NHL: The best captain in each team’s history (Updated 2023)
The face of an NHL franchise. A leader inside and outside the locker room. An elite NHL player that exemplifies greatness in every way, shape, and form. Of course, I’m talking about just a few of the characteristics that define what a captain of a hockey team is all about.
These amazing players wear that capital C on their jerseys with pride as once you’ve earned that title, it stays with you not only for the rest of your career but in life. So far in the bright history of the NHL, there has been a great number of players to be given that captain title. But who were the best of the best when it came to their respective franchise?
Many criteria went into deciding which captain, especially on classic teams that have had so many, went into the process. Many here were chosen due to their contributions to winning a Stanley Cup championship and others, even though they never got to raise the cup, still had a massive impact on being the impact players to keep pushing the envelope.
It wasn’t easy to narrow down such a list but here are the best captains in every NHL team’s history. Some are legends of the past and some will be legends of the future. Either way, let’s begin breaking down each team’s pick and why this particular player stood ahead of other captains on their respective teams.
Editor’s Note: Updated for the 2022/2023 NHL season
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Boston Bruins – Ray Bourque
When it comes to naming the most dominant defensemen, it’s hard to have such a conversation without heavily mentioning Ray Borque. The Boston Bruins captain was given this title back in 1985 and made the most of it, being a force to reckon with for over two decades on the team.
Bourque proudly displayed that C on his jersey until 2000 and broke many NHL records during his tenure. He still owns the NHL records for most career goals, points, and assists for a defenseman and even won the James Norris Memorial Trophy five times. That’s unheard of for a defenseman and will be something that more than likely won’t be broken anytime soon.
Not only was Bourque an amazing captain for the Bruins but also did his part to represent Canada as an Olympian, further proving why he was one of the best to ever do it. Even though some fans still won’t forgive the Bruins for trading him away towards the end of his career, he’s still fondly remembered for everything he bought to the table.
Bourque embodied everything that goes into being a captain and still serves as a shining example of leadership, efficiency, and always giving it your all day in, day out. Considered one of the greatest NHL players of all-time, Bourque will always be known as a Bruin in the hearts of millions.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Buffalo Sabres – Gilbert Perreault
17 years. That’s how long Gilbert Perreault played with the Buffalo Sabres as he spent his entire career with a hockey team he helped put on the map. Even though Perreault was captain from just 1981-1986, it was during this time he truly proved how much of an impact he’d have on the franchise.
Perreault still holds the franchise record for career regular-season games, assists, goals, points, and of course, game-winning goals. He even totaled a franchise-record seven points in a single game without even breaking a sweat. Talk about leading by example in the grand scheme of things.
Considered one of the best centers of all-time, he was one part of the infamous French Connection that dominated the scene back in the 70s. They scored early and often with Perreault leading the charge as his impact across the franchise throughout his career is that of legend. Thankfully, the Sabres took care of his legacy by doing what should have been a long time ago.
The Sabres have honored everything Perreault did for the franchise by officially retiring his number No. 11. It is now forever remembered for everything he accomplished on the Sabres, especially for representing the team so well eight times in the NHL All-Star Game.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: New Jersey Devils – Scott Stevens
From 1992 to 2004, Scott Stevens led the New Jersey Devils to not one, not two, but three Stanley Cup championships. Another top defenseman, Stevens had a 22-year career and will mostly be known for what he achieved on the Devils. Whenever an opposing team faced Stevens and his Devils, they always brought that aggressive physicality in every matchup.
That’s what will ultimately define Stevens during his reign as captain since it helped create the overall identity of the Devils during their championship runs. One that was built on the foundation of being a top-notch defense capable of shutting down any team on its way toward victory. It’s funny since Stevens would often see tons of time serving penalty minutes due to how physical he was on the ice.
Stevens made sure that his players, whether on the ice or in the locker room, were focused on the task at hand. Hit hard, hold onto close leads, and make your defensive presence felt was the general mantra when it came to how Stevens handled duties as captain.
Stevens eventually made it into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the first year he was eligible to enter back in 2007. Fans will always remember his tenure with the Devils more than anything else even though he spent a few years with the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues. Nothing will ever top what he was able to do on the Devils.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: New York Islanders – Denis Potvin
To be in the city that never sleeps during the 80s was truly a sight to see thanks to the New York Islanders. It was during these prime dynasty years that captain Denis Potvin truly made a name for himself in the hockey world. Potvin led those red-hot Islanders to four straight Stanley Cup championships from 1979 – 1983.
