Kings Announce Team Captains for 2005-06

[VodkaFish]

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mattias Norstrom will begin his fifth year as Kings captain, while Kings left wing Luc Robitaille and defenseman Aaron Miller, and forwards Jeremy Roenick and Craig Conroy, have been named Kings alternate captains, Kings Head Coach Andy Murray announced today.

“We have a lot of good candidates to assist Mattias Norstrom in the leadership of our hockey club,” said Murray. “We, as a coaching staff, feel that Aaron’s presence on our team and Luc, Jeremy and Craig’s past leadership roles will give us a solid base.”

Robitaille, 39, served as Kings captain during the 1992-93 season and has served as an alternate club captain periodically throughout his 14 years with the Kings. During the 2003-04 season, Robitaille was named by the local media as the club’s Most Valuable Player and by his teammates as the Most Inspirational Player. He also the Los Angeles Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association Kings nomination for the Bill Masterton Trophy which is awarded annually to “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

Robitaille enters this season eight goals shy of tying Marcel Dionne for the most goals (550) in franchise history. In 2003-04, Robitaille became the NHL’s all-time point leader (1370) amongst left wingers, scored his 650th career goal and played in his 1,000th career game as a King.

Miller, 35, is in his sixth season in Los Angeles and 13th in the NHL, having previously played for Colorado/Quebec. While with the Kings, he has won several awards, including being named the club’s Unsung Hero (as voted by the Kings players) and Outstanding Defenseman and Best Defensive Player.

Roenick, 35, is in his first year with the Kings after being acquired by the club from Philadelphia on August 4, 2005. A nine-time All Star, Roenick previously served as an alternate captain with Phoenix and Chicago, and while with the Flyers he was the recipient of the Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award as the Flyer who best illustrates character, dignity and respect for the sport on and off the ice by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. In 1993-94, Roenick received the Chicago Sports Profiles “Humanitarian of the Year Award.”

Roenick enters this season 25 goals shy of 500. His 475 career goals rank second all-time among US-born players. He also needs just 27 more goals to match Joe Mullen for the most goals scored by an American in the NHL.

Conroy, 34, signed with the Kings as a free agent on July 6, 2004. He previously played for Calgary -- where in 2004 he co-captained the Flames to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals as that club’s No. 1 center -- and with St. Louis and Montreal. Conroy is also a two-time Selke Trophy finalist, an award that is presented to the NHL’s best defensive forward.

[JKidd]

not really suprised with mattias getting the C again.

[tuff duck 29]

4 assistANT CAPTAINS? I THOUGHT IT WAS 2

[cowboy]

they'll probably alternate home and road games.

[Bear]

Originally Posted by cowboy

they'll probably alternate home and road games.

That might be a growing trend to have more A's and alternate them.. The Canes named three alternates. Surprising us by naming Corey Stillman as the third A. Certainly he and Kevyn Adams will alternate (Stillman likely on the road and Adams at home.)
I'd bet Robataille and Miller are home A's and Roenick and Conroy are road A's. Mainly since home players are returning players that the team knows well. That of course is more symbolic....

[NYR36]

I'd just like to say that i think alternating the A's has got to be the stupidest thing ever.

[peacemaker]

Avery was laying into Mattias last week for his part in the Saskin signing.

On a side note, Roenick admitted to having been on skates 10 times in the last year and a half, and coming into camp overweight. That is not a great sign for an aging player. The timing is always the first thing to go, and taking a year and a half off of the game is not going to help him.

That said, he had 3 assists in the first pre-season game yesterday. So, what do I know?