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Wing Across The Pond

Assistant Captains

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After just watching a video of from last season of the Wings, it finished with Lids standing in front of Dats, Z, and Drapes, and it got me thinking...

With Drapes now sadly retired (seeing all these people go makes me feel old!) do you reckon Babs will still rotate the 'A's, and if so who will get it? Its obvious to say Dats and Z will keep theirs, but who will get it when they don't? Its entirely safe to say one of those will get the 'C' when Lids sadly calls it a day - most likely Z as he has better English but I'd love to see Dats get it - so we'll need another 'A' when that happens and this season seems a good year to find out who it'll work with.

As for who'll get the rotation, I'd say give it to Flip as I feel he's a good diplomat and would wear it well. If not, I'd say someone like Helm or Cleary as, like Drapes, they never really give less than 100% (well Helm sometimes) but not sure how good they'll be in a situation where they have to be the on ice leader. Don't think Kronner or Stuart would do too well but who knows.

Looking back on it, we must have some great leaders on this team considering Rafalski never wore an 'A'.

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It should be Kronwall who is next for an A on his jersey.

Aye. If there will be a rotation he will probably be the third one. He already wore it last year when there were injuries and I read that he's started to become more of a leader on the bench.

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Yeah, I thought about this and touched on it briefly in the Draper thread. My honest assumption is that Kronwall will be added to the Alternate Captain rotation. Like Marlowe said, he wore it last year - and I would think that he's being prepared to wear the A full time when Zetterberg becomes Captain.

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Aye. If there will be a rotation he will probably be the third one. He already wore it last year when there were injuries...

:blink:... Why don't I remember that? Do you remember the opponent by any chance? It's going to bug me all day that I didn't remember that he had an A for a short time.

Yeah, I thought about this and touched on it briefly in the Draper thread. My honest assumption is that Kronwall will be added to the Alternate Captain rotation. Like Marlowe said, he wore it last year - and I would think that he's being prepared to wear the A full time when Zetterberg becomes Captain.

Yeah in that thread I think I said the pecking order would be something like

1. Kronwall

2. Cleary

3. Tie between Helm, Fil, Stuart.

4. Everyone else.

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:blink:... Why don't I remember that? Do you remember the opponent by any chance? It's going to bug me all day that I didn't remember that he had an A for a short time.

No, sorry. It was at some point when at least two of Draper, Datsyuk and Zetterberg were injured. Sometime around mid-season(?).

Edit:

KuklasKorner:

• If you didn’t notice, toward the end of the season, when both Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg missed time with injuries, the Wings stuck an alternate captain’s “A” on Niklas Kronwall’s jersey (or an “alternate captain’s ‘A’ on Niklas Kronwall’s sweater,” depending on your terminology preferences), and the Free Press’s Helene St. James found that Kronwall earned a de-facto promotion:

“I think he took a huge step this year,” forward Todd Bertuzzi said. “I think as far as leadership, he’s gotten a lot more respect. Guys listen to him. He’s got an opinion, and his opinion is usually a good one. He’s a guy who’ll speak up, and that’s what you need from guys. He’s kind of like the second coming after whenever Nick decides to move on. He’s a perfect guy to come in and fill that role.”

...

“Obviously Kronner is an elite player,” coach Mike Babcock said. “We play him in the three, or in the fourth or five-six-hole, but I mean really, with his age, he’s probably our best guy in lots of ways.”

Kronwall finished the Coyotes series leading the team with 13 hits and in average minutes played at 22:24, and second with eight blocked shots. He had two assists in Game 3. That’s the stuff the Wings have come to expect from him, though. He can be used against opposing top lines. He’s a point man on the second power-play unit, and a go-to guy on the penalty kill, especially when the Wings are down two skaters. He keeps opponents on their toes because they never know when he might upend them with a bone-rattling hit. It’s only because his teammates include Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski that Kronwall is considered the No. 3 D-man on the team, because to the Wings, Kronwall is a guy who does it all.

...

Kronwall’s partner, Salei, said Kronwall “has made me a better player.” His coach, Babcock, said Kronwall “is the guy in our organization that has to come to the forefront here. He is capable of playing the most minutes—power play, penalty kill, even strength—can be the most active. He’s a physical guy who can really make plays. We think he’s an elite player. He’ll get more opportunity as his career goes on here, when Nick and Rafi decide to hang things up, offensively, but in the meantime he’s been excellent for us. He’s a leader on our team, he’s vocal on the bench. He’s an important guy for us.”

...

“He’s taken a little more responsibility in that area, saying what needs to be said on the bench,” former partner Brad Stuart said. “If we’re falling asleep a little bit on the bench, he’ll speak up and get us going. It’s good to see.”

A-Kronwall-300x225.jpg

Edited by P. Marlowe

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After just watching a video of from last season of the Wings, it finished with Lids standing in front of Dats, Z, and Drapes, and it got me thinking...

