Staal yesterday. But unlike "The Tonight Show" drama, this move doesn't require picking a side, even though some have decided to.
Both situations involve a red-headed up-and-comer pegged to succeed a grizzled veteran best recognized by his unique face — one battle-scarred, the other sporting a jutting chin. Also, there was a clear plan of succession: Leno was told back in 2004 that O’Brien would take over "The Tonight Show" this year, while Staal was openly labeled the future captain as soon as he inked his long-term deal prior to last season.
That's not to say there aren't differences. Leno left "Tonight" at the top of his game, leading the late night ratings over rival David Letterman. In fact, he was more or less forced from the spot when O’Brien was promised the show during his last contract negotiation. Brind`Amour, on the other hand, has slowed the past two seasons, hampered by the accumulating injuries and aging that seemed to avoid him for much of his career. No longer the player he once was — Brind`Amour mentioned to the media Wednesday that the best way for him to lead was to do so on the ice, and playing less than 10 minutes most nights didn't allow him to do so — Carolina's No. 17 agreed with Jim Rutherford to relinquish his captaincy to Staal.
Leno also agreed to let go back in '04, setting off a five-year plan that would leave "Tonight" for O'Brien. But as the time approached to hand over the reins, Leno — still dominating the scene — continued to have the late night bug. In an effort to keep him from heading to a rival network and competing with Conan head to head, NBC hatched a plan that would feature Leno on a new show before O'Brien. When it stumbled, a panicked NBC pulled the plug on both Leno and O'Brien, and today announced that O'Brien had parted ways with NBC, paving the way for Leno's return to "The Tonight Show."
While we're only one day into the Staal captaincy, you can bet there will be no backpedalling by Brind`Amour. Like Leno, he knew years ago that one day this young pup would replace him as the top dog. And while Brind`Amour — or anyone, really — didn't envision it happening in the middle of a season, eight months removed from a visit to the Eastern Conference Finals, he handled the move with the class, dignity and professionalism he has exhibited for 21 years on and off the ice. Was he happy about it? I'd guess no, but Brind`Amour has never been about personal goals, accomplishments or recognition, but rather integrity, the team and, most importantly, the game of hockey.
As for Staal, this could not have been easy. When Brind`Amour took over for Ron Francis as Carolina's captain, the choice and timing was easy. Coming out of the lockout, Francis had retired. Brind`Amour — a long-time wearer of an "A" in Philadelphia and Carolina — was the obvious choice. The Canes were rewarded for that choice when Brind`Amour hoisted the Stanley Cup June 19, 2006, on the RBC Center ice.
Right now, in the middle of perhaps the Hurricanes’ most disastrous season, neither the timing nor the decision was so easy. But Staal — still just 25, but in in his sixth NHL season and seventh professionally — handled the transition with poise and character, surely guided by the lessons learned under both Brind`Amour and Francis.
We won't know until well down the road if naming Staal Carolina's fifth captain and the franchise's 13th was the right move — that starts tonight — and some will always question the timing of the change. One thing we do know is it's not time to pick a camp and argue for it. What's done is done.
The NBC late night battle has those standing behind Jay and others with "Coco." When it comes to Staal and Brind`Amour, I'll just say this: I'm with "Both-O."
0 recs |
25 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
I wish i could cash these in for money … thought I’d prolly start getting a whole lot more “-” if that was the case. ;)
by Cory Lavalette on Jan 21, 2010 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
+1 hug
greaticepectations.blogspot.com
by Great Ice-Pectations on Jan 21, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll admit that when I first heard the news that the team was changing captains I was suspicious…. But now that it has had time to settle…. and hearing what both guys (and people around the team) had to say… I’m willing to not be a skeptic about it….
Rod Brind’Amour is a classy guy and his accomplishments speak for themselves…. none of that can be taken away from him….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Jan 21, 2010 4:27 PM EST reply actions
I think it’s only natural to have a knee jerk reaction to things like this, especially in the midst of the kind of season the team is having. My knee jerk reaction was disappointment, but after sleeping on it, I guess I’d say that I’m neutral on it. Who wears the C shouldn’t change your opinion of the team (unless it was say…Sean Avery) and it hasn’t changed mine. Bottom line is whether you agree with it or not, like Cory said, what’s done is done and it’s time to support the whole team.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Are you asking that question in a serious manner?
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I hope not (and am leaning that way) too. But with canescup sometimes it’s hard to tell.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Maybe he secretly likes handbags and lipstick. =)
by Raccoon Fink on Jan 22, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
i think i’ve been a bit open with my distaste for making this move. But I guess now, like mateos said earlier, the dust has settled and i’ve come to my senses a bit i realize that this was the right move to make.
It was inevitable that Staal would be the next captain, we all knew that. And as much as I would have liked to see the move come at a happier time (say after brindy retired with another stanley cup under his belt :D) or even at the end of a season. But alas, I suppose it is a good thing for staal to get experience during this season.
After all, isn’t that what we’re doing with all of the rats? giving them the experience they need now so they can be more successful later? I suppose its the same with staal and we’ll see over the next 5-10+ years whether or not this was a good move.
Time to move on and get back to supporting this team, whether that means rooting for them to win or rooting for a top draft pick, arguing about captaincy is not useful.
Did y’all see Chip’s tweet that it looks like we’re definitely getting an AHL team in Charlotte?
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
How did we live without the instant info of twitter? (I sometimes wish I could put that genie back in the bottle – especially on days I’m putting together Clicks&Clippings. Makes me nearly neurotic.)
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by hockeymomof2 on Jan 21, 2010 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Canes Country
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- In which former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock foils a shoplifter
- Montreal's Price talks new 2-year contract, expectations post-Halak
- Donald Fehr aware of Kovalchuk drama, mum on everything else
- Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; Halak in Montreal
- Boudreau, Crawford placed on the coaching hot seat
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
