*This was up to date forward of the 2024-25 season
Having the “C” stitched onto a jersey has been a convention in hockey for over a century. Arguably the most important honor a crew can bestow upon a participant, the NHL has had many iconic captains over time from Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux to Scott Niedermayer and Mark Messier. The trendy period has additionally seen its share of legendary leaders like Sidney Crosby, who has received three Stanley Cups and Steven Stamkos, who has two.
Since I final up to date this text, Stamkos has moved on from the one crew he has ever recognized to signal with the Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres traded Kyle Okposo to the Florida Panthers the place he received the Cup a few months later. 4 different groups are additionally with out a defacto chief going into the 2024-25 season. As such, listed here are some predictions on who can be honored with the “C” subsequent.
Anaheim Geese – Troy Terry
On the finish of the 2021-22 season, Getzlaf retired from the NHL after 17 seasons that included 282 objectives and 1,019 factors in 1,157 video games – all with the Geese. Initially drafted nineteenth general all the way in which again in 2003, he at present leads the franchise in factors, assists, and video games performed. Named captain at first of the 2010-11 season, he held the function for 11 seasons – the longest since Paul Kariya, who had it for less than 5.
Associated: Anaheim Geese’ Ryan Getzlaf: Corridor of Fame Worthy?
Clearly, whoever takes over the captaincy could have huge sneakers to fill. When Getzlaf was named captain in 2010, he was 25 years previous and had mainly established himself because the chief of the following core after the one led by Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer. Though Selanne was nonetheless on the crew and can be till he retired in 2014, Getzlaf was handed the “C”, not the franchise’s most fun participant and all-time goalscorer. After going with out a captain final season, might the Geese go an identical method in 2024-25 and provides it to a teenager slightly than a veteran? THW’s personal Charlie Hiller appears to assume so.
“[Troy] Terry has already proven success at each stage he’s performed, and this season is an enormous step in direction of proving it on the highest ranges of the game. Assuming his trajectory continues upward, Terry will show himself to be a worthy successor to Getzlaf as captain.”
Whereas Terry has but to determine himself as a constant contributor within the NHL (like Getzlaf did), he has the star energy and talent to vary the tides with a objective or spectacular play. He additionally has expertise coming by within the clutch as he scored the shootout winner for Group USA on the 2017 World Junior Championship and led the College of Denver to a Nationwide Championship just a few months later. In 2021-22, he broke out to the tune of 37 objectives and 67 factors, all whereas enjoying on a line with the aforementioned Getzlaf, somebody he has appeared as much as since beginning his journey within the NHL.
With out Getzlaf in 2022-23, Terry got here again right down to earth with solely 23 objectives, however nonetheless performed a distinguished function within the offence, ending second solely to Trevor Zegras with 61 factors. He then fell down a bit extra final season with solely 20 objectives and 54 factors, however once more was second on the crew within the scoring, this time behind Frank Vatrano. The Geese additionally not too long ago dedicated long-term to the previous Pioneers star signing him to a seven-year extension price $49 million. It’s clear they’re hoping he can lead the franchise by their present rebuild and again to contender standing in brief order. Carrying the “C” can be the logical subsequent step for this budding star.
Utah Hockey Membership – Clayton Keller
After Shane Doan retired in 2017 following an extended tenure within the desert with the “C”, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was given the mantel for the 2018-19 season. Then, after three seasons with it stitched to his chest, the Arizona Coyotes determined to commerce him to the Vancouver Canucks in 2021 for a bundle that included a handful of veterans and a first-round decide that grew to become the dynamic Dylan Guenther.
Associated: Coyotes Clayton Keller: First-Spherical Choose to NHL Star
Whereas the Coyotes (now the Utah Hockey Membership) determined in opposition to naming a captain for 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 seasons, they is perhaps inclined to take action earlier than the beginning of 2024-25. As a result of crew’s present rebuild, veterans are few and much between, so the following participant to don the “C” will almost definitely be somebody they wish to construct the brand new core round. Enter Clayton Keller.
