San Jose Sharks notebook: Joe Thornton named team captain

By foxsports
Published

STOCKHOLM -- Joe Thornton became the eighth full-time captain in Sharks history Thursday and did nothing to erase his easygoing image when asked about becoming a first-time father and getting the chance to wear the "C" just a few months apart.

"I have to look after one kid at home," he responded, "and 22 on the road."

But Thornton, his teammates and his coach also all made the same point: There's a serious side to the Sharks center that not everybody else gets to see.

"I like to keep it easy, keep it fun in the locker room," Thornton said. "But once you get on the ice, I think there's a serious part. I do play with some passion on the ice. "... I think there can be both sides, and I think I can ride that (line) very well."

Coach Todd McLellan told his players that Thornton would be their next captain while all were on the ice during an afternoon practice at Globe Arena, one day before today's season opener.

Players began tapping their sticks and McLellan also announced that Dan Boyle would be one assistant captain while Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe would share the other "A."

Clowe will wear that "A" on the road, and Marleau has it for home games.

At the time of his trade, Thornton had been the captain of the Boston Bruins for more than two seasons. This time around, he indicated, he plans to be more assertive.

"I think last time I was just young. I was a shy kid and really didn't know how to express myself," Thornton said. "Now I'm a father, I'm a man and I'm 31 years old, so I'm a much different person than I was when I was 23. I'll take all those different experiences and learn from it."

The only uncertainty in the Sharks' forward lines against the Columbus Blue Jackets is the right wing spot on the fourth line. Jamal Mayers is not expected to play, but McLellan has not said which rookie he would use, John McCarthy or Tommy Wingels, alongside Scott Nichol and Frazer McLaren.

McLellan also declined to identify his starting goaltender, or whether he planned to use both Antti Niemi and Antero Niittymaki in the back-to-back games against Columbus.