Kubina has a leg up on the Leafs' captaincy

There was a buzz around veteran defenceman Pavel Kubina yesterday, and not because a swarm of bees got loose inside Ricoh Coliseum.

The Leafs, who begin training camp this morning in preparation for the start of the pre-season schedule on Monday night, have yet to name a captain, but the smart money is on Czech native Kubina eventually getting the nod.

Which is curious, given that the Leafs almost traded Kubina last season. In fact, general manager Cliff Fletcher was set to deal him to the San Jose Sharks near the end of the season, but Kubina vetoed the deal with his no-trade clause. The Sharks were coached by Ron Wilson, who is now the bench general with the Leafs.

"I told him, ironically, that I'm coaching (in Toronto) because he cost me my job last year," Wilson said with a laugh. "If he had said yes to a trade with the San Jose Sharks, we may have gone a little farther (in the playoffs) and I wouldn't be the coach (here). Conversely, he heard the reason he is (still) here is because of me putting in a good word, that I was hoping he wouldn't go anywhere. That's true."

Wilson isn't particularly gung-ho to name a captain, or captains, at least not until he gets to know his team better, adding that there are other options he may explore, such as captain by committee.

"I don't know at the moment if we need a captain, how important that is. I don't think that's going to deter from what we're doing as a team," he said. "I'm not worried that the fans need a captain or the media needs a captain. It's what our team needs right now."

Kubina was an alternate captain with the Tampa Bay Lightning for a couple of seasons, as well as with his national team, and the captain of the Czech pro league team Vitkovice during the NHL lockout four seasons ago. He said he would be honoured to get the C, although he added that replacing the AWOL Mats Sundin certainly was a tall order.

"He was a great captain. Also he's a great human being, an unbelievable guy. You don't meet many guys like that in hockey or overall in life," said Kubina, adding that it wasn't just Sundin's leadership on the ice that made him a great captain.

"It was the small things he did. My first day, when I came (to Toronto), I got here in the morning to do the testing and he was the first guy who asked me if I needed something, if I needed help with a car, or find a place, or anything. He gave me his number and called me in the afternoon and (invited) me for dinner and said we'll talk. You don't see that much, especially from of the best players in the league. You cannot replace a guy like that."

Forward Alex Steen described Kubina as a "perfect candidate" to replace Sundin. Kubina certainly endeared himself quickly to one of the newest Leafs, Curtis Joseph, when he readily agreed this summer to give up his No. 31 to the veteran goaltender.

Kubina will wear No. 77 this season.

Matt Stajan, Steen, Tomas Kaberle and Toronto native Jamal Mayers also have been suggested as candidates to wear the C this season.