Chosen seventh-overall by the Coyotes in 2016, Keller hit the bottom working in his 2017-18 rookie season – on the youthful age of 19, no much less – scoring 23 objectives and 65 factors in 82 video games. Naturally, followers thought that was only the start of his greatness as he completed third in Calder voting and was named to the Rookie All-Star Group. Sadly, the dreaded sophomore stoop hit him exhausting in 2018-19. He ended up with solely 14 objectives and 47 factors and took two extra seasons to hit 20 objectives once more.
Nonetheless solely 25 years previous, Keller had a coming-out celebration in 2021-22 when he hit a career-high 28 objectives and led the Coyotes in scoring and ice time amongst forwards. He in all probability would have eclipsed 30 too, if he hadn’t fractured his leg in March and missed the remainder of the season.
If Keller’s 28 objectives in 2021-22 had been a coming-out celebration, then his 37 in 2022-23 was a celebration for the ages. He additionally hit a career-high 86 factors and arguably joined the ranks of NHL stardom. He’s now the hands-down favourite to turn out to be the primary captain of the newly fashioned Utah Hockey Membership, one thing that might be introduced as quickly as coaching camp in September.
Seattle Kraken – Jordan Eberle
Solely three seasons into its existence, the Seattle Kraken have already got a historical past of captains. With Marc Giordano getting traded in 2022, who served because the captain for less than 55 video games, Seattle continues to be out there for an additional participant to take the helm after going with out one in 2022-23 and 2023-24. On a crew with solely a 246-game log e-book, the standards will come right down to both a veteran of the NHL or a rookie that they need to lead the still-developing core into the longer term. As of proper now, it’s going to in all probability be the previous – a minimum of till 21-year-old Matty Beniers is prepared for the load of it.
If that’s the case, which veteran will they select? I believe it’s going to come down to a few gamers, Jordan Eberle, Adam Larsson or Brandon Tanev. In the event that they wish to go together with an intense, emotional chief, Tanev is definitely the man. A participant that may come by within the clutch and presumably be the distinction maker in a playoff collection? Nicely, that’s clearly Eberle. Lastly, a veteran who has been by the strain of succeeding as a top-five draft decide? That’s Larsson. All in all, every of them has the attributes of a future captain. But when it got here right down to it, I might in all probability have to decide on Eberle at this level.
Now a proud member of the 700-point membership, Eberle has been within the NHL for 14 seasons and has been a constant scorer since he entered the league in 2010-11 with the Edmonton Oilers. In actual fact, he has by no means seen a marketing campaign with out double-digits within the objective column, recording eight 20-goal seasons in that point. He’s additionally no stranger to clutch objectives and producing within the playoffs, one thing that nice captains are at all times proficient at.
It began early for Eberle when he scored the game-tying objective within the waning seconds of the 2009 World Junior Semifinals to maintain his nation’s hopes alive in a event that they ultimately received gold. If that wasn’t sufficient, he additionally scored the game-deciding objective within the shootout. If that isn’t clutch, I don’t know what’s.
Whereas Eberle has but to play in a Stanley Cup Ultimate, it hasn’t been for lack of making an attempt as he was a key participant for the New York Islanders of their two runs to the Jap Convention Ultimate in 2020 and 2021. In whole, he has 19 objectives and 47 factors in 76 playoff video games unfold over 5 years between the Islanders, Oilers, and now the Kraken after he scored six objectives and 11 factors in 14 video games of their first look in franchise historical past. His means to return by within the clutch alone makes him the precise option to succeed Giordano.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Victor Hedman
As talked about off the highest, the Tampa Bay Lightning can be selecting a brand new captain for the primary time since 2013-14 when Stamkos and Martin St. Louis took over the function from Vincent Lecavalier. Stamkos was certainly one of their iconic leaders, main them to 2 Stanley Cups and three straight appearances within the Ultimate. He additionally sits atop the leaderboard in video games performed (1,082), objectives (555), energy play objectives (214), and factors (1,137), and second in assists (582). For sure, the following one that wears the “C” has nearly inconceivable sneakers to fill.
