Predicting who will fill the NHL's 6 captain vacancies
It's tough to gauge what goes on behind closed doors inside NHL dressing rooms. Fans and media may believe a player fits as a team's captain due to their on-ice performance and the way in which they carry themselves in interviews, but it's their teammates and coaches who best know who the real leaders are.
Here, we predict who the six captainless organizations believe is their best leader and hand the "C" to next.
Detroit Red Wings
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLast captain: Henrik Zetterberg (2012-2018)
Prediction: Dylan Larkin
This is a no-brainer.
Larkin was born in Michigan, went to the University of Michigan, and was a first-round pick by the Red Wings in 2014. The 22-year-old is the team's undisputed best player and the face of its youth movement, and has already displayed maturity beyond his years.
The Red Wings have had just three captains since 1986-87, so you can bet this decision will not be made in haste. However, there frankly aren't really any other contenders on the roster.
New York Rangers
Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyLast captain: Ryan McDonagh (2014-2018)
Prediction: Mika Zibanejad
It's possible the Rangers go another season without a captain, but there's seemingly no point in delaying the inevitable of handing the honor to Zibanejad.
The Swede took major strides this past season. He led the team in goals and assists, and also paced all forwards in penalty-kill ice time, power-play ice time, and overall minutes. He's David Quinn's go-to guy and was often applauded for his effort level.
New York has already shipped out most of its veterans, and the ones who remain - such as Chris Kreider - may not have much longer. At 26, Zibanejad is already one of the team's more senior players and seems fit to lead the new wave of Rangers.
Ottawa Senators
Andrea Cardin / National Hockey League / GettyLast captain: Erik Karlsson (2014-2018)
Prediction: Brady Tkachuk (for 2020-21 season)
Ottawa's roster has been stripped of most of its core veterans. Those who remain - Zack Smith, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mark Borowiecki, and Bobby Ryan - don't exactly scream captain material. It makes the most sense to hand the captaincy to a player who will (ideally) be with the Senators for a long time.
As the two faces of the organization's rebuild, Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot are the most probable candidates. Tkachuk is only 19 years old but appears ready to be a leader. Ottawa will likely go another season without a captain, but after one more year in the league, Tkachuk should get the opportunity to wear the "C."
Toronto Maple Leafs
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyLast captain: Dion Phaneuf (2010-2016)
Prediction: Auston Matthews
It seemed like a foregone conclusion after the 2017-18 season that Matthews would be the next captain for the Maple Leafs. However, the acquisition of John Tavares - who has five years of captain experience - and the emergence of Morgan Rielly makes the decision far less obvious.
While there seemingly isn't a wrong answer, Matthews is the franchise player and still the best candidate; the team looks to him with the game on the line, and more often than not, he delivers.
Vancouver Canucks
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLast captain: Henrik Sedin (2010-2018)
Prediction: Bo Horvat
This is a rather obvious decision. Elias Pettersson may be the face of the franchise, but Horvat is the heart and soul of the Canucks. He does everything a coach could ask for and excels at it. At 24 years old, Horvat appears to be extremely mature, both on the ice and off it.
Tenured veterans Alex Edler and Chris Tanev could be considered, but neither appear to be in the long-term plans. Meanwhile, Horvat is signed through the 2022-23 campaign.
Vegas Golden Knights
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyLast captain: N/A
Prediction: Mark Stone (for 2020-21 season)
Through two years of existence, the Golden Knights have yet to name a captain. Las Vegas resident Deryk Engelland would've been the logical choice upon inception but is now a pending unrestricted free agent. There's a case to be made for Nate Schmidt - and perhaps a few others - but none make as much sense as Stone.
Stone is a coach's dream. This perennial Selke Trophy candidate plays a complete game and makes the most of his skill set, and his teammates seem to be drawn to him. It also doesn't hurt that he signed an eight-year extension upon his arrival.
It makes sense to wait another year so Stone has a full season under his belt in his new surroundings before taking on the pressure of wearing the "C," but all signs point to him being the franchise's first captain.
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