NHL Power Rankings: Alexander Ovechkin and the Top 12 Captains in the NHL
The NHL is the one league that has actual captains. You know, ones that physically wear the patented "C" on their jersey. Throughout NHL history, these men have been a multitude of different players. Some have been defensemen, others forwards and even goalies as we've seen with Roberto Luongo.
The captain doesn't always have to be the best player on the team. It's rather the one who displays the most heart and is most instrumental to his team's success. Captains like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin are some of the best players in the world.
One thing is obvious and makes the captain the most distinguished player. The fact that the captain is the first to touch, raise and hence kiss the Stanley Cup after his team wins is special.
The captain represents something more in the NHL than any other sport. It's an honor and privilege to follow in long lineage of other team leaders.
Here are 12 of the best team leaders in the NHL today.
12. Phoenix Coyotes: Shane Doan
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Shane Doan has been an exceptional leader and has helped the Coyotes turn the corner. He's a consistent scorer and has the Coyotes playing a good team game.
The no-name Coyotes are again near the top of the West and have been a pleasant surprise. For Commissioner Gary Bettman's NHL, they are the model.
Phoenix is indeed a small-market American team that is succeeding. See what happens when you put a "basketball man" in charge of the NBA.
This 14-year vet is a great captain and is looking to take Phoenix back to the playoffs this season.
11. Tampa Bay Lightning: Vincent Lacavalier
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Vincent Lacavalier was getting comparisons to Wayne Gretzky at the beginning of his career. While he's no Great One, he's had a solid career as captain in Tampa Bay.
Lacavalier is a great team leader and already has a Stanley Cup. Now, his Tampa Bay Lightning are near the top of the East again and Lecavalier is a reason for that, although he's been injured.
Lecavalier's combination of stick-work, power and play-making abilities make him the "total package."
Additionally, Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis are leading the way offensively. The Lightning were smart to keep this team intact and not sell some of their high-priced talent.
10. Colorado Avalanche: Adam Foote
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Colorado's Adam Foote is a tough leader. Nearing age 40, it's remarkable that he's still playing at such a high level. He's been with the organization for a better part of his career, even from the Quebec Nordiques days.
Foote is a leader who always puts his body on the line for the betterment of the team. He always has a lot of blocks and hits to boot. Don't forget, too, that he's a defenseman.
While in his prime, Foote was probably the best defensive defenseman in the league. His offensive stats don't do justice for what he means to the Avs' organization.
Foote's followed nicely in Joe Sakic's footsteps and has built up a great continuum in Colorado.
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9. Dallas Stars: Brendan Morrow
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Of all NHL leaders, Brendan Morrow may be the most self-sacrificial. Morrow is always ready, willing and able to take the body and lay his own out on the line.
Morrow has evolved into a great all-around team leader and has the Dallas Stars atop their division. Morrow does it all as captain and was the perfect man to succeed longtime captain Mike Modano.
Morrow was a very important part to Team Canada, which won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2010.
He lays out big hits on a nightly basis and is the example for new, young captains to follow.
8. Anaheim Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf
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Ryan Getzlaf is very similar to Philadelphia's Mike Richards. Both of them are young leaders looking for a Stanley Cup. But even more than that, they're two of the best players in the league.
Getzlaf was drafted the same year as Richards, just five picks earlier at No. 19 overall.
At 25, Getzlaf has a lot to learn still but has the Ducks playing well and on the verge of the playoffs. He learned from Scott Niedermayer, and it was very beneficial to him.
Niedermeyer was one of the best team leaders the NHL has ever seen. So to say that he was a prime example is a major understatement.
7. Vancouver Canucks: Henrik Sedin
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The Sedin brothers are a deadly duo. They lead one of the deepest teams in the NHL right now. The Vancouver Canucks have a plethora of scorers and Roberto Luongo in net.
Henrik Sedin is the passer and Daniel is the scorer. Henrik was league MVP last season by finishing with 112 points.
Both brothers are equally skillful and have the Canucks flying high. They lead the NHL with 64 points and could be the No. 1 seed out West come playoff time.
6. Calgary Flames: Jarome Iginla
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Who wouldn't want to have Jarome Iginla as their captain? And to think that the Flames are out of it and could be shopping their long-time leader.
Iginla is what all captains ought to be. He scores, passes, fights and most importantly, leads.
