Former captains playing in the NHL
January 10, 2019 at 3:15AM
David Backes, Boston: 2011-16 captain with St. Louis, left in free agency.
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles: 2008-16 Kings captain for two Stanley Cup titles, stripped.
Ryan Callahan, Tampa Bay: 2011-14 captain with Rangers, traded, alternate captain now.
Justin Faulk, Carolina: 2017-18 co-captain, alternate captain now.
Erik Karlsson, San Jose: 2014-18 captain with Ottawa, traded.
Ilya Kovalchuk, Los Angeles: 2009-10 captain with Atlanta, traded.
Andrew Ladd, N.Y. Islanders: 2010-16 captain of Winnipeg/Atlanta, traded, alternate captain now.
Roberto Luongo, Florida: 2008-10, rare goaltender captain in Vancouver, stepped down.
Patrick Marleau, Toronto: 2004-09 captain with San Jose, stripped, alternate captain now.
Ryan McDonagh, Tampa Bay: 2014-18 captain with New York Rangers, traded.
Max Pacioretty, Vegas: 2015-18 captain with Montreal, traded.
Zach Parise, Wild: 2011-12 captain with New Jersey, left in free agency, alternate captain now.
Dion Phaneuf, Los Angeles: 2010-16 captain with Toronto, traded.
Jason Pominville, Buffalo: 2007-08 co-captain and 2011-13 captain with Buffalo, traded.
Jason Spezza, Dallas: 2013-14 captain with Ottawa, traded, alternate captain now.
Eric Staal, Wild: 2010-16 captain with Carolina, traded.
Jordan Staal, Carolina: 2017-18 co-captain, alternate captain now.
John Tavares, Toronto: 2013-18 captain with New York Islanders, left in free agency, alternate captain now.
Joe Thornton, San Jose: 2002-05 captain with Boston, traded to San Jose, 2010-14 captain with San Jose, stripped, alternate captain now.
Thomas Vanek, Detroit: 2013 co-captain with Buffalo for less than a month before traded.
Shea Weber, Montreal: 2010-16 captain with Nashville, traded to Montreal, just named captain in 2018.
about the writer
Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record.
