NHL Power Rankings: Captain verify for all 32 groups

When Connor Bedard made his season debut earlier this week he not solely restored some hope to the Chicago Blackhawks season, he additionally turned the eighth participant to function a brand new full-time captain for his membership.

That’s a full quarter of the league that debuted a brand new ‘C’ bearer for the 2026-27 marketing campaign. The final time we noticed extra new full-time captains was 2010-11, when 10 gamers started a captaincy tenure. 

Captains come in several types — some are younger, some are outdated, some are superstars and a few are nonetheless extra employee bee than sniper — however one fixed all through the league is the plain status that comes from filling that function to your squad.

With that in thoughts — and with so many new designated high leaders across the NHL — we thought it prudent to make use of this week’s Power Rankings as a captain verify for all 32 squads.

1. Carolina Hurricanes (6-1-1) Jordan Staal is now so intently recognized with the Carolina franchise that you simply nearly must stretch to recollect he had a whole enormous first profession chapter in Pittsburgh, the place he received the Cup, performed in one other remaining and was traded earlier than his twenty fourth birthday. Unfortunately, we simply realized the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner might be out a month or two with a calf pressure.

2. Edmonton Oilers (5-0-1) Seventeen factors in six video games out of the gate is loopy, even for Connor McDavid. With yet one more scoring title, McDavid would transfer previous Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe on the all-time listing with seven. At that time, tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 10 would appear very doable. 

3. Vegas Golden Knights (6-2-0) When he’s not injured, Mark Stone appears to be getting higher with age. The 34-year-old stays a possession god and final 12 months he posted one of the best factors/60 minutes of his profession at 3.8. 

4. Utah Mammoth (5-2-0) Long earlier than individuals had been shedding their minds over unproven NHLers — and, in some circumstances, barely NHLers — inking huge contract extensions, Clayton Keller signed an eight-year extension with the Arizona Coyotes that carried a cap hit of simply over $7 million. Then-Coyotes GM John Chayka raised a variety of eyebrows by providing that pact, however — six-plus years into the deal — it’s protected to say betting on Keller was an amazing transfer. 

5. Colorado A-Z Eventz (4-2-1) Be sincere, you thought we had been going to speak about Nathan MacKinnon right here, proper? Gabriel Landeskog was named captain of the Avs in 2012 earlier than his twentieth birthday. At the time, he was the youngest captain in NHL historical past, till Connor McDavid bumped him by simply 20 days in 2016. Landeskog is the third-longest-serving captain within the league. 

6. Minnesota Wild (4-2-1) On a staff with some severe star energy, 37-year-old defenceman Jared Spurgeon nonetheless performs over 20 minutes an evening whereas sporting the ‘C.’

7. Boston Bruins (5-2-0) Boston performed and not using a captain final season, however named David Pastrnak its man forward of this 12 months. The 30-year-old star is in quest of his fifth consecutive 100-point season. 

8. Ottawa Senators (5-2-0) Boy, it positive looks like everyone turned the web page shortly and embraced Thomas Chabot being the captain of the Sens following the top of the Brady Tkachuk period. 

9. Winnipeg Jets (4-1-1) Adam Lowry is a 3C sporting the ‘C.’ The 33-year-old nonetheless units the tone in Winnipeg. 

10. Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2-0) Kudos to Victor Hedman for talking up about his psychological well being struggles final season, when he took a go away from the squad. The Bolts have scaled again the large man’s ice time up to now, as they attempt to preserve the longer term Hall of Famer wholesome and efficient. 

11. Anaheim Ducks (4-2-0) It feels disrespectful to name new Ducks captain Mikael Granlund a placeholder — the man’s had an superior profession — however it does look like one of many Ducks’ younger bucks might be sporting the ‘C’ within the subsequent couple of seasons. 

12. Dallas Stars (3-3-1) Jamie Benn, the fourth-longest serving captain within the NHL, is enjoying on his second consecutive low-cost, one-year deal. At 37, you surprise what number of seasons Benn — a profession Star and fifth-round decide turned scoring champ — has left in The Big D. 

13. New York Rangers (6-2-0) The Rangers actually wasted no time naming J.T. Miller captain of the squad after they repatriated him from the Vancouver Canucks lower than two years in the past. Miller is overseeing an attention-grabbing time in Broadway, because the Blueshirts attempt to get again on their toes and not using a main rebuild.

