If you end up sporting an enormous “C” in your sweater, you possibly can assume that you’ve reached the head of particular person hockey success. Being named crew captain is an ode to a person’s character in addition to his taking part in skill by his crew and teammates. All through the Florida Panthers‘ comparatively younger existence, there have been 9 captains or co-captains. I’ve achieved a deep dive into what makes these gamers essential to the Panthers neighborhood, how their careers developed, and what they’ve achieved post-playing profession.
Brian Skrudland (1993-97)
Previous to becoming a member of the Panthers in 1993-94, their inaugural season, heart Brian Skrudland was primarily a member of the Montreal Canadiens. He performed eight seasons and received the 1986 Stanley Cup with the storied franchise. Within the 256 video games he performed in a Panthers uniform, he collected 99 factors, was a Selke Trophy finalist in 1994, and led the younger franchise to their first postseason look in 1996.
Skrudland was instantly immortalized within the Panthers neighborhood when he was named the primary captain in crew historical past in 1993 and has continued his attributions to the franchise in his post-playing years. He left the Panthers in free company in 1997 and retired after the 1999-00 season. Since retirement, he was the Director of Participant Improvement or an assistant coach for the Panthers, additional sealing his legacy as a pillar of excellence within the group.
Scott Mellanby (1997-01)
When it comes to contributing to the Panthers tradition, few gamers can declare extra affect than winger Scott Mellanby. Not solely did he rating the primary purpose in franchise historical past, he’s additionally credited with beginning the iconic “Rat Trick” custom. As legend goes, he was within the locker room making ready for a sport when a rat scurried throughout the ground. He used his stick and saucer handed the rat throughout the room. Later that evening, he scored two objectives with the identical stick.
Because the Rat Trick story unfold, followers started bringing plastic rats to video games and throwing them at opposing goaltenders after each purpose. Mellanby was named crew captain in 1997 and remained with the Panthers till 2001 when Florida traded him to the St. Louis Blues. He additionally performed for the Atlanta Thrashers earlier than retiring after the 2006-07 season. He stays the crew’s second-leading goalscorer and third-highest level producer.
Co-Captains Pavel Bure/Paul Laus (2001-02)
Pavel Bure
The numbers that co-captain Pavel Bure produced as a winger throughout his 4 years with the Panthers are mind-boggling. In 223 video games, he scored 251 factors and through his lone season as captain, he had 92 factors in 82 video games. He’s at present the Panthers’ third-highest goalscorer with 152 and likewise leads the franchise in hat tips with 10.
He was a participant forward of his time. At solely 5-foot-10 and 189 kilos, his construct resembled that of a modern-day analytics darling. He mixed his velocity with a wrist shot that made it potential to attain from anyplace and he was one of many sport’s greatest gamers with two Rocket Richard Trophies as a Panther. Though Bure’s profession was minimize brief because of persistent knee accidents, he scored 779 factors in 702 video games and was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2012.
Paul Laus
The 2001-02 co-captaincy was a yin-yang scenario for the ages. Whereas Bure was the extremely expert, flashy scorer, defenseman Paul Laus was an enforcer whose sole intent was to select fights and alter momentum. The Panthers chosen him in 1993 Entry Draft, their inaugural draft, and he spent his whole 13-year profession with the Cats.
In 530 video games, he collected 1,702 penalty minutes. He knew his function for the Panthers was to not rating however to intimidate, and he loved it. Sadly, close to the tip of his profession, Laus broke his wrist in a combat and known as it quits in 2002. Since retirement, his status has modified from bruiser to that of father and household man who nonetheless resides in Florida.
“The place else can I am going out and get right into a combat and 5 minutes later come out and never be in jail…I feel I took no matter frustration I had all through the day and that was my outlet for it.” As instructed by Laus to THW’s Kathy Mizera
Olli Jokinen (2003-08)
Following in Bure’s footsteps, Finnish heart Olli Jokinen made a reputation for himself in South Florida as an offensive machine. In seven seasons with the Panthers, he performed in 567 video games and is second in photographs (1,837) and game-winning objectives (36) and third in objectives (188) and factors (419).
He was an iron man as effectively. In his years as captain, he by no means missed a sport and solely missed six video games in complete throughout his tenure with the Panthers. Though Jokinen performed for 9 different groups in his profession, Florida was all the time his true residence. In 2017, he signed an honorary contract with them to retire as a Panther.
Even after retirement, the previous captain continues his contributions to the area people by collaborating with the South Florida Hockey Academy, which helps develop younger gamers and develop the sport in South Florida. Jokinen says the academy’s mission “has been to make South Florida a vacation spot for younger hockey gamers world wide to develop each on and off of the ice.”
