Ever since Chris Clark's trade to Columbus eight days ago, the debate was on to see who would become the team's next captain. Well, Tuesday night at Verizon Center, the sellout crowd found out it was the team's star, Alex Ovechkin.
Ovechkin was picked by General Manager George McPhee and coach Bruce Boudreau, and becomes the team's first European-born captain, and at age 24, the second-youngest behind Ryan Walter, who was the team's captain at age 21 in 1979 before getting dealt to Montreal in the Rod Langway deal in the summer of 1982.
In a release from the Capitals, McPhee the reason for the choice.
"Our team has adopted Alex’s personality, and the energy, passion and drive to win that are his hallmarks have become our team’s as well. He sets the tone, on the ice as well as off. He’s respectful to everyone and a great ambassador for our team and our sport. We look forward to him leading the Washington Capitals for a long time."
He is the team's 14th captain, and the third since the lockout. Ex-Capitals captain Jeff Halpern also chimed in over Ovechkin's selection, praising the move in a release sent out by the Caps.
"He's the best player in the world and he’s the face of the franchise," Halpern said. "Plus he's a great teammate. The Caps organization should feel proud to name him captain."
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