Being the captain of an NHL team is a great honor. Your team and coaches show their respect and dedication to you by slapping a C on your jersey and saying, ‘This is the guy that we choose to follow.’ You’re a leader and a motivator.
You hold the team on your shoulders, win or lose. Some captains take this honor and go on to do great things for the franchise they captain, be it winning a championship or simply just consistently being an outstanding player for that franchise.
That being said, it stands to reason that every team should have a captain who wears that “C” better than everyone else. This is every NHL team’s best captain in history.
Who are the best captains for each NHL team in its history?
Anaheim Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf
Ryan Getzlaf is the guy you think of when you think of the Ducks. He is THE Duck. He gave Anaheim his entire playing career. He gave them everything he had. And it was a lot. Getzlaf would be named captain prior to the start of the 2010-11 season. His first season as captain, he would lead the Ducks back into the postseason after they had missed the 2009-10 postseason. He was drafted in the 2003 NHL draft by the Ducks and would make his debut in the 2005-06 season.
He would quickly become the face of the franchise, being one of their top producers, one of their top defenders, and well… one of their top everything, really. He would also be a part of the Ducks’ only Stanley Cup championship, though he wasn’t the captain at the time. He would have 17 points in 21 games played that postseason, though. He played 1157 games in his career, all with Anaheim. He scored 282 goals and tallied 737 assists for 1,019 points.
Boston Bruins: Ray Bourque
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Ray Bourque is the longest-tenured captain in Bruins’ history and the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history. Bourque was the eighth overall pick in the 1979 draft and made his NHL debut for the Bruins the very next season. He would play 21 of his 23 seasons in a Boston uniform. He was captain for fifteen of them, getting the C in the 1985-86 season. Bourque would win five Norris trophies with the Bruins, as well as a Calder and a King Clancy.
He would never win the Cup with the Bruins, but his dedication to the team and the statistics he put up are more than enough to earn him this spot. Even when Bourque eventually won the Cup with Colorado, he would bring the trophy back to Boston. He would play 1,518 games in Boston, the most in franchise history, while scoring 395 goals and tallying 1,111 points.
Buffalo Sabres: Gilbert Perreault
This is the general consensus among Sabres fans. Perreault played 17 seasons in the NHL, all 17 coming with the Sabres. He was the face of the Buffalo franchise for all 17 of those seasons. The star of the famous French Connection line, Perrault, would be named captain in the 1982-83 season and would wear the C until his retirement at the end of the 1985-86 season. He would briefly come out of retirement for the increased pension the very next season, though he would retire again after playing 20 games.
He holds the franchise record for the most games played with 1,191, as well as the records for goals, assists, and points. He would lead the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1974-75 season, though they would fall short against the Flyers. He would also win a Calder trophy and a Lady Byng trophy during his time with the Sabres.
Calgary Flames: Jarome Iginla
Iginla is an absolute legend in the city of Calgary. He would be drafted in the 1995 NHL draft by Dallas, but would be traded to Calgary soon after. He would be named captain officially during the 2003-04 season and would remain captain until the 2012-13 season when he was traded to Pittsburgh. In his first year as captain, Iginla would lead Calgary to the Stanley Cup Finals, though they would fall short against the Lightning.
He was also one of the first African American captains in NHL history. During his time with the Flames, he would play 1,219 games, the franchise record, while also having the franchise lead in goals with 525, points with 1,095, and being second in assists with 570.
Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind’Amour
Brind’Amour is a unique one on our list as he’s given his all to the Canes as both a player and, currently, a coach. Brind’Amour would be drafted by the Blues in the 1988 draft, and he would make his debut in St Louis in the 1989-90 season. He would be traded to the Flyers in 1991, another team with which he would go on to make a very good legacy. He would be traded to Carolina in the year 2000, forming the famous BBC line with Bates Battaglia and Erik Cole, helping Carolina to the Finals in the 2001-02 season.
Brind’Amour would be named captain in the 2005-06 season, and once again led Carolina to the Finals, this time capturing the franchise’s first and only Stanley Cup victory. He would play 694 games with the Hurricanes, scoring 174 goals and tallying 299 assists. He was renowned in the Hurricanes’ franchise for his leadership and work ethic, another reason why he makes our list today. He would return to the Hurricanes franchise as a coach in 2011, eventually making his way to head coach, where he remains today.