The Flames have been on the cusp of the Stanley Cup, only to see their dreams fall short. In 2004, they lost Game 7 to Tampa Bay.
Through the Flames' ups and downs, Iginla has remained the sole constant. He's an elite player in this league, and many teams will look to add him at the trade deadline, though he's a major cap hit.
5. Washington Capitals: Alexander Ovechkin
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Alexander Ovechkin has had a "down" year by his standards. He has just 15 goals this season as the Capitals are tied for the Southeast Division lead.
Like him or not, Ovie has presented us with so many highlight-reel plays over the past few years. To think that he's only in his mid-20s and has a lot of time ahead of him is scary.
Ovechkin is the most dynamic player in the game and is very exciting. When he's on the ice, all eyes are on the Great No. 8.
When he's at the top of his game, there's no one better. He does it all on the ice to help the Capitals.
4. Philadelphia Flyers: Mike Richards
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This is my article on Mike Richards that I wrote back in December. It justly explains Richards as captain.
Mike Richards is the "ultimate" team captain for the Philadelphia Flyers. It was almost as if then-GM Bobby Clarke created Richards in his own image when he drafted him in 2003.
There were 23 other players that went before him, including teammates Jeff Carter and Nikolai Zherdev (drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets )on that summer day. Though this was a talented player pool, Richards has become a key player of this class despite his being drafted 24th.
The Flyers knew that Richards was their guy from the jump. Not long after the draft, many concluded that Richards could and would eventually be captain of the team. This Flyer was a natural leader and his skills have been on display in Philadelphia for the past five years.
His growth and development was a bit of a lengthy process but now Richards is among the elite. The first two years were a work in progress, but ever since, he's really come along nicely.
He's one of the most underrated players in the NHL in my opinion. Richards may not always get the recognition but lets his game speak.
From what we in Philadelphia have seen here, there's no denying that he belongs in the upper echelon of NHL talent. His talents and leadership role have been tested but he's been able to grow stronger because of these challenges.
Richards' leadership particularly came to the forefront in last year's playoffs as he led the Flyers to improbable heights.
You know the adage "that one won't show up in tomorrow's box score." That describes Captain Richards to a tee. The Flyer captain consistently does things that help his team succeed yet never appear in any recap or box score the next day.
That's what a captain does, more exclusively though, that's what Mike Richards does on a nightly basis.
Whether he's delivering the big check, drawing the penalty or making the other team hesitate, Richards always seems to make the difference for the Flyers.
Trust me, you never want to get caught over the middle of the ice with your head down with Richards on the ice.
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews
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Jonathan Toews is only 22 and has a Stanley Cup. Toews will continue to just get better. He's a lot different than other young captains but is among the best of them all.
Along with Patrick Kane and Co., Toews will look to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to even more success. Toews is a natural-born leader and deserves all the accolades that accompany him.
Even though the Blackhawks have had their share of injuries, Toews has kept the defending champions in the race. They currently sit in sixth in the West and are looking to make their move to the very top.
To be able to captain an Original Six team at the ripe age of 21 is impressive enough.
2. Detroit Red Wings: Niklas Lidstrom
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Niklas Lidstrom might be the best leader in all of sports. Even at age 40, Lidstrom is still an amazing all-around player. He's almost not mortal. Lidstrom is clearly one of the best NHL players of this era and possibly ever.
He's been nominated a stunning nine times in 11 seasons. To put it bluntly, the terms "Lidstrom" and "Norris Trophy" are perfect together.
Now, Lidstrom is on pace for an amazing seventh Norris Trophy. Not to mention that he's won four Cups in Detroit.
Lidstrom had huge shoes to fill in succeeding the great Steve Yzerman, but he's done so admirably. They haven't missed a beat since the European took the reins as captain.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby
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Sidney Crosby tops any NHL list nowadays. Love him, hate him, you can't deny him. He's the best player in the game and is a gifted leader. The game just seems to come easy to him.
As a Philadelphia fan, I, along with many others, despise Crosby. But it's hard to argue that he's truly one-of-a-kind, even though we claim that "Crosby Sucks."
At just 23 years old, "Sid the Kid" has a Stanley Cup as well as many other accolades. He hasn't even hit his prime yet, nor have many other of his Penguins teammates.
Crosby is in a class of his own and could go down as the greatest player ever to play in the NHL. It absolutely pains me to say that sentence above, but it's pretty accurate.
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