With Drapes now sadly retired (seeing all these people go makes me feel old!) do you reckon Babs will still rotate the 'A's, and if so who will get it? Its obvious to say Dats and Z will keep theirs, but who will get it when they don't? Its entirely safe to say one of those will get the 'C' when Lids sadly calls it a day - most likely Z as he has better English but I'd love to see Dats get it - so we'll need another 'A' when that happens and this season seems a good year to find out who it'll work with.

As for who'll get the rotation, I'd say give it to Flip as I feel he's a good diplomat and would wear it well. If not, I'd say someone like Helm or Cleary as, like Drapes, they never really give less than 100% (well Helm sometimes) but not sure how good they'll be in a situation where they have to be the on ice leader. Don't think Kronner or Stuart would do too well but who knows.

Looking back on it, we must have some great leaders on this team considering Rafalski never wore an 'A'.

That's hardly the only reason Z will get it over Dats. That's no shot on Dats, he's well deserving.

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A-Kronwall-300x225.jpg

You'd think this picture would trigger whatever memory I may or may not have of Kronwall with an A but nope. Oh well. I mean, I believe it but I just can't remember it. The only times I remember him having an A are during pre-season games where Cleary and Fil would have them too.

But I know for sure that picture is from this past year because of that CCM stick. I'm pretty sure it was this past year where he switched from Bauer to CCM.

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It just warms my heart to hear all those nice things about Kronner. And to think that I chose my name because he was getting picked on when I joined. :wub:

But he's injury-prone and European. We can't have soft Europeans running around thinking they own the place. That was already done 200 years ago.

OK, that was unnecessary.

That's hardly the only reason Z will get it over Dats. That's no shot on Dats, he's well deserving.

I think Dats shouldn't be more than an assistant. He leads by example and working hard and 'A' is his chest pushes him to do so even more, but captain needs to be someone who talks to the officials and be a face of the francise. I can't see Datsyuk being the same kind of a personality and influence as Yzerman and Liström while I think Zetterbrg is just that.

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You'd think this picture would trigger whatever memory I may or may not have of Kronwall with an A but nope. Oh well. I mean, I believe it but I just can't remember it. The only times I remember him having an A are during pre-season games where Cleary and Fil would have them too.

This is the sort of thing that would make me worry about having Kronwall having an 'A', but the quote someone posted above seems to suggest that at least the players believe he's progressing with his leadership.

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For now:

C - Lidstrom

A - Zetterberg

A - Datsyuk

No rotation, these locked in place unless there's an injury (which hopefully never comes up with those 3!)

When the unthinkable happens:

C - Zetterberg

A - Datsyuk

A - Kronwall

I'd put money on this being how it plays out...

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Oct-Jan and March-June

C- Lids

A- Dats

A- Zata

A- Kronner

When we hit our Annual February Injury Blight (you know the one- where we are missing half the roster and people throw tantrums because we lose an occasional game)

C- Lids (will not get injured)

A- Tatar (until he gets injured)

A- Exelby (until he gets injured)

A- Janik (until he gets injured)

A- Hudler (won't get injured; will instead lead the team in scoring)

A- MacDonald (due to the fact that he's the only call-up left who doesn't have an Ohio license plate)

Edited by 55fan

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Guest CaliWingsNut

For now:

C - Lidstrom

A - Zetterberg

A - Datsyuk

No rotation, these locked in place unless there's an injury (which hopefully never comes up with those 3!)

When the unthinkable happens:

C - Zetterberg

A - Datsyuk

A - Kronwall

I'd put money on this being how it plays out...

I think Kronwall has a chance to share honors this year, especially after the TOI he got last season.

I agree about what happens in the future. Don't think it was by chance Z used to sit next to Steve Y in the locker room.

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Guest Jordan Baker

If not, I'd say someone like Helm or Cleary as, like Drapes, they never really give less than 100% (well Helm sometimes)

when has Helm ever not given 100%? Sometimes, last year it felt like he was the only one on the team willing to skate.

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I think Dats shouldn't be more than an assistant. He leads by example and working hard and 'A' is his chest pushes him to do so even more, but captain needs to be someone who talks to the officials and be a face of the francise. I can't see Datsyuk being the same kind of a personality and influence as Yzerman and Liström while I think Zetterbrg is just that.

Exactly my point.

While Dats certainly deserves it in terms of talent and work-ethic, he lacks the aforementioned which can be crucial before big games.

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I guess Homer will never get one, despite his longevity with the team.

I'd give it to Hudler. He has all the qualities you'd want in a leader. He skates hard on every shift, constantly goes to the net, rarely takes games off, and is responsible defensively.

If not Hudler, I'd give it to Aaron Downey, just because he's Canadian and he fights. Who cares if he's not playing anymore.

Edited by GMRwings1983

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This is the sort of thing that would make me worry about having Kronwall having an 'A', but the quote someone posted above seems to suggest that at least the players believe he's progressing with his leadership.

I'm almost 100% positive that he only wore the A for one game. No more than a handful.

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Why couldn't it be Homer???

As teams are only allowed two A's per game, I wouldn't be shocked to see Homer wearing one a few times this season, as it's likely his last year. But his "wonderful" command of the language kind of prevents him from communicating with officials, which is kind of necessary for the job.

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