The Anaheim Ducks have named one of their top veteran forwards captain ahead of the 2026-27 regular season.
With the NHL regular season just days away, the Anaheim Ducks have found their next on-ice leader.
The Ducks have named forward Mikael Granlund as the 10th team captain in franchise history, the team announced Tuesday.
The team's previous captain, Radko Gudas, parted ways with the Ducks in free agency and returned to the Florida Panthers on a six-year, $9 million contract ($1.5 million AAV).
"Mikael has been a strong leader in our locker room and with his national team over the years, and he is a natural fit with where we are as a hockey club," Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said in a statement. "Both our management group and coaching staff have seen how he leads by example and exemplifies how a captain carries themselves on and off the ice.
"He personifies the professionalism, humility, mentorship and quiet intensity that will lead the various personalities of our group."
Granlund joined the Ducks on July 1, 2025 on a three-year, $21 million contract as an unrestricted free agent. He's coming off a 19-goal, 41-point campaign over 58 games in his first full season with the team.
"This is an incredible honor to be the captain of the Anaheim Ducks and join the many other great captains in the organization’s history," Granlund said in the same statement. "I am grateful to Pat, the coaching staff and the other players in this locker room to trust me with this responsibility.
"We have many quality leaders already on this team and great teammates to help this entire group represent the Ducks on the ice and in our community."
The 34-year-old was drafted with the ninth-overall pick in the 2010 draft by the Minnesota Wild and has spent 14 seasons in the NHL across six teams including the San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Dallas Stars, and most recently the Ducks.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