Not only was Potvin a hard-hitting defenseman but was far ahead of his time when it came to strategy. He was the main catalyst as captain when it came to setting up plays to take advantage of mismatches on the ice. Potvin knew when to capitalize in power play situations and put his teammates in a position to succeed with his passing.
Super intelligent and ahead of his time, Potvin always knew how to make the most out of any given situation based on what opponents tried to do against his Islanders. Throughout the prime years of his career, he developed nicely into an all-around great leader that people grew to respect.
Once he officially retired from hockey back in 1988, Potvin enjoyed a brilliant career in broadcasting as many enjoyed his unique style of calling hockey games. It was weird and different, but Potvin was always enjoyable to watch both on the ice and in a broadcasting booth thanks to his legendary career.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: New York Rangers – Mark Messier
Just as big as the Islanders were during the 80s, the same can be said about the New York Rangers in the 90s and even early 00s. This was mostly due to the Rangers being laser-focused on making sure that their golden opportunity to finally win a Stanley Cup happened when captain Mark Messier was leading the way.
Not only was Messier doing what he did best on the Rangers, he delivered in what will forever go down as one of the greatest moments in sports history. In Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals back in 1994, Messier scored the game-winning goal over the Canucks to give the Rangers their first championship in over 50 years.
Even before he earned the love and admiration of Rangers fans across the globe, he was also a team captain back in the late 80s with those legendary Edmonton Oilers of back then. He did his part alongside another legendary hockey player (more on The Great One in a bit) to bring the Oilers four Stanley Cup championships.
Needless to say, Messier is simply a legend and absolutely a part of hockey royalty. So much so, the NHL created a special award given away every season in honor of players that exemplify incredible leadership. When you think of having a Mount Rushmore of NHL team captains, it’s hard to have one without Messier on it.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Philadelphia Flyers – Bobby Clarke
Whenever you think of the Philadelphia Flyers of the mid to late 70s and early 80s, it’s all about their nickname, the Broad Street Bullies. Remembering BSB brings many fond memories of center Bobby Clarke since he did a lot for the team’s defense to earn that nickname.
Clarke gave his entire 15-year career to the Flyers and was such an impact player as captain, he led them to not one but two Stanley Cup championships. Considered one of the greatest captains of all time, Clarke embodies tenacity, precision, and excellence in everything he was a part of. It’s no secret that once he became captain of the Flyers, everything fell into place to where they were the envy of the hockey world.
Not only did Clarke win the Hart Trophy three times but represented the Flyers in nine NHL All-Star Games. He was an incredible defender who then took his 15 years of playing experience to go into a management role with the Flyers. Clarke spent almost 20 years as the general manager of the Flyers and was able to turn them into strong contenders but just missed the mark for it to all equal championships.
As a general manager, Clarke took the Flyers twice to the Stanley Cup Finals but unfortunately, they didn’t do enough to leave victorious as champions. It’s a shame he’s never won a championship either as a player or general manager but make no mistake about it, he’s as synonymous to Philadelphia as a Philly cheesesteak.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Pittsburgh Penguins – Mario Lemieux
When it comes to which hockey player wins the award for the most popular captain of all time, many will easily say Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was so popular, not only was a statue created in his honor right in front of the CONSOL Energy Center but he had multiple stints as team captain of the Penguins throughout the 80s, 90s, and 00s.
He played 17 straight years for the Penguins and even though he dealt with numerous injuries and health problems, always put it all on the ice when it mattered most. Even while battling cancer and eventually beating it, he inspired millions across the world by never giving up and focusing on doing whatever it took to build a championship team.
Lemieux was one of the main reasons they won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992 and also made NHL history once his playing days were over. He’s the only player in NHL history to score 30+ power play goals in two different seasons on top of scoring the most power play points in a single season at 80.
As the owner of the Penguins, he helped the franchise win three more Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017. This is also another notch in the NHL history books as Lemieux is the only person to have his name on the Stanley Cup as a player and owner.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Washington Capitals – Alex Ovechkin
There is a reason why hockey fans call left winger Alex Ovechkin The Great Eight. A human scoring machine, Ovechkin started his journey back in 2005 when he debuted with the Washington Capitals as a red-hot rookie with surreal speed, shooting skills, and the ability to score at will. He dropped 52 goals with 54 assists that year and led all other rookies in points as well. At the time this was unheard of as the hockey world definitely started to take notice.