Chicago Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews
It doesn’t seem like all that long ago when Toews, Kane, Keith, and Crawford were heading one of the best Blackhawks’ teams we’ve ever seen to three different Cup victories. Toews was drafted by Chicago in the 2006 NHL Draft and made his debut in the 2007-08 season. He would be named captain the very next year, and serve as captain until taking a leave of absence at the end of the 2022-23 season, making him the longest tenured captain in Blackhawks’ history.
Toews would lead the team to three Stanley Cup victories in 2010, 2013, and 2015, winning the Conn Smythe trophy in 2010. He would also win a Selke trophy and a Mark Messier award. He would play 1,067 games with the Blackhawks, scoring 372 goals and tallying 511 assists. Though not officially retired, it’s unlikely he plays another game in a Blackhawks uniform.
Colorado Avalanche: Joe Sakic
Drafted in 1987, Sakic actually began his career with the Quebec Nordiques. He would stay with the team when it moved to Denver and became the Avalanche in 1995. He was named captain of the team in 1992 and would remain captain until his retirement in 2009. Sakic was reportedly able to inspire his team to play at the highest level on numerous occasions, backed by the fact that he led the Avs to two Stanley Cups in 1996 (winning the Conn Smythe) and 2001.
He wasn’t just a strong locker room presence, though; he was also a producer in his own right, being one of the top scorers in NHL history. He led the Avs in every way he could, leading the franchise in games played with 1,378, goals with 625, and assists with 1,016, combining to make him the franchise’s all-time points leader with 1,641. If that wasn’t enough, Sakic would win yet another Cup with the Avs as their general manager. He would also win a Hart trophy, a Lady Byng, and a Lester B. Pearson award in his time with the Avs. Truly a leader worthy of the respect he’s been given.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Nick Foligno
Rick Nash may have been Columbus’s first true captain. He and Boone Jenner may have the production numbers behind them as well. However, there’s a reason I chose Foligno. Columbus was in desperate need of some sort of spark after Nash left the team. They got that with Foligno. Not only is he the longest tenured captain in the team’s history, but he also stood up and led the team back in the right direction, making them a consistent playoff team.
It helps that he was also a decent producer for Columbus, too, and a fantastic defensive presence. He found his way to Columbus via trade from Ottawa in 2012. He was named captain in the 2015-16 season. Under his tenure, Columbus would pull off a massive upset of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019, marking Columbus’ first playoff series win in franchise history. Nash would eventually be traded to Toronto, but that doesn’t erase what he did for Columbus.
Dallas Stars: Mike Modano
Modano was the face of the Stars’ franchise for many years. He joined the franchise in the 1988 draft as the first overall pick, when the team was still in Minnesota as the North Stars. Early in his career, he was labelled as an underachiever, but he wouldn’t take long to shake that title. He would stick with the franchise as they moved to Dallas in 1993, adjusting his style to be more offensive-minded. While he wouldn’t be officially named captain until 2003, he would play a pivotal role on the Stars for years.
He played a pivotal role in the Stars’ Finals run in 1999 and 2000, capturing the team’s only Stanley Cup victory in 1999. He spent all but his final season in Dallas, setting numerous franchise records, including games played (1,459), goals (557), assists (802), and points (1,359). Despite not having a super long tenure as the official captain, Modano was a leader for the Stars his entire career, both on and off the ice.
Detroit Red Wings: Steve Yzerman
Red Wings fans likely look back fondly on the dynasty of old, given the franchise’s current condition. The face of that dynasty, and for Detroit sports in general, for over a decade. He was drafted fourth overall by Detroit in the 1983 draft and would be named captain at 21 years of age in 1986. He would hold that captain title for over twenty years, making him not only the longest tenured captain in Detroit’s history, but the longest tenured captain in North American major league sports history.
He was voted the most popular athlete in Detroit sports history, becoming a city icon. He would lead the team to three Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998, and 2002, winning the Conn Smythe in 1998. He would also win the Selke, the Lester B. Pearson, the Bill Masterton, and the Lester Patrick. He’s second in franchise history in goals, assists, and points, behind only the great Gordie Howe. He made the Red Wings franchise as iconic as it is today, and probably got it the most press it has had since Howe retired.
Edmonton Oilers: Wayne Gretzky
Given that Gretzky is the consensus GOAT of the sport, it’s safe to say that he was the face of the entire NHL during his illustrious playing career. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the vast majority of his accomplishments came with just the Oilers. Gretzky’s records and accomplishments are too numerous to name, many standing the test of time, though his all-time goal record was just broken by Alexander Ovechkin. Gretzky was named captain in 1983 and would wear the C until his departure to the Kings in 1988.
