Gio has been Flames captain for 7 years.
This was the first time that he shook hands at the end of a playoff series as a winner ... and it wasn't even real playoffs.
He would still lead by example in training and on ice effort without being captain. The only argument keeping him on as captain is to shield Tkachuk from doing more media relations.
He does not bring the rah rah rally the troops to a higher level image. There is no evidence of him kicking butt or providing motivation to the various prima donnas that have under performed on the Flames.
There does not seem to be much of a possibility of him being a coach after he retires.
I don't know if Tkachuk would be a good captain. No one rallied to his defense when Benn speared him. There are not a lot of agitator/"players on the edge" captains in the history of the league. I don't have a feeling that giving Tkachuk extra responsibilities will make him a better player.
Vegas Golden Knights have been far more successful than the Flames and they never have had a captain.
There is not the drama when shifting assistant captains around and gives a larger leadership base.
I think it is harder being a captain under low experience head coaches.
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