Captain Crunch

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Fellow veteran Nate Corbet, in particular, would have been a strong choice.

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“He would be a fantastic captain as well,” Guest said. “It’s definitely an honour, and it was a bit of a surprise, but I wouldn’t say it was too much of a surprise.”

Guest’s leadership style is less about being the loudest voice in the room and more about knowing when to bring the temperature down.

“I’m more of a composed leader,” he said. “A lot of times, I’ll be the calming presence on the bench. We have such a great mix. Corbet is that energetic guy who is going to go out and get you energy, and I’ll be the more composed guy, saying, ‘OK, guys, calm down.’”

That approach also carries into the dressing room, where Guest wants younger players to feel comfortable around the veterans. With new faces joining the Rockets, he has made an effort to build relationships early rather than leave newcomers to find their place on their own.

He has seen how one conversation can make a difference.

“You see a guy kind of tucked away, and you want to bring him into the group,” Guest said. “There’s no lack of inclusiveness in our room.”

The effort has been shared by others in the leadership group, including Corbet and 20-year-old forward Dawson Gerwing, whom Guest has noticed making similar connections with teammates. Those interactions help establish an environment where players feel part of something rather than simply sharing a dressing room.

For Guest, one of the clearest signs of a healthy team culture is the sound of the room itself.

“When I know the room is close is when everyone’s talking,” he said. “Everyone is involved. In a dressing room with poor chemistry, you have guys trying to avoid each other, and that doesn’t do well for the team.”

The standard he wants to establish goes beyond getting along. Guest believes players need to enjoy coming to the rink, trust the people beside them and understand the importance of sticking together when games become difficult.

He pointed to the Buffalo Sabres as an example of a team whose ability to support one another became an important part of the conversation around its culture.

“That was a big talk last year with them, how they had each other’s backs at all times,” Guest said. “That’s kind of what we’re trying to grow.”

There is a balance to strike, though. Emotion and loyalty can help a team through difficult stretches, but they cannot come at the expense of discipline.

“We’ve got to tidy up the penalties for sure,” Guest said.

Taking over as captain also means being more visible around the organization, whether wearing the C on his jersey or representing the team at ceremonial events. Guest knows the position carries expectations, but he has no intention of turning himself into someone he is not.

His parents have helped keep that perspective.

“They’ve told me I don’t need to change myself to be a leader,” Guest said. “You just act the same and go about your ways, and you’ll do just fine.”

Guest believes the responsibility extends throughout the leadership group and the veteran core. A captain can set the tone, but teammates are more likely to respond when the person asking something of them is willing to do it himself.

“If you ask something of a guy, you better be doing that thing,” he said. “That’s the biggest part, too. Try to lead by example and do all the little things right.”