NEW YORK (CP) - Alexei Yashin will wear the `C' for the New York Islanders this season.
The Islanders appointed Yashin team captain Tuesday, in time for the team's pre-season game later that night against the New York Rangers.
"This is a very big honour for me," Yashin said after the morning skate. "There are so many players on our team who are great leaders and would have been excellent choices, so this means a lot."
Veteran winger Mark Parrish and first-year defenceman Brad Lukowich are the alternate captains.
"Alexei is our leader, on and off the ice. This just makes it official," said Islanders head coach Steve Stirling. "We discussed this at length with Yash and all of our veterans.
"We're counting on the leadership of at least a dozen guys I can think of. Alexei, Mark and Brad will be at the forefront."
Yashin becomes the team's 10th captain, following Ed Westfall, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Brent Sutter, Patrick Flatley, Bryan McCabe, Trevor Linden, Kenny Jonsson and Michael Peca.