Chris Clark Named Captain of Capitals

[VodkaFish]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Right wing Chris Clark will serve as the Washington Capitals’ new team captain, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today at Ashburn Ice House in Ashburn, Va. Clark, 30, becomes the 13th captain in franchise history.

“Leadership is not a sometime thing or a come and go thing,” said McPhee. “It is an all-the-time thing. Chris Clark has all-the-time leadership qualities. He is a leader in the mold of one of our all-time favorites, Dale Hunter; a quiet man off the ice, a cantankerous, ultra-competitive player on the ice.”

Clark, a South Windsor, Conn., native, is entering his seventh season in the NHL, his second with the Capitals. Clark established career highs in goals (20) and points (39) in his first season in Washington, leading the team with a career-best +9 rating and 110 penalty minutes. His goal total was tied for third on the team and doubled his previous career high. He posted his 100th career point on March 12 and recorded his first career hat trick on March 18.

A 6’0”, 200-pound right wing, Clark was acquired from Calgary on Aug. 4, 2005, with a seventh-round draft choice in the 2007 Entry Draft for a seventh-round choice in 2006 and a sixth-round choice in 2007. He has 55 goals and 55 assists (110 points) in 356 games in his NHL career and was part of the Calgary Flames team that reached the Stanley Cup finals in 2004.

Clark, who played college hockey at Clarkson University, represented the United States at the 2002 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.

Clark has also been very active in the Washington, D.C., community. He serves as the Capitals’ spokesperson for the Cause Gift Pack Drive, which provides comfort items for soldiers recuperating from wounds and injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also participates in the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation and was a guest instructor at a local elementary school during Teach for America Week last year.

[Isles4life]

Clark is a hard-working player out there, but for some reason I never thought of him as becoming an NHL captain. I guess someone had to step into Halpern's spot. Think AO will have an "A"?

[Kingdog819]

maybe Alex will have that big fat "A" on his jersey too

[HordiBrusk29]

Good choice. Clark is a hard working player that wears his heart on his sleeve. Not to mention the fact he had a great season last year and deserves a bit of recognition. It's also nice to see a team give a player like Clark the "C" as opposed to some euro that shys away from physical contact.

[JKidd]

Great pick for the "C". Not sure who else they'd pick to wear it DC...

[dtdc2k3]

the caps offered AO the "c" but he doesnt feel that he is ready for it he wants to improve his english so he turned it down and there sayin that clark is the captin for good he's not just holding it till ovechkin is ready and ovechkin had a "a" for the last third of the season last year so i wouldnt doubt that he wont be wearing and "a" along with zubris and sutherby

[tsar]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

It's also nice to see a team give a player like Clark the "C" as opposed to some euro that shys away from physical contact.

which Euro do you have in mind?

[xTYRANTx]

Originally Posted by tsar

which Euro do you have in mind?

my guess would be Mr. Naslund

[jgdeadrabbit]

I like what I've seen of the guy.Was kinda invisble tonight in Hershey till about 9 secs left he goes after David Clarkson,Clarkson getting two minors, to Clarks ruffing for 2 mins.

[tsar]

Originally Posted by xTYRANTx

my guess would be Mr. Naslund

Oh, I agree.. Hes got nothing on “tough as nails” North American boys like Modano or soon to be one - Crosby !!!

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by tsar

which Euro do you have in mind?

Just about every euro.

Originally Posted by tsar

Oh, I agree.. Hes got nothing on “tough as nails” North American boys like Modano or soon to be one - Crosby !!!

Sadly, he certainly isn't any tougher than either of those two which even more pathetic...