Toronto Maple Leafs: Re-Evaluating the NHL’s Choice of Captains
Carolina Hurricanes
Actual Captain: Jordan Staal
Right Captain: Sebastian Aho
Sometimes your best player just needs to be your captain, and that’s exactly where Aho fits in. Staal has Stanley Cup experience but if he ever wants to win another Cup, he’ll have to do it riding Aho’s coattails.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Actual Captain: Nick Foligno
Right Captain: Pierre-Luc Dubois
Hockey is Foligno’s blood as his father and brother are current/former NHLers. However, Foligno’s captaincy came at a time when the Blue Jackets weren’t expected to be a playoff team every year and before they drafted a few young studs. With a solid young core, Dubois has become the franchise’s best player and a leader that makes him deserving of being the captain.
Philadelphia Flyers
Actual Captain: Claude Giroux
Right Captain: Claude Giroux
Since 2007, Giroux has been through the highs and lows in Philadelphia. As a quiet leader, Giroux lets his play do the talking and James van Riemsdyk explained it perfectly in an article with The Philadelphia Inquiry in December, 2019.
"“It’s hard to pinpoint one specific thing, but you can tell there are certain people that when you’re down by a goal or whatever it might be, he wants the puck on his stick, and he wants to be the guy to make the play. That’s the way that he leads. He wants to go out there and show it in those big moments.”"
Pittsburgh Penguins
Actual Captain: Sidney Crosby
Right Captain: Sidney Crosby
There aren’t enough words to describe how good Crosby is and how much of a leader he has been for Pittsburgh and Team Canada. Stanley Cups or Olympic Gold Medals, Crosby always delivers as the leader of every team he’s ever played for.
New York Islanders
Actual Captain: Anders Lee
Right Captain: Anders Lee
After John Tavares left, the Islanders had huge leadership void in the dressing room. But according to Barry Trotz, Lee was a no-brainer for that role, so I’ll trust that decision.
"“When I first got the opportunity to coach the Islanders, we talked to every player. It was clear as day to me that Anders would be the fifteenth captain of the Islanders.”"
New York Rangers
Actual Captain: Vacant
Right Captain: Chris Kreider
Being named the captain of the New York Rangers is a special ordeal. After signing a seven-year extension, Kreider’s on pace to be a Ranger for life and is deserving of that honor. According to a few Rangers, Kreider has been a great mentor to the young players on the team which is a perfect example of a deserving captain.
New Jersey Devils
Actual Captain: Vacant
Right Captain: Jack Hughes
It’s been a tough season for a New Jersey Devils team that many picked to make the playoffs. First overall pick Hughes, was looked at to be a difference maker in his rookie season but that hasn’t happened yet. There is still a ton of potential for Hughes though and if the team will ever get back to a Stanley Cup Finals, they’ll have to do with Hughes’ leadership.
Washington Capitals
Actual Captain: Alex Ovechkin
Right Captain: Alex Ovechkin
I can’t imagine another player lifting the Cup first on Washington besides Ovechkin. He leads by example in every category and will the Captials captain until he retires.