Ten NHL teams enter the 2026 offseason without a captain following trades and free agency departures this past season.
Young Cores Take the Helm in Rebuilds
Anaheim lists two internal options after losing its prior leader. Leo Carlsson and Jackson LaCombe both logged over 70 games in the prior campaign. Their combined point totals exceeded 90.
Chicago’s vacancy places the franchise future squarely on one player. Connor Bedard recorded 100 points across 82 games. The Blackhawks have posted zero playoff appearances since 2020.
San Jose follows the same path. Macklin Celebrini posted 60 points in his rookie season. The Sharks finished last in the Pacific Division with 52 points.
Columbus balances experience and youth. Zach Werenski led the blue line with 70 points while Adam Fantilli added 50 as a sophomore. The Blue Jackets missed the postseason for the sixth straight year.
Ottawa spreads leadership across three candidates. Thomas Chabot, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson combined for 180 points. The Senators reached the playoffs once in the last eight seasons.
Veterans Anchor Contenders
Boston weighs two established stars. David Pastrnak scored 40 goals while Charlie McAvoy averaged 25 minutes per game. The Bruins missed the playoffs by four points in 2025-26.
Los Angeles turns to its longest-tenured player. Drew Doughty has skated 1,200 NHL games. The Kings reached the second round in each of the last two postseasons.
St. Louis faces a similar choice. Robert Thomas posted 80 points and Colton Parayko logged 22 minutes nightly. The Blues have one playoff series win since 2022.
Islanders and Canucks Chart Distinct Paths
The Islanders name Matthew Schaefer as the frontrunner. Schaefer collected 45 points from the blue line in his first full season. New York finished 14th in the Eastern Conference.
Vancouver alone carries forward with no designated leader and no listed successor. The Canucks finished with 98 points yet lost in the first round. Their vacancy remains the only one without an internal frontrunner.
Forward-Looking Implications
These ten vacancies concentrate decision-making power in players averaging 24 years of age. Five teams already feature first-overall picks among the candidates. The remaining five lean on players with at least 500 career games.
By the 2027 trade deadline, three of the ten new captains will reach the playoffs.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.