Vancouver names new Captain: Luongo?

Roberto Luongo

By Aleem Peermohamed

Last week, in a bold move that breaks tradition and NHL rules, the Canucks named goaltender Roberto Luongo team Captain. Luongo and head coach Alain Vigneault were at the press-conference held last Tuesday to announce the news.

According to league guidelines, goaltenders are prohibited from wearing the C on their jersey, but the new Canuck Captain will be sporting a new C on his mask.

When Canucks GM Mike Gillis was asked what the C on his prized netminder’s mask stood for, he responded with “it can stand for whatever he wants it to stand for”.

The dark blue C is on the bottom of the goalie’s mask, near the area that protects his throat. From the looks of it, it is clearly separate from the painted design on the mask, and it resembles the plain letter C that a captain usually wears on his jersey.

Luongo being named Captain marks the first time in 61 years that a goaltender has received such an honour. In the 1947-48 season, the Montreal Canadiens' had goalie Bill Durnan as their on-ice leader.

The NHL is concerned about allowing goaltenders to leave the crease to perform the traditional captain duties. It is feared that it will give a team unscheduled timeouts, and an unfair advantage. Luongo will not be permitted to discuss calls with officials or participate in pre-game face-offs. An alternate captain will have to handle that responsibility.

While there has been some criticism around the league regarding this move by the Canucks, it’s pretty evident who the leader and face of the franchise is. With or without a C on his equipment, Luongo was going to carry the responsibility of a captain, so why should he be restricted simply because of the position he plays?

What do you think about the Canucks naming Roberto Luongo Captain? Smart move or violation of the rules? Leave your thoughts in the comments below