NHL Power Rankings: Top Captains for Every Team

The NHL is composed of 30 teams. Each team may designate one player as the captain, who has the "sole privilege of discussing with the referee any questions relating to interpretation of the rules which may arise during the progress of the game."

Captains are required to wear the letter "C" on their uniform to distinguish them as team captain.

Teams may choose to designate two players as alternate captains, identified with an "A" on their chest. A team may choose to have three alternate captains.

As of August 5th, the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and the San Jose Sharks have not designated a captain for the upcoming season.

The following is a list of the 24 captains in the NHL, ranked according to their ability to lead a team.

The criteria of a good captain is that he is the best player on the team to do the job and his positive intangibles outweigh his shortcomings.

24. Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks adjust his mask in the game against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period in game four of the Western Conference Quarter-final at Staples Center on April 21, 2010 in Los Ange

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

As one of the best goaltenders in the league he has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy multiple times and has been a part of multiple All-Star games.

Cons:

As a goalie he is not allowed to wear the "C" and has a more difficult time communicating with officials.

Plausible Alternatives:

Ryan Kesler (A)

Henrik Sedin (A)

Daniel Sedin

Alexander Edler

Kevin Bieska

Analysis:

Since 1948 the NHL has not allowed goaltenders to serve as team captain on the ice. This rule was instituted because teams complained that former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Bill Durnan took to long to skate away from the net to talk to officials.

Captains should be readily available to talk to players on the bench, easily accessible to both teammates and officials, and should be looked up to as either a go-to scorer, a protective fighter, or a set-up player.

Luongo unable to perform any of these tasks and, even if he has good leadership intangibles and is a good player, he should not be named captain.

23. Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets)

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UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 29: Rick Nash #61 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on December 29, 2009 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

No doubt he's the best player and biggest name on the team.

Cons:

Experts call into question if he was given the captaincy because of his ability to lead, or if he's just a good player that's signed long-term in Columbus.

Plausible Alternatives:

Jared Boll

Chris Clark

Mike Commodore

Samuel Pahlsson

R.J. Umberger (A)

Analysis:

There is no doubt that Rick Nash is the face of the franchise and an outstanding player in the NHL; however, there are many other players that are suitable alternatives for captaincy in Columbus.

Choosing Nash is a safe move, but the team needs a motivating captain that will push players to overachieve and help turn the franchise around.

22. Bryan McCabe (Florida Panthers)

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PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 21: Bryan McCabe #24 of the Florida Panthers skates against the Philadelphia Flyers on December 21, 2009 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2009-present

Pros:

A great leader who has been in the league since 1995. His ability to score from the blueline after 15 years in the NHL sets him apart from many of the greatest defensemen in the league.

Cons:

He'll probably be remembered as a Toronto Maple Leaf so, because he won't be known as the face of the franchise, the team will probably be looking for a younger leader to step into the role of captain as the youth movement goes underway.

Plausible Alternatives:

David Booth

Michael Frolik

Stephen Weiss (A)

Cory Stillman (A)

Analysis:

McCabe is not a terrible choice as captain. He's an older player who will be a good influence on the younger players on the team. However, the Panthers are going to have to figure out who's who and try to find a young player who wants to lead the team and become the face of the Panthers' franchise.

Having three alternative captains may be the best option for this year.

21. Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning)

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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the New York Islanders on February 13, 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The Isles defeated the Lightning 5-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2000, 2008-present

Pros:

After agreeing to an 11-year, $85 million deal in 2008 he became the face of the franchise. Chosen 1st overall in 1998, he is expected to be one of the best players in the league.

Cons:

Martin St. Louis is better deserving of this honor. He has outperformed Lecavalier and has been vital to the development of phenom Steven Stamkos.

Plausible Alternatives:

Martin St. Louis (A)

Matthias Ohlund (A)

Simon Gagne

Analysis:

With better support around him and a better coach next year Lecavalier should return to his 40-plus goal form of 2007, but Martin St. Louis has continued to perform despite how the team around him was doing.

