San Jose Sharks Name Joe Pavelski Team Captain
By Sam Kelly
The San Jose Sharks announced that forward Joe Pavelski will be the team’s new captain Monday. The 31-year-old pivot is the 12th captain, and ninth full-time one, in franchise history.
Pavelski was the consensus favorite to receive the honor after handling many of the captain’s typical duties last season, including ceremonial face-offs and handshakes. He led San Jose in scoring the past two seasons, and at 31-years-old, is entering the prime of his career with the Sharks.
In Pavelski, San Jose has a captain that is widely respected by his teammates and can relate to many of them. He’s paid his dues along the way and has developed into an offensive force in this league. Simply put, it was Pavelski’s time to officially become the “face” of the franchise.
Joe Thornton and Logan Couture will wear letters as alternates. Thornton served as captain from 2010 through 2014 before being stripped of the ‘C’ last summer. He was one of four rotating alternates last season.
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Couture, 26, has never worn a letter with the Sharks. He openly voiced his displeasure with not receiving an alternate’s ‘A’ last year. Now widely regarded as the future of the franchise, Couture is gradually taking the reigns from Thornton as San Jose’s top center and will be a key fixture up front for years down the road.
It’s his time to become a more focal point of the organization and the alternate’s “A” is another validation of that.
Interestingly, longtime Sharks forward Patrick Marleau, who has spent the entirety of his 17-year NHL career in San Jose, hasn’t been given a letter. Marleau was the club’s captain from 2003 through 2009 and was an alternate last season. DeBoer talked about having a clean slate with this team, and this is a clear indication of that. Marleau experienced his struggles last season, and it could be a way of eliminating some of the pressure he may feel.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic has also been stripped of a letter after serving as one of the rotating alternates last year. None of the team’s defensemen will wear letters this season. Vlasic, who is amazingly entering his 10th season in the franchise, is the one who would be difficult to leave, but Couture deserved to have a letter after being the odd-man out in the past.
The Sharks and their newfound captain kick off the regular season on Oct. 7 against the rival Los Angeles Kings. At long last, everyone can move on from having to answer questions about the leadership of this franchise.
Next: San Jose Sharks Finalize Opening Night Roster