A Winning Habit
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Canadiens Captaincy: The Case For Max Pacioretty

By Lissa Albert

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A week ago, I made the case for why I believe the Montreal Canadiens can go another season without a captain. I asked for your input, in a poll or in comments, and 236 of you responded.

Interestingly enough, the results (by no means scientifically) made my case: 34% believe the Habs are doing well without a captain, and that things should remain status quo.

Poll Results – Canadiens Captaincy

But the next largest vote went for Max Pacioretty to wear the “C”. Being the staunch journalist I am, I did some research into this matter.

(Okay, I didn’t have to do much research – I know this team backward and forward but I had to say that)

Here, now, is the Case for Captaincy: Max Pacioretty

Pacioretty was drafted by the Habs in 2007, played with the Hamilton Bulldogs, but was called up at the end of December, 2008. On January 2, 2009, in his NHL debut, he scored his first NHL goal – on his very first shot. It was already blatantly obvious that this player was going to become something special.

Here’s the goal:

Year after year, Pacioretty has improved, and for the past 2 seasons has been an almost-40 goal scorer (39 in 2013-14, 37 in 2014-15). This season, #67 posted a career-high 67 points, and was clearly a force on the ice every single night.

Even waylaid by a concussion in early April, he came back in time for Game 2 of the first round of playoffs, scoring in that game and making the difference he always does just by lacing up his skates.

But what makes a captain? If you recall, there is a clear role for the player wearing that “C”. As the NHL rulebook stipulates:

"6.1Captain– One Captain shall be appointed by each team, and healone shall have the privilege of discussing with the Referee anyquestions relating to interpretation of rules which may arise during theprogress of a game"

Keep in mind, this is not to dispute a penalty. It is to discuss, with the officials, the reason a penalty is being called and to get their explanation.

A Captain must be someone who has shown leadership qualities. Someone who is not known for “embellishments” or hot-headedness, someone who the referees know and to whom they will afford respect, as he affords them.

Does Max Pacioretty possess these qualities?

Given the “A” he was assigned this season, and his already-visible leadership skills, I believe he does. He has also been with the team for 6 years, and is well known by the refs to be fairly even tempered and a mature player.

The captain’s unofficial role is also to, as the word suggests, lead the team, run the ship, next to the coaching staff become the person to whom others look for guidance.

In August 2014, as the new season was about to begin without former captain Brian Gionta, and with the often-touted heir apparent, Josh Gorges traded as well, Pacioretty addressed his readiness in an interview:

"Now that we’re going in a different direction, I feel I’m going to have to play a much bigger role on this team. I’m really looking forward to doing that. At the end of the year last year I wore a letter, and it was definitely an honor. Obviously, I didn’t see this coming, where both [Gionta] and Gorges would be gone, but it shows that the management is ready for some of these young guys to step up. That’s when I’ve got to look in the mirror and help some people out, the guys that are even younger than me. I feel I’m going to be able to do that."

No one knew that 3 weeks later, GM Marc Bergevin would name 4 alternates instead of assigning the captaincy, but it was no surprise when Pacioretty was one of them.

With a contract that has him playing with the Habs until 2019 (and beyond, should he choose to re-sign), naming him the Captain in the 2015-16 season would give the Canadiens longterm leadership.

Now he’s played a key role in leading the team in a shared leadership group; a year later, he is someone I could definitely welcome as the Canadiens’ new captain.

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