Staal and Cooke Named Alternate Captains for December

The Penguins webpage recently reported that the team's alternate captains for December will be linemates Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke. Head coach Michel Therrien named them at today's practice at Southpointe.

"I think it's important for our young group to try to extend the leadership group," Therrien said. "I feel good about this."

"It's a great feeling," Staal said. "Especially with all the talented players we have on this team. It's nice to have a part of the leadership. I want to help lead this team and be a part of it. On the ice, I try to lead as an example. I might not be screaming at guys but I’ll help them out if I see a problem."Once you’ve been with the guys in the dressing room you feel more comfortable speaking up or doing different things in the leadership role. I’m starting to feel more comfortable there."

"This is a guy that we are counting on for the future," Therrien said. "I like the way that Jordan is playing. He’s responsible defensively, good at penalty killing. You can see that he’s got more confidence that he used to have in the past, offensively."