"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader".  - John Quincy Adams

"Leadership: the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it". -Dwight D. Eisenhower

"The price of greatness is responsibility". -Winston Churchill

"The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on". -Walter Lippman

" leaders will be those who empower others". Bill Gates

I know these quotes are about being a leader, but is that not what a captain is?  Last night we talked a lot about how this team does not have an identity, for any numerous of reasons.  After the jump I will explain why I think these two candidates are the best choices to be the 3rd captain of the Colorado Avalanche.

Our previous two captains are two completely different forms of leaders.  Sakic is the soft spoken leader.  If he talked you listen because Sakic wouldn't waist time other wise.  When Sakic got hit, the team rallied for him and played tough and punished the opponent.  When Sakic threw down with Gilmore, I imagined the team was more in shock then the fans, but you know that put a spark in that team.  He lead by action.  Foote lead by voice.  He would tell you if you are not playing right.  Foote lead by example.  He was going to be nasty and he expected you to play as hard as he did. 

Ryan O'Reilly- This guy embodies leadership.  He is the first one on and the last one off the ice.  Lt. Col Hal Moore made this a trademark for good leaders when he led his troops in the first battle of Vietnam.  We know no one works harder then Radar.  I was impressed when he was feeding passes to Lindstrum after practice.  Anyone else could have done that but it was Radar.  To me this is a leader.  He was on the ice to help his team mates.  He plays with great passion, and does what ever he can to win.  When he is the best player for the Avs, he still was disappointed in his game and he went to fix it immediately.  He just seems to have Herb Brooks reincarnated into the very fibers of his being.  I don't know anyone who has more responsibility in his game or in his team play.  I think if he gets the "C", this team would find an identity.

Milan Hejduk- He and Giggy are the only two players who have the winning pedigree.  Since Giggy won't be a captain it should go to Hejduk.  Hejduk would be more of the soft spoken type, and would allow the team to develop Landy, Duchene, Johnson, Radar or whoever they want as the long term captain.  I think Hejduk is a great assistant and he does command a certain respect since his name is on the cup, but does he have the ability to empower others around him?  I think he does.

What ever happens to this team, with coaching or trades, there needs to be an identity.  A team with talent and resilience.  A team that is so tough to play against because they are fast and play as a team.  I just want to know what I am apart of.  What do you guys think?