Should goalies captain NHL teams? Wed, October 1, 2008
Roberto Luongo is the 12th captain in Vancouver Canucks' history and first goaltender in club history to serve as captain.
"I'm ready for that responsibility," Luongo said at a news conference yesterday.
Luongo, however, won't wear the C on his jersey, as per National Hockey League rules. Ryan Kesler, Mattias Ohlund and Willie Mitchell were named alternate captains. Ohlund will take ceremonial face-offs.
Rule 6.1 in the NHL rule book says: "No playing coach or playing manager or goalkeeper shall be permitted to act as captain or alternate captain."
Should the rule change to allow goalies to captain NHL teams? Would it slow down the game if the goalie came out of the crease to talk to the referees? Have your say in our forum.
It actually makes sense to me,because they are always on the ice except,what happens when they are in the doghouse or injured and not playing?Oh yeah,I guess thats why they have Assistant Captains.It might become a new trend that the NHL needs to change the rules for.
Johnny, 2008-10-24 09:53:33
I am a goal tender and can honestly say that it is the best position to control the game from as you see it all. I don't believe you need to be constantly arguing with the ref so why not a goal tender as captain.
You lead the team because of who you are not where you are (please note Mr Cherry).
John, 2008-10-24 00:11:27
Why shouldn't a goalie be captain? Kolzig was practically one in Washington. If the league wants to avoid delays, then don't allow goalies to leave their nets to talk to refs. Does the captain always speak to refs? No. Assistant captains speak for the team when captain is not available. In Vancouver's case this would be all the time. Change the rule and allow captains to be captains.
TheHema, 2008-10-07 13:01:29
I say this:
Sure Why Not
A hockeyfan, 2008-10-07 12:10:00
The NHL's no-goalie-as-captain reasoning dates back 60 years.
The Montreal Canadiens' Bill Durnan was the last goaltender to serve as captain in the 1947-'48 season.
Prior to 1948-'49, the NHL passed a rule prohibiting goalies to act as captain or assistants.
The Canadiens keeper left his crease so much to argue calls that opponents protested saying that Durnan's actions gave the Canadiens unscheduled timeouts during strategic points in games.
But that doesn't mean the NHL won't change their tune and allow goalies to be captains in the near future. But it's definitely not on the burner.
moderator, 2008-10-06 15:23:50
apperently instant replays, arguing with refs, fights, TV time outs are not time delays. A goalie skating 20 feet is a time delay though?
wayne, 2008-10-06 14:44:38
Presently, the NHL does not allow teams to make their goalies captains. The reasoning is that they could come out of their net and waste time talking to the referees every chance they get, creating unofficial timeouts and slowing down the game.
moderator, 2008-10-06 13:28:00
what kind of stupid question is this. Are they not part of the team? Are they not only ones on the ice 100% of the time?
wayne, 2008-10-06 13:14:21
Billy Smith of the New York Islanders (1970s)certainly could have. He had a big mouth, ofted screamed orders across the rink, and used his stick to plough down centres, and on a few occasions, his own defencemen. Ahh... the good olde days!
Bike Shop, 2008-10-04 11:24:49
Should goalies captain NHL teams?
Johnny, 2008-10-24 09:53:33
You lead the team because of who you are not where you are (please note Mr Cherry).
John, 2008-10-24 00:11:27
TheHema, 2008-10-07 13:01:29
Sure Why Not
A hockeyfan, 2008-10-07 12:10:00
The Montreal Canadiens' Bill Durnan was the last goaltender to serve as captain in the 1947-'48 season.
Prior to 1948-'49, the NHL passed a rule prohibiting goalies to act as captain or assistants.
The Canadiens keeper left his crease so much to argue calls that opponents protested saying that Durnan's actions gave the Canadiens unscheduled timeouts during strategic points in games.
But that doesn't mean the NHL won't change their tune and allow goalies to be captains in the near future. But it's definitely not on the burner.
moderator, 2008-10-06 15:23:50
wayne, 2008-10-06 14:44:38
moderator, 2008-10-06 13:28:00
wayne, 2008-10-06 13:14:21
Bike Shop, 2008-10-04 11:24:49
Andy V., 2008-10-04 08:30:20