He helped the Oilers create their dynasty, leading them to four consecutive Stanley Cups. He single-handedly changed the league. What was often considered a rough and tumble league quickly began to get faster, more skill-based, and get more eyes on it than ever. The sport owes a lot to Gretzky, and the Oilers owe him even more.
Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov
One of the more recent entries on this list belongs to Barkov. Barkov was drafted in 2013 by the Panthers and made his debut the next season. He often struggled with injuries early in his career, but found a way to power through those troubles and quickly became the face of a soon-to-be NHL powerhouse. Barkov stuck with the team through some tough times, with the Panthers only making the playoffs once in his first six seasons. His dedication to the team and his production saw him named captain in 2018, a label that he continues to carry today.
He was the first Panther to ever hit the 200 goal mark with the franchise and the first ever to win the Selke trophy. He would lead the team back into playoff contention, slowly but surely, leading them to their second-ever Finals appearance in 2023. While they would fall short to the Golden Knights, Barkov would lead his team back to the Finals the very next year, this time capturing the team’s first-ever Stanley Cup. Barkov is still only 29 and likely has a few good years left to continue adding to this legacy.
Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Brown
Through ups and downs, thick and thin, for better or worse, Brown was always there for the Kings. Drafted in 2003, Brown quickly became everything the Kings needed. He was a physical presence, a defensive powerhouse, and he was pretty good at scoring goals when he wanted to be. He also excelled at sparking the team whenever they needed it. Once paired with Anze Kopitar, Brown quickly cemented his place in Kings history. He played his entire career in LA, being second in franchise history in games played, as Kopitar just passed him.
He was named captain in 2008, after staying with the Kings through some dark times. He would help the Kings get back into the playoffs, and in 2012, he would lead the Kings to a miracle run that saw them capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. They would win the Cup again in 2014. Brown would lose the captaincy to Kopitar in 2016, but he remained a strong locker room presence for LA up until his retirement in 2022, when he was honored with a retired jersey number and a statue out front of the LA arena.
Minnesota Wild: Mikko Koivu
For most of its early years, the Wild would rotate captains fairly consistently. Koivu was the first permanent captain in the franchise’s history and would be its captain for eleven years. He was drafted in 2001 and made his debut in 2005. He would play the next 15 seasons in Minnesota, setting the franchise record for games played, assists, and points, while being second behind Marian Gaborik in goals.
He was named captain in 2009 and remained captain until his departure to Columbus in 2020. Due to his commitment to the team, his production, and his leadership, Koivu would have his number nine retired by Minnesota shortly after his retirement. For a franchise that’s still rather young and has a lot of history left to write, Koivu sure did leave his mark on the hearts of Wild fans everywhere.
Montreal Canadiens: Jean Beliveau
The Habs are the most successful franchise in NHL history. They have 24 Stanley Cup victories and dominated the league from the 60s to the 90s. It stands to reason that they’ve had many, many amazing captains in their time in the NHL. So, how about we pick the guy who won ten of those championships with the team? He joined Montreal in 1950, quickly making his mark in the NHL.
Despite seemingly never wanting to go professional in the first place, Beliveau would become one of the top scorers in NHL history, and of course, a top scorer in Habs history. He had a quiet and humble demeanor and a level-headedness that made him a natural leader. Beliveau would be named captain in 1961 and wear the C until his retirement in 1971. As mentioned before, he would lead the Habs to ten Stanley Cup victories, five with the C and five without. He would also win a Hart trophy, an Art Ross, and the inaugural Conn Smythe in 1965.
Nashville Predators: Shea Weber
Weber was one of the most dominant defensemen throughout the 2010s. Renowned for his terrifying slap shot, Weber was a defensive powerhouse through much of his career, though the latter half was marred by injuries. He spent eleven seasons in Nashville after being drafted in 2003. He would be named captain after the departure of Jason Arnott in 2010. He would spend the next six seasons as the captain until he himself was traded in 2016.
He’s fourth in all-time games played for the Predators, as well as fourth in goals, which is pretty impressive given he was a defenseman. He would nearly single-handedly put the Predators on the map with his popularity and elite play, never failing to spark up his team when they most needed it, be it with a massive hit or a big slapper. He’s also the first Predator to ever be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
New Jersey Devils: Scott Stevens
The late 90’s and early 2000s were dominated by the Devils quite often, as the team won three Stanley Cups during that time. And who was the captain for all three of those Cup victories? Why, it was Scott Stevens. Drafted in 1982 by the Washington Capitals, he made his debut at just 18 years old. He would be signed as a free agent by St Louis after eight years in Washington. After one season with the Blues, fate would send Stevens to the Devils, as the Blues were required to compensate the Devils for offer sheeting Brendan Shanahan.
