Brad Marchand brutally mocks Tim Stützle in savage Senators captaincy dig

The Ottawa Senators haven't even dropped the puck on their new season yet, but the debate over who will wear the 'C' next is already generating some unexpected outside noise.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand decided to insert himself into the conversation this week, taking a clear dig at Senators star centre Tim Stutzle on Instagram.

Ottawa is closing in on naming a new captain to replace Brady Tkachuk, who was traded to the Panthers on June 21 in exchange for four draft picks. Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Stutzle are reportedly the three finalists for the role, with the decision expected to come from president of hockey operations Steve Staios and head coach Travis Green.

An Instagram account called Puckempire shared the news about the captaincy race roughly a week ago. Marchand, never one to hold back, responded from his own account on Monday night with a pointed comment.

"Hahahah ……stutzle….hahaha," Marchand wrote.

The veteran forward offered no further explanation for the remark. Whether it reflects a genuine opinion about Stutzle's leadership credentials or is simply Marchand being Marchand remains unclear.

What is clear is that the comment carries no weight inside the Senators organization. Stutzle, still just 24, has steadily elevated his two-way game and wore an alternate captain's 'A' at various points last season. He has shed the "diver" label that former Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher once pinned on him during his rookie year.

Marchand, of course, is now a teammate of Tkachuk's in Florida, and the two have spent considerable time together over the years. The veteran is also well known for his offseason skating sessions near Halifax alongside Ottawa's Drake Batherson, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, and Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon.

The provocative commentary is nothing new for the Nova Scotia native, who has built a career on getting under opponents' skin both on and off the ice.

As for the actual captaincy race, reports suggest Sanderson is considered the frontrunner, though Chabot, the longest-tenured Senator on the roster, also has a strong case. Whoever is chosen will become the 10th captain in franchise history. The Senators appear focused on making the decision internally, regardless of what any outside voices, especially ones wearing a Panthers jersey, might have to say about it.