Steven Stamkos named captain of Lightning

It didn't take the Tampa Bay Lightning very long to name their newest captain.

Just one day after trading their former captain, Martin St. Louis, to the New York Rangers, the Lightning gave the "C" to Steven Stamkos before their game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.

It turned out to be a pretty big night for Stamkos, who not only took over a new leadership role on the team, but was also making his return to the lineup from a leg injury that had sidelined him since November.

"Steven Stamkos was destined to be the leader of our team," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said in a statement released by the team. "The fact that it's happening now just puts us one step closer to achieving our ultimate goal, and that is trying to win the Stanley Cup."

The funny thing is, when the Lightning took the ice for pre-game warmups, Stamkos still had the alternate captain's "A" on his sweater. But when he emerged from the locker room for the start of the game that had been replaced.