He would spend the rest of his career in New Jersey, being named captain in 1992. Offensively capable and, of course, a huge defensive presence, Stevens has the third-most games played by a defenseman in NHL history. Nine hundred fifty-six of those games came with New Jersey, and of course, he would lead the team to three Cup victories in 1995, 2000, and 2003. He would also win the Conn Smythe in 2000.
New York Islanders: Denis Potvin
Here we have the man who is likely the most famous Islander of all time. The year before he was drafted first overall, the Islanders had finished dead last in the league. Potvin was their savior, seen as the successor to Bobby Orr. He even ended Orr’s eight-year streak as the Norris trophy winner. Potvin quickly made his mark on the league and the Islanders, giving the expansion team a spark it had never had before.
He was named captain prior to the 1979-80 season, and he would immediately lead the Islanders to their glory days. In his first season as captain, Potvin would help the Islanders capture what was the first of their four consecutive Stanley Cup victories. In his eight years as captain, the Islanders would never once miss the playoffs. He retired in 1988 after an entire career in New York, leaving behind a legacy of four Cups, a Calder, and three Norris trophies. He was the first Islander to ever have his jersey retired by the franchise.
New York Rangers: Mark Messier
Messier is the only player in NHL history to captain two separate teams to Stanley Cup championships. He was captain of the Oilers after Gretzky left and helped them win their fifth and final championship, and he captained the Rangers to winning the Cup in 1994, which ended their 54-year drought, making him a six-time champion overall. Messier is widely considered one of the best players of all time, and for good reason. He brought a lot of that when he came over to the Rangers in 1991.
He was named captain of the team right after coming over, and was named captain again after he returned to the team from Vancouver in 2000. He would play 968 games total for the Rangers, totalling 250 goals and 441 assists, adding to his illustrious career. It was the immediate impact and the ending of New York’s long Cup drought, however, that really got Messier on this list. It was almost as if he was destined to bring the Rangers to glory. He even called his shot against the Devils in the conference finals, saying they would win game six guaranteed. He then went out and got a hat trick, sending the series to game 7, which they would go on to win.
Ottawa Senators: Daniel Alfredsson
Alfie is the trademark Senator. He was drafted by the Senators in 1994 and quickly became a staple of the franchise. He would serve as their captain from 1999 to 2013. The Sens haven’t had many glory days, but Alfredsson certainly was a part of their best times as a franchise. He was captain for pretty much every big moment in Ottawa’s current history, including the Cup final run in 2007. He went through every up and down of his career with the team, sticking with Ottawa through every heartbreak or disappointment.
He’s second in the team in games played with 1,178, but first in goals (426), assists (682), and points (1,108). You could hear the heartbreak across Ottawa when Alfie decided to leave after the 2013 season. It was a shocking moment that teammates and fans alike were not expecting. Alfredsson would only play one season outside of Ottawa. During the 2014-15 season, Alfie would sign a one-day contract with the Senators and retire as a member of the Ottawa franchise.
Philadelphia Flyers: Bobby Clarke
Bobby Clarke is THE Flyer. He is THE Broad Street Bully. He embodies everything this franchise looked to represent. He was drafted in 1969 and would play every season of his 15-year career in the City of Brotherly Love. He was revered by Flyers fans and beloved by his teammates, though fairly hated outside of the franchise. In 1973, he was named captain of the Flyers at just 23 years old. He would have two stints as captain, from 1973 to 1979, and again from 1982 to 1984. His dedication to the team was unrivaled, choosing to play the game after he suffered a scratched cornea from a shattered contact lens in the middle of the game.
He was rough and tumble, often instigating fights and getting under his opponent’s skin. He was also a phenomenal hockey player, having three 100-point seasons under his belt. He would lead the Flyers to the Cup Finals on multiple occasions and bring two Stanley Cups to the team. He played through diabetes and multiple injuries, only playing under 70 games once in his career. Flyers fans will forever look fondly on Clarke, his legacy cemented with one amazing toothless photo of him holding the Cup.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby
Crosby made his NHL debut at 18 years old, being drafted first overall by the Pens in 2005. He is widely considered to be one of the top five greatest players of all time, and quite frankly, who can really argue that at this point? Despite too much controversy, he was named an alternate captain in his rookie season and eventually promoted to captain in just his third year. He was nicknamed Sid the Kid due to his numerous record-breaking performances at such a young age. Crosby’s dominance of the league didn’t fade with age, though. To this day, he is still putting up numbers and keeping a distraught Pittsburgh team afloat. In his first season as captain, he would lead the Penguins to the Cup Final, though they would fall short against the Red Wings.