The Lightning will continue to push Lecavalier as the face of the franchise, but the "C" belongs to St. Louis. He's a great leader that makes everyone around him better.

20. Craig Rivet (Buffalo Sabres)

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BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 10: Craig Rivet #52 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Dallas Stars at the HSBC Arena on March 10, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

Rivet is an experienced veteran with great leadership abilities. Everyone on the ice with him knows he'll give it all in order to protect them.

Cons:

Like Brian McCabe, he will be remembered as a vital part of another team -- in this case the Montreal Canadiens.

Plausible Alternatives:

Tim Connolly

Paul Gaustad (A)

Mike Grier

Rob Niedermayer

Derek Roy (A)

Drew Stafford

Thomas Vanek

Analysis:

Craig Rivet is a great leader and one of the most experienced players in the league, but the Sabres failed to take advantage of their #3 seed this year and failed to advance past the first round.

Additionally, Rivet will not be remembered as a Sabre. Buffalo is a homegrown team that tends to keep its players in the system for a long time. They would do themselves well to name a young player captain and have him help the players he came up with advance through the finals and win a Cup for the Buffalo faithful.

19. Dion Phaneuf (Toronto Maple Leafs)

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TORONTO - FEBRUARY 2: Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs shoots during pre-game skate before taking on the New Jersey Devils during game action on February 2, 2010 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Im

Tenure as Captain: 2010-present

Pros:

As a highly-regarded player entering his prime Phaneuf is a great choice to become the face of the Maple Leafs' franchise.

Cons:

Replacing legend Mats Sundin as captain of one of the NHL's most storied franchises will be no easy task for the 25-year-old defensemen.

Plausible Alternatives:

Francois Beachemin (A)

Tomas Kaberle (A)

Phil Kessel

Colton Orr

Luke Schenn

Analysis:

Dion Phaneuf has a difficult task ahead of him after being named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The rabid fanbase is upset of losing and the team is a big question mark heading into the season.

Experts are split over whether or not the team can win with a makeshift roster. Many of the incoming players were proven elsewhere, but, like the New York Jets in the NFL, there is no telling if they will develop good team chemistry. Phaneuf will play a big part in making everything mesh in the locker room.

18. Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)

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WASHINGTON DC, DC - APRIL 23: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals reacts after missing a scoring chance in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff

Tenure as Captain: 2010-present

Pros:

No doubt Ovechkin, as one of the best players in the league, is the face of the Capitals franchise.

Cons:

After finishing first in the Eastern Conference, the team blew a 3-1 series lead to the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens.

Plausible Alternatives:

Mike Green

Niklas Backstrom

Tomas Fleischmann

Mike Knuble (A)

Tom Poti (A)

Analysis:

Alexander Ovechkin must prove himself as a leader over the next few seasons. He is certainly "the man" in Washington and, unlike Vincent Lecavalier, he is living up to his contract.

Ovechkin is the right man to wear the "C' in Washington, but he must step up and lead his team in order for them to claim the Stanley Cup.

17. Chris Drury (New York Rangers)

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 25: Chris Drury #33 of the New York Rangers waits for the puck to drop against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 25, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

He's a productive player that has a lot of NHL experience.

Cons:

He's not a big name like Jagr, Messier, or Leetch and he has not been on the Rangers for a majority of his career.

Plausible Alternatives:

Ryan Callahan (A)

Michael Del Zotto

Brandon Dubinsky

Michal Rozsival

Analysis:

Chris Drury looks more like a placeholder than a permanent captain. He's a great veteran player, but the team will likely pass the captaincy on to a younger player like Del Zotto in the future.

16. Adam Foote (Colorado Avalanche)

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DENVER - OCTOBER 24: Adam Foote #52 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Detroit Red Wings during NHL action at the Pepsi Center on October 24, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Red Wings 3-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Im

Tenure as Captain: 2009-present

Pros:

An original Quebec Nordique who is on his second stint in Colorado. The 19-year NHL veteran has won two Stanley Cups in Colorado and knows how to win at hockey's highest level.