Bryan McCabe (2009-11)
In a Sept. 2008 commerce with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Panthers acquired defenseman Bryan McCabe throughout the 2008-09 season. In his seven years with the Maple Leafs, he scored 297 factors, sixth all-time for Toronto blueliners. He continued his success with Florida over the subsequent three seasons with 104 factors in 199 video games. He performed with the Panthers till 2011, after they traded him to the New York Rangers.
Since retirement, McCabe has continued his work with the Panthers as Director of Participant Improvement and has since been promoted to Director of Participant Personnel. Upon his promotion, McCabe appeared excited for the long run, saying “I’ve actually loved my time scouting and dealing with our prospects as Director of Participant Improvement. Whereas persevering with to work with our prospects, I stay up for the problem of my new function as we compete in the direction of our purpose of profitable the Stanley Cup.”
Ed Jovanovski (2012-14)
As a former primary general decide, Ed Jovanovski has a protracted historical past with the Panthers group. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman left his mark throughout the historic 1995-96 season. At simply 19 years previous, he scored 10 objectives and 31 factors throughout the common season and continued his sturdy play all through the playoffs all the way in which to the Stanley Cup Closing.
Through the 1996 Convention Finals in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, former Penguin left winger David Roche commented on Jovanovski’s play: “That’s the factor with Eddie, he’ll hit anybody. Large, small. (Eric) Lindros or a no-name. He’ll nail you.” Though the Panthers have been unable to carry the Cup residence, Jovanovski grew to become a fan favourite till he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks within the deal to accumulate Bure.
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“Large Ed” spent the subsequent six seasons with the Canucks and one other six with the Phoenix Coyotes till he returned to Florida in 2011. He was instantly named captain and held the place till 2014 when he retired because of hip accidents and the Panthers purchased out his contract. Though he didn’t play a major quantity of video games throughout his second tour of obligation with the Panthers, he did function an awesome mentor to a crew that was struggling to search out stability.
Willie Mitchell (2014-16)
Throughout his 15-year profession, defenseman Willie Mitchell performed in over 900 video games and hoisted two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings. Though his fashion of play didn’t produce an abundance of factors, he was a defensive-minded participant who posted a destructive plus/minus simply twice throughout his profession.
In his two years with Florida, Mitchell was a job mannequin for the younger gamers and, particularly, Aaron Ekblad. The connection between the 2 was described as “father and son like.” Ekblad has credited Mitchell with instructing him the ins and outs of the NHL saying, “I’ve discovered completely every little thing I’ve discovered within the sport of hockey, within the NHL, from Willie Mitchell. Studying to be a very good individual and a very good participant. Can’t thank that man sufficient.”
Mitchell’s profession ended because of a concussion throughout the 2015-16 season. It was the seventh concussion of his profession and Mitchell has taken a stand by criticizing the NHL’s lack of consideration to participant security. Hopefully Mitchell’s management helps carry consideration to a delicate topic and may create a much-needed change.
“I can’t change my life, the harm has been achieved,” Mitchell mentioned. “I’m speaking to the youngsters about it. I need them to be considerate and educated, and God forbid they’re in the identical scenario as me.” Mitchell with regard to his criticism of participant security.
Derek MacKenzie (2016-2018)
Beginning his profession with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2002, Derek MacKenzie served as Panthers captain for 2 seasons. “DMac” performed in over 600 video games and offered much-needed expertise throughout his tenure as captain.
After the conclusion of the 2017-18 season, he would dangle up his skates and name it a profession as accidents plagued him all through his time with Florida. With that, he would move off his captaincy to Aleksander Barkov earlier than the beginning of the next season.
Aleksander Barkov (2018-Current)
On Sept. 17, 2018, Aleksander Barkov was named the tenth captain in Panthers historical past. He’s the second Finnish captain in Florida’s younger historical past.
Drafted 2nd general within the 2013 NHL Draft, Barkov has made his presence identified all through the NHL as an elite heart in at the moment’s sport. All through his time with Florida, he’s piled up 712 factors, essentially the most all-time in franchise historical past.
Within the 2017-18 season, he was named to the All-Star Sport as a consultant of the Panthers. The next season, he hit a career-high 96 factors (35 objectives, 61 assists), changing into a franchise season for many in an everyday season. Moreover, he was awarded the Woman Byng trophy that 12 months after solely taking 4 minor penalties that season. In 2024, he led the crew to its first Stanley Cup. Together with his historical past and goal-scoring contact, it is just pure why he was named captain.
