Via Stephen Whyno:
Adam Oates met with the "core" of his Washington Capitals last week. By core, he meant Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Brooks Laich.
Now they're not just the core, they're the captains. Oates told his players and then announced that Backstrom, Green and Laich will be the alternate captains this season. Obviously Ovechkin keeps the "C."