2011 NHL Playoffs: Ranking the Remaining Team Captains

As teams drive deeper and deeper into the playoffs, teams get increasingly better and the little things begin to make the difference. Those little things rest of the shoulder's of the team captains to make sure they are getting done.

When a team loses two games in a row, who do they look to for inspiration? The captain. When they are down by a goal in the third who's expected to elevate his play? The captain.

So much pressure is placed on the team captain to set examples, lead by experience and play with heart. These are the guys who are looking to leave a legacy in the NHL. The captains.

These are my own opinions, and I understand you may not agree with them. Please leave your comments at the bottom but you don't have to rip my head off, everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

8. Joe Thornton

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after scoring the game winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings in game six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals to advance to the next round of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup

I almost feel bad ranking Jumbo Joe so low on this list as he really is a great player in the regular season, but when it comes to the playoffs and the time for players to step up, Joe Thornton just hasn't.

Some may argue this due to his Game 6 goal, but it takes more than one game-winner in a playoff game to establish yourself.

Thornton has played in almost 100 career playoff games—he will hit that mark during the next series against the Wings—but the man only has 17 playoff goals. Didn't Johan Franzen hit that mark in 2008's playoff season alone? (Kidding but he did have more than half of that).

He has 70 points in his playoff career, and that just doesn't scream "leadership" to me.

Not only has he not be great in the playoffs, but he has failed to lead the Sharks anywhere (I know Rob Blake had the "C" until this year), but players without the "C" are still allowed to step up and lead at anytime. It's not frowned upon I promise.

He will need to step up and show what he can do soon, or he may go down in history on the wrong end.

7. Henrik Sedin

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 26: Henrik Sedin #33 (R) of the Vancouver Canucks and goalie Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks shake hands after the Canucks defeated the Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime of Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals

This one may come as a shock and many of you may hate me for it, but I will do my best to explain my reasoning.

First of all, I am not on the team and have not witnessed these guys in the locker room. Secondly, Henrik Sedin may be one of the best captains of all time, but he has yet to prove it in the playoffs considering this is his first year.

Believe it or not, Roberto Luongo has had the captaincy the last couple of years, and that didn't exactly bode well for the Canucks, so this year they are going in a different direction. So far, so good... but barely.

Sedin has played well and was unreal in the regular season, so by the end of the playoff year, he may jump way up the list, but the rookie captain must prove himself soon.

6. Shea Weber

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ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 15: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators looks on prior to the start of Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Anaheim Ducks during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 15, 2011 in Anahe

Shea Weber may be in the bottom half of the list now, but he is definitely proving himself as a solid captain. He took the title after Jason Arnott packed up and headed out of the Music City and has not looked back since.

Weber has led the Preds to their first ever second round appearance and put up big numbers while doing it.

If the playoffs weren't so saturated with proven and solid leaders, he would be much higher on the list, but for now he sits at No. 6. I would watch for him to jump up a ton next year depending on how far the Predators go this year.

5. Alexander Ovechkin

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the New York Rangers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 20, 2011 in New Yor

The ONLY reason Alex Ovechkin sits one spot higher than Weber is solely because of his enthusiasm and absolute love for the game.

He is a superstar at heart and plays with everything he's got. Who else celebrates that much just because they scored a goal? And the guy does it 40-50 times a year.

He has yet to prove himself so far in his career, as he didn't earn the captaincy until recently. But he has mimicked Steve Yzerman in his shift to a more defensive game in an effort to increase the Capitals' chances for a cup, and I'd say Stevie Y was a pretty decent captain. 

So far, Ovechkin is on the path to legend.

4. Zdeno Chara

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MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 26: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins skates in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 26, 2011 in Montreal, Canada. (Ph

This beast of a man has been the captain of this team since 2006 and has consistently put a solid hockey team on the ice, yet no one ever calls them winning the cup. He plays well in the playoffs every year and is a solid stand-up guy as well.

He just radiates captaincy with his intimidating stature and consistent play. If he can get a Cup or two in Boston during his career, he will sure be remembered as one of Boston's greats.

Not that he isn't already, but you know what I mean.

3. Vincent Lecavalier

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PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 23: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy C

One of only three remaining captains to make it to the promised land with his team, the Stanley Cup Finals. One of only two remaining captains to actually hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.

He may not have been the captain at the time (Dave Andreychuk was during that run), but Vincent Lecavalier has been with this organization since early in its operation.

He was the cornerstone of the Lightning's franchise and the center of their rebuild. He has turned out to be everything the club could ask for, and after an impressive first round, he still has the chance to bring the Cup back to Tampa under his reign and add to his already impressive resume.

2. Mike Richards

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 22: Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers controls the puck against the Buffalo Sabres in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 22, 2011 i

I am not particularly a fan of Philadelphia, but it sure is hard to ignore what Mike Richards has done for the franchise. Since becoming the captain in 2008, they have not missed the playoffs yet, and he has led them on an incredible run last year.

He seems to always step up when it counts and always plays with heart. I mean, leading your eighth-place team to the Stanley Cup Finals including a 3-0 comeback? I'm sure he had some motivational moments on a run like that.

If he keeps up the impressive run he may over take my first pick...but probably not.

1. Nicklas Lidstrom

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 20: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings skates on the ice in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 20, 2011 in Gle

Was there really any question? The picture above pretty much sums it up, the Red Wings have not missed a playoff season since Nick Lidstrom has started with the team (they made it the year before as well). He is a seasoned vet at 40 years old, and how can you ignore his accomplishments?

First of all, he had to be the successor to Steve Yzerman, arguably one of the best captains to ever play the game, and he did so by leading the team to another Stanley Cup. This may be his last year in the NHL and his No. 5 will undoubtedly be raised to the rafters of old Joe Louis Arena.

We'll have to see if he can live up to his legendary status for one more year before he decides to hang up the skates for good.