Golden Knights to name captain before next season

The Golden Knights have experienced plenty of firsts in their three seasons.

First game, first goal, even first Stanley Cup Final appearance. Next season, they’ll add another one to the list: first captain.

Coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday the Knights intend to award a “C” for the first time before the 2020-21 season after playing without a captain for three years. No candidates were named, and an announcement won’t come until the team finishes the playoffs.

“We have great leadership,” DeBoer said. “A big group of guys that have really taken charge and recognized the opportunity, so we’re just going to keep it the way it is until we finish this season.”

While DeBoer didn’t mention names, right wing Mark Stone is the obvious favorite to be the franchise’s first captain. Stone, the team’s highest-paid player, has become an emotional leader since arriving at last season’s trade deadline.

His competitive drive energizes the team on the ice, and he sets a strong example for his teammates off it. He and his fiancee, Hayley Thompson, are housing prospect Peyton Krebs during training camp, for example. Krebs called Stone a “big mentor” Tuesday.

“Stoney’s been fantastic,” DeBoer said Tuesday. “You couldn’t ask for a better mentor or example, on the ice and I think off the ice, too. He’s all business. Even through Phase One and Two, Stoney was one of the first guys here and ready to work and set the tone.”

Other possible candidates include alternate captain Reilly Smith, alternate captain and players association representative Nate Schmidt and left wing Max Pacioretty, who was the Montreal Canadiens’ captain for three seasons.

The Knights were one of four teams to not use a captain this season, along with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators. The New Jersey Devils also don’t have a captain now after trading defenseman Andy Greene at the deadline.

DeBoer’s teams have historically featured captains. He awarded a “C” in 11 of his 12 NHL seasons before joining the Knights, the lone exception his first year with the Florida Panthers.

Fleury update

Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t practice for the third straight day Wednesday, but DeBoer said the goaltender would be on the ice before the weekend.

DeBoer said Fleury was not dealing with anything significant but that he wanted to manage the 35-year-old’s workload after he participated in small-group workouts for five weeks. DeBoer said Monday that Fleury wasn’t absent because of a positive COVID-19 test.

“He’s feeling good,” DeBoer said. “We’ve got a long runway here before we start.”

McNabb needs ideas

Defenseman Brayden McNabb admitted Wednesday that he’s running out of TV shows to watch during the coronavirus pandemic and is looking for recommendations.

Two programs he’s currently watching are the Prime Video series “Hanna” and the Paramount Network drama “Yellowstone.” He’s also watching Adam Sandler movies.

“Trying to bang that off each night, certain Adam Sandler movies,” McNabb said. “Lots of spare time. A lot of TV watching.”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.