Alex Pietrangelo to be named Blues captain: report

Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will be named captain of the St. Louis Blues during a press conference at Scottrade Center on Thursday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Pietrangelo, 26, will replace forward David Backes, who was captain since 2011 before signing a five-year, $30 million contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1. Pietrangelo will be the 21st captain in Blues history and the 10th defenseman, first since Eric Brewer from 2008-11.

Selected by the Blues with the No. 4 pick of the 2008 NHL Draft, Pietrangelo has 51 goals and 255 points in 459 regular-season games in the League. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting in 2011-12, when he had 12 goals and 51 points.
Pietrangelo had seven goals and 37 points in 73 games last season before helping St. Louis advance to the Western Conference Final, when it lost to the San Jose Sharks in six games.
Pietrangelo will play for Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey 2016. The eight-team tournament takes place at Air Canada Centre in Toronto beginning Sept. 17.
General manager Doug Armstrong and coach Ken Hitchcock will be in attendance for the announcement.