However, Crosby led them back to the Finals against Detroit the following season, this time capturing the Cup. Pittsburgh made the playoffs for sixteen consecutive years under Crosby’s leadership. In 2016 and 2017, Crosby led the team back to the Cup Finals, winning the Cup in both years as well as the Conn Smythe trophy, only the third player in NHL history to win consecutive playoff MVPs.
Despite Pittsburgh’s recent fall from grace, Crosby continues to be a workhorse, putting up numbers every single year and adding to his already incredible legacy. As of today, Crosby has played the most games in franchise history with 1,352. He’s second in goals, assists, and points, but he’s not that far off from the great Mario Lemieux.
San Jose Sharks: Joe Thornton
Joe Pavelski deserves an honorable mention here, but Thornton’s longevity with the team and dedication deserve the shout. He was drafted first overall by the Bruins in 1997, and that’s where he would spend the first few years of his career. He would be a part of a blockbuster trade in 2005 that saw him sent to the Sharks. Despite some early struggles, Thornton quickly found his groove with the team.
After Rob Blake’s retirement in 2010, Thornton would take up the captain’s mantle and wear it with pride. He would remain captain until 2015, when he would be demoted to alternate captain in favor of Joe Pavelski. Even as an alternate captain, Thornton still showed incredible leadership and dedication to San Jose, helping lead them to the Finals in 2016. He currently ranks second in the franchise in games played, fourth in goals, and first in assists. He’s often considered one of the greatest players to never win a Stanley Cup.
Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle
The Kraken have only had two captains in their history. Mark Giordano only served as captain for part of one season before being traded to Toronto. Eberle has been the alternate captain since day one and was promoted to captain at the start of the 2024-25 season. He is the first Seattle captain to play a whole season as captain.
Eberle has been fairly dedicated to this team from the start, since being selected by them in their expansion draft back in 2021. He is also frequently one of their best producers. While his time as captain has not been long so far, it’s certainly been the best.
St Louis Blues: Brian Sutter
Sutter was the longest tenured captain in Blues history. He would be drafted in the second round by the Blues in 1976 and would play with the team until his retirement in 1988. He was captain of the Blues for nine seasons, being given the C at the start of the 1979-80 season. Sutter would go on to play 779 games in his career, all with St Louis.
He would score 303 goals and tally 333 assists for a total of 636 points. He would help the Blues kick off what would be 25 consecutive playoff appearances. His leadership and play would help the Blues to one of their most successful eras in franchise history. Because of this, Sutter would have his number retired by the franchise, the only one of the Sutter brothers to be granted that honor.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Steven Stamkos
While Vincent Lecavalier certainly deserves an honorable mention, Stamkos, without a doubt, passed him by as the best captain in Lightning history. Drafted first overall in the absolutely stacked 2008 draft, Stamkos didn’t take long to make his mark in the NHL. He quickly became and remains one of the best goal scorers in the NHL today. By the time he left Tampa at the end of the 2023-24 season, he would be the franchise leader in games played, goals, and points, though he would be third in assists.
Stamkos would succeed Martin St Louis as the team captain in 2014 and would hold the position until his departure to Nashville. He would lead the Lightning back to relevance, making them a consistent playoff team starting back in the 2013-14 season. He’s led the team to four Finals appearances, three of which were consecutive from 2020 to 2022. They won the Cup in 2020 and 2021. While guys like Lecavalier and St Louis will always hold the hearts of Tampa fans everywhere, Stamkos has earned his spot on this list.
Toronto Maple Leafs: George Armstrong
It’s no secret that the Leafs haven’t had the easiest go of things since the ’60s came to an end. Armstrong was the captain for the last four Cups the Leafs would win in their history. He would make his NHL debut in 1952 and be named captain in 1957. He would serve as captain for thirteen consecutive seasons, the most of any Leafs’ captain. He would quickly turn the Leafs into a dynasty, leading them to the Finals multiple times, capturing three consecutive Cups.
