Mike Richards: To Be or Not to Be the "C"

No question, Mike Richards is and will be the Flyers captain. Period.

A little before the season ended the media began planting a seed that Richards should give up the "C". Article after article... he's not vocal enough, no control of the locker room, no heart, etc. The spin was dizzying and it continues today. Blasphemy against the hockey gods. The young core of this team, during his Captain's tenor, has exceeded this fans expectations. Let's take a spoon and swirl it around in the pudding to see what it's made of, shall we?

Announced as team captain September 17, 2008;

3 years on the job.

3 Playoff Appearances

1 All-Star Appearance

Bobby Clarke Trophy (Philadelphia Flyers' MVP) - 2008–09

1 Head Coaching Change

Flyers Team and League Records Set during tenor:
Most points in a playoff season: Daniel Briere, 30 (2009–10)
Most points in a playoff season, rookie: Ville Leino, 21 (2009–10) (NHL record)
Most points by a defenseman in a playoff season: Chris Pronger (2009–10), 18

3rd Team in League History to be down 0-3 and come back to win a series.


1 Division Title

2010-11 Most Season Wins (47) by a Flyer team since 1985 (53)

1 Conference Title

2010-11 Most Points (106) by a Flyer Team since 2002 (107)

1 Finals Appearance

7 Different Goalies Used. That's right seven.

Team Record
W 132 L 85 T 29

Pretty good looking pudding if you ask me. I'd love to put some of these numbers up against other NHL teams, during the same period of three years, to see what their pudding looks like.

With all the obstacles this team has gone through over three years, Richards has been an outstanding leader. Now, when the team is only one or two bounces away from winning a Cup, the media is calling for a new captain. Ridiculous. Preach this nonsense to the bandwagon-ers, not the die -hards. Changing the Captain will not change the look and attitude of this team. It won't win a game here or make the goalie steal a game. I hardly doubt we'll get that bounce in a game to win the cup with a "C" change. I'm not buying it. The failure of this years team is not the captain's fault. The entire organization is to blame.

Those of you who want to strip the "C" from Richards need to introduce yourself to Captain Morgan. He'll keep you happy. It's clearly evident, by some of the garbage out there on this subject, some of you already know him.