The Tampa Bay Lightning named defenseman Victor Hedman their captain, the primary exchange to the function in additional than a decade.
Hedman replaces Steven Stamkos, who held the placement from the 2013-14 season in the course of the finish of final season. He signed a four-year, $32 million free-agent maintain the Nashville Predators on July 1.
The 2 change captains might be ahead Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Ryan McDonagh.
“We’re overjoyed to have Victor main our workforce because the eleventh captain in franchise historical past,” common supervisor Julien BriseBois stated Wednesday. “Victor is a cornerstone participant this is extraordinarily smartly revered by means of his teammates, coaches and friends around the NHL. During the last 15 seasons, he has been a world-class consultant for our group each off and on the ice. Victor embodies what it method to be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning and is greater than in a position for this thrilling alternative. We’re taking a look ahead to looking at him flourish in his new function as we proceed to paintings in opposition to our purpose of successful the Stanley Cup.”
Hedman, 33, was once the second one total pick out of the 2009 NHL Draft by means of the Lightning. He’s considered one of most effective 3 avid gamers to seem in additional than 1,000 regular-season video games with the Lightning (1,052) and wishes simply 31 video games to cross Stamkos for essentially the most in franchise historical past.
Amongst Lightning defensemen, he leads the franchise in issues (728), power-play issues (259), photographs on purpose (2,241), takeaways (529) and extra classes.
The local of Sweden has captured two Stanley Cup titles with the workforce and gained the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s best defenseman in 2018.
In Chicago, veteran ahead Nick Foligno was once shocked by means of the scoop that he would captain the Blackhawks in 2024-25. The workforce performed with no designated captain final season out of recognize for the departed Jonathan Toews, who was once the captain for 15 years.
“Closing yr we had Seth Jones, Connor Murphy and Nick Foligno dressed in letters (as change captains),” common supervisor Kyle Davidson informed the avid gamers in a workforce assembly Tuesday evening. “We are going to stay that very same team. We are going to make one exchange, and we are excited this night to announce that the thirty fifth captain in Blackhawks historical past we are going to title: Nick Foligno.”
Jones stated Foligno was once “the very best guy for the task.”
“I feel he is an excellent chief, off and on the ice. He leads by means of instance, however he is additionally an excellent communicator, whether or not it is a younger man or an older man, whether or not we are taking part in smartly or they wish to paintings on one thing.,” Jones stated. “He is all the time there to more or less fill that hole, particularly between coaches and avid gamers as smartly.”
Foligno was once the No. 28 total pick out of the 2006 draft by means of the Senators, and he spent 5 seasons in Ottawa ahead of becoming a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets (2012-21). Now 36, he was once captain there for 6 seasons ahead of temporary stops with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. He gave the impression in 74 video games with Chicago final season, a part of his 1,155 profession video games.
–Box Stage Media
