Devils Name Zach Parise Captain, Sign Petr Sykora

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- It's official: Zach Parise has been named the ninth captain in Devils history.

"I'm excited for it," Parise told reporters after New Jersey made the announcement Wednesday. "It's a big honor."

The Devils also named two alternates: Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias.

The 27-year-old fills a void left behind when the team traded Jamie Langenbrunner to Dallas last season. Parise signed a one-year deal with New Jersey during the offseason, but will become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

"It's well deserved," said Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. "He's the future of the organization and he's grown to be a dominant player."

Parise only managed three goals and three assists in 13 games last season. His 2010-11 campaign was cut short by arthroscopic knee surgery in November.

The new captain has totaled 163 goals and 178 assists in six seasons with the Devils.

New Jersey also agreed to a one-year, $650,000 deal with Petr Sykora on Wednesday. The 34-year-old is back with his former team after playing last season overseas.

"I'm ecstatic," Sykora said, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. "Of course I'm very happy. It's something that seemed very far away a couple of weeks ago and it happened."

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