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Senators name Erik Karlsson as ninth captain

Erik Karlsson

Ottawa Senators NHL hockey player Erik Karlsson, of Sweden, makes his way to speak with the media in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Aug. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)

AP

The Ottawa Senators have selected Erik Karlsson as the team’s captain. They’re hoping that this will bring an end to a period of drama surrounding the position.

Daniel Alfredsson reign as the captain spanned parts of three decades, but rather than spend his entire career with Ottawa as was widely anticipated, he chose to sign with the Detroit Red Wings for the 2013-14 campaign. Ottawa handed the ‘C’ to Jason Spezza in a move that seemed logical at the time. Spezza had spent his entire career to that point with Ottawa, but he didn’t even last a full year as the captain before he demanded a trade.

Taken with the 15th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Karlsson has quickly established himself as one of the best offensive defensemen in the game. He won the Norris Trophy in 2012 and has two 70-plus point seasons under his belt. He’s also a workhorse, averaging 27:04 minutes per game while playing in all 82 contests last season.

Karlsson is already signed through 2018-19, so the Senators have reason to believe they won’t have to go through the process of naming another captain any time soon.

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