Longest-Tenured Captains in NHL Historical past

On the opening night time of the 2024-25 season, Sidney Crosby will start his 18th season as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is a historic achievement since few gamers function leaders for over 5 seasons.

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Contemplating the 1000’s of skaters who’ve performed within the NHL, roughly 5 % earn the consideration of serving as a captain.

Just like the targets, wins, and factors data, a number of distinctive skaters defied the chances and set milestones as soon as deemed unimaginable to succeed in.

Related: NHL Announces Rule Changes for 2024-25 Season

Forward of the upcoming season, Crosby is one season faraway from tying Steve Yzerman, the longest-serving captain in NHL historical past.

This is a breakdown of gamers who had that honor for over 13 years.

Shane Doan – Arizona Coyotes

Shane Doan performed his complete profession with the Arizona Coyotes, debuting with the Winnipeg Jets earlier than they relocated in 1996. He’s the previous franchise’s all-time main scorer with 972 factors and their longest-serving captain, carrying the “C” from 2003 to 2017.

Daniel Alfredsson – Ottawa Senators

Daniel Alfredsson is statistically the perfect participant within the Ottawa Senators’ historical past, amassing 1,108 factors in 1,178 video games. Moreover serving because the group’s captain from 1999 to 2013, he’s one in every of simply two Swedish-born skaters to put on the “C” in Ottawa, with Erik Karlsson the opposite.

Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Penguins

Mario Lemieux was the Penguins captain on three events, totaling 13 seasons. Till Crosby received the Stanley Cup in 2009, his former linemate was the one captain to guide the franchise to a championship.

Forward of the 2024-25 season, Lemieux stays Pittsburgh’s chief in targets (690), assists (1,033), and factors (1,723), however Crosby is closing in on all three milestones.

Zdeno Chara – Boston Bruins

Zdeno Chara led the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011, ending a 39-year championship drought for the membership. As one of many tallest gamers in NHL historical past, he is additionally a former Norris Trophy winner who led the Bruins as captain from the day he signed as a free agent in 2006 till 2020.

Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews is one in every of three gamers on this checklist to have been captain of a Stanley Cup winner on three events. He led the group to title wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015, arguably one of many best eras in Chicago Blackhawks historical past. He wore the “C” from 2008 to 2023.

Ray Bourque – Boston Bruins

As one of many high defensemen to ever skate within the NHL, Ray Bourque got here near main the Bruins to the Stanley Cup however needed to depart and win elsewhere to retire as a champion. Despite the fact that he is a defender and has been retired for over twenty years, Bourque stays the Bruins’ all-time main scorer with 1,506 factors.

Alex Ovechkin – Washington Capitals

Crosby’s nice rival, Alex Ovechkin, has been captain of the Washington Capitals since 2009 and continues pursuing Wayne Gretzky’s purpose report of 894.

Ovechkin is a 9 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner with 1,550 factors and 853 targets. He is undoubtedly the best Russian participant of all time and can go down as the sport’s greatest purpose scorer, irrespective of his last whole.

Joe Sakic – Colorado Avalanche

Like Doan, Joe Sakic performed his complete profession with one group, even after they relocated. He stays the main scorer (1,641 factors) in Colorado Avalanche historical past, serving to the previous Quebec Nordiques win the Stanley Cup throughout their first season in Denver in 1996. Regardless of a season between stints, Sakic was captain from 1990-91 and once more from 1992 to 2009.

Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins

Crosby wants no introduction as one of many sport’s best leaders. Because the face of the Penguins group for twenty years, Sid the Child continues to cement his legacy as probably the greatest skilled hockey gamers ever.

Related: 7 Fascinating Statistics About Sidney Crosby’s Career

Heading into the 2024-25 season, he continues to chase a fourth Stanley Cup title whereas pursuing Lemieux’s franchise data and persevering with his ascent up the NHL’s all-time leaderboard, the place he sits in tenth with 1,596 factors.

Steve Yzerman – Detroit Pink Wings

As talked about, Yzerman maintains his report because the longest-serving captain in NHL historical past, carrying the “C” on his Detroit Pink Wings sweater for 19 seasons.

Yzerman may have performed for 20 seasons had it not been for the 2004-05 lockout, which worn out a whole hockey season.

Despite the fact that he performed his complete profession with the Pink Wings, he may by no means overcome so lots of Gordie Howe’s group data. He ranks second in targets (692) and factors (1,755) whereas claiming first in assists (1,063).

Out of 10 gamers on this checklist, Alfredsson, Lemieux, Bourque, Sakic, and Yzerman are within the Hockey Corridor of Fame, whereas different names like Chara, Toews, Ovechkin, and Crosby usually are not but eligible. At the moment, Doan is the one skater eligible to earn an induction.

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