Ducks' Scott Niedermayer regains captain's title
DUCKS FYI
Coach Randy Carlyle names defenseman team captain, a role he had in 2006-07 when Ducks won the Stanley Cup. Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf will be alternate captains.
One of the biggest mysteries of the off-season was revealed Tuesday when Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle announced veteran defenseman Scott Niedermayer would serve as team captain this season, and defenseman Chris Pronger and forward Ryan Getzlaf would be the alternate captains.
"It's an honor to be in that situation, but I don't think it was something that I was necessarily expecting," Niedermayer said. "I don't think it's going to change how I act, or what I would do, all that much."
Niedermayer, 35, was captain for two seasons in Anaheim but relinquished his role after helping the team win the Stanley Cup title in 2007. While Niedermayer mulled retirement, the Ducks named Pronger captain, a title he maintained even after Niedermayer decided to return last December.
"Scotty has a unique personality in that he has the ability to settle things down, and do it in his own way," Carlyle said.
Carlyle and Pronger met shortly after the end of last season, but the decision was left up in the air because Carlyle wasn't sure whether Niedermayer would return. Pronger said he was "cool" with the decision.
"It's a natural progression," Pronger said. "Last year, it was kind of dumped in my court because Scotty wasn't around. . . . I knew it wasn't going to be an easy season."
Carlyle said the biggest adjustment might come from Getzlaf, 23, the second-youngest player on the team by five days. This is the first season Getzlaf will wear a letter.
"The biggest change is throwing some of the responsibility at Ryan Getzlaf and asking him to become more of a presence," Carlyle said. "Not only on his on-ice play, in the dressing room, the community, all those things."
Getzlaf said he's prepared for his new role.
"It's an honor, definitely," he said. "Another chance for a young guy like myself to be able to come out and be a leader."
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Less than a week after he was claimed on waivers by Chicago, the Ducks reclaimed left wing Joakim Lindstrom and immediately optioned him to the team's AHL affiliate in Iowa.
Lindstrom originally came to the Ducks from Carolina last summer in exchange for a conditional draft pick.
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The season opener at San Jose is scheduled to be televised Thursday at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Net Prime Ticket. Preceding the game is a half-hour season preview on the network, hosted by Bill Macdonald and Brian Hayward.
dan.arritt@latimes.com
