The Panthers announced today that Bryan McCabe will be the team's captain this season and the first to wear the 'C' since Olli Jokinen was traded away in 2008.
Cory Stillman and Stephen Weiss will wear the A.
Here's what the Panthers press release says:
“The selection of Bryan as the captain of our club was something that became obvious to our staff after working with him for the past year,” said coach Pete DeBoer. “He exudes all of the attributes you look for in a leader and will be a natural extension of the coaches and our message into the dressing room.”
McCabe, 34, has previously served as captain of the NY Islanders during the 1997-98 campaign and also served as an assistant captain with each team he has played for over his 14-year playing career (NY Islanders, Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto, Florida). The Calgary, Alberta native has played in 986 National Hockey League games, registering 457 points (130-327-457) and 1,615 PIM.
McCabe, who was acquired by Florida from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 2, 2008, played in 69 games with Florida last season scoring 15 goals with 24 assists. He joins Brian Skrudland (1993-97), Scott Mellanby (1997-2001), Paul Laus/Pavel Bure (2001-02) and Olli Jokinen (2005-08) as the other team captains in the club’s 16-year history.
Will be talkng to McCabe, DeBoer and others sometime this afternoon at The Billboard.
So, more later (including LIVE! coverage of tonight's Stars game).
Feel free to discuss below...
-- The team is going to announce its cuts sometime today, but here's who we know are gone:
According to the league waiver wire, Chris Beckford-Tseu, David Brine, Clay Wilson and Graham Mink have all been waived by the team. I do believe they all have to go through waivers to be able to go to Rochester (which starts camp tomorrow). Will get an update on this as well.
Good choice. Hopefully he stays here past this year and can lead this team to the postseason.
Posted by: gizmo | September 23, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Was my choice.
Posted by: Bo | September 23, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Perfect choice!
Posted by: Gregg | September 23, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I still thought is was going to be Weiss. I think its a good choice, but man oh man the Toronto fans will have a field day with this! I know just from being at the games I have overheard Canadians LAUGHING that he was even an "A" here. This has happened on SEVERAL occasions.
Posted by: Eric | September 23, 2009 at 12:55 PM
I'm reasonably sure he was an "A" in Toronto as well. And I find the fact that the Leafs took Mike Van Ryn for McCabe pretty amusing.
Posted by: Johnny B | September 23, 2009 at 01:13 PM
I can't complain. He's been great since joining us and has the veteran experience the younger guys can look up to. I also thought Weiss might get it but remember McCabe is 34 and Weiss is 26, so there's still plenty of time for Stephen to wear the C. Weiss and Stillman will be wearing the As which I think is pretty spot on. I hope Ballard and/or Allen get to wear the A at some point as well.
Posted by: Big Slap Shot Bob | September 23, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Eric, nobody likes Torontonians or cares what they have to say, most Canadians hate them. They are arrogant self-centered a-holes. The only people that like Torontonians are other Torontonians.
Posted by: Bo | September 23, 2009 at 01:53 PM
You called it George!! You said it will be McCabe because everyone on the team looks up to him. Great choice!
Posted by: Cliff | September 23, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Great choice, I think. I do expect to see Weiss as captain of this team in the future, though.
Man, do I miss the days of Skrudland and Mellanby...
Posted by: panthersfan | September 23, 2009 at 04:03 PM