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Saturday, November 18, 2000
Islanders have yet to assign new captain
Associated Press
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SAN JOSE, Calif. -- New York Islanders defenseman Kenny
Jonsson stepped down as the team's captain before a game against
the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Jonsson said he and Islanders coach Butch Goring made the
decision after a long talk on a plane ride during the Islanders'
current three-game road trip.
"I think it's better for myself and my teammates that I
concentrate on hockey instead of things going on outside of it,"
Jonsson said. "It's been quite a while that I've thought about it,
and (it's) something that you don't decide overnight."
Jonsson was named the eighth captain in Islanders history on
Sept. 30, 1999. A standout stay-at-home defenseman with experience
on the Swedish national team, he is in his fifth full season with
New York.
Goring said no immediate replacement would be named, and New
York faced the Sharks with three assistant captains: Claude
Lapointe, Kevin Haller and Zdeno Chara.
"This may be the toughest decision I've had to deal with in my
career," Goring said. "I felt that Kenny would be better suited
if he continued to serve us as the good player he is. Kenny
struggled with the external part of being a captain, which can be
very stressful at times."
After starting the season 5-3-2, the Islanders lost four of five
games entering Saturday night's contest.
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