The Fort Erie Falcons have announced that
Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Toffoli, and Paul Stastny will serve as alternate captains
for the remainder of the season.
The team will hold off naming an official
captain until the start of next season.
"We feel that this is a good group to
lead the rest of the way through this season. Given our decision to
rebuild, we feel these three will be key members of the Falcons franchise for a
number of years to come" said General Manager Matt Young at the press
conference.
In what has been a whirlwind season for Fort Erie , Young has managed to change the face of the
franchise within just a few short months.
Young has been quiet on the proceedings this
season and has met with the media today for the first time since dispatching
several key veterans in the rebuilding effort.
"I didn't meet with you people because I
knew there would be a lot of questions. I wasn't done and I didn't want
anything to be leaked with respect to the plan. We are still not done but
we are in a better place today to compete for the next decade than we were 3
short months ago" added the upstart Young.
In what were surprising moves, Young dealt Pietrangelo,
Carter, Datsyuk, and Perry for a host of picks and prospects that should be
CCHL ready next season.
In a more bizarre move, Young also dealt Kadri
before re-acquiring the shift disturber just 23 days later.
"It was a little bizarre," said
Kadri. "It's a good thing that I hadn't sold my house. I got to move
back in. It might be the easiest trade I'll ever go through."
Young thought the move just made sense.
"Not that I need to justify it to you,
but I like Naz. I think he could turn into one of the best third centers
in the league behind Geno and Dylan (Strome)" quipped Young.
While the team is clearly building for the
future, Malkin believes the team can make the playoffs this season.
"We are only three points out. JVR
is back in another game. We have a tradition of winning in this
organization and have made the playoffs five straight years. I'm new here
but I believe that this group can make the playoffs" said Geno with the
"A".
While the team has three first round picks for
this summer's draft, it remains to be seen whether or not they'll all be used
by the Falcons.
"I'll do whatever it takes to compete
with Hamilton , Siberia ,
and Wisborg for the next decade. I'll examine all opportunities for those
picks and decide what we do closer to the draft. We are definitely
looking for a defenceman, that's for sure" concluded Young.
It should be an interesting conclusion to the
season and off-season in Fort Erie as the team
continues its aggressive rebuild.
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