It was at that moment that the Capitals knew they had a player with the words “future star captain” written all over him if he continued at such a pace. Ovechkin became captain back in 2010 and for over a decade, has done so much to prove why he’ll go down as one of the best in franchise and even NHL history.
As captain, Ovechkin has won so many awards, it will be quite the long list once he eventually calls it quits. He’s won everything from the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy to the Art Ross Trophy while proving time and time again that whenever he’s on the ice, he can score quickly and easily whenever his Capitals need it.
Winning the Stanley Cup for his Capitals back in 2018 proved that he would silence the naysayers that he’d never win a championship which has only further cemented his legacy. Ovechkin is always dangerous anytime he’s been in the Stanley Cup playoffs and even as he’s in his mid-30s, is proving that age is just a number. He’s playing as well as he ever was and is only getting better with time leading his Capitals into being serious contenders every year.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Carolina Hurricanes – Rod Brind’Amour
A captain that is able to be a difference-maker is one that binds a team together to achieve greatness. Such is the case with center Rod Brind’Amour who was the missing piece to the Carolina Hurricanes championship season back in 2006.
It was this season as captain that he built a locker room on hard work, nonstop effort, and making sure to keep all his players motivated to do what has never before been done in Carolina. Thanks to all the experience he earned in his stints with the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers, Brind’Amour was able to bring his unique style of leadership to the table and get the job done with the Hurricanes.
That year, the Hurricanes won their first-ever Stanley Cup championship as Brind’Amour had an excellent season. He totaled 26 goals, 56 assists, and 82 points. Brind’Amour even scored his 1,000th career point and led by example in everything he was a part of on the ice.
At the end of his career, everyone will have fond memories of what he accomplished in that magical 2006 season and how to this day, it’ll forever be remembered. Brind’Amour was a fantastic captain and one that earned the respect of those around him for finally ending that championship drought for the Hurricanes.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Chicago Blackhawks – Pierre Pilote
One thing to love about hockey is going back to the glory days of its rich past. Back in the late 50s, it was hard being a Chicago Blackhawks fan and not hearing the name, Pierre Pilote. He was a defenseman that symbolized toughness whenever he hit the ice.
Pilote helped put the Blackhawks on the map during his 13 seasons with the franchise thanks to his stellar defense. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy three times in a row in the mid-60s as he was known to never miss a hockey game due to injury or anything really.
The true definition of toughness, Pilote did a great job as team captain even though it came an offseason later after the Blackhawks won it all in 1961. He took this golden opportunity for seven straight seasons which for many decades, was the longest tenure in franchise history.
If you’re having a conversation with fellow hockey fans and the topic comes up of who were the best defensemen to ever play the game, I guarantee you the old schoolers will mention Pilote. He ended his career with 890 games played, 80 goals, 418 assists, and 498 points. Talk about some incredible performances oh so many years ago!
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Columbus Blue Jackets – Nick Foligno
I know, I know. When it comes to the Columbus Blue Jackets, they haven’t done much in over 20 years of existence. They have zero Stanley Cup championships, Conference championships, or Division championships. But they do have a captain that is one of the brighter spots of the team worth smiling about.
Center Nick Foligno has been an anchor for the Blue Jackets for almost a decade now and has done his part to make the team be competitive enough to be a consistent playoff contender. Yes, the Blue Jackets will more than likely need to do a complete reset to continue building around him but there is no denying the impact Foligno has had on the team ever since he was named captain in 2014.
Foligno is all about points and so far in his bright career, has over 450, with over 300 directly on the Blue Jackets. If the Blue Jackets can build a quality team around him catered to his strengths over the next few years, they can go deeper into the postseason.
As he continues to light up the stats sheet, it was a great sight to see Foligno score his 200th goal in 2021 as the sky is the limit for what else awaits him and the Blue Jackets in the future. Hopefully, he can finally be a big reason for bringing a championship home to the Discovery City.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Dallas Stars – Derian Hatcher
At 6-5, 245lbs., and in his prime, defenseman Derian Hatcher truly made a name for himself during his tenure with the Dallas Stars in the 90s. It was in that decade that once Hatcher was named captain, truly put on a show for hockey fans when they made the playoffs every season from 1996 to 2000.
