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Who will wear the “C” this season?

Posted on by Vanessa
Who will wear the “C” this season?

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Captain is perhaps the most recognizable leadership position in hockey, with a “C” emblazoned on his jersey.

And when the Seattle Kraken's Jordan Eberle was eliminated with that letter during Tuesday's game, it marked the first time since the 2010-11 season that every NHL team has named a captain.

There were four full-season vacancies in the 2023-24 season and six the season before that, but seven new captains were named this offseason, with some teams filling positions last occupied by legendary standouts.

These include the Anaheim Ducks (Radko Gudas), Chicago Blackhawks (Nick Foligno) and Tampa Bay Lightning (Victor Hedman).

Hedman, the No. 2 overall pick in 2009 and a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning, replaces Steven Stamkos, who entered free agency and signed with the Nashville Predators. Hedman was playoff MVP in 2020.

Veterans Gudas and Foligno are entering their second season with their clubs. The Ducks didn't have a captain for two seasons after Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf retired in 2022, and Chicago didn't have a captain last season after they didn't re-sign Jonathan Toews.

Eberle is the Kraken's second captain and first since Mark Giordano was traded during the franchise's inaugural season in 2021-22. He was taken in the expansion draft by Seattle and has played more than 1,000 NHL games.

“His experience on the ice speaks for itself, but it is the way he treats everyone around him that leaves an indelible impression,” Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said. “I am confident that Jordan will be an outstanding leader for this franchise.”

The Utah Hockey Club, a new team that acquired the assets of the former Arizona Coyotes, named Clayton Keller as the franchise's first captain. He had led the Coyotes in scoring in five of his seven seasons. Arizona has not had a captain in the last three seasons.

Toronto's Auston Matthews is captain for the first time after John Tavares handed him the “C.” Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin, a No. 1 overall pick in 2018, replaces Kyle Okposo, who was traded to Florida last season and retired after the Panthers won the Stanley Cup.

Who are the NHL team captains?

Team, captain, season called

  • Anaheim Ducks: Radko Gudas, 2024-25
  • Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand, 2023-24
  • Buffalo Saber: Rasmus Dahlin, 2024-25
  • Calgary Flames: Mikael Backlund, 2023-24
  • Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Staal, 2019-20
  • Chicago Blackhawks: Nick Foligno, 2024-25
  • Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog, 2012-13
  • Columbus Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner, 2021-22
  • Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn, 2013-14
  • Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin, 2020-21
  • Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid, 2016-17
  • Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov, 2018-19
  • Los Angeles Kings: Anze Kopitar, 2016-17
  • Minnesota Wild: Jared Spurgeon, 2020-21
  • Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki, 2022-23
  • Nashville Predators: Roman Josi, 2017-18
  • New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier, 2021-22
  • New York Islanders: Anders Lee, 2018-19
  • New York Rangers: Jacob Trouba, 2022-23
  • Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk, 2022-23
  • Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Couturier, 2023-24
  • Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby, 2007-08
  • San Jose Sharks: Logan Couture, 2019-20
  • Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle, 2024-25
  • St. Louis Blues: Brayden Schenn, 2023-24
  • Tampa Bay Lightning: Victor Hedman, 2024-25
  • Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, 2024-25
  • Utah Hockey Club: Clayton Keller, 2024-25
  • Vancouver Canucks: Quinn Hughes, 2023-24
  • Vegas Golden Knights: Mark Stone, 2020-21
  • Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin, 2010-11
  • Winnipeg Jets: Adam Lowry, 2023-24

What are the duties of an NHL captain?

Nothing is defined, but they take the lead and serve as a liaison between the coaching staff and the players. They welcome new players to the team. On the ice they communicate with the ice officials. Captains tend to lead by example, although some are known for giving speeches.

Teams also generally have two alternate captains and sometimes more. Teams that have not had a captain in the past have had multiple alternate captains.

This story has been updated to change a photo.

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