List of current NHL captains and alternate captains explained

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 32 teams, founded in 1917. Each team may select a captain, who has the "privilege of discussing with the referee any questions relating to interpretation of rules which may arise during the progress of a game."[1] Each team is also permitted to select alternate captains, who serve when the captain is not on the ice.[1] Captains are required to wear the letter "C" on their uniform for identification while alternate captains wear the letter "A"; both letters are 3inches in height.

Rule 6.2 of the 2008–09 Official NHL Rulebook indicates that "[only] when the captain is not in uniform, the coach shall have the right to designate three alternate captains. This must be done prior to the start of the game."[1] [2] Many NHL teams with a named captain select more than two alternate captains and rotate the "A"s among these players throughout the season.[3]

Goaltenders are not permitted to serve as captains during games.[1] This rule was instituted in 1948 after teams complained that it took Montreal Canadiens goaltender Bill Durnan too long to skate to talk with the officials and back to his crease.[4] Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo served as captain for two seasons (2008–09 and 2009–10), but because of the League's rule, he was not allowed to serve as captain on-ice or wear the "C" on his jersey, though it was incorporated into the artwork on his mask.[4] [5] As a result, the Canucks were allowed to dress three alternate captains in games, as opposed to the League standard of two. Two (of the three) alternate captains handled on-ice duties in Luongo's place.[5] Other than Durnan and Luongo, five other goaltenders have captained their team: John Ross Roach of the Toronto St. Patricks, George Hainsworth of the Montreal Canadiens, Roy Worters of the New York Americans, Alec Connell of the original Ottawa Senators and Charlie Gardiner of the Chicago Black Hawks.[6]

When Connor McDavid was named captain of the Edmonton Oilers, he became the youngest permanent captain in NHL history.[7] Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are the second- and third-youngest players to be named captain in NHL history, respectively. In 1984, Brian Bellows was named interim captain of the Minnesota North Stars when Craig Hartsburg was injured, and is the youngest player to captain a team in NHL history. However, because Bellows served only on an interim basis, McDavid retains the distinction of being the youngest permanent captain in the League's history.[8] Mark Messier is the only player to captain two separate teams to Stanley Cup championships, those being the 1990 Edmonton Oilers and the 1994 New York Rangers.[9] Sidney Crosby also became the youngest captain to win the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, when Crosby was just 21 years old. The oldest permanent captain in league history was Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins, who turned 43 years old, during his last NHL season (2019–20) with the Bruins. The longest tenure in league history was Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, who served as captain of the Red Wings for nineteen seasons, over a span of twenty years.

Key

Spent entire NHL career with team

Position abbreviations
AbbreviationDefinition
CCentre
LWLeft wing
RWRight wing
DDefenceman

Captains

Twenty-six of the thirty-two active NHL teams currently have a captain. The six teams without a captain are the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Utah Hockey Club. Of the twenty-six captains, twenty-two of them have been with their team for their entire career. The current longest-tenured captain in the league is Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who has served in that role since May 31, 2007.

Team!scope="col"
CaptainSincePos
Anaheim DucksVacant2022–23—
Boston Bruins2023–24[10]
Buffalo SabresVacant2023–24—
Calgary Flames2023–24[11]
Carolina Hurricanes2019–20[12]
Chicago BlackhawksVacant2023–24—
Colorado Avalanche2012–13[13]
Columbus Blue Jackets2021–22[14]
Dallas Stars2013–14[15]
Detroit Red Wings2020–21[16]
Edmonton Oilers2016–17
Florida Panthers2018–19[17]
Los Angeles Kings2016–17[18]
Minnesota Wild2020–21[19]
Montreal Canadiens2022–23[20]
Nashville Predators2017–18[21]
New Jersey Devils2020–21[22]
New York Islanders2018–19[23]
New York RangersJacob Trouba2022–23[24]
Ottawa Senators2021–22[25]
Philadelphia Flyers2023–24[26]
Pittsburgh Penguins2007–08[27]
San Jose Sharks2019–20[28]
Seattle KrakenVacant2021–22—
St. Louis Blues2023–24[29]
Tampa Bay LightningVacant2024–25—
Toronto Maple Leafs2024–25[30]
Utah Hockey ClubVacant2024–25—
Vancouver Canucks2023–24[31]
Vegas Golden Knights2020–21[32]
Washington Capitals2009–10[33]
Winnipeg Jets2023–24[34]

Alternate captains

Thirty of the thirty-two NHL teams have named at least the regulation two alternate captains, the two exceptions being the San Jose Sharks and the expansion Utah Hockey Club. Of the seventy-three alternate captains, forty-three of them have been with their team for their entire NHL career. Teams that have named more than the regulation two alternate captains (or three in the case of teams without a captain) are required to rotate the two (or three) "A"s between those players by methods of their choosing. The current longest-tenured alternate captain in the league is Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins who has served in that role since 2008.

