The Tampa Bay Lightning have named center Vincent Lecavalier as team captain, executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Brian Lawton announced. Lecavalier, in his 11th year with the Lightning, previously served as captain during the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons. Alternate captains will be announced prior to the start of the 2008-09 regular season. ?Vinny has displayed exemplary qualities on and off the ice through out his career,? Lawton said. ?He is a natural leader in the locker room and sets a great example for others by the way he competes night in and night out. We are extremely proud to have him as captain of the Lightning!? The franchise?s all-time leading scorer with 273 goals and 602 points in 710 games with the Lightning, Lecavalier, 28, posted 40 goals and 92 points in 81 games in 2007-08, becoming the first Tampa Bay player to record back to back seasons of 40 goals or more. That came on the heels of his 52-goal season in 2006-07 which earned him the Maurice ?Rocket? Richard Trophy as the NHL?s top goal scorer. A 6-foot-4, 219-pound native of Ile Bizard, Quebec, Lecavalier has scored at least 32 goals in his past five NHL seasons. A consistent playoff performer, Lecavalier has tallied 18 goals, 33 points, and 64 penalty minutes in 45 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. His nine goals and 16 points in 23 games helped lead the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup, and he has six goals and 11 points in 11 games during the Lightning?s past two playoff appearances. Selected first overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Lecavalier has played in three NHL All-Star Games and has represented Canada in the World Junior Championships (1998), the World Championships (2001), the World Cup (2004, MVP) and the Winter Olympic Games (2006). Lecavalier played two seasons for Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, tallying 86 goals, 132 assists, and 218 points in 122 regular season games. Following the 1997-98 season with Rimouski he was ranked as the top North American draft prospect by the Central Scouting Service and was named to the Canadian Hockey League First All-Star Team. Lecavalier has made community giving and charitable work a part of his daily life since joining the Lightning in 1998. In October of 2007, he made his largest commitment yet to the Tampa Bay community, announcing a $3 million pledge to construct the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. Following the 2007-08 season he was awarded a $25,000 grant by the NHL Foundation in recognition of commitment and service to charities in the community. He also received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy as the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community. Tim Taylor served as Lightning captain the past two seasons, preceded by Dave Andreychuk (2002-03 to 2005-06). The Lightning did not have a designated captain during the 2001-02 season. Paul Ysebaert was named the first captain in team history prior to the 1995-96 season, and others who?ve held the honor are Mikael Renberg (1997-98), Rob Zamuner (1998-99), Bill Houlder (1999-00) and Chris Gratton (1999-00).

The Capitals have decided to raise Mike Gartner?s No. 11 to the rafters at Verizon Centre, according to a Canadian Press report on Tuesday. A ceremony for the Hockey Hall of Famer will be held before a Dec. 28 game against the Maple Leafs, another of his former teams. Gartner ranks second in Capitals' history in goals (397), assists (392), and points (789).