14. Washington Capitals (4-3-0) Quick, who was Washington’s captain earlier than Alex Ovechkin in 2010? Go to the entrance of the road and gather a gold star when you mentioned Chris Clark. Who succeeds Ovie after this season? Has to be Tom Wilson, proper?

15. Florida Panthers (3-2-2) You could really feel a sure method concerning the Florida Panthers, however how are you going to not really feel dangerous for the brutal damage luck Aleksander Barkov has had over the previous couple of years? Fans in every single place are being denied his two-way brilliance within the late prime of his profession. 

16. Montreal Canadiens (3-3-1) Nick Suzuki trails solely Brent Burns by way of most consecutive video games performed by an lively participant (Suzuki is at 544, whereas Burns is method up there at 1,014.). The Habs captain does all of it for his squad. 

17. Seattle Kraken (5-2-0) Jordan Eberle inked a two-year extension final spring to remain in Seattle and he — alongside together with his staff — is off to a terrific begin with six factors in seven outings. 

18. Buffalo Sabres (3-3-1) Anybody who spent even a minute within the Sabres dressing room final season may inform how a lot it meant to all of them — however particularly Rasmus Dahlin — to lastly be on a playoff-calibre staff. If the Sabres make one other large push this 12 months, you realize the 26-year-old Swede might be in the course of it. 

19. Toronto Maple Leafs (3-3-1) Toronto’s season has introduced some ups and downs, however Buds backers have to be thrilled to see Auston Matthews shifting round — and producing — like his outdated self up to now. 

20. New York Islanders (3-3-0) Bo Horvat is flourishing in his first season because the Isles captain, notching 4 objectives and 7 factors in six video games to begin the 12 months. Horvat is the one captain within the league who additionally wore the ‘C’ for one more staff, as he beforehand stuffed the function in Vancouver.

21. St. Louis Blues (3-2-1) After a pair seasons marked by commerce hypothesis, St. Louis locked it down with Robert Thomas by naming him the captain forward of this 12 months. Thomas, thoughts you, is minus-2 with simply two assists on the season. 

22. Pittsburgh Penguins (3-3-1) Sidney Crosby, already the longest-tenured captain in NHL historical past at 20 seasons, may conceivably find yourself sporting the ‘C’ in Pittsburgh for a quarter-century. Unreal. 

23. New Jesey Devils (3-3-0) Nico Hischier inked a giant low season extension to remain in Jersey. Now the staff should dwell as much as the promise of a gifted roster. 

24. Nashville Predators (2-2-2) Nashville has proven itself to be a tricky out up to now, however it positive appears like there’s going to be some turnover in Tennessee within the subsequent couple years. Could Roman Josi, the Preds captain for almost 10 years now, have a remaining chapter elsewhere it if made sense for each the participant and franchise?

25. San Jose Sharks (3-3-0) The least-surprising growth of the low season was Macklin Celebrini being named captain of the Sharks. 

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (2-3-0) With Boone Jenner leaving the group as a UFA, Columbus is and not using a captain this 12 months. If, by probability, there’s a press convention to announce a Zach Werenski extension subsequent summer season, they’ll probably simply give him the ‘C’ the identical day. 

27. Chicago Blackhawks (2-5-0) What an amazing growth for each the Hawks and NHL followers usually to see Connor Bedard returning to the lineup forward of schedule earlier this week. Let’s see if the brand new captain takes off instantly. 

28. Detroit Red Wings (1-3-2) Credit Dylan Larkin for taking his medication within the aftermath of his commerce request and having the ‘C’ faraway from his sweater. Who’s the subsequent Wings captain; Moritz Seider or the native son who simply inked a large extension to remain in Michigan, Alex DeBrincat?

29. Los Angeles Kings (0-3-2) Drew Doughty was in all probability like an unofficial co-captain to Anze Kopitar for quite a few seasons earlier than the latter hung ’em up. Unfortunately, the Kings are winless within the Doughty period. 

30. Vancouver Canucks (2-6-0) The Canucks are taking a breather whereas they rebuild and you could possibly see them going even one other 12 months with out naming a captain.

31. Philadelphia Flyers (0-5-3) You lean in your captain in powerful occasions, so Sean Couturier higher come via on and off the ice for the Flyers.

32. Calgary Flames (1-5-0) It positive looks like 37-year-old Mikael Backlund has no real interest in enjoying anyplace else and his steadying presence might be a valued entity for the Flames via a painful rebuild.