If anybody can do it, although, it’s Victor Hedman. Now that Stamkos is gone, he’s the longest-tenured Lightning with 1,052 video games and barring important damage, will surpass him and stand by himself on the prime someday this season. He’s solely 31 video games away and can seemingly move him earlier than the calendar flips to 2025. He has been the chief of the blue line since he entered the league again in 2009-10, and has served as an alternate captain to Stamkos for the previous eight seasons. He has earned the respect of his teammates and gamers across the league, successful the Norris Trophy in 2018 and the Conn Smythe in 2020 because the MVP of the playoffs. He’s the logical successor and will have the “C” stitched onto his chest earlier than the puck drops in October.
Chicago Blackhawks – Connor Bedard
The Chicago Blackhawks determined to go with out a captain for the 2023-24 season after Jonathan Toews wasn’t re-signed. Like Stamkos, the following participant who takes up the mantle could have huge sneakers to fill. “Captain Severe” was the Blackhawks’ chief for 15 seasons, main them to a few Stanley Cups. He additionally received the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010, the Selke Trophy in 2013, and the Mark Messier Management Award in 2015. He’ll go down as one of many Blackhawks’ most iconic captains, and would possibly even get inducted into the Corridor of Fame someday. These are the forms of sneakers the following captain must fill. No strain, proper?
Whereas it could not occur this season, and the Blackhawks might go together with a number of alternates slightly than a captain once more, it is going to be Connor Bedard who will put on the “C” subsequent within the Windy Metropolis. He has already established himself as a frontrunner on the crew after only one season with 22 objectives and 61 factors in 68 video games, successful the Calder Trophy for his efforts. He grew to become the face of the franchise at solely 18 years previous and seemingly has the character and gravitas to carry the captaincy having held the identical function for the Regina Pats in 2022-23 and Group Canada on the 2022 U18 World Championship.
Buffalo Sabres – Rasmus Dahlin
We end with the Sabres who’re in search of a brand new captain once more after two seasons with Okposo and three seasons with Jack Eichel. The following one ought to final for lots longer contemplating 24-year-old Rasmus Dahlin is the present favourite to take over the function. Like Hedman in Tampa Bay, he has been the Sabres’ chief on protection since he was drafted first general in 2018 and has steadily progressed into among the finest defenders within the NHL. He’s not accustomed to having the “C” on his jersey, having solely held the captaincy for Sweden’s U16 crew in 2015-16, however he has been an alternate captain for the Sabres since 2022-23.
Dahlin not too long ago confirmed some initiative within the management division, organizing a coaching camp for a bunch of his teammates in Lausanne, Switzerland. That type of initiative is indicative of an NHL captain and it wasn’t misplaced on the gamers that attended the camp. He needs the Sabres to take the following step of their growth and eventually make the playoffs this season after over a decade on the skin wanting in.
What this says most is about ‘Dahls,’ how a lot he needs to win, how a lot he needs to do stuff proper and the way a lot he needs to handle all people else within the crew and be sure that we’re in the perfect form to begin the season…I believe it’s loads from him and the way properly he does issues for us [that the players were] in a position to come there.
Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Dahlin organizing the camp
Dahlin seems to be able to turn out to be the twenty second captain of the Sabres. Will he be the primary to make them the playoffs since Craig Rivet wore it in 2010-11? We are going to simply have to attend and see.
A number of NHL Groups Would possibly Not Have a Captain in 2024-25
As you may see there are a number of worthy candidates to take over the “C” for the six aforementioned groups. Whereas some will get crammed within the coming weeks, others would possibly keep vacant for the 2024-25 season. We are going to simply have to attend and see which gamers will find yourself receiving the excellence because the clock ticks right down to opening evening on Oct. 8.