Hatcher turned the Stars into consistent contenders in the mid to late 90s which ended with a Stanley Cup championship in 1999. He made NHL history as the first-ever American-born captain to win it all representing the state of Michigan to the highest degree.
Considering that Hatcher was a big part of that Stanley Cup championship run, this massive success has yet to be duplicated even decades later. Even to this very day, no other captain on the Stars has been captain for as long as Hatcher was which lasted from 1995 to 2003.
For many years now, fans of the Stars will always be enthusiastic whenever they speak about Hatcher. Just two years after he retired in 2008, he was quickly inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame where his accolades are put on display much to the awe of hockey fans that visit Eveleth, MN
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Detroit Red Wings – Steve Yzerman
It wasn’t all that long ago when the Detroit Red Wings were considered to be one of the worst teams in all of professional hockey. It wasn’t until a young player by the name of center Steve Yzerman that was drafted back in the 1983 NHL Draft by the Red Wings did a revolution start to begin.
Three years later, Yzerman was officially named captain and the rest is that of legend. He was a human scoring machine and helped put the Red Wings on the map by making them a lot of fun to watch week in, week out. Yzerman was putting up at least 100+ points per season from 1987 until that magical year of 1996. It was this year that Yzerman delivered the first of two incredible playoff runs that ended with back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
In 1997’s championship run for making it two straight Stanley Cups, Yzerman scored six goals, 18 assists, and had a career-high 24 points during the playoffs which, at the time, was unheard of. Not only did Yzerman solidify himself as one of the greatest captains of all-time but was given the ultimate honor in 2007 by the franchise he helped make famous.
When the Red Wings retired his legendary jersey No. 19, they added the letter “C” to the corner of his banner as he’ll forever be referred to as “The Captain” for the tremendous impact he’s had on the franchise. Talk about an awesome gesture for an incredible player!
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Florida Panthers – Olli Jokinen
Just like the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Florida Panthers are another team that has never won a Stanley Cup championship in their entire existence. Unfortunately, that’s well over 20 years of disappointment but a few times so far in franchise history, they’ve had some incredible players wear a Panthers jersey with pride during their tenures.
Back in 2003 and until 2008, center Olli Jokinen was the talk of the town. He led the team in many offensive categories when it came to points, assists, and shots on goal. Jokinen did all that he could with the opportunities given to him but sadly, the Panthers failed to reach the Stanely Cup playoffs during his prime years.
The team lacked top talent around Jokinen for them to punch a ticket to the postseason but Jokinen at least made the years he was captain tolerable for Panthers fans. The Panthers knew he was a top talent and being captain for five straight seasons would inevitably be a big trade piece as, at the time, they tried rebuilding for a brighter future. Even to his day, he still owns the franchise records for goals, assists, and points.
Jokinen was ultimately traded and got a king’s ransom back from the Phoenix Coyotes who sent players and draft picks in exchange for his services. One can only imagine if maybe the Panthers kept Jokinen around as they rebuilt through the NHL Draft and NHL free agency if things would have gotten better for the franchise to take advantage of his brief window as team captain.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Nashville Predators – Shea Weber
Tough as nails defenseman. Gold-winning Olympian. Team captain. These are just a few of the terms used when describing Shea Weber and the impressive tenure he enjoyed with the Nashville Predators as their team captain from 2010 until 2016.
Yes, the Predators never got to raise the Stanley Cup when Weber was leading the way but he was truly a sight to watch. Weber was as consistent as they come, especially with how he even earned the captain role in the first place. It’s a great story as he accomplished so much by doing things the old-fashioned way. You know, working his way up the ladder to the point where he already embodied the role without having that famous C on his jersey until it became official.
During his prime years, he won numerous player awards, led all NHL defensemen in goals, and scored points with ease and incredible skill. Goalies used to say that whenever he shot at the net, they would have black and blues the next morning because of how much force was behind every one of his shots. Weber even won the Mark Messier Leadership Award back in his final season with the Predators before he was eventually traded.
