The headline might seem confusing, as the Vegas Golden Knights are in fact set
to enter their second season of play, but it';s true! The team has yet to name
its inaugural captain. So who should be the first to wear the 'C'; in a Sin
City?Last Season';s Alternate Captains

Last year, the team was content to give a good chunk of the roster an 'A';,
including Deryk Engelland, Jason Garrison, James Neal, Luca Sbisa, David
Perron, Reilly Smith, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Neal, Sbisa, and Garrison
are gone, leaving us with three holdover candidates that wore a letter last
season.

You could easily say that Deryk Engelland served as the de facto captain last
year, taking the mic to deliver an inspirational speech before the team';s home
 opener in the wake of the tragic mass shooting on Oct. 1, 2017. He also was
the one to take the Clarence S. Campbell bowl on behalf of his team after they
 eliminated the Winnipeg Jets and captured the Western Conference championship,
 bookending the season as the team';s leader.Deryk Engelland #5 of the Vegas
Golden Knights celebrates with the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after defeating
the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals. (Photo by
Jason Halstead/Getty Images)

However, Engelland isn';t the best candidate in my opinion. He';s 36, on a
one-year contract, and likely doesn';t factor into the team';s future plans.
The same can be said for Bellemare, who is 33 and will also be an unrestricted
free agent at the end of the season.

They';re both great stories, as undrafted players who have carved out nice
careers for themselves, but the first Golden Knights captain should be someone
who the team';s still-young fanbase will identify with for years to come.
Someone who will sell some jerseys and be a face of the franchise. Is that
sounding like anyone we know?A Goalie for Golden Knights'; Captain

Marc-Andre Fleury was anointed the first "face of the franchise" the moment he
slipped on a Golden Knights sweater at the 2017 NHL Awards and flashed his
signature smile. This was further solidified when he signed a three-year
extension that will make him one of the highest-paid goaltenders in the league.
 From a marketing standpoint, Fleury would be a great pick, but unfortunately,
 the reality is that a goalie cannot be captain in the NHL.Would Marc-Andre
Fleury be a good pick to be the first Golden Knight to wear the 'C';? (Stephen
R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

The last time a goalie was named captain in the NHL was in 2008-09 when the
Vancouver Canucks appointed Roberto Luongo to the role. However, Willie
Mitchell served as on-ice captain since Luongo could not be the team';s
official captain due to league rules. Therefore, Fleury could serve in the role
 unofficially, but would not be permitted to actually wear the 'C'; or perform
any of the captain';s on-ice duties, per league rules.

This is a bit of a bummer because it would surely be a lot of fun if he could
be mic';d up for discussions with the referee. In fact, "Flower" should be
mic';d at all times so we could hear his conversations with other players,
himself, or his posts. Actually, they should do this anyway.The New
Acquisition: Paul Stastny

Chemistry is everything for a team, and it';s often thought that bringing in
someone new and throwing the captaincy on them right away can disrupt the
status quo. Whether you believe that or not, Paul Stastny seems more primed to
join the alternate captain party rather than don the 'C';.The prize of the
Vegas Golden Knights'; offseason, could Paul Stastny step in and become the
franchise';s first captain? (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

Stastny is a proven leader and veteran presence that will be a welcome addition
 on the ice and in the locker room. He will be valuable in helping to mold
young centers Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki as they make their way up to the NHL
level. However, the 'C'; will not be going to the newest Golden Knight.The
"What If" Clause: Erik Karlsson

There are exceptions to every rule, and if a deal is finally pulled off to
bring Erik Karlsson to Vegas, it would seem to be a safe bet that he would
assume the captaincy upon his arrival. Since I';ve already given my two cents
on a potential trade for Karlsson, this is nothing more than a pipe dream. But
what about that other Karlsson guy?Is "Wild Bill" The New Sheriff in Town?

William "Wild Bill" Karlsson certainly fits the mold of a prototypical Swedish
captain as a quiet, calming presence and a solid two-way contributor on the ice
 who doesn';t take many penalties. He';s also entering a pivotal season,
getting a nice raise on a one-year contract to try and prove that last year was
 no fluke. If he can do that, and get himself locked into a long-term contract
for years beyond, then perhaps he would make a strong choice.

But there';s still a better candidate available...First Golden Knights Captain
Should Be: Reilly Smith

Reilly Smith should be the first captain for the Vegas Golden Knights. Though
he hasn';t worn the 'C'; since his college days at Miami University, Smith is
primed for a bigger leadership role in Vegas. He';s still young at 27, plays in
 every situation, and is under contract through 2021-22.Reilly Smith seems
primed to be the first captain for the Vegas Golden Knights. (Photo by Hannah
Foslien/Getty Images)

Coming off a career season even though he was limited by injury to 67 games,
Smith provided a steady presence on both the power play and penalty kill and
performed at his best when things mattered most as the Golden Knights made
their unlikely run to the Stanley Cup Final. He would be more of a reserved
captain in the mold of, say, Jonathan Toews, but that';s not a bad comparison
to make, is it?

Coach Gerard Gallant may elect to go with a captain-by-committee once again in
2018-19, but I';d expect to see Reilly Smith be the first Golden Knights player
 to wear the 'C'; whenever the time comes.

The post Who';ll Be the Vegas Golden Knights'; First Captain? appeared first on
 The Hockey Writers.

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