Devils coach Brent Sutter said today that the team will open the regular season Thursday night at Tampa Bay with three alternate captains and no captain. Patrik Elias, the Devils' captain last season, Brian Gionta and newcomer Dainius Zubrus will wear the A's.
Sutter said he would make a decision on whether to have a captain and who it will be after Jamie Langenbrunner returns from sports hernia surgery (probably near the end of November).
"There won't be a decision on the captaincy until Langenbrunner is healthy," Sutter said.
Elias struggled in his first season as captain and Sutter hinted that had something to do with not ordaining him as captain again right now.
"I’m not saying he will or he won’t be captain, but I just want him to get off to a good start and just focus in on playing and having a good year this year for us without having that extra burden on his shoulders at this point in time," Sutter said.
All players took part in Tuesday morning's practice before taking a flight to Tampa, Fla. Sutter used the same line combinations and defense pairings.
Just FYI, tsn shows that the Devs picked up S. Brookbank from Columbus off waivers(in Ice Chips section). Defenseman for Lowell I presume.
Posted by: Sean | October 02, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Lou Lamoriello just confirmed that the Devils claimed Sheldon Brookbank, who will turn 27 on Wednesday. He has to undergo a physical in Jersey, so he won't join the team in time for the opener.
He won the Eddie Shore Award as the top defenseman in the AHL last year and is a right-handed shot, which the Devils' lack on their blue line after losing Brian Rafalski to Detroit.
He also averaged 204 PIMs in his last two season in the AHL, so he could replace some of the toughness the Devils are missing without Cam Janssen.
Posted by: TG | October 02, 2007 at 04:27 PM
So it looks like Langenbrunner could be the frontrunner for captain after all.
Still I'm surprised that Madden and Pandolfo were overlooked for "A"s.
Posted by: jules | October 02, 2007 at 05:00 PM