It’s a shame that the Predators couldn’t have kept Weber around longer but he was so great at what he did as a captain and defenseman that he also became captain immediately upon arrival on his new team. That’s right, he eventually moved on to be the captain of the Montreal Canadiens after his trade in 2016 and has held the role ever since.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Tampa Bay Lightning – Steven Stamkos
The man, the myth, the legend. Is there anything center Steven Stamkos can’t do? Not only has he been an anchor on the Tampa Bay Lightning since 2008, but he also did his part in 2020 to bring a Stanley Cup championship home. In the 2008 NHL Draft, hockey writers and pundits across the globe considered Stamkos to be the best center in that year’s class and wow, they were spot on.
Stamkos was named team captain back in 2013 after working his way up the ladder. He scored a plethora of goals leading up to his promotion and since then, has truly made a name for himself as a franchise leader in many unique categories.
At this point in time, Stamkos owns the franchise record for most career goals at over 400 and growing, most power play goals, and even the most career regular-season games with at least 4+ goals. At the rate he’s going, Stamkos will only continue adding more to his stats sheet and when he eventually retires one of these days, will make a serious case to have his jersey number retired by the Lightning.
Stamkos is everything you can ask for in a captain and then some. He delivers on a daily basis and continues to get the job done even to this very day on the Lightning. He’s undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer in the making thanks to everything he’s accomplished on the Lightning, especially if he ends his legendary career with the team he originally was drafted by.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Anaheim Ducks – Scott Niedermayer
The days when captain Scott Niedermayer was on the ice representing the Anaheim Ducks are very fondly remembered by fans everywhere. There are very few defensemen who can hit as hard and viciously as Niedermayer did but he was truly a force in his years as captain of the Ducks.
Back in 2006, Niedermayer helped bring the first and so far, only Stanley Cup championship to the Heart of Orange County. Mostly known for winning three Stanley Cup championships with the New Jersey Devils beforehand, Niedermayer was exactly the driving force needed for the Ducks to become champions due to his experience with rallying his team in the heat of the moment.
Niedermayer helped the Ducks in their championship-winning season by having one of the best years of his historic career, especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He led the cause as captain by contributing 11 points in the postseason as the Ducks went to raise the Stanley Cup with a player that everyone knew was playing on an extraordinary level.
Once Niedermayer retired, he’s been honored in so many ways, it truly puts his career in perspective. One can only imagine how much pride he has when thinking back on his 20-year hockey career as he’s already been inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame the very first year he was eligible back in 2013.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Arizona Coyotes – Shane Doan
There is always something special about a player that can say for the rest of their lives, they played for one team throughout their entire career. Such is the case with right winger Shane Doan who spent 21 years with the Winnipeg Jets and continued on when they relocated and became the Arizona Coyotes back in 1996.
Doan will go down in NHL history for being the longest-serving captain ever and doing so representing the Coyotes. His tenure from 2003 until 2017 record is still holding up to this day, proving that age is but a number. Unfortunately, he never won a Stanley Cup championship in his tenure but he left quite an impact on the organization as a whole.
With Doan’s 402 points, he still owns the all-time franchise record for goals. He also owns franchise records for most career points at 972, most games played at 1,540, and most career power play goals at 125.
Doan talked the talk and walked the walk. He was always calm, cool, and collected whenever he had to step up and win games that were on the line for the Coyotes. Hopefully, in the future, the Coyotes can find a player like Doan to bring back those glory days of being a competitive and exciting team to watch.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Colorado Avalanche – Joe Sakic
Whenever you think of terms like “Mr. Wrist Shot” or “Mr. Positivity” many will remember the impact center Joe Sakic had on the Colorado Avalanche. Goaltenders would often complain that even with the latest protective gear, you would still feel Sakic’s shots because he put so much velocity behind them.
Sakic will go down in NHL history as not only one of the best captains to ever do it but was a household name on the Quebec Nordiques and then again when they relocated to Denver and became the Avalanche for over a decade. Not only did he help win two Stanley Cup championships with the Avalanche but he was a class act when it mattered most in his career.
Always putting the team first before his accomplishments, Sakic created an incredible culture in the locker room that had players that actually wanted to be there and put it all on the ice for each other. He was critical of maintaining this every season to ensure that the Avalanche were always competitive either on the road or in front of their passionate fans.
Sakic’s leadership and keeping his teammates focused on synergized execution translated well on the ice. To this day, almost every major franchise record for scoring, goals, and assists belongs to Sakic. He’s also considered to be an iron man by his peers as he also still holds the franchise record for most games played at 1,363.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Los Angeles Kings – Wayne Gretzky
Every single time you mention the term GOAT to a hockey fan, only one name comes to mind. A player so elite, he will forever be referred to as “The Great One” not only in the hockey world but in all professional sports. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, the best captain in the history of the Los Angeles Kings belongs to Wayne Gretzky.
