FanHouse Captain

The picture to your right is not of former Oriole Kris Benson throwing a pitch. He tried to wave goodbye to a friend and his arm just snapped back like that.

In baseball news you may have missed (because you could not possibly care about it), the former first pick in the 1996 draft and perennial bench-grimacer signed a minor league contract last Saturday with the Texas Rangers. He pitched two solid innings in the Rangers Wednesday opener. Huh.

Tonight's Dugout, alternately titled "Return of the Living Dead," is after the jump.

The Philadelphia Flyers have named defenseman Jason Smith as the 16th captain in team history, joining a list that includes Bobby Clarke, Eric Lindros, Keith Primeau and...uh, Lou Angotti. And in true Broad Street Bullies fashion, Smith was put over players like Simon Gagne after a pair of fights and some tenacious physical play against the Rangers in the preseason finale, according to Ed Moran of the Philadelphia Daily News:

"I was surprised knowing the group of guys in here," Smith said referring to teammates. "Knowing Gags and Mike Knuble and (Derian Hatcher) to the new guys, that they are great group of leaders with a lot of experience. I'm excited about the challenge ahead."

The Flyers acquired Smith in a trade with Edmonton in the summer. Smith, 33, had been the Oilers captain since 2001. "Saturday kind of confirmed our decision," [Flyers coach John] Stevens said. "We were pretty much heading in that direction. But the thing we were happy with the game Saturday is we were really disappointed with our finish in Washington and we thought it was very important that we come out and play with a real competitive enthusiasm."

Although Smith has the credentials and experience to be an effective captain for the Flyers, I actually expected Gagne to earn the 'C' this preseason. A seven-year veteran and a career Flyer, Gagne is the team's top offensive player -- yes, better than Danny Briere -- and is signed through 2013; unless NHL Numbers has it incorrect, Smith is a UFA after this season. Perhaps the Flyers wanted a grittier captain, perhaps Stevens wanted a defenseman to wear the 'C' -- or perhaps naming an off-season newbie as team leader is symbolic of the months-long purging of Philly's bad juju from 2006-07.

Here's something you can stick in your Blog Box...

Bill Guerin, signed as a free agent just last Thursday, has apparently been named the new captain of the New York Islanders this afternoon. The team's Web site streamed its press conference introducing free-agent acquisitions Guerin and Mike Comrie; Islanders Army has what appears to be a screenshot from Isles TV that shows Guerin wearing the 'C.' Frank over at Battle of NY saw the same thing, and said the captaincy may have been "a surprise to [Guerin] as well."

The title "captain" doesn't exactly spring to mind when discussing Billy Guerin; I'd rank it well behind "mercenary" and "postseason ghost." I imagine this move will be met with some ridicule from the same people who still laugh at jokes about 15-year contracts and back-up goaltenders suddenly being promoted to the general manager's office (you know ... people like me). But looking at this logically, it's an obvious and potentially positive move:

• One glance at the Islanders' roster, and it starts to make sense why a guy who joined the team last week is now its captain. Mike Sillinger, an alternate last year, was one option; Brendan Witt also wore the 'A' last season, but spends more time in the sin bin than authoring inspiring locker room speeches. Guerin's an emotional veteran with his name on the Stanley Cup; someone who might be able to lead by words or example.
• Long Island is going to be like Washington, DC: It doesn't really matter who wears the 'C' because the goalie, Rick DiPietro, is the leader of this team anyway. For the next 13 years...
• It's been a while since the chain of command that was Ed Westfall (1972-77), Clark Gillies (1977-79), Denis Potvin (1979-87), Brent Sutter (1987-91) and Patrick Flatley (1991-96). Alexei Yashin was the last Islanders' captain -- the bar is set nice and low, Billy.

Previously on NHL FanHouse:
Isles Sign Guerin and Comrie
Bill Guerin Now Officially a Bloody Mess
Bill Guerin: An Expensive Piece of Playoff Furniture