Amid a dozen or so of Rod Brind'Amour's former teammates and a few of his new players, one stood out as a member of both groups. Justin Williams arrived at the last moment and slipped away quickly on Wednesday, but he may play as pivotal a role in the future of the Carolina Hurricanes as the new coach.
Brind'Amour made it clear the co-captain debacle would not be repeated, and that he had someone in mind to serve as sole captain, even if he wouldn't name names. Williams, the team's captain in all but name last season and a high priest of the Church of Rod, would be the obvious choice, with no disrespect intended toward Jordan Staal, who did yeoman duty in the destined-to-fail shared captaincy.