And your new Captain will be...

[ohio BLUES]

Schweet, I don't have to be an Oilers fan!!!one42

[dmiles2186]

I'm okay with Petro not getting a letter. JR tweeted that Al Mac was in support of that decision. Sounds like they don't want to dump too much on his plate and I don't blame them, especially after signing a leader (and former Captain) in Langenbrunner who is coming in to be a mentor and leader. It makes sense. I like this all around.

[kodos]

So does this mean that the whole team is going to suck for the first half of the year now?

[DaDitka]

So does this mean that the whole team is going to suck for the first half of the year now?

So does this mean you're going to post this a third time?

[kodos]

So wait, does this mean that... the whole team will, like, suck for the first half of the year now???

[STLADOGG]

So wait, does this mean that... the whole team will, like, suck for the first half of the year now???

lol Third times the charm.

[gaijin]

Damn. Kodos said it three times. That's like calling Beetlejuice.

[DaDitka]

So wait, does this mean that... the whole team will, like, suck for the first half of the year now???

[Back to Backes]

Sweet!\. Im gonna get my step mom to sew a C onto my Backes sweater.

[big d note]

So does this mean that the whole team is going to suck for the first half of the year now?

I checked with Dooger on this:

[big d note] 1:44 pm: So does this mean that the whole team is going to suck for the first half of the year now?
[Dooger] 1:44 pm: Right now? Oh. Indeed this does.

[glen a richter]

I'm a big fan of Backes getting the C. Pie is too goddamn young to even get an A. Give him a couple more seasons and see what develops. Someday, sure. Today? No.

[glen a richter]

I want a new captain, he doesn't deserve to be captain anymore....alright I was the first to say it lol....

Good job Blues!!!!

Bye Bye Brewer Error!!!

FTFY

[STLADOGG]

I'm a big fan of Backes getting the C. Pie is too goddamn young to even get an A. Give him a couple more seasons and see what develops. Someday, sure. Today? No.

I think it really was only Jackman or Backes...I think we can all say they made the right choice.

[kodos]

So have they made an official statement as to why they have 4 alternate captains?

How are they handling that? A rotation?

Seems pretty dumb.

[cprice12]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... 0f31a.html

When the Blues begin training camp a week from today, the club will have a new leader.

David Backes has been named as the 20th captain in Blues' history. The captaincy had been vacant since former captain Eric Brewer was traded to Tampa Bay on Feb. 18.

Backes, 27, was selected by the Blues in the second round of the 2003 NHL draft. The former Minnesota State forward has spent five seasons with the club, totaling 102 goals and 218 points with a +20 plus-minus rating in 364 games.

Backes, originally a right winger who was converted to center, led the club in goals (31), points (62) and plus-minus (+32) in 2010-11. His 62 points set a career high and his 31 goals matched a career high, set in 2008-09. He also had 213 hits last season.

Last November, Backes signed a new five-year, $22.5 million that will pay him $4.5 million per season. The deal runs through the 2015-16 season and is the longest-term contract on the Blues' books.

The Blues rewarded Backes as much for his production as much as his leadership. A player who wears No. 42 because "it was the number they gave me," Backes once said, has grown into a respected teammate on and off the ice. He was made an assistant, or alternate, captain in recent years and has been of the most consistent players to address the media after a win or a loss.

In 2010-11, Backes also made his first NHL all-star appearance, as the team's lone representative.

The all-star appearance added to a resume that includes Backes' participation for Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Minnesota native helped the Americans win a silver medal and nearly gold, after losing to Team Canada 3-2 in overtime in the championship game. Backes was noted by the international media in Vancouver as one of the most affable players on the U.S. team.

The Blues had other suitable candidates to be the club's next captain, including Barret Jackman, Andy McDonald, Alex Steen and Alex Pietrangelo. But after much debate among fans, the team has decided to tab Backes, who now joins esteemed company in Blues' history.

The list of previous Blues captains:

- Al Arbour (1967-70)

- Red Berensen ('70-71, '77-78)

- Garry Unger ('70-72)

- Frank St. Marseille ('70-72)

- Bob Plager ('70-72)

- Barclay Plager ('70-72, '72-76)

- Barry Gibbs ('78-79)

- Brian Sutter ('79-88)

- Bernie Federko ('88-89)

- Rick Meagher (89-90)

- Scott Stevens ('90-91)

- Garth Butcher ('91-92)

- Brett Hull ('92-95)

- Shayne Corson ('95-96)

- Wayne Gretzky ('96)

- Chris Pronger ('97-2002)

- Al MacInnis ('02-04)

- Dallas Drake ('02-07)

- Eric Brewer ('05-11)

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... z1XT66E0Wo

How retarded is it that Eric Brewer held the C longer than every other Blues captain except for Sutter (and same number of years as Barclay Plager)..
Longer than MacInnis, Pronger, Hull...

[cprice12]

So have they made an official statement as to why they have 4 alternate captains?

How are they handling that? A rotation?

Seems pretty dumb.

Probably home and away A's. And yes...it's stupid.

[cprice12]

Backes was the obvious choice. Glad they didn't screw that up.

No idea why 4 A's are necessary.

[Winning Unlimited]

Signature updated accordingly.

[cardsfan04]

I'm a big fan of Backes getting the C. Pie is too goddamn young to even get an A. Give him a couple more seasons and see what develops. Someday, sure. Today? No.

completely agree

I'm more confident in Pietro turning into a superstar than EJ, but EJ had a good rookie year too.

[DaDitka]

No idea why 4 A's are necessary.

Because they are terrified to 'hurt anyone's feelings' it's the same reason they let the C waist away on Brewer's chest, it's the same reason they didn't name a captain last year, it's the same reason they took so long to name a captain, and it's the same reason they couldn't pick 2 assistants.