After the infamous trade that sent Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the Kings, he had an immediate impact upon arrival. It was quite controversial at the time considering that nobody in a million years would ever believe they’d see Gretzky in another team’s jersey but he still had the respect of Oilers fans and hockey fans worldwide after being traded abruptly.
Even though he never won a Stanley Cup after his 10-year tenure with the Oilers, he brought legitimacy to the Kings and helped put Los Angeles on the map. Hockey fans wanted to see Gretzky and it resulted in a plethora of tickets being sold, television ratings rising, and genuine excitement over what could happen with Gretzky doing what he does best.
It’s unfortunate that during that eight-year tenure on the Kings, they never got a championship out of it but Gretzky did get them to the Stanley Cup playoffs in his first season there. He also got to eliminate his old team, the Oilers, during that postseason run in 1988 which makes that one of the many bright spots of his time as captain of the Kings.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Minnesota Wild – Mikko Koivu
Once the Minnesota Wild drafted center Mikko Koivu back in the 2001 NHL Draft, they knew after doing their due diligence, they would land a high-quality player. Not only did Koivu exceed all initial expectations, but he ended up being a cornerstone for the franchise for over 15 years.
Koivu was named team captain just seven years after being drafted and truly made a name for himself once he was able to put his imprint across the entire team. He was all about setting plays up for his teammates as he still holds the franchise record for most points at over 700.
Perhaps most known for his long tenure with the Wild came at how many games he’s played at over 1,000. He was a mainstay for the Wild and was their team captain for over 11 years but unfortunately, his time with the Wild ended right on the cusp of when he would officially retire.
It’s a shame he couldn’t end his entire career with the Wild as an unfortunate torn ACL injury in 2019 sidelined him until he ended up hitting free agency. He landed with the Columbus Blue Jackets only to barely play with them for a handful of games before officially announcing his retirement. Make no mistake about it, he’ll forever be remembered as a member of the Wild for everything he did for the team, going down as their best team captain in franchise history.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: San Jose Sharks – Owen Nolan
Right winger Owen Nolan will always go down as a journeyman in the NHL as he’s played on many different NHL teams but will mostly be remembered for the amazing job he did on the San Jose Sharks. It’s not easy to live up to the immensely high expectations of being a No. 1 draft pick but Nolan made a name for himself during the middle and later parts of his NHL career.
He landed with the Sharks back in 1995 after being traded by the Colorado Avalanche and quickly made a name for himself. He not only was the face of the franchise for his entire tenure but helped lead the Sharks to five straight years’ worth of playoff runs.
Unfortunately, even to this day, the Sharks have never won a Stanley Cup championship, but with Nolan doing his thing as team captain, he helped bring a much-needed facelift during those times. Even though the Sharks never got far when they did make the playoffs, Nolan’s leadership and ability to keep everyone motivated even during defeat, spoke volumes about everything he brought to the franchise.
Nolan went to the NHL All-Star Game five times in his career and you guessed it, he represented the Sharks in every single one of those appearances. He might have worn many different jerseys in his 13-year career but he’ll always be remembered as a Shark in the eyes of many since it was the team that brought him the most success.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: St. Louis Blues – Brett Hull
Not only was right winger Brett Hull considered to be the most popular player to ever wear a St. Louis Blues uniform but his years as captain helped revitalize the team after years of frustration. He was instrumental in doing his part of building a contender that could take on anyone throughout the regular season.
Hull was an impact player that anytime he hit the ice to either cut a lead or take it, opposing teams knew within a blink of an eye, he would get his team back on track. He would score quickly and efficiently while truly being a force to reckon with, much to the excitement of hockey fans watching greatness right before their eyes.
Even though at the time he had behind-the-scene issues with then head coach Mike Keenan, he always stayed focused on leading his team to the Stanley Cup playoffs. As team captain of the Blues, the franchise enjoyed many years of postseason success but sadly, never won it all during Hull’s 10-year tenure with the team.
