The torch has officially been passed.
Former Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd took to Twitter on Wednesday to congratulate Blake Wheeler on being named his successor.
Congrats @BiggieFunke on being named captain of @NHLJets ! Well deserved my friend.
— Andrew Ladd (@aladd16) August 31, 2016
The two played together in Winnipeg for five years before Ladd was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks prior this past season's trade deadline.
Ladd, who since signed with the New York Islanders, did leave an impression on Wheeler, who will try to model at least one aspect of the former captain's leadership technique.
"Being the captain, you don’t want to hear yourself too much and have guys tune you out because you’re talking all the time," Wheeler said Wednesday. "That’s what (Ladd) was really good at. When he spoke, people really listened; it was really powerful."
Ladd served as team captain from November 2011 to the time of his trade in February, and will make his return to MTS Centre on Dec. 31.
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