Following Trend, Anaheim Ducks Name 25-Year-Old Ryan Getzlaf Captain

by Christopher Botta

Filed under: Ducks

The NHL trend of selecting young stars as team captains was continued on Sunday by the Anaheim Ducks, who awarded Ryan Getzlaf the "C" before the team's preseason finale. Getzlaf, entering his sixth NHL season, is just 25 years old.

"This is another step in the maturity process of Ryan Getzlaf," said Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle. "We felt that with it being his sixth season in the league, now is the time for the transition and the veteran players agreed with us."

In fact, a large section of the league agrees with them. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is 23. So is Jonathan Toews, the captain of the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Like Getzlaf, Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin, named captain in the middle of last season, is 25. Nashville's Shea Weber and Philadelphia's Mike Richards are both 25. Carolina's Eric Staal and Columbus' Rick Nash are 26.

 

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