“The Golden Brett” also did a lot for the St. Louis community through youth hockey programs and helping prepare kids to potentially be the next wave of future superstars. The Blues honored Hull back in 2006 for all his accomplishments when they officially retired his No. 16 and hung his banner proudly in Enterprise Center.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Vegas Golden Knights – Mark Stone
I know, I know. The Vegas Golden Knights are a relatively new team in the NHL but they definitely surprised many so early on back in 2018. It’s not easy being an expansion team hoping to find major success early on but the Golden Knights did it while making NHL history.
They reached the Stanley Cup Finals after setting an NHL record 13 playoff wins but unfortunately, were outplayed by the Washington Capitals in a tough series loss. Not all is lost though as their future is bright and well, there is something always special about being named the first-ever captain on an NHL team.
Such is the case with right winger Mark Stone. He will go down in the history books as the first-ever captain of the Golden Knights which was made official in 2021. After being traded to the Golden Knights by the Ottawa Senators, he signed an eight-year contract to call Vegas home as he will continue doing his best to bring the franchise back into the Stanley Cup forefront.
Hopefully, everything falls into place with Stone’s leadership and ability to create plays after making key takeaways converted to points, which is what he’s always been known for throughout his career. So far, Stone has adjusted well to life as a team captain of the Golden Knights despite a severe back injury that required major surgery back in January that put him out indefinitely. Hopefully, he’ll be back to form in the near future to pick up where he left off from.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Calgary Flames – Jarome Iginla
When it comes to talking about elite captains of the NHL, those that scored like crazy, brought physicality to the ice, and rose to the occasion when their team needed it, one name tends to come to mind. Right winger Jarome Iginla was one of the best to ever do it and will always be remembered for everything he did as part of the Calgary Flames.
Considered to be one of the best scorers to ever play in the NHL, he represented the Flames in all six of his appearances in the NHL All-Star Game and holds many franchise records that will not be broken anytime soon. He’s the all-time leader in points, goals, and games played. To put it in perspective, in his entire 23-year NHL career, he’s played in 1,554 games.
As a captain throughout the majority of his career, he’s led his teams to either Stanley Cup Finals appearances or winning gold medals in the Winter Olympics. He prefers a more hands-on approach and practicing the simple fundamentals of hockey instead of screaming and shouting to get results.
Once he retired in 2018, Iginla officially retired and totaled 625 goals, 675 assists, and 1,300 on-the-dot points. The Flames honored Iginla back in 2019 by retiring his No. 12 to always honor his legacy.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Edmonton Oilers – Wayne Gretzky
Oh yes, “The Great One” was such a legendary player, he’ll be mentioned twice on two separate teams here for being arguably one of the greatest NHL captains to ever do it. Before Gretzky did what he did with the Kings, he originally achieved greatness back in the early 80s on the Edmonton Oilers.
Once the Oilers made it official that Gretzky would be their team captain back in 1983, it was from that moment on that his legacy began. He led the Oilers for the next five years as captain and won four Stanley Cup championships.
Not only was Gretzky considered a phenomenal player but he was ahead of his time in terms of strategies and overall hockey intelligence. He just saw things that others didn’t see and knew how to play to not just his strengths but the overall strengths of his teammates for success. Always putting those around him in a position to thrive, Gretzky was a selfless player that always put team success over his individual accolades.
One can only imagine what else Gretzky could have accomplished had he spent his entire career with the Oilers instead of the shocking trade they made back in 1988 just months after he won his fourth championship with the franchise. Regardless, most hockey fans will forever correlate Gretzky on the Oilers more than the other stints he had with other teams because they were truly a dynasty in the hockey world featuring the greatest player of all-time.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Montreal Canadiens – Jean Beliveau
It’s no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are considered the cream of the crop when it comes to the NHL. They’ve won the Stanley Cup championship 24 times and it was during the era of legendary center Jean Beliveau’s career that they accomplished something that to this day, has never been broken.
Beliveau is the only player in NHL history to have won 10 Stanley Cup championships and then win seven more as an executive on the Canadiens. That’s right, a total of 17 Stanley Cup championships are all on the same team and it’s something that speaks volumes to the impact Beliveau had in the world of professional hockey.
He’s won many awards throughout his two decades of playing hockey from the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, and is considered by many publications to be one of the greatest players of all-time. As team captain of the Canadiens for a decade, he was the prime example of loyalty, execution, and pride in representing the greatest team in hockey.
