The Mark Messier Leadership Award. As defined, the award goes to: “the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season.” there’s no question that the Blue Jackets had leadership appearing up and down the roster with the season they gave us. However when it came down to it, surprisingly there was hardly any variation in where we all cast our votes. Who did we pick? Read on.
Vinny Prospal
The Coach (1): “Vinny was the first guy that really started coming out against the country club atmosphere that had been so pervasive for the Jackets. He knows what it takes to succeed long term in the NHL, and he was not seeing that in Columbus. He continued to go about his business, and it looks like that has rubbed off on the rest of the team. That’s what you want out a veteran, and what you want out of a leader.”
Canadan (1): “Vinny has been a catalyst in the ‘never say die’ attitude that has positively impacted the Blue Jackets over the last two seasons. He is at the forefront pushing guys to be better, and holds himself to that same standard when playing.
One of the things I really like about him is how much he seems to hate losing. You can get a sense of his joy of the game every time he scores, leaving his emotions on his shoulders for everyone to see. It’s the type of passion that Columbus fans desperately needed to grasp after a couple woeful seasons; and similar to what JD has done at the top end of this franchise, Vinny has changed the landscape and vision of the on-ice product.”
AlisonL (1): “Can there really be anyone other than Vinny? This man single handedly began the righting of the ship culture wise in Columbus. What’s amazing is that while he’s continued to lead through the love and passion he shows for the game, his performance is matching that point for point. Vinny led the team this year in total points, always gave an honest, often challenging assessment of the team in interviews, and showed the young guys how it’s done – in practice, in games and in the locker room. I have to believe that the “gentleman’s agreement” with the CBJ remains in place and that wherever Vinny is in the organization, on or off, he’s going to be a key part of turning this team into a perennial winner.”
CBJProspects (2): “The Captain without a letter on his chest. Vinny was the wise man of the locker room plus lets never forget ‘the point.”
Brandon Dubinsky
The Coach (2): “He just does everything right. That is hard. Most people probably don’t appreciate just how difficult it is to do everything the right way at all times. That’s what Dubi does on the ice though. No shortcuts taken, no inches given. If anyone embodies what this team is about, it is him.”
Canadan (2): “This one is as much a hopeful as it is a hearsay. From everything I’ve read, and everything I’ve seen, Dubinsky is one of those rare players that can lead a team in both words and that hard-hat mentality on ice. Throwing himself in front of the puck, crashing the net hard, being a physical presence on the ice, and giving everything to the team are all great leadership qualities. For a roster like Columbus, this type of player can change the mentality for the better.”
AlisonL (2): “Just the right balance of scrap, skill and polish is what Dubi has brought to the CBJ. What I love about Brandon is in addition to his hard nosed play on ice, his presence off – in front of the media, fans and the hockey community bolsters the validity and professionalism of the organization. When you couple that with his 100% effort, 100% of the time this guy is personifying the identity of the Blue Jacket that people want to see, and that will make us a winner.”
CBJProspects (3): “Dubinsky is another player people think could be the captain and led by example playing hard and standing up for his teammates more than once.”
Adrian Aucoin
The Coach (3): “He was a Norris nominee early in his career, but has reinvented himself in the last half of his NHL life as something of a defenseman whisperer. He takes on a second or third pair role, and does that job effectively. But beyond that he mentors the young talent. He did it in Chicago with Keith and Seabrook, Phoenix with Yandle and Ekman-Larsson, and now in Columbus with Prout and Erixon (and Moore).”
Canadan (3): “Every time I read about a player gaining experience from a veteran, it seems like they are talking about Aucoin. I certainly anticipated him to come into Columbus with a calm veteran-like presence, but it sounds like his impact on a number of players, likely most notably the recently departed John Moore, was palpable. A fitting nomination for a player who may have lost a step on the ice, but has done more for the franchise than I could have anticipated.”
Jack Johnson
CBJPRospects (1): “Jack is probably the favorite to be the next captain. It will be a change of pace where as JJ seems like one of those captains that can get in your face in the locker room plus lets his play do the talking.”
With this list of CBJ winners, it certainly raises good questions for the coming season. Prospal and Aucoin’s status remains in question (though many seem to feel more confident in a return from Vinny over Adrian). This also gives some food for thought in the never ending captaincy debate – is Dubinsky leading the votes for C next year? Do Vinny and Aucoin return? Are they on ice or in the front office? Let us know if you agree with our picks and what you think the future holds for these three.
We’ve got one more award to go – and that’s the Hart. Watch for our winner next week!
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