The Sharks will enter the 2014-15 season without a captain, CSNCalifornia.com has learned.
Instead, four players will wear the "A" as alternate captains, including Joe Thornton, who was relieved of his captaincy in August.
[REWIND: Thornton no longer Sharks captain]
Forwards Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic will join Thornton as alternate captains, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
It's a demotion for Thornton, who wore the "C" last season, and although the Sharks revoked Marleau's alternate captaincy, he finds his sweaters unaltered going into the new season.
Rule 6.1 of the NHL Rulebook states that if no captain is named, no more than three alternate captains are permitted:
One Captain shall be appointed by each team, and he alone shall have the privilege of discussing with the Referee any questions relating to interpretation of rules which may arise during the progress of a game. He shall wear the letter “C,” approximately three inches (3'') in height and in contrasting color, in a conspicuous position on the front of his sweater. No co-Captains are permitted. Either one Captain and no more than two Alternate Captains, or no Captain an no more than three Alternate Captains are permitted.
[RELATED: Sharks emerge with maximum three alternate captains]
Marleau, Pavelski and Vlasic sported the "A" as the Sharks took the ice during Wednesday's home opener in Los Angeles, while Vlasic did not.