Beliveau also represented the Canadiens in 13 trips to the NHL All-Star Game and won the NHL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He will go down in NHL history as being one of the most respected and celebrated captains ever.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Ottawa Senators – Daniel Alfredsson
For 14 years as team captain of the Ottawa Senators, right winger Daniel Alfredsson was always enthusiastic, confident, and just a ton of fun to watch on the ice. He was a natural-born leader and still owns many franchise records for his dominance when it came to scoring and setting up power point plays.
Alfredsson scored over 400 goals, 600 assists, and over 1,000 points with the Senators and took them 11 times to the Stanley Cup Playoffs as team captain. He was also an alternate captain in the 2006 Winter Olympics in which he took home a gold medal.
Perhaps most known during Alfredsson’s career were all the amazing Stanley Cup Playoff moments he provided. From winning incredible shootouts to scoring 14 goals in the 2006 postseason, Alfredsson truly made a name for himself where hockey fans genuinely appreciated his talents, even if they rooted against him and his Senators.
A decade later after Alfredsson officially retired in 2016, the Senators retired his jersey No. 11 to the joy of fans everywhere. It was the final bow on an impressive career with the Senators that saw him win the Calder Memorial Trophy, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, and due to his leadership as captain, the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Toronto Maple Leafs – George Armstrong
21 seasons. Yes, it’s true, that is how many seasons right winger George Armstrong spent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was a popular name for the organization in the 50s and dominated in the 60s. He went to the NHL All-Star Game seven times and once he became captain in 1957, the rest is that of legend.
Armstrong helped put the Maple Leafs on the map as he won four Stanley Cup championships in the 60s and let his work ethics speak for itself. He was all about being the first person at practice and the last one leaving to always be overprepared for games. It was one of the biggest attributes that even decades later, everyone speaks so highly of since he was a captain that preached this to his teammates and lived it through his actions.
Not only was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame but also into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. He owns many franchise records with the Maple Leafs from most games played, most career assists, and most points of his positional group.
Armstrong took much pride in being correlated to the Maple Leafs as he would enjoy many years in various coaching roles as a coach in their farm system but preferred being a team scout. He wanted to ensure that the Maple Leafs had a continuous stream of new, young talent to bring them back into the postseason spotlight.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Vancouver Canucks – Henrik Sedin
Mention the name Sedin to any fans of the Vancouver Canucks and you’ll undoubtedly see huge smiles on their faces. The Sedin brothers will forever be a part of franchise history but center Henrik Sedin truly made a name for himself when he became team captain back in 2010 and thrived in the role for eight years.
Sedin was all about scoring, making big plays when his team needed it most, and making sure that his teammates understood that they would do whatever it took to win as many games as possible. Under Sedin’s leadership, the Canucks enjoy many years of winning seasons on top of Stanley Cup playoff appearances.
Of course, you can’t mention one without the other as his brother, Daniel Sedin, got to share some unique awards together. Both represented the country of Sweden well as they won the Golden Puck Award and an Olympic gold medal together throughout their hockey careers.
Sedin ended his career with 240 goals, 830 assists, and 1,070 points. The Canucks also gave him their Cyrus H. McLean Trophy team award four times, two of which came when he had incredible career-high seasons as team captain in 2010 and 2012.
Best NHL captain from each franchise: Winnipeg Jets – Blake Wheeler
Life hasn’t been easy for the Winnipeg Jets and their fans as they’ve never won a Stanley Cup championship, a Division championship, nothing at all. A lot of that frustration has come from bad coaching and personnel decisions but the good news is that better days are hopefully ahead.
When the Jets named right winger Blake Wheeler captain in 2016, it was the start of a rebuilding process focused on building a young team around him to get them ready to soar. So far, the Jets have been heading in the right direction as a franchise since Wheeler has already represented the team in the back-to-back NHL All-Star Games in 2018 and 2019.
Wheeler is a proven veteran and has done his part to help the younger players around him develop the right way ever since he became captain. Of course, it’ll more than likely take a number of years before everything comes together but at the end of the day, patience is key.
Hopefully, it’ll happen sooner than later since the Jets will need all the help they can get in order to push the envelope. Even though Wheeler was stripped of his captaincy in September 2022, he’s still the best captain they’ve ever had. The Jets have recently chosen not to have a captain after Wheeler so hopefully, the franchise gets it sorted out over time. In his career so far, he’s totaled over 300 goals, over 600 assists, and over 900 points.
Next. Selecting the all-decade 1980s NHL team. dark