Sharks in tank

Sharks roster

"We ought to be panicking," Sharks left wing Dave Lowry said. "We haven't scored more than two goals in a game in our last six games and have to play almost flawless defensive hockey."

Maybe things will turn around for the Sharks now that they have a captain. After nearly eight months without one, coach Darryl Sutter's choice is Owen Nolan.

"It's an honor," Nolan said. "I'll try to be as good a leader as I can. It's a big responsibility and I'm up for the challenge."

The Sharks had been without a captain since Todd Gill resigned in March. Sutter said then that the rest of the season was an audition for the next captain.

"He deserves it, he wants it and he needs it," Sutter said of Nolan. "It will help him grow as a player. The toughest part is concentrating on being a good player yourself. If you're the right type of captain, you're more concerned about getting everybody else ready."