5 Worst Captains In Ottawa Senators History

By Alex Drude

5 Worst Captains In Ottawa Senators History

Ottawa Senators team jerseys hang in the locker room prior to the start of the 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic game against the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place on March 2, 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. — The truth is, all of these guys were captains of an NHL team and got to put a C on their sweater, which is much more of an athletic accomplishment than you or I could have in our wildest athletic dreams. “Worst” is not necessarily indicative of these people as human beings. They’ve all found success somewhere. Here, then, are five players who shouldn’t have been an Ottawa Senators captain.

5. Alexei Yashin, 1998-99

Alexei Yashin #19 of the Ottawa Senators in action during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, Canada. The Senators defeated the Flyers 4-1.

5. Alexei Yashin, 1998-99

Alexei Yashin #19 of the Ottawa Senators in action during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, Canada. The Senators defeated the Flyers 4-1. — When I made the five best captains in Sens history list, Yashin also made No. 5. That’s because it was a great and terrible idea to make him a captain. It was a great because he was an excellent player and had his best statistical season that year. It was terrible because he was continuously fighting Ottawa management, and after that season ended he was stripped of his captaincy and suspended. He's now GM of the Russian Women’s National Team.

4. Laurie Boschman, 1992-93

1992-93 Ottawa Senators team member Laurie Boschman signs an autograph on the red carpet, during the 20th anniversary season of the Ottawa Senators pre-game ceremonies prior to the start of the NHL home opener against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Place on October 11, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

4. Laurie Boschman, 1992-93

1992-93 Ottawa Senators team member Laurie Boschman signs an autograph on the red carpet, during the 20th anniversary season of the Ottawa Senators pre-game ceremonies prior to the start of the NHL home opener against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Place on October 11, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. — The first captain in Sens history, this was the last season of a once-promising career. There were severe health problems at the beginning, being a good center on a team with better ones in the early 80s, then traded within the division to Winnipeg and forced to match up with the Oilers early every postseason for the rest of the decade. Still on the Jets top 10 in goals, assists and points and second in penalty minutes, he's now a minister.

3. Brad Shaw, 1993-94 (co-captain)

St. Louis Blues assistant coach Brad Shaw explains a play on the bench in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 5, 2010 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri

3. Brad Shaw, 1993-94 (co-captain)

St. Louis Blues assistant coach Brad Shaw explains a play on the bench in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 5, 2010 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri — Shaw was also an original Senator, taken from New Jersey in the 1992 expansion draft. A star in juniors and the minors, Shaw was an alternate with Boschman and became co-captain with the next guy on this list for Ottawa’s second year. He did lead all Sens defensemen with 23 points. However, he was removed from the xaptaincy midway through the season for another guy who comes later on this list. He's now a longtime Blues assistant coach.

2. Mark Lamb 1993-94 (co-captain)

Assistant Coach Mark Lamb of the Dallas Stars talks to Jeff Halpern #11 during a break in NHL game action against the Vancouver Canucks at General Motors Place on April 19, 2007 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Stars defeated the Canucks 1-0 in overtime.

2. Mark Lamb 1993-94 (co-captain)

Assistant Coach Mark Lamb of the Dallas Stars talks to Jeff Halpern #11 during a break in NHL game action against the Vancouver Canucks at General Motors Place on April 19, 2007 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Stars defeated the Canucks 1-0 in overtime. — The other co-captain that year, Lamb is in his fifth year as head coach and GM of his hometown Swift Current (Saskatchewan) Broncos in the WHL after several years assisting Dallas. As a player, Lamb was traded to Philadelphia midway through his captaincy year; that’s gotta tell you something. He worked hard and played a long time, gaining great knowledge for a future coach helping the kids get started.

1. Gord Dineen, 1994

1992-93 Ottawa Senators team member Gord Dineen greets fans on the red carpet, during the 20th anniversary season of the Ottawa Senators pre-game ceremonies prior to the start of the NHL home opener against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Place on October 11, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

1. Gord Dineen, 1994

1992-93 Ottawa Senators team member Gord Dineen greets fans on the red carpet, during the 20th anniversary season of the Ottawa Senators pre-game ceremonies prior to the start of the NHL home opener against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Place on October 11, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. — After Lamb’s trade and Shaw’s removal, the captaincy went to Gord Dineen. But he lasted 17 games, till the end of the season, and never wore the C again (only played nine more games). Part of an NHL legacy family (dad and two brothers also played), Gord is currently head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. But his Sens legacy is the shortest (and worst) captaincy in team history.

Alex Drude is a Pac-12 writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alex_Drude. “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google+.

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