He would lead the Leafs back to the Finals in the 1966-67 season, upsetting the heavily favored Canadiens to bring home his fourth cup and Toronto’s last in franchise history. Armstrong would score the Cup-clinching goal in game 6, which would be the last goal ever scored in the Original Six era. Armstrong is the franchise leader in games played with 1,188. He ranks in the top ten for both goals and assists as well as points.
Utah Mammoth: Shane Doan
Given that the Mammoth have only played one season in the NHL so far, we’re going to go back to their Coyotes days for this entry. Doan dedicated his entire playing career to Arizona, for better or for worse, and was a big reason why that franchise was able to escape obscurity for a period of time. He was drafted in 1995, back when the team was still the Winnipeg Jets, and would stick with the team through their relocation to Arizona.
He would be named captain in 2003 and would hold the role all the way until his retirement in 2017. He led the Coyotes in scoring every season from 2003 to 2011. He holds the franchise record for goals, games played, assists, and points. He would captain the team to their best-ever playoff run when they made the conference finals in 2012. His number would be retired by the Coyotes upon his retirement, though Utah does not have it retired.
Vancouver Canucks: Trevor Linden
Yes, you could argue players like Henrik Sedin and Mark Messier deserve to be here. But Linden was nicknamed “Captain Canuck” for a reason. Not only was he frequently a top producer for the Canucks, but he was frequently the hardest worker as well and constantly showed up for the team when it mattered most. He would be drafted second overall by the Canucks in 1988. Making his debut at age 18, Linden would be named captain just a couple of seasons later at age 21. He was the first ever Canucks rookie to score 30 goals in a season.
He helped bring the Canucks back into the NHL playoffs in 1989 though they would lose to the Flames. He helped lead the Canucks to back to back division title wins, and helped them to the Finals in 1994, though they would come up short against the Rangers that year. After some tensions between Linden, Mark Messier, and new coach Mike Keenan, Linden would leave the Canucks for a brief time. He would return to Vancouver in 2001, and that’s where he would spend the rest of his career.
Vegas Golden Knights: Mark Stone
This one’s an easy pick as Stone is the only captain Vegas has ever had. However, that doesn’t make him any less of a great captain. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and spent a good chunk of his career in Ontario. From 2012 to 2019,, Stone was a Senator, until the 2019 trade deadline sent him to Vegas. It was almost as if it was fate, as Stone fit right into the team. While Stone’s offensive numbers have dipped a bit since joining Vegas, his impact hasn’t.
It’s clear who this team rallies behind, and it was made even more clear when he led Vegas to the ultimate prize in 2023. Stone was named captain prior to the 2020-21 season and has remained captain ever since. Vegas has had continuous playoff appearances and success since he joined the team, and his leadership and dedication are a big reason why.
Washington Capitals: Alexander Ovechkin
The Great 8 isn’t just the greatest captain in Capitals history, and he’s far and away the best player in Capitals history. Ovechkin was drafted by Washington in 2004, but due to the lockout, he wouldn’t make his debut until 2005. He quickly became the best goal scorer in NHL history, scoring 52 goals in his rookie year, and in the 2024-25 season, he officially surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. Despite some speculation on his willingness to play defense, as well as his lack of playoff success, Ovechkin’s legacy cannot be understated.
Since being named captain in 2010, Ovechkin’s Caps have only missed the postseason twice. Despite regularly failing to make it past the second round, Ovechkin did finally lead the team over the hump in 2018, doing two things the Caps have never done in franchise history, defeating the Penguins in the playoffs, and winning the Stanley Cup. Ovechkin was, of course, named the Conn Smythe winner. There can be no doubt he’s the best captain DC has ever seen.
Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler
While Andrew Ladd certainly deserves a shoutout, and Adam Lowry has done a fine job the last two seasons, the title has to go to Wheeler. He was drafted by the Coyotes in 2004, but failed to come to terms with the team and would instead sign with the Bruins. In 2011, he joined the Thrashers. Throughout the years, Wheeler dedicated his heart and soul to the Atlanta/Winnipeg team. He was active in the community, a fantastic player, led Winnipeg to the most success it had in its history, and became a fan favorite among the Jets’ faithful.
He played 897 games in Winnipeg, currently the franchise record, although Mark Scheifele is very close to surpassing that number. He led Winnipeg to their best playoff run ever in 2018 when they made it to the NHL conference finals. While his time with the team had a rather unceremonious end, being stripped of the captaincy in 2022, and then being bought out, his contributions to the team cannot be overlooked.
