With the uncertainty of Keith Primeau’s health, the Flyers have named defenseman Derian Hatcher the 14th captain in franchise history. Hatcher, who was signed as a free agent by the club this summer, will wear the “C” until (if) Primeau returns from his concussion.

Keith Primeau – “Clarkie and Hitch pulled me into Clarkie’s office, and said that the team is kind of a lost ship at sea right now and kind of floundering and we need some direction. As good as the guys have been to find ways to win hockey games, right now we’re at a tough patch and we need that direction.
Without knowing what my status is and my availability, we need direction now. I agreed, and temporarily they are going to pass the captaincy to Derian Hatcher and make Sami Kapanen and Simon Gagne permanent assistants, and I’m okay with that.”

So Hatcher is now the Captain, at least temporarily. This is a good move for the Flyers with the recent lack of effort from the team, something had to be done. Hatcher was Captain for the Dallas Stars under Ken Hitchcock. He is the only American Captain to win the Stanley Cup.
Simon Gagne was offered the C earlier in the season but declined it. Maybe Gagne is a little like Desjardins, a guy with hockey skill but doesn’t have what it takes to be a Captain. I’m not trying to criticize either of them, some guys have it and some don’t. Desjardins was named Captain after Eric Lindros was stripped of the C in the 99-00 season. Eric gave up the C within the year with it going to Keith Priemeau.