Cons:

The Avs' have a reputation of keeping captains for a long time. Foote is at the end of his career and the team will need a steady captain to guide a young, talented team to the Finals.

Plausible Alternatives:

Paul Stastny (A)

Melan

Matt Duchene

Scott Hannan

Ryan O'Reilly

Chris Stewart

Analysis:

Taking over as the Avalanche's second captain after that honor was bestowed on Joe Sakic from 1995-2009.

Foote has done an honorable job with the captaincy, but the Avs will probably look to pass the "C" on to a younger player in the future.

15. Eric Brewer (St. Louis Blues)

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 14: Eric Brewer #4 of the St. Louis Blues stands on the ice against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at the United Center on November 14, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blues won 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Brian Kersey/

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

The veteran defenseman got a young team to rally around him during his first year as captain as the Blues advanced to the playoffs for the first time since the lockout.

Cons:
On the wrong side of 30, Brewers' production has dropped in the last two years and eventually will have to be replaced by a younger member of the team.

Plausible Alternatives:

David Backes (A)

Brad Boyes

Erik Johnson

Andy McDonald

T.J. Oshie

Analysis:

Brewer is the right player to lead St. Louis now. The team is on the cusp of being a perennial contender and need a leader like Brewer to bring out the best in a young team.

Unless his production increases, Brewers' role will decrease and he may eventually be moved from the team. The Blues are eventually going to have to have a younger player step up and take the role of captain.

14. Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)

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NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 26; Predators fans holding signs saying 'We Believe' surround Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators as he warms up prior to a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010

Tenure as Captain: 2010-present

Pros:

First homegrown captain is a great player on the ice and will make a good leader off of it.

Cons:

Will have to deal with a new influx of young players and constant defection of veterans in the locker room until the team can get the support it needs to increase payroll.

Plausible Alternatives:

Martin Erat

David Legwand

Steve Sullivan (A)

Ryan Suter

Jordin Tootoo

Analysis:

Shea Weber is the right man to lead the Predators. He's a homegrown player that, along with Ryan Suter, makes up one of the most dominant defensive pairs in the NHL.

He's capable of scoring 20 goals from the blueline, but his team will need to rally around him if they are going to be offensively competent enough to win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.

13. Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes)

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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 06: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Islanders on February 6, 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2010-present

Pros:

Taking over as captain of the Hurricanes after Rod Brind'Amour held the honor for five years is no easy task, but if anyone can do it it's Eric Staal.

Cons:

The 'Canes return to prominence may take some time.

Plausible Alternatives:

Anton Babchuk

Erik Cole

Joe Corvo

Tim Gleason

Jussi Jokinen

Chad LaRose

Analysis:

After advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009 the team took a big step backwards last year.

A youth movement is the right move for the 'Canes, which is becoming one of the elite franchises in the NHL, and Eric Staal is the right man to lead it. Time will tell if he can repeat the success of Ron Francis and Brind'Amour during their tenures as captain.

12. Mikko Koivu (Minnesota Wild)

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL- DECEMBER 17: Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild skates during the warm up period prior to facing the Montreal Canadiens in their NHL game on December 17, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Wild defeated the Canadiens 3-

Tenure as Captain: 2009-present

Pros:

Great team player who makes everyone around him better. Outstanding two-way forward that emulates what it means to play Minnesota Wild hockey.

Cons:

Not a big scorer and usually cannot be looked to to score in the clutch.

Plausible Alternatives:

Pierre-Marc Bouchard

Andrew Brunette (A)

Brent Burns

Cal Clutterbuck

Martin Havlat (A)

Nick Schultz (A)

Analysis:

Mikko Koivu is the right man to turn the Wild franchise around.

Should he get a better supporting cast around him he will be able to be recognized as an elite playmaker in the NHL.

11. Brenden Morrow (Dallas Stars)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS - MARCH 31: Left wing Brenden Morrow #10 of the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2006-present

Pros:

Has done a great job taking over the captaincy after it was passed down by legend Mike Modano.

