Who Will Be The Next Captain Of The Columbus Blue Jackets?

With the season over, the Blue Jackets still have one question to answer before the start of the 2013-2014 season. Who will be the next captain?

Since the trade of Rick Nash, there has been a vacancy at the Captain spot. There has been a round robin with the A’s on the sweater, but no clear cut winner as to the new leader of the team. This will be a topic of debate, and the subject of countless blog posts until the day a true Captain is named, so for arguments sake, here is my take on the situation.

When I look at great captains around the league, who stands out and fits my idea of a “Perfect” captain? I look at Toews in Chicago, and Brown in L.A.

May 18, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center

(19) in the third period of game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center. The Red Wings won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Toews is that rare guy that will do whatever it takes to win. He puts up 60+ points a year doing it. There’s a reason he was the youngest captain in the league at one point. The same goes for Dustin Brown. He might not be the point producing captain that Toews is, but damn if he doesn’t play three times his size.

Dustin Brown

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Most players intend to give 100% every shift. Brown laughs and out works them with 110% effort every shift of every game. I’m not a Kings fan at all, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Brown in Union Blue.

If I had to make the choice for Captain, I would have to go with Brandon Dubinsky. The reasoning is simple: He kills himself EVERY SINGLE SHIFT. That is what this team has needed for the past few years. I think they really screwed up when they made Rick Nash the captain years ago. Sure, he was a 30 goal a year guy, but did he ever really “rally the troops” when we needed it? I say no. He was a “Me” guy, and “Me” guys don’t lead their teams to the playoffs, let alone win Cups.

January 24, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Referees break up a fight between Colorado Avalanche left wing

(11) and Columbus Blue Jacket center Brandon Dubinsky (17) during the first period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

When I look at Dubinsky, I don’t see the best player on the ice. I see an average player, doing above average things. What I mean by that is he’s not afraid to get dirty, unlike like some superstars I’ve seen over the years. He will go hard into the corner. He will sacrifice his body to block the shot. He back-checks like it’s the last minute of the last game of his life.

That’s what this team needs. The next captain should be a guy who not only leads by example, but will get in his teams face if he needs to. If someone starts slacking (cough-Brassard) they will defiantly hear about it.

Hopefully I have made a good argument for Dubi to wear the C. I would love to hear from you fans and get your opinion on this subject. Who should be the next C in Columbus? Dubi? Johnson? Umby? Leave a comment and let us know!