OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have had trouble picking their captains.
The last five Senators captains have left the team acrimoniously, whether by demanding a trade or leaving, famously in free agency in the case of Daniel Alfredsson.
Outside of Alfredsson, and to a lesser extent Erik Karlsson, none have been long-term successes.
After Brady Tkachuk joined the list of Senators captains forcing their way out of the nation’s capital, here we are again.
The three likely candidates to succeed Tkachuk are, in no particular order, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot.
Fundamentally, there are no wrong choices. Each of the three potential captains has pros and cons. Whoever dons the "C" this fall will have to persuade a hurt fanbase that the team can become what they want it to be, for now and into the future.
Here are the cases for each to be the next Ottawa Senators captain.
Tim Stutzle
No player wears his heart on his sleeve more than the German. You don’t have to be a professional body-language interpreter to see that Tkachuk looked disengaged and lacked commitment down the stretch last season. Stutzle's dedication won’t be questioned.
The fiery 24-year-old plays emotionally — which isn’t a bad thing. The young Senators rode the emotional waves generated by their previous captain to constant underperformance before hurtling to the playoffs the last two seasons.
Similarly, Stutzle showed his frustration with the stifling Carolina defence that took him off his game in the playoffs last season. That frustration was felt by the rest of his exasperated and injured Senators teammates, which could be worrying for Stutzle if he becomes captain.
And there’s one person who doesn’t think Stutzle should be captain.
Nonetheless, an attractive attribute that he brings is hatred and dislike for the Maple Leafs and Canadiens — a must for any Senators captain.
Stutzle says that when club legend Alfredsson contemplated leaving Ottawa to coach elsewhere, “I … told him any team but Toronto and Montreal, I would accept it way more.
“I’m also happy that we have a lot of guys who want to be in Ottawa," said Stutzle.
Stutzle goes above and beyond to profess his love for Ottawa, which Chabot and Sanderson do as well, but there is an air of care and concern for the organization and city that clearly isn’t fake. That’s a necessary trait in Ottawa, especially after Tkachuk’s inconsistency.
Giving the captaincy to the German would mean the leader’s passion and commitment to the franchise would be showcased every night, something that was missed last season from the Senators captain.
Jake Sanderson
The one trait that stops Sanderson from being the favourite to become the next Senators captain is obvious: He’s American.
There is a penetrating PTSD in Canada about American stars, considering the trade requests by Quinn Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck and, most painfully in Ottawa, Tkachuk.
Still, you don’t get rid of your fears by refusing to face them. Sanderson grew up in Canada, and his father, Geoff, is Canadian. He’s the antithesis of Tkachuk’s emotional — at times immature — bullish hockey. Sanderson is a quiet and tireless worker who Tkachuk once called “boring” because his entire life is hockey, unlike his own.
The Senators’ organization has constantly waxed poetic about “culture,” and Sanderson’s method would be leading by example without the bravado of his predecessor. Despite fan fears that Sanderson might leave given the political tensions between Canada and the U.S. that have seeped into the NHL, the organization shouldn’t make that a reason not to pick Sanderson. Pick the right captain, whether he is American or not. Just because Tkachuk left doesn’t mean Sanderson will.
Thomas Chabot
If you’re picking a brand ambassador for the Ottawa Senators, Chabot is your choice for captain. He’s the longest-tenured Senator and he’s bilingual, which helps the Senators grab the attention of francophone fans, a priority for owner Michael Andlauer. He’s a beloved teammate and great with the media. Chabot will ace all the off-ice duties required of an NHL captain.
The snag: What’s his future?
The stalwart defenceman has two seasons left on his contract and is in line for a raise when he’ll be 31 years old. That's always a tricky contract to negotiate, although naming him captain would perhaps smooth his passage to a longer-term agreement.
The rumours about his future won’t be nearly as boisterous as Tkachuk’s, but do you really want the prospect of another captain leaving? It would be a terrible look for a fanbase and organization that’s yearned for long-term stability since the Alfredsson era.
Meanwhile, Chabot, for all the great human qualities he possesses, has flaws in his game. Defensively, he’s grown tremendously under head coach Travis Green, but he isn’t nearly the player Stutzle or Sanderson are. At times, Chabot can play carelessly. It could be argued that his play wouldn’t set the best tone for a captain.
Ultimately, it’s a question of what Green and general manager Steve Staios see as the best fit. If it’s about PR, Chabot is perfect. But the decision should ultimately be who’s best to lead the Senators into a contention window.
