Who Gets Heatley's A?

by DarrenM on Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM EDT

We still do not know if Dany Heatley will be an Ottawa Senator next season. What we do know, though, is that his actions in the past month have all but guaranteed that even if he does stay, he will have lost his standing as Alternate Captain. After all, a captain, even an alternate captain, is supposed to be a leader on and off the ice. Where is Dany Heatley going to lead the Sens next season? To a preferred destination?

So, with the assumption that Heatley loses his 'A' whether he stays or leaves, the Ottawa Senators will be in need of someone else to receive the honour. Now the question is: who should that person be?

Given the love-fest surrounding Jason Spezza these days and his excellent handling of the whole Heatley fiasco, one would assume Spez is the front-runner. After all, he logs plenty of minutes, is bound to be in the top 3 for points this season, and is signed for the next six seasons. Giving him the 'A' seems pretty logical.

But there are plenty of other candidates. Mike Fisher seems like a good choice, given he has previously worn the 'A' and has the right attitude. Our newest addition, Alex Kovalev, wore the 'A' in Montreal and occasionally the 'C' while Saku Koivu was injured, yet Kovalev's brief tenure with the Sens suggests that it should go to someone a bit more long term. Filip Kuba and Anton Volchenkov would be good, though I'm unsure of their English language capabilities (I know that Volchenkov struggles with it at times, but I'm not sure I've ever seen Kuba speak). Nick Foligno might be a good one, but it's very hard to imagine him getting it over Fisher.

It'd seem to me that Fisher and Spezza are the favourites, but what do you think?

Poll

Who should get to wear the 'A'?

Heatley should keep it

17 votes

Jason Spezza

129 votes

Mike Fisher

219 votes

Alex Kovalev

16 votes

Filip Kuba

3 votes

Anton Volchenkov

4 votes

Nick Foligno

5 votes

Other (specify in comments)

2 votes

395 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Voted for Spezza

It’s tough, though. Obviously Spezza is going to be a huge part of the team’s core for the next six years, andsome people—not just me, I hope—are thinking he’s quickly developing into a leader on this team.

At the same time, Fisher is already seen as a good leader on the team, has been given the A before, and is a part of the core for at least a few more seasons. He’s a player with good character, and although his points are lacking, he seems to have the work ethic that Murray and Clouston are trying to build into the nature of the team.

And even Kuba seems like a guy who could easily fall into a leadership role on the team. He’s a veteran of a lot of games, he usually leads the team in ice time, and he’s been in a leadership role before. He’s also here for three years, pending a trade, and has a no-movement clause — he obviously want to stick around and be a part of the team.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 8, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Voted Fisher

I’m not on the Spezza bandwagon yet, though I’m definitely not one of the fans that blames him for every mistake the team has ever made. He’s saying the right things, but he needs to show the growth on the ice. He has size but he doesn’t always use it. He started playing around the goal a lot more last year, which I love, but he doesn’t go into the corner as often as I’d like. I love Spezza and I’m glad we won’t trade him with the Heatley debacle going on, but he’s not ready for a lettered leadership role on the team just yet.

Alfie, Phillips, and Fisher. If the locker room doesn’t listen to those guys, they’re not listening to anyone.

by Mark Parisi on Jul 8, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

so did i

but i can’t help but feel that heatrically, fisher deserves it.(seen as leader, been here longer) if he didn’t get it i could understand if he thinks he should be wearing the a over spezz. they’re two different kinds of leaders. spezza being one to lead by example, and fisher being a hard worker on and off the ice. it was tough to make this call on the poll. naturally i had to side with spezza. in reality i foresee them giving the honor to fish.

by xBKx14 on Jul 8, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Alfie should get both As with his C

by Graham MacAree on Jul 8, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

I voted Spezza, but Fisher also deserves it. It’s a tough call, which is weird because if this question had arisen last year it would have been no contest.

I’m happy with either one getting it.

by Sensfan on Jul 9, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions