Countdown Poll - Flames captains - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 08-10-2015, 06:57 AM

As August rolls along and training camp nears the need for a good daily vote hasn't subsided.

So we turn our attention to Flames captains (since moving to Calgary). Who's the best? No limitations, if the guy was a captain he was a captain, even if its only 33 games like the case of Steve Smith.

Criteria is up to you ... wins, the cup, playoffs, good dude, number of seasons, you've seen him play, catchy name, your his neighbour.

Bingo · 08-10-2015, 07:03 AM

I went with Mark Giordano.

Can't think of another time when a single player was able to alter the culture of a hockey club and make a huge impact top to bottom.

Lanny'sDaMan · 08-10-2015, 07:13 AM

I think my vote will be self evident.

Chingas · 08-10-2015, 07:34 AM

I voted for Iggy. As much as i love Gio and think that he might top my list one day, he has to put the team on his back carry them to the final to be in the mix for me.

Lanny, Iggy, Gio; looking at that trio we have truly been blessed with some of the games greatest ambassadors. Just great great people to go along with their on ice performance.

_Q_ · 08-10-2015, 07:41 AM

I went with Giordano.

Iginla was a fantastic player, but the way the team used to give up on their coach rests squarely on his shoulders. Yes there was '04, but there was also '06 to '12.

Poe969 · 08-10-2015, 07:53 AM

Agreed, I went with Gio for a few reasons. He leads by example and does what it takes to win much like the others but he's also worked with the coach to get buy in from the players. I think Gio is a great captain just because his attitude and how he's seemed to make the rest of the team have that same attitude. Most everyone seems to give 100% out there an I think that's because of the leadership (of him and the coaching staff)

Huntingwhale · 08-10-2015, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Q_

Iginla was a fantastic player, but the way the team used to give up on their coach rests squarely on his shoulders. Yes there was '04, but there was also '06 to '12.

Just another example of Iggy having the full weight of the franchise on his shoulders. Between '06-'12 he was a Hart nominee, scored 50 goals and broke several Flames' franchise records. Yes he took some responsibility for the team's failings. But it hardly rests ''squarely on his shoulders''.

Iggy was often in the talk for best player in the world during his prime. 3 time Hart nominee, 2x Rocket winner, Art Ross winner, King Clancy and Ted Lindsey winner.

Years from now when the dust has settled and the current roster is long retired, I think we'll all look back and see Iginla as the best captain we ever had.

Igottago · 08-10-2015, 08:12 AM

All due respect for Gio -- he has a long way to go to become the captain or player that Iginla was. The cultural turnaround has way more to do with top down organizational change than it does with one player. New president, GM, finally drafting good young talent, an award winning coach -- all had more impact than whatever speeches Gio is making in the dressing room. I've said this before - Gio isn't really doing anything differently than Iginla was. Just playing well and representing the team well. Except Iginla did it for way longer and more consistently than Gio has (so far). And I also think Iginla had to carry the team on his back far more than Gio has had to with the talent on the team now.

I think people are so in love with the current team (understandably so) that they forget the kind of impact Iginla had.

The only real answer on the list is Iggy, with respect to the other captains the team has had.

King Theo · 08-10-2015, 08:17 AM

Picked Lanny. He lifted the cup. Hell of a player.

FlamesAddiction · 08-10-2015, 08:19 AM

I went with Iginla as he seemed to embody everything at least for a few seasons.

But I was really considering Conroy. IMO, he is the one that changed the loser expectations and took the team out of the dark ages. I wonder if Iginla would have become the captain he did without Conroy coming in and changing the attitude and expectations of the club back in the early 2000s.

Lanny is the nostalgic pick, but there were so many great leaders on the team in that era.

Bingo · 08-10-2015, 08:25 AM

always tough to venture into a debate with the Iginla crowd.

clearly a great player, and a monster captain at the start when he took over from Conroy and lead the Flames to the cup in 2004. Impossible to argue that.

He still is top 3 for me all time, but he loses that 1 spot because of his last 5 years. We will never know what is what behind the scenes but from former players, current players, odd quotes that seem to be saying something without saying something ... you get the impression that he let things get away on him. Clicks formed, high priced vets got to take the easy way out, and that follow me boys mentality waned.

Like I said none of that is concrete but there's quite a bit of smoke ... moves him from one in my mind.

Strange Brew · 08-10-2015, 08:25 AM

Jarome is likely best player on here but I had to go with Lanny. He lifted the Cup even though by then his effectiveness was diminished. Also - 66 goals.

Rhettzky · 08-10-2015, 08:37 AM

Too early for Gio IMO. Let's see him play in the playoffs before annointing him best Captain in flames history ahead of Iginla and Lanny.

SportsJunky · 08-10-2015, 08:40 AM

Lanny for me. He led the team with such dignity back in the 80s. The whole team wanted to win for him. What a way to go out, by lifting the cup. Such a class guy on and off the ice. He gave the team an example of how they should be when representing the Flames. He was always an ambassador for this club.

I'd go Iginla 2nd. Gio may pass him at some point though.

PugnaciousIntern · 08-10-2015, 08:43 AM

I know the Flames aren't the oldest, most storied franchise in the NHL, but how awesome is it that we can debate between these three players. One led our team to the cup, another was the best player and quintessential power forward in his time, and the other is currently leading our team. Great time to be a fan when our current captain can be compared with those two.

That said, I voted Iggy. In the end of the day, I'm still the most proud to say that he was a member and leader of this team.

codynw · 08-10-2015, 08:45 AM

Was between Iginla and McDonald. Picked Iginla, he was the captain of the team that made me a hockey fan (2004).

JBR · 08-10-2015, 08:47 AM

Lanny.

On a veteran team, his leadership skills were underrated. There was more pressure on that team than any other in Flames history. No player on the team had won the Cup before. Lanny took his lumps from the fans that year and accepted a diminished role with 100% class, galvanizing the team to win it for him... which they did.

He is still a leader and hero of Flames fans 26 years after his retirement. Posing for countless pictures, shaking hands with people like they're long lost friends. Smiling and signing every autograph and being genuinely interested in those he meets.

I've met and spoken with him numerous times and it's still a thrill to be in the presence of #9.

For the younger CP crowd, for many he was more than the captain. He was the Flames and Calgary.

Yamer · 08-10-2015, 08:48 AM

Wow, tough to rank.

Lanny rallied a group of super-talented players into a cohesive unit that won it all and was (and still is) an incredible ambassador for the team and city. He is, quite frankly, legendary.

Jarome saw this team through the uncertain Young Gunz era into the resurgence of '04. He is also one of the most recognizable names in the game, one of the best power forward/sniper combinations to ever play, and just so damn likeable. His tenure will be marred by the recession of the team towards the end of his time here, but placing it all at his feet is completely unfair. I'm sure he's responsible for some of the damaging culture that infested the club during then, but this was a team stubbornly wallowing in the depths of mediocrity and instability.

Giordano, as leader, has been the epitome of what this franchise represents today. Hard work, commitment, and never-quit attitude. A rock solid competitor that would have won the Norris hands down had he not been injured. It seems like he is the perfect fit as captain for this kind of team, and those shared qualities of team and player speak volumes. If he can continue with this kind of leadership over the next handful of years he may be the best leader the Flames have ever known.

Forced to rank, I have to go Lanny --- Iggy --- Gio.

Machiavelli · 08-10-2015, 08:51 AM

Way too early to say Gio.

TSXCman · 08-10-2015, 08:59 AM

Started with Jarmoe here. He was our first line scorer, fourth line scorer, and fighter all in one. When he would go out and rough someone up, the team would step up while he was in the box.