The captain might be the most recognized leadership position in hockey, with a ‘C’ emblazoned on his jersey.
And when the Seattle Kraken’s Jordan Eberle skated out during Tuesday’s game wearing that letter, it marked the first time since the 2010-11 season that every NHL team has named a captain.
There were four season-long vacancies in 2023-24 and six the season before, but this offseason, seven new captains were named, with some teams filling positions last held by legendary leaders.
That includes the Anaheim Ducks (Radko Gudas), Chicago Blackhawks (Nick Foligno) and Tampa Bay Lightning (Victor Hedman).
Hedman, a 2009 No. 2 overall pick and two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning, replaces Steven Stamkos, who was allowed to go to 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 went without one 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 Seattle’s expansion draft and has played more than 1,000 NHL games.
‘His experience on the ice speaks for itself, but it’s the way he treats everyone around him that leaves an indelible mark,’ Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said. ‘I’m confident 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 the franchise’s first captain. He had led the Coyotes in scoring in five of his seven seasons. Arizona didn’t have a captain in its last three seasons.
Toronto’s Auston Matthews is a first-time captain after John Tavares handed him the ‘C.’ Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin, a 2018 No. 1 overall pick, replaces Kyle Okposo, who was traded last season to Florida and retired after the Panthers won the Stanley Cup.
Who are the NHL’s team captains?
Team, captain, season named
Anaheim Ducks: Radko Gudas, 2024-25
Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand, 2023-24
Buffalo Sabres: 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 an NHL captain’s duties?
There is nothing defined, but they provide leadership and serve as a liaison between the coaching staff and players. They welcome new players to the team. On the ice, they communicate with on-ice officials. Captains tend to lead by example, though some are known for giving speeches.
Teams also generally have two alternate captains and sometimes more. Teams that didn’t have captains in the past carried multiple alternate captains.
This story was updated to change a photo.