Team! scope="col"
Alternate captain(s)SincePos
Anaheim Ducks2022–23
2023–24
Boston Bruins
2023–24
2023–24
Buffalo Sabres2022–23
Vacant2024–25—
Calgary Flames
2023–24[35]
2022–23
Carolina Hurricanes
2021–22
2019–20[36]
2019–20[37]
Chicago Blackhawks
2023–24
2022–23
2021–22
Colorado Avalanche
2016–17
2021–22
Columbus Blue Jackets
2023–24
2023–24
2021–22[38]
Dallas Stars
2022–23
2019–20
2017–18
Detroit Red Wings2023–24
2023–24
Edmonton Oilers
2019–20[39]
2015–16[40]
2019–20[41]
Florida Panthers
2016–17
2022–23
Los Angeles Kings2022–23
2016–17
Minnesota Wild2021–22
2023–24
Montreal Canadiens
2015–16[42]
2023–24[43]
Nashville Predators
2023–24
Vacant2024–25
New Jersey Devils
2022–23
2022–23
New York Islanders
Vacant2024–25—
2023–24
New York Rangers
2023–24
2017–18
2020–21
2018–19
Ottawa Senators
2019–20
2022–23
Philadelphia Flyers
2022–23[44]
2023–24[45]
Pittsburgh Penguins2017–18
2008–09
San Jose Sharks2021–22
Vacant2023–24—
Seattle Kraken2021–22[46]
2021–22
2021–22
2021–22
St. Louis Blues2023–24
2020–21
2023–24
Tampa Bay Lightning2017–18
2022–23
Toronto Maple Leafs2019–20
2016–17
2024–25
Utah Hockey ClubVacant2024–25—
Vacant2024–25—
Vancouver Canucks2021–22[47]
2022–23
Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel2023–24
William Karlsson2023–24
2020–21
Washington Capitals2010–11
2019–20[48]
2023–24[49]
2023–24
Winnipeg Jets
2019–20
2016–17