Cons:

Team has slumped lately after a good start in the beginning of his captaincy.

Plausible Alternatives:

Trevor Daley

Loui Eriksson

  Robidas, StephaneStephane Robidas (A)

Steve Ott (A)

Brad Richards (A)

Analysis:

While the team's recent playoff slump cannot be completely attributed to Morrow's captaincy, he does have a lot of talent around him and must step up as a locker room leader to get the most out of his teammates -- veterans and younger players alike.

Morrow is the right man to lead the Stars, having been to the playoffs three times and the Western Conference championship once while wearing the "C."

10. Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings)

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

Young player who is, along with Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar, is becoming the face of the Kings' franchise.

Cons:

Splitting the captaincy among Doughty, Kopitar, and Brown is a possible alternative.

Plausible Alternatives:

Drew Doughty

Matt Greene (A)

Jack Johnson

Anze Kopitar (A)

Rob Scuderi

Ryan Smyth

Analysis:

Many factors have contributed to the recent rejuvenation of the Kings franchise, one of which is Dustin Brown.

Brown is a great two-way player that is quickly becoming one of the most complete players in the league. As he enters his prime and the Kings become a more prominent team in the NHL, Brown will have to avoid incidents like the one he had with Jussi Jokinen in 2008.

9. Mike Richards (Philadelphia Flyers)

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PHILADELPHIA - MAY 16: Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers prepares to face off against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wachovia Center on May 16, 2010 in Philadelphia

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

Led team to playoffs last three years, going to the Stanley Cup Finals last year.

Cons:

No outstanding deficiencies.

Plausible Alternatives:

Jeff Carter

Scott Hartnell

Chris Pronger

James van Riemsdyk

Analysis:

After leading his team to the verge of it's first championship since 1975, Richards will be faced with the difficult task of helping his team avoid a Stanley Cup hangover.

8. Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins)

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - MAY 12: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the Wachovia Center on May 12, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvani

Tenure as Captain: 2006-present

Pros:

Big, physical player that will stand up for teammates around him and can be productive from the blueline.

Cons:

Team has turned around while he was wearing the "C"; however, they have yet to have a Stanley Cup birth under Chara's leadership.

Plausible Alternatives:

Patrice Bergeron (A)
David Krejci

Mark Recchi

Michael Ryder

Marc Savard

Marco Sturm

Blake Wheeler

Analysis:

By nature of being one of the most well-rounded defensemen in the league -- he can hit, fight, and score -- an having great leadership ability Chara is one of the best captains in the league.

The Bruins look like they will be a contender next year and Chara is the man to navigate them through the playoffs.

7. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)

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OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 24: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins gets set for a face off against the Ottawa Senators in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quaterfinals during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Place on April 24, 2010 in Ottawa,

Tenure as Captain: 2007-present

Pros:

As the youngest captain in NHL history he led his team to a Stanley Cup victory in 2009.

Cons:

Needs to complain less about physical play.

Plausible Alternatives:

Alex Goligoski

Evgeni Malkin (A)

Paul Martin

Brooks Orpik

Jordan Staal

Maxime Talbot

Analysis:

Crosby has done a great job leading the Penguins since being named captain in 2007. As the face of the franchise he has been a prominent scorer and a vital part of their locker room.

Being named captain of an NHL is an honor that comes with expectations, one of which is that he'll be involved in physical play and not complain about minor infractions. Crosby has matured over the years, but will have to remain composed when other players get chippy.

6. Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks)

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

CHICAGO - MAY 29: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game One of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on May 29, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2008-present

Pros:

Led a once-pitiful franchise to it's first Stanley Cup in 49 years.

Cons:

Doing it again would solidify Toews as one of the NHL's best captains, but it is going to be more difficult the second time around.

Plausible Alternatives:

Patrick Kane

Duncan Keith (A)

Brent Seabrook

Patrick Sharp (A)

Analysis:

One of the best young captains in the league, Jonathan Toews can be depended upon to score and set up the players around him.

