NHL Power Rankings: Top 15 All-Star Game Captain Candidates

Jun 7, 2018

The announcement has been made for the 2011 All-Star game participants, and there are some surprises and some disappointments.

With all of the star power this year’s game will bring, it is time to see who will be the Captains for the pickup game that is the new All-Star format.

The NHL has put itself out on the line with the new format and the idea of the captains picking teams is a pleasant wrinkle in the same old boring All-Star festivities.

The following list is the Top 15 plays who have a shot, no matter how small, at being a team captain.

Enjoy!

Shea Weber, D, Nashville Predators

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Jeff Gross/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 05: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators is pursued by Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks in the third period at the Honda Center on January 5, 2011 in Anaheim, California. The Predators defeated the Ducks 4-1. (Photo by Jeff

Shea Weber is one of the best two-way defenders in the league and the captain of the Nashville Predators.

Weber may only be 25, but he is a born leader.

If the league wants to expose one of the best defenders it has to the general public, allowing him to captain one of the All-Star teams would be the best way.

Rick Nash, F, Columbus Blue Jackets

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Dale MacMillan/Getty Images

EDMONTON, CANADA - DECEMBER 16: Rick Nash #61 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Edmonton Oilers on December 16, 2010 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

Rick Nash is a perennial point producer in this league and helps to keep the team in Columbus afloat.

Nash leads a cast with the Blue Jackets that is ever changing, but his play and talent has been ever consistent. His leadership is a big part of the success of the team this year as well.

The Blue Jackets captain adds a lot to the team, and his leadership experience and offensive abilities would make him a good All-Star Captain.

Martin St. Louis, F Tampa Bay Lightning

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Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 23: Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates during an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 23, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Mighty Mouse is back, in a big way.

Through 41 games this season, St. Louis has 53 points and has been a hug factor in almost every game.

One of the biggest reasons for Steven Stamkos' success this year is the ability and willingness of St. Louis to help guide Stamkos.

Between threading Stamkos the puck and teaching him how to play the game the right way, Martin St. Louis would make an excellent All-Star captain.

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Dustin Byfuglien, D, Atlanta Thrashers

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Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 2: Dustin Byfuglien #33 of the Atlanta Thrashers body checks Jaroslav Spacek #6 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 2, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Thrashers defeated the Canadi

“Big Buff” is a defenseman that really breaks the mold of your prototypical defender. Byfuglien can skate well, play solid defense and can add to the offensive attack whenever the team needs it.

Since the beginning of the season, Byfuglien has played well, and the fans don’t know about it because he plays in Atlanta.

Byfuglien has helped lead Atlanta out of the hockey darkness and made them relevant. He would show a different side of the NHL and would make a good captain.

Anze Kopitar, F, Los Angeles Kings

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Harry How/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06: Kyle Clifford #13 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with Anze Kopitar #11 for a 1-0 lead over the Nashville Predators during the second period at the Staples Center on January 6, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Anze Kopitar is the real deal.

He is one of those rare forwards that can do everything well.

If the NHL wants to expose some new faces to the main stream, they should choose Kopitar as a captain.

Kopitar will bring all the offensive talent you could ever want, and he will attack with a forecheck that is just as good.

Dan Boyle, D, San José Sharks

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Mike Stobe/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 08: Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks skates against the Philadelphia Flyers on December 8, 2010 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sharks defeat the Flyers 5-4 in a shootout. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty I

Dan Boyle is the power-play machine.

For the Sharks, Boyle is the best defender and in some instances, the only defender, that can shut the other team down.

Boyle is used to playing hard and playing through adversity so being a captain for one of the All-Stars should be no sweat.

Duncan Keith, D, Chicago Blackhawks

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 30: Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks checks Benn Ferriero #78 of the San Jose Sharks at the United Center on December 30, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Sharks defeated the Blackhawks 5-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Im

Duncan Keith is one of the best defender in the NHL.

Not only did he help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup last year, but he has helped keep the ship in the right direction during a time of transition.

Keith would keep the All-Star teams in line on the bench and on the ice.

The Sedins, F, Vancouver Canucks

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Claus Andersen/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 22: Henrik Sedin #33 and Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks press for a goal against Henrik Zetterberg #40 and Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings in a game on December 22, 2010 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michi

Playing in Vancouver, the Sedins are not exposed to the mainstream fans like Crosby or Toews, but they should be.

My idea is to make the Sedins the two All-Star team captains.

Split them up and see how similarly they build their squads. It would be a very intriguing idea. One problem with that idea is that the team name is the last name of the captain.

Team Sedin vs. Team Sedin!

Zdeno Chara, D, Boston Bruins

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Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 27: Boston Bruins fans show their support for team captain Zdeno Chara #33 prior to the game against the Florida Panthers on December 27, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Bruins defeated the Panthers 3-2 in a

Zdeno Chara is a big defender who plays a big style of defense. He can shut down any player on any given day and is one of the best defenders in the NHL.

Chara’s play has been solid this year and a chance to lead an All-Star team would be an excellent opportunity.

He already leads the Bruins, so the transition to All-Star captain shouldn’t be too drastic.

Jonathan Toews, F, Chicago Blackhawks

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 05: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck against the Dallas Stars at the United Center on January 5, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Stars defeated the Blackhawks 4-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

When you lead a team to the Stanley Cup Finals, you’re good.

When you win the Cup, you’re one of the best.

Jonathan Toews has been an exceptional young leader on and off the ice, and he deserves a chance to lead an All-Star team.

If Toews leads one of the All-Star teams, it would just be another notch in his achievement belt.

Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Detroit Red Wings

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Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - DECEMBER 27: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his third period goal with his bench against the Colorado Avalanche looks on at the Pepsi Center on December 27, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Red Wings defeated the Avalanche

Nick Lidstrom could be one of the best defenders in NHL history, and even at 40, he is a top-tier defender.

Lidstrom will be a key part of the All-Star game and Detroit’s run at the playoffs this year.

The All-Star game would be that much better with a player like Lidstrom at the helm of one of the teams.

Steven Stamkos, F, Tampa Bay Lightning

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Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 23: Ruslan Fedotenko #19 and Brian Boyle #22 of the New York Rangers check Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden on December 23, 2010 in New York City.

What is there to say about Stamkos that stats don’t speak volumes to.

Through the first 43 games of the season, he has 57 points and has been a threat all over the ice.

Stamkos skillset and sheer talent should put him at the top of the All-Star captain contenders.

Eric Staal, F, Carolina Hurricanes

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Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 05: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 5, 2011 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Ima

Not only is Staal a great leader for the Carolina Hurricanes but that’s not why he deserves to be a captain for the All-Star game.

It’s at his house and the owner of the house runs the party.

The wonderful season he is having would be tastefully accented by a nod to take the helm of one of the All-Star teams.

Alexander Ovechkin, F, Washington Capitals

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Jamie Squire/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals walks off the ice after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 during the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic at Heinz Field on January 1, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo b

No, it’s not one of his better statistical seasons of his career, but the man is still the second most popular player in the NHL.

He deserves to be the second captain for the purposes of pushing the NHL.

You can almost see the cover of the programs at the Arena in Raleigh with Sid vs. Ovie face to face with all of the other All-Stars standing behind them.

Not only would he be a good captain, he would excel in a game where defense plays loose at best.