Defenseman Francois Beauchemin and center Matt Duchene wore the alternate captains’ A’s Saturday in the Avalanche’s regular-season opener against the Dallas Stars. The plan is for Beauchemin, who joined the Avalanche as an unrestricted free agent in July 2015, to hold down the job all season, with Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon alternating in the other spot.
Gabe Landeskog is beginning his fifth season as the Colorado captain. Jarome Iginla and Cody McLeod wore the A’s last season.
“It’s always an honor and it was a bit of a surprise,” Beauchemin, 36, said after the morning skate. “I need to just keep doing what I’ve been doing, just helping the younger guys by example, working hard every day and making sure we do the right things.