Non-Canadian-Born Captains to Win the Stanley Cup – The Hockey Writers – Hockey Historical past

On Monday, June 24, 2024, the Florida Panthers captured their first Stanley Cup title in an exciting Recreation 7 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. When NHL commissioner Gary Bettman got here out at hand over hockey’s Holy Grail, he referred to as captain Aleksander Barkov to the rostrum and handed off the 132-year-old trophy.

When the Tampere, Finland native hoisted the Cup, he grew to become the tenth skater in league historical past to be captain of a championship crew born outdoors of Canada. For nearly 60 years, from 1939 to 1998, solely captains born in Canada led their groups to a title win. Previously 25 years, the quantity has dipped somewhat, with eight non-Canadian captains successful, together with three of the previous seven.

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For the reason that formation of the NHL in 1917-18, a Canadian participant has been captain of a Stanley Cup winner on 96 events, or 90% of the time. In fact, many of those gamers had been multi-time champions like Sidney Crosby (three), Wayne Gretzky (4), Jean Beliveau (10), and Alex Delvecchio (three).

Contemplating how tough it’s to win the Stanley Cup, not to mention function captain of a successful crew, let’s revisit the earlier instances somebody born outdoors of Canada led their franchise to a championship.

Aleksander Barkov – Finland (2024)

Barkov was the second total choose within the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and has performed his complete profession with the Panthers, debuting in 2013-14. After 11 seasons, he’s now a two-time Selke Trophy winner (2021 and 2024) and former Girl Byng Award winner (2019).

In 2018-19, Barkov was named captain of the Panthers, assuming the duties from Derek MacKenzie. Together with his promotion to locker room chief, he grew to become the ninth captain in crew historical past, following within the footsteps of Ed Jovanovski, Olli Jokinen, Scott Mellanby, and Brian Skrudland.

In 2023, Barkov led Florida to the Stanley Cup Closing, shedding to the Vegas Golden Knights in 5 video games, whereas Skrudland led the franchise to the 1996 Closing, the place the Colorado Avalanche swept them.

Gabriel Landeskog – Sweden (2022)

Gabriel Landeskog was the second total choose within the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, debuting at 19 and successful the Calder Trophy and All-Rookie honors. In his second season, the Avalanche promoted him to captain, a task he’s had ever since. Nonetheless, as soon as he gained the Stanley Cup in 2022, Landeskog hasn’t skated in a single sport, forcing his crew to make use of a number of alternate captains in his absence. Regardless of taking part in via a major knee harm within the playoffs that 12 months, the native of Stockholm grew to become solely the second Swedish-born captain to guide his crew to victory.

Alex Ovechkin – Russia (2018)

Alex Ovechkin enters the 2024-25 season simply 41 objectives shy of the sport’s report, held by Canadian Wayne Gretzky with 894. As arguably the best Russian-born (Moscow) participant of all time, the three-time Hart Trophy winner solely missed a Stanley Cup on his Corridor of Fame resume via his first 13 seasons. The previous first-overall choice within the 2004 Entry Draft ultimately led the Washington Capitals to a championship in June 2018. After 80 years, Ovechkin grew to become the second Russian-born captain to attain the feat.

Dustin Brown – United States (2012, 2014)

Dustin Brown is the one non-Canadian-born captain in NHL historical past to win the Stanley Cup greater than as soon as, main the Los Angeles Kings to their two championships in 2012 and 2014. Because the thirteenth total choose within the 2003 Entry Draft, he would turn out to be the franchise chief in video games performed till his long-time teammate Anze Kopitar broke his report in 2023-24.

When Brown retired after the 2022 season, the Kings honored his profession by retiring his quantity and unveiling a statue of him hoisting the Stanley Cup outdoors Crypto.com Enviornment. The one-time All-Star and native of Ithaca, NY, gained the Mark Messier Management Award in 2013-14.

Zdeno Chara – Czechia (2011)

Zdeno Chara is a first-ballot Corridor of Famer who was captain of the Boston Bruins in 2011 and ended a 39-year Stanley Cup drought. As one of many tallest gamers to ever play within the NHL, he gained the Mark Messier Management Award (2011) and the Norris Trophy (2009) and was a seven-time All-Star. Since Chara spent 14 seasons carrying a Bruins uniform, the previous third-round choose (56th total) is intently related to the crew and lively locally. As of 2024, he stays the one captain born in Czechia (Trencin) to hoist the Stanley Cup as captain.

Nicklas Lidström – Sweden (2008)

Nicklas Lidström was drafted within the third spherical (53rd total) within the 1989 Entry Draft and is among the biggest defensemen to play within the NHL. All through his 20-year profession with the Detroit Crimson Wings, he was a member of 4 Stanley Cup championships, in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008, serving as captain the final one.

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Exterior of Bobby Orr’s report eight Norris Trophy wins, Lidström ranks second, in a tie with Doug Harvey, with seven. When he gained the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2002, he grew to become the primary non-North American-born participant to be named playoff MVP. As of 2024, Lidström, born in Vasteras, Sweden, stays one among two skaters on this checklist inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame.

Derian Hatcher – United States (1999)

Derian Hatcher is one other former first-round choose (eighth total, 1990) to turn out to be captain of a Stanley Cup-winning crew. The native of Sterling Heights, Michigan, performed the primary 12 years of his profession with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise, turning into captain in 1995. When the Stars gained their solely title in 1999, Hatcher grew to become the primary American-born captain to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Johnny Gottselig – Soviet Union/Russia (1938)

Johnny Gottselig was born on June 24, 1905. Nonetheless, his Wikipedia web page signifies he’s from Klosterdorf, Russian Empire, whereas his Hockey-Reference profile states he’s from Odessa, Russia. Both method, at 23, he got here to North America and performed 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, successful the Stanley Cup in 1934 and 1938, serving as crew captain from 1935 to 1940. When he led the Blackhawks to a second championship, Gottselig grew to become solely the third non-Canadian-born captain of a successful crew, a spot he held for 60 years till Hatcher joined him on the checklist in 1999.

Charlie Gardiner – Scotland (1934)

Charlie “Chuck” Gardiner was born in 1904 in Edinburgh, Scotland. By 1927, he was between the pipes for the Blackhawks, taking part in for the group for seven seasons, successful the Vezina Trophy twice (1932 and 1934) and turning into a four-time All-Star. In 1934, Gardiner was promoted to captain, main the crew to a Stanley Cup title, retiring after the victory. Over a decade later, he was elected into the Hockey Corridor of Fame within the Class of 1945.

Dunc Munro – United Kingdom (1926)

Dunc Munro, who hailed from Moray, United Kingdom, performed eight seasons within the NHL, seven with the Montreal Maroons and one with the Montreal Canadiens. In 1926, he was the captain of the Maroons, who beat the Ottawa Senators in a two-game Stanley Cup Closing. With the win, Munro grew to become the primary non-Canadian-born captain of a Stanley Cup-winning crew in NHL historical past, an achievement that occurred virtually 100 years in the past.

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