Good for Roberto Luongo. Let's get that out of the way right now. There isn't a goalie on the planet that hasn't dreamt of being a team captain at some point.
But having said that, let's be clear on who the legitimate candidates were in the first place, and the conclusion it draws.
Daniel and/or Henrik Sedin were surely options, but with their futures in Vancouver uncertain with free agency looming, that likely would have been a bad move. Come to think of it, what does that say about how confident the Canucks organization is that it will be able to re-sign them next summer? That's a blog unto itself, I suppose.
Kevin Bieksa, although injury prone, seems like he would have been a reasonable choice. He logs substantial ice time when healthy, playing in the top two defensive pairings. He's 27 years old -- old enough to be a legitimate leader, and young enough that he could evolve into a long-term cornerstone. And with three years left on his deal, the Canucks don't have to worry about him leaving town anytime soon.
Mattias Ohlund is entering his 10th season as a pillar of consistency on Vancouver's blue line and would seem to have all the prerequisites to captain the squad. Mattias has never been one to get overly involved with officials however, and isn't known as being a vocal part of the team. But he was a candidate nonetheless -- evidenced when he kept one of the 'A's on Tuesday.
And then there is Willie Mitchell. Willie seems to exude all of the qualities inherent in a team captain: hard working, likeable, coachable, and this isn't his first rodeo.
In lieu of these guys, the Canucks could easily have rotated the captaincy or gone captainless.
The Canucks had plenty of legitimate candidates and options for the captaincy before they had to turn left down Gimmick Street this week. This is clearly nothing more than a stroke of Roberto's ego in hopes of persuading him to re-sign next summer.
And if Gillis and his boys think that's what it's going to take to help keep Roberto in Vancouver, it sure isn't saying much about the rest of the equation. In fact, it reeks of desperation. To assume anything more would make you a member of the Gillis family tree.
But, good for Roberto.