As a young leader on a young team he is bound to wear the "C" for the Blackhawks, now one of the prominent franchises in the NHL, for years to come.

5. Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 16: Shane Doan #19 of the Phoenix Coyotes warms up before the NHL game against the Minnesota Wild at Jobing.com Arena on January 16, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2003-present

Pros:

The former Winnipeg Jet has stuck it out with the franchise. His hard work paid off last year when he led the hapless franchise to the playoffs.

Cons:

The team has yet to win a playoff series during his captaincy.

Plausible Alternatives:

Martin Hanzal

Ed Jovanovski (A)

Kurt Sauer

Keith Yandle

Analysis:

Shane Doan's loyalty to the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes franchise paid off last year when the team advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Doan and the Coyotes must build off of last year's momentum in order to keep the franchise in Phoenix. His production slipped last year and he must keep it up as much as he can in order to keep the team competitive.

4. Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators)

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OTTAWA - APRIL 10: Daniel Alfredsson #11 of the Ottawa Senators looks on prior to their NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres at Scotiabank Place on April 10, 2010 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Sabres defeated the Senators 5-2. (Photo by Phillip MacCall

Tenure as Captain: 1999-present

Pros:

Outstanding player that has established himself in Ottawa. During his tenure he has led the team to the playoffs every year except in 2008.

Cons:

The team has made it to the Stanley Cup once, but has not won it during his time as captain.

Plausible Alternatives:

Jason Spezza

Mike Fisher (A)

Chris Phillips (A)

Analysis:

One of the longest-tenured captains in the league, Alfredsson has taken a young expansion team under his wing and helped them become a perennial contender.

The one knack against him is that he has yet to hoist the Stanley Cup over his head.

3. Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils)

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 09: Jamie Langenbrunner #15 of the New Jersey Devils skates to take a faceoff against the Carolina Hurricanes on December 9, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2007-present

Pros:

Has led his team to the playoffs every year since being named captain.

Cons:

Team has been competitive every year, but the team has yet to reach the Finals under his captaincy.

Plausible Alternatives:

Jason Arnott

Patrik Elias (A)

Ilya Kovalchuk

Zach Parise (A)

Brian Rolston

Analysis:

Assigned a difficult task in leading the New Jersey Devils, a franchise that is competitive year-in and year-out, as team captain, Langenbrunner has done a great job of maintaining a standard of excellence in New Jersey.

At age 35 his production has not slowed down, as he continues to be a routine 20-goal scorer. Presumably the captaincy will be passed down to Zach Parise as Langenbrunner gets older, but for now it's in good hands.

2. Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames)

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WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames rests during a break in the game against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on March 28, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2003-present

Pros:

Team is slumping now, but had many great years under Iginla.

Cons:

Hard to find many with Iginla.

Plausible Alternatives:

Jay Bouwmeester (A)

Curtis Glencross

Olli Jokinen

David Moss

Robyn Regehr

Alex Tanguay

Analysis:

Jarome Iginla is a complete product -- he can score, set up others, hit, and fight -- and is willing to do anything to ensure that his team will succeed.

Recently the Flames have struggled, but the team has remained competitive throughout most of his captaincy. He is on the wrong side of 30 and will be missed when he leaves the organization.

1. Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)

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UNIONDALE, NY - JANUARY 12: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on during the game against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on January 12, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tenure as Captain: 2006-present

Pros:

A longtime Red Wing, Lidstrom has passed on his winning ways to younger players in the organization.

Cons:

Hard to find many with Lidstrom.

Plausible Alternatives:

Daniel Cleary

Pavel Datsyuk (A)

Kris Draper (A)

Tomas Holmstrom

Brian Rafalski

Analysis:

Taking over the captaincy of the Red Wings is no easy task, especially when the predecessor is hockey legend Steve Yzerman, but Lidstrom has dovetailed into the role beautifully.

A great leader on and off the ice, Lidstrom will retire will less years as captain than Yzerman, but will still be remembered as a Red Wing legend.