This week, theScore's hockey editors are evaluating the best captains from each NHL club since the 2000-01 season. The selections are based on individual and team success, as well as popularity and the character shown by the choices during their tenures in this era. The Vegas Golden Knights aren't included because they've never named a captain.
Metropolitan Division (April 15) | Central (April 16) | Atlantic (April 17)
Anaheim Ducks
Scott Niedermayer may not have served as the Ducks' captain for as long as Ryan Getzlaf, but it's impossible to argue against the results that came with Niedermayer wearing the "C."
After winning multiple Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, Niedermayer was the piece that pushed Anaheim over the top, helping the Ducks claim the title in 2007 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy along the way. Niedermayer also posted his best individual seasons while captaining the Ducks, recording the three highest point totals of his career.
Arizona Coyotes
Shane Doan was the Coyotes' unquestioned leader and face of the franchise for much of his career. He was the team's captain for 13 of his 21 seasons while spending his entire NHL career with the organization before retiring in 2017.
The former forward is the team's all-time leader in goals, assists, points, and games played. While Arizona didn't experience much playoff success during his time as captain, Doan helped the club make three straight postseason appearances from 2010 to 2012 (the Coyotes' only three berths since 2001-02), including a run to the Western Conference Final in 2012.
Calgary Flames
If you created an NHL captain in a laboratory, they probably still wouldn't be as well suited for the role as Jarome Iginla.
The Flames' all-time leading scorer was everything you could ask for in a leader. If his team needed a big goal, the two-time "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner would find the back of the net. If a flip in momentum was required, the captain would deliver a thunderous hit. Mess with his teammates? Be prepared to eat some knuckles.
Calgary made the playoffs in each of Iginla's first five seasons donning the "C," with a run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final highlighting that stretch.
Edmonton Oilers
Some well-respected, blue-collar players have led the Oilers over the last couple of decades, including Jason Smith, Ethan Moreau, and Shawn Horcoff. However, the franchise hasn't had a leader like Connor McDavid since Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky were around.
McDavid is the new face of the NHL. He's handled some rough times in Edmonton with maturity, and his fearless work ethic was shown during McDavid's grueling knee rehab this past summer. He's the no-brainer choice.
Los Angeles Kings
While Anze Kopitar is clearly the superior player, the Kings enjoyed their best years with Dustin Brown as their captain, claiming the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.
Brown isn't a superstar, but he was the heart and soul of a mostly competitive squad as Los Angeles' captain for eight seasons. Meanwhile, the more talented Kopitar's production has been inconsistent during his nearly four campaigns wearing the "C," and the Kings have been one of the NHL's worst teams over the last two years, though that's certainly not the veteran's fault alone.
Conversely, with Brown leading the charge, the Kings made the playoffs five straight times from 2010 to 2014, including a conference-final berth in 2013 between their Stanley Cup wins.
San Jose Sharks
There was a tough competition for the Sharks' top captain, with Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, and Patrick Marleau each given the honor for four seasons in San Jose.
All three produced remarkably similar point totals during those spans, with Pavelski registering 276 points, Thornton notching 263, and Marleau collecting 283. However, Pavelski gets the edge due to his postseason results, with the team advancing as far as the conference finals twice during his tenure, including the franchise's only trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.
Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin took over as captain from Roberto Luongo (remember that fun experiment?) for the 2010-11 season, beginning his run as the greatest captain in Canucks history.
Vancouver went to the Stanley Cup Final that season in its first of back-to-back Presidents' Trophy-winning campaigns. Hank posted 498 points in 602 games as captain, and his No. 33 was appropriately retired alongside his twin brother Daniel's No. 22 this past season.
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