The selection process for team captains in the National Hockey League (NHL) often varies from team to team. Interestingly, currently, three teams do not have an official captain. This article provides an inside look at the current managers of NHL teams and how they are chosen.
Looking at the Captain Selection Process
Each NHL team has a different approach and process when it comes to selecting their captain. For some, it’s about the skill of the skater; for others, it’s about their leadership skills outside of the ranks. In some rare cases, the team may decide to operate without a designated captain.
Modern Captains: From the Shortest to the Tallest
Among current captains, Buffalo Sabers defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who assumed his role on September 26, 2024, has the shortest tenure. By contrast, Sidney Crosby, a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, holds the record for longest tenure, having been captain since May 31, 2007.
Complete List of Current NHL Team Managers
Here is the complete list of captains for each NHL team as of 2024:
Anaheim Ducks: Radko Gudas
Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand
Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin
Calgary Flames: Mikael Backlund
Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Staal
Chicago Blackhawks: Nick Foligno
Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
Columbus Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner
Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn
Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin
Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid
Florida Panthers: Alexander Barkov
Los Angeles Kings: Anze Kopitar
Minnesota Wild: Jared Spurgeon
Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki
Nashville Predators: Roman Jose
New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier
New York Islanders: Anders Lee
New York Rangers: Jacob Trouba
Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk
Philadelphia Flyers: There is no captain yet
Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby
San Jose Sharks: Logan Couture
Seattle Kraken: There is no captain yet
St. Louis Blues: Brayden Schenn
Tampa Bay Lightning: Victor Hedman
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews
Utah Hockey Club: There is no captain yet
Vancouver Canucks: Quinn Hughes
Vegas Golden Knights: Mark Stone
Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin
Winnipeg Jets: Adam Lowry
Stay tuned for more details and updates on the exciting world of the NHL.
