Sean Monahan named Flames alternate captain alongside Kris Russell, Dennis Wideman

Mark Giordano’s captaincy is going nowhere. The man unanimously chosen to follow up Jarome Iginla as the Calgary Flames‘ 15th captain in franchise history is the ideal leader for this team. Besides, he just signed a six-year extension – he himself certainly isn’t going anywhere.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t a time for a changing of the guard, though. When Giordano went down at the end of the 2014-15 season, the Flames turned to Jiri Hudler, Kris Russell, and Dennis Wideman to fill the leadership roles, giving them all the alternate captaincy.

Russell and Wideman have kept theirs, and Russell's jersey will always have that alternate's 'A' on it throughout the year.

Wideman is a different story, however. He’ll be alternating his ‘A’ through home and away games with someone who’s never worn a letter in the NHL before: Sean Monahan.

Monahan, who turns 21 on Oct. 12, is entering his third season in the NHL. By drafting him, the Flames officially signalled the beginning of their rebuild; he was one of the highest picks in franchise history. He's also one of the top picks from the 2013 draft class – and you could make a case he's the top pick.

And now, he's wearing a letter.

Monahan previously co-captained the Ottawa 67’s with Cody Ceci when he played for them in junior. It’s a long ways off, but hey – he might just don the captain’s ‘C’ in the NHL at some point, too.

by Ari Yanover