:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50530277/usa-today-9099996.0.jpg)
Remember this summer when trade speculation swirled around Kevin Shattenkirk? It appears that the Blues have found a way to make up for shopping one of their star defensemen: he’s an assistant captain for this season.
The Blues, while announcing the captaincy of Alex Pietrangelo today, also announced the leadership group for 2016-2017. It’s hard to argue with who they chose. As opposed to last year, the team has decided to go with four assistant captains. Alexander Steen retains an A, while Shattenkirk, Paul Stastny, and Vladimir Tarasenko are awarded letters as well.
Doug Armstrong praised Shattenkirk’s previous captain experience, as well as his communication skills. Stastny has “a good feel for the temperature of the team.” The justification for Steen retaining an A is that it’s a no-brainer. As far as Tarasenko getting one?
“Vladimir Tarasenko is someone just coming into his own now. We know what he can do on the ice, but now his responsibility is to pull players along and make sure he’s doing everything that’s right for the team. It’s a leadership thing I know he’s excited about.”
And there we are. Your leadership group, ladies and gentlemen. Go on and get those A’s stitched on your jerseys.