Not surprisingly, the five NHL teams without a captain all missed the playoffs last season.
Connor Bedard celebrated his 19th birthday earlier this week. That means the Chicago Blackhawks forward can now legally order a beer in his hometown of North Vancouver, B.C.
Of course, he is still a couple of years away from being able to do the same when he returns south of the border.
Which raises the question: is Bedard, who still too young to drink legally in the U.S., too young to wear the 'C' for the Blackhawks?
It is a question that will be asked often as the Blackhawks try to transition from a rebuilding team to a contender. While the Blackhawks finished with the second-worst record in the NHL last season, they bulked up in free agency, adding forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Ilya Mikheyev, and Patrick Maroon, defensemen T.J. Brodie and Alec Martinez and goaltender Laurent Broissoit.
Was that enough to make Chicago a playoff contender? We'll have to see. But having a captain could go a long way towards reaching that goal.
Of the five teams that went without a captain last year, all of them missed the playoffs. It's just one of the reasons why the Blackhawks — and many others — could be putting a 'C' on one of their players before the start of the season.
Here is a look at the five NHL teams currently without a captain and who could be filling the void:
Anaheim Ducks
Last captain: Ryan Getzlaf
That the Ducks went without a captain for the second straight year was not a surprise, considering the age of their roster — as well as the quality.
This is a rebuilding team that finished with the worst record in 2023 and the third-worst record last year. Don’t expect that to change next season.
In other words, there’s no need to name a captain just for the sake of it. When the time comes, you can expect Mason McTavish will get a long look. The 21-year-old, who was an alternate captain in just his second NHL season, already looks like he could be the second coming of Getzlaf.
Buffalo Sabres
Last captain: Kyle Okposo
Here’s the good news: the last two players who wore the ‘C’ in Buffalo each won a Stanley Cup. The bad news is that Jack Eichel (2018 to 2021) and Okposo (2022 to 2024) needed to be traded for it to happen. In fact, the last six Sabres captains have each failed to lead the team to a playoff spot.
Could the seventh time be the charm? That’s a decision for Lindy Ruff, who is back in Buffalo as the coach after an 11-year absence.
The question is, who will get the honors? While Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson are both ideal candidates — along with veteran Alex Tuch— 23-year-old Dylan Cozens has not only become a big voice in the dressing room but also played a role in recruiting Bowen Byram to Buffalo.
Chicago Blackhawks
Last captain: Jonathan Toews
GM Kyle Davidson said he wanted to let things “breathe for a year” out of respect for former captain Jonathan Toews before naming a successor.
That was a year ago.
And while some veterans could wear the ‘C’ — Nick Foligno was a captain in Columbus and the de facto leader in Chicago — the team might be better off waiting another year until Connor Bedard celebrates his 20th birthday before giving him the honors.
After all, that was the same age Toews was when he was named captain.
Seattle Kraken
Last captain: Mark Giordano
The Kraken haven’t had a captain since its inaugural season when Giordano wore the 'C' for just five months before getting traded to Toronto.
The feeling is that the team is keeping the letter warm for second-overall pick Matty Beniers, who was described as a “future captain” when he was drafted. But after winning the Calder Trophy in 2023, Beniers experienced a sophomore slump last season, so don’t expect the team to put any more pressure on him.
If so, Brandon Montour, who is fresh off winning a Stanley Cup and just signed a four-year contract, could be a viable stop-gap while Beniers continues to develop.
Utah Hockey Club
Last captain in Arizona: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Arizona has gone three years since Ekman-Larsson was captain. With the roster transferring to Utah, now might be the best time to unveil a new captain.
If so, Clayton Keller seems like an obvious choice. For one, he has paid his dues as the longest-serving member of the Coyotes-turned-Utah group. Secondly, he's their best player, having led the Coyotes in scoring in each of the past three seasons. Plus, he's under contract for another four years.
However, if Utah wants someone with more playoff — or even championship — pedigree, then newly acquired defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who captured back-to-back Stanley Cups in Tampa Bay, could be an option. Or maybe Chandler Stephenson, who won a Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023.
Who do you think should captain each of these teams? Let us know at The Hockey News' forum or by commenting below.