STOCKHOLM -- Joe Thornton became the eighth full-time captain in Sharks history Thursday and did nothing to erase his easy-going image when asked about becoming a first-time father and getting the chance to wear the "C" just a few months apart.
"I have to look after one kid at home," he responded, "and 22 on the road."
But Thornton, his teammates and his coach also all made the same point: There's a serious side to the Sharks center that not everybody else gets to see.
"I like to keep it easy, keep it fun in the locker room," Thornton said. "But once you get on the ice, I think there's a serious part. I do play with some passion on the ice. . . . I think there can be both sides and I think I can ride that (line) very well."
Coach Todd McLellan told his players that Thornton would be their next captain while all were on the ice during an afternoon practice at Globe Arena, one day before today's season opener.
Players began tapping their sticks and McLellan also announced that Dan Boyle would be one assistant captain while Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe would share the other "A."
Clowe, who will wear that "A" on the road while Marleau has it for home games, backed up Thornton's assertion that he has a serious side, too.
"The first thing you hear about Joe is he's a laid-back guy. That's fine for what most people see him as," Clowe said. "But when you see him in the dressing room or on the ice or behind the bench, he's got a lot of fire and he doesn't like to lose. It kills him to have to go home every summer and not lift that Stanley Cup."
McLellan said the choice was made by the entire organization, players included. And he stressed the team's leadership group goes well beyond the players wearing "felt on their shoulders" to include Joe Pavelski and Douglas Murray.
Ultimately, the coach said, the decision came down to Thornton or Boyle.
"If we could have two 'C's,' we would have sewn them on either one of them," McLellan said.
By making Boyle the apparent second in command, McLellan acknowledged he was balancing the defenseman's more intense nature with Thornton's lighter style. Boyle recognized that, too.
"He's probably the more positive feedback kind of guy. I'm maybe more of a perfectionist in certain ways and maybe get a little more heated," Boyle said, "but that's OK. I think it's a nice balance."
At the time of his trade, Thornton had been the captain of the Boston Bruins for more than two seasons. This time around, he indicated, he plans to be more assertive.
"I think last time I was just young. I was a shy kid and really didn't know how to express myself," Thornton said. "Now I'm a father, I'm a man and I'm 31 years old so I'm a much different person than I was when I was 23. I'll take all those different experiences and learn from it."
McLellan said he did not factor in Thornton's past in making the decision, just his present and future.
"He's made some real big strides over the last couple years, changed the way he approached and the way he plays the game, we believe," the coach said. "This is the next step in that evolution."
The only apparent uncertainty in the Sharks' forward lines for today's opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets is the right wing spot on the fourth line. Jamal Mayers is not expected to play, but McLellan has not said which rookie he would use, John McCarthy or Tommy Wingels alongside Scott Nichol and Frazer McLaren.
McLellan also declined to identify his starting goaltender, or whether he planned to use both Antti Niemi and Antero Niittymaki in the back-to-back games against Columbus.
For more on the Sharks, see David Pollak's Working the Corners blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks . Contact him at 408-920-5940.