See also

References

Team rosters

Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rule 6 - Captain and Alternate Captains. October 4, 2008. National Hockey League.
  2. News: Buffery. Steve. Stalled Stajan. Toronto Sun. October 9, 2008. February 20, 2009.
  3. Web site: Kings' Brown, Sabres' Rivet named captains. Postmedia News. August 10, 2008. February 20, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081009112607/http://www.faceoff.com/story.html?id=bc842c71-fd42-480b-84c2-32c3bb246d2a. October 9, 2008.
  4. Web site: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Luongo sports captain's 'C' on goalie mask. October 5, 2008. February 14, 2009.
  5. Web site: Canucks name goaltender Luongo as team captain. The Sports Network. September 30, 2008. February 20, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20081202181026/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=251272. 2008-12-02. dead.
  6. Web site: Captain Puckstopper. Greatest Hockey Legends. Joe. Pelletier. September 30, 2008. February 14, 2009.
  7. Web site: Edmonton Oilers Name Connor McDavid Captain. National Hockey League. October 4, 2016.
  8. Web site: McKeon. Ross. Mailbag: More Crosby. Yahoo! Sports. December 10, 2007. February 20, 2009.
  9. Web site: Legends of Hockey – Introduction Showcase – Mark Messier. Hockey Hall of Fame. February 10, 2015. June 28, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140628005105/http://www.hhof.com/htmlInduct/ind07Messier.shtml. dead.
  10. Web site: Marchand named Bruins captain, replaces Bergeron . nhl.com . September 20, 2023 . September 20, 2023.
  11. Web site: Flames Extend Backlund, Name Him 21st Franchise Captain . Flames PR. September 27, 2023 . National Hockey League . September 27, 2023.
  12. Web site: Canes Name Jordan Staal as Team Captain . Canes PR. September 29, 2019 . National Hockey League . September 29, 2019.
  13. Web site: Landeskog Named Avalanche Captain. National Hockey League. December 31, 2013.
  14. News: CBJ name veteran F Boone Jenner seventh captain in franchise history. National Hockey League. October 12, 2021. October 12, 2021.
  15. Web site: Jamie Benn Appointed Captain of the Dallas Stars. National Hockey League. December 31, 2013.
  16. Web site: Red Wings name Dylan Larkin captain. 13 January 2021 . National Hockey League. January 13, 2021.
  17. Web site: Aleksander Barkov Named Captain of the Florida Panthers. 17 September 2018 . National Hockey League. January 9, 2021.
  18. Web site: Kings name Kopitar team captain. TSN. 16 June 2016. June 16, 2016.
  19. Web site: Spurgeon named captain of Wild, replaces Koivu. National Hockey League. January 9, 2021.
  20. Web site: Nick Suzuki named 31st captain in Canadiens history. National Hockey League. September 12, 2022. September 12, 2022.
  21. Web site: Roman Josi Named Captain of the Nashville Predators. 19 September 2017 . National Hockey League. January 9, 2021.
  22. Web site: Hischier named captain of Devils. National Hockey League. February 20, 2021.
  23. Web site: Lee named captain of Islanders. National Hockey League. January 9, 2021.
  24. Web site: Jacob Trouba honored by Rangers as team's 28th captain in history. August 9, 2022. August 9, 2022.
  25. Web site: Senators name Brady Tkachuk 10th team captain in franchise history. National Hockey League. November 5, 2021. November 5, 2021.
  26. Web site: Flyers Name Sean Couturier 20th Captain in Franchise History. Philadelphia Flyers . February 14, 2024 . February 14, 2024.
  27. Web site: Penguins Name Crosby As Captain. National Hockey League. December 30, 2013.
  28. Web site: Couture named captain of Sharks, replaces Pavelski. National Hockey League. January 9, 2021.
  29. Web site: Schenn named Blues captain, replaces O'Reilly . nhl.com . September 19, 2023 . September 19, 2023.
  30. Web site: McCarthy . Dave . Matthews named Maple Leafs captain, replaces Tavares . NHL.com . August 14, 2024 . August 14, 2024.
  31. Web site: Introducing 'Captain Quinn' . NHL.com . September 11, 2023 . September 11, 2023.
  32. Web site: Mark Stone Gets the C. 13 January 2021 . National Hockey League. January 13, 2021.
  33. Web site: Capitals Name Alex Ovechkin Team Captain. National Hockey League. December 29, 2013.
  34. Web site: Adam Lowry named Jets captain . Winnipeg Jets . September 12, 2023 . September 12, 2023.
  35. Web site: Flames announce leadership group for 2023-24 season . sportsnet.ca . October 7, 2023 . October 8, 2023.
  36. Web site: Canes Name Jordan Staal as Team Captain . Canes PR. September 29, 2019 . National Hockey League . September 29, 2019.
  37. Web site: Canes Name Jordan Staal as Team Captain . Canes PR. September 29, 2019 . National Hockey League . September 29, 2019.
  38. News: CBJ name veteran F Boone Jenner seventh captain in franchise history. National Hockey League. October 12, 2021. October 12, 2021.
  39. Web site: Edmonton Oilers name Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse as alternate captains . Oilers Nation . October 2019 . October 2, 2019.
  40. Web site: Oilers name alternate captains for 2015-16 season. 7 October 2015. Edmonton Oilers. 7 October 2015.
  41. Web site: Edmonton Oilers name Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse as alternate captains . Oilers Nation . October 2019 . October 2, 2019.
  42. Web site: Brian Gionta becomes the 28th captain in Canadiens history. September 29, 2010. National Hockey League. February 13, 2015.
  43. Web site: Mike Matheson named alternate captain . nhl.com . September 11, 2023 . September 20, 2023.
  44. Web site: Tortorella, Laughton starting to build relationship between coach, leader. Hall. Jordan. November 8, 2022. November 27, 2022.
  45. Web site: Flyers Name Sean Couturier 20th Captain in Franchise History. Philadelphia Flyers . February 14, 2024 . February 14, 2024.
  46. SeattleKraken. 1447622448724152321. October 11, 2021 . Leaders on and off the ice. Jordan Eberle (@jeberle_7), Yanni Gourde (@YanniGourde), Adam Larsson (@AdamLarsson3) and Jaden Schwartz will serve as your #SeaKraken Alternate Captains for the 2021-22 season.. en. October 11, 2021. https://twitter.com/SeattleKraken/status/1447622448724152321.
  47. Web site: Canucks' Hughes and Pettersson join Miller and Ekman-Larsson as alternate captains . 2023-02-06 . Sportsnet.ca . en.
  48. News: Capitals name defenseman John Carlson an alternate captain. October 1, 2019. The Washington Post. October 4, 2019.
  49. Web site: Oland . Ian . Tom Wilson and TJ Oshie will share the second alternate captain's 'A' with Nicklas Backstrom away from the Capitals . RMNB.com . November 2, 2023 . November 2, 2023.

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