"Toc and I are very pleased to name Nik and Derek as alternate captains for this season," said Chayka. "With Oliver as our captain, and great support from Nik and Derek, we are confident that this group will provide our team with very strong leadership in our dressing room and that these players will do an excellent job leading our team on and off the ice."

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Arizona Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka and Head Coach Rick Tocchet announced today that the club's leadership group for the 2018-19 NHL season will consist of team captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson and alternate captains Niklas Hjalmarsson and Derek Stepan.

"This is a great leadership group," said Tocchet. "Oliver, Step and Hammer are all great people and they have the necessary NHL experience to collectively guide our team. I'm excited for them and look forward to watching them lead our group this season."

Ekman-Larsson led the Coyotes to the 2012 Western Conference Final and was named to the 2015 and 2018 NHL All-Star games. The 27-year old native of Karlskrona, Sweden has been an Alternate Captain with the Coyotes since March of 2015 and was named captain on September 13, 2018. Ekman-Larsson has registered 102-188-290 and 360 penalty minutes (PIM) in 576 career games with the team and holds the NHL record for most game-winning goals in a season by a defenseman with eight GWG's during the 2015-16 campaign. Since his league debut in 2010-11, Ekman-Larsson leads all defensemen with 28 game-winning-goals.

Hjalmarsson won three Stanley Cup championships with the Chicago Blackhawks and helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of his last nine seasons with the club. The 31-year old native of Eksjo, Sweden also earned an Olympic Silver Medal with Team Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Hjalmarsson has totaled 24-128-152 and 256 PIM in 671 career NHL games with the Blackhawks and Coyotes. He served as an assistant captain for the Coyotes last season.

Stepan led the New York Rangers to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and has skated in seven consecutive Stanley Cup playoffs. The 28-year old native of Hastings, Minnesota was an Alternate Captain with the New York Rangers since October of 2014. He also served as the captain of the United States team at the 2010 IIHF World U20 Championships. Stepan has recorded 142-274-416 and 156 PIM in 597 career NHL games with the Rangers and Coyotes. He served as an assistant captain with the Coyotes last season.

The Coyotes will open their regular season on Thursday, October 4 at the Dallas Stars. They will host the Anaheim Ducks for their home opener on Saturday, October 6 at Gila River Arena. Game time is 6 p.m. For ticket information, please visit ArizonaCoyotes.com or call 480-563-PUCK (7825).