Entering training camp this weekend, the Carolina Hurricanes have their fair share of questions to address. Who will fill the holes in the bottom six? Will Noah Hanifin make the squad? Is this the year the team finally makes the postseason? Another, less well known question, is who will become the second alternate captain.
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Currently, the two Staal brothers own the leadership roles on the team, with Eric being the captain and Jordan being the first alternate. Those two remain as the core leaders from last season.
In 2014-2015, there was a lot of change in alternate captaincy. Once Jordan Staal broke his leg in preseason, the duties were handed to three defensemen, Ron Hainsey, Jay Harrison, and Andrej Sekera. The trading of Harrison and Sekera left Hainsey and the Staals to captain the club.
While Hainsey is a great teammate and always puts his heart into his play, he wasn’t rewarded with that alternate role coming into this new season. In 2015-2016 Bill Peters looks for there to be a leadership competition in training camp.
These are his most likely options to become the new alternate captain.
Justin Faulk:
What can be said about Faulk that hasn’t already been said? The man is arguably the best player on the ‘Canes and the team’s only All-star. He represents the present and the future of the franchise. Of course, neither of those things directly translate to leadership ability, but in his case, it certainly does. On an offensively challenged team, he out performed almost every forward as a defenseman. He stood up for teammates and carried them through tough games. Not only does he deserve the “A”, there is a valid argument that he should be the future captain of the Hurricanes.
Ron Hainsey:
The 34-year old defensemen is paired with Faulk on the first pairing. He was a solid alternate captain last year and has always been one to stand up for his teammates. Most importantly, he proved to be an excellent role model for Justin Faulk in his development, especially in the defensive end. Hainsey is the ideal veteran to be an alternate captain. However, he has never played a playoff game and hasn’t had the experience of pushing hard for the playoffs. Having that experience is something Peters might be looking for and it’s a qualification Hainsey doesn’t have.
Nathan Gerbe:
In his two years in Raleigh, Nathan Gerbe has become arguably the most beloved of all ‘Canes players. He may be the shortest player in the league, but he plays the biggest game. He is powerful for his size and provides some offense as well. Most of all, Gerbe is willing to do whatever to win. Every night, he grinds in the corners and in the crease. His penalty minutes were third highest among ‘Canes forwards, so Gerbe isn’t afraid to fight for his teammates either. An unorthodox alternative captain pick sure, but there is no doubting Gerbe will always set an example to follow.
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Jay McClement:
He doesn’t score a lot of goals and he isn’t flashy, but he gets results. McClement is the embodiment of a fourth line center. Finishing 13th in the league in faceoff winning percentage, the former Toronto Maple Leaf displayed great consistency at the dot. His penalty killing skills helped the ‘Canes set franchise records in PK%. Finally, he was an alternate on the Leafs, so he could certainly do it again for Bill Peters. The veteran would be an excellent mentor to the young talent breaking into the NHL. McClement would be an effective alternate captain that emphasizes player accountability.