The Ottawa Senators aren’t rushing to name a new captain, but have shot down the possibility of it going to Craig Anderson.
On Tuesday, Sens head coach Paul MacLean provided a zinger response when asked about giving the “C” to Anderson, the club’s starting goalie:
“They’ve tried that once in this league, and didn’t work out so good.”
That quote is, of course, in reference to Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo. In 2008, Luongo became the first goalie to be named captain of his team in 60 years.
While innovative, the experiment faltered and ended badly. Luongo stepped down in 2010 and Canucks GM Mike Gillis admitted he may have made a mistake putting the “C” on his goalie.
“It may be incompatible with goaltending and the expectations that are placed on a captain in terms of availability and being the spokesman of the team,” Gillis explained. “It may have been a little too much based on how he likes to prepare and what he likes to do to get ready for the game.”
Ottawa’s captaincy has been vacant since Daniel Alfredsson stunned the organization by singing with Detroit in July.
It’s expected that Jason Spezza and Chris Phillips are the leading candidates to replace Alfredsson, though some have hinted Anderson is a viable choice given his importance to the team.
Anderson finished 4th in Vezina Trophy and 12th in Hart Trophy voting last season.