Exit interviews have concluded and the 2024 offseason is underway for the Anaheim Ducks. A major talking point around the club of late has been who will be the next captain of the team, a role that's been vacant since Ryan Getzlaf's retirement.

There have been nine captains in the 30-year history of the Anaheim Ducks. Only three of those nine have held the spot for more than two years; Paul Kariya, Scott Niedermayer, and Ryan Getzlaf. 

The 2022-23 season, the season after Getzlaf's retirement, was the first season in the history of the Anaheim Ducks that the captain position was vacant. Getzlaf's 12-year stint as the organization's captain left big shoes to fill, as he is consistently referred to by former teammates as one of the greatest leaders of the previous generation. 

A change behind the bench with the hiring of Greg Cronin and an ensuing shift in overall team culture has rendered the lack of a true leadership voice within the roster a focal point for the 2024 offseason. 

"It’s certainly something we’re exploring and we’re discussing actively, right now," Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek stated when asked about captaincy during his post-season media availability on Tuesday. "I think I have a really good handle over how the room’s working and who the voices are. We’re going through that process right now to make a decision. At some point, we will name a captain this summer."

With Verbeek giving "this summer" as a date for a captaincy announcement, it's a near-certainty that a member of the Ducks roster will be wearing a "C" on their chest when the first puck drops in the 2024-25 season.

"We don’t have a captain, we have some A’s. They rotate through. We need to have a captain," Ducks Head Coach Greg Cronin said during his own post-season interview on Tuesday. "We need to find a leadership group that can hold teammates accountable to the standards (we’ve set in place)."

"It’s not always yelling and screaming. Sometimes it’s a message of “we.” If you have an older group that’s comfortable saying that in front of the group, that takes the burden off of the coaching staff. Quite frankly, it’s more impactful. When your teammate says something to you, that’s dialogue you want on your bench, and that usually spills into the locker room," Cronin continued on about what he's looking for within the team in the leadership department.

The Candidates:

Surveying the current Ducks roster and the conversation surrounding leadership, four names stand out as candidates to most likely dawn the "C" come autumn. 

Cam Fowler

Fowler (32) is the team's longest tenured player and the Ducks King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominee, awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.

Cam Fowler, Ducks Nominee for King Clancy Memorial Trophy

He's the Ducks franchise leader in games played, goals, assists, and points among defensemen. 

"There are a lot of ups and downs that come with being a young player. I went through it, and there were people that helped me through that," Fowler said when asked about the role he takes on with so many young players on the roster. "If a mistake happens, it’s part of hockey and you work through the consistency together. I’m not an overly vocal guy. I’m there if they need me and I try and help if I see things, but at the end of the day, they have to go through the ups and downs of the season. That’s how they’re going to grow. They need to go through it and experience it themselves."

Fowler has been an alternate captain for the past four seasons and has two years remaining on his eight-year contract.

Troy Terry

Terry's been the Ducks leading scorer over the past three seasons, scoring 182 points in 221 games. 

Troy Terry's Focus Heading into the 2024 Offseason

\Taken in the fifth-round of the 2015 NHL Draft, carrying a modest 6-foot, 185 pound frame, and having not been blessed with elite speed or physical tools, Terry's had to evolve his game over time, scratch, and claw for every inch and achievement through his career. In the summer of 2023, Terry signed a seven-year, $49 million contract extension with the Ducks.

“It’s something I’ve wanted and a role I’ve wanted to be in since I was in college and now in pro hockey," Terry (26) said during his exit interview on Monday when asked about taking on a leadership role. "(I'm) trying to make sure I can be there for the young guys in the way some of the older guys like Getzy, Cam, and those guys were for me when I was coming into the league. The part of leadership I’ve always been good at is the positive reinforcement, and like my game on the ice, working on my all-around leadership ability. It’s something where I’ve read books and listened to podcasts. It’s something I’m excited about.”

Terry was an alternate captain during several games for the Ducks in 2023-24 and has six years remaining on his seven-year contract.

Mason McTavish

McTavish (21) is far and away the youngest player on this list. Over the past several seasons, the NHL is trending in a direction where teams are electing young captains. The Canadiens elected Nick Suzuki captain at age 22, Brady Tkachuk wore the "C" for the Senators at 21 years of age, Nico Hischier at 21, etc. Teams seemingly prefer captains who will hold the position beyond the foreseeable future. 

McTavish has captained (or co-captained) two team Canada squads, once at the 2021 U18 World Championships and once at the 2022 U20 World Junior Championships. Both times McTavish wore the "C," his team won a Gold Medal. 

McTavish displays a competitive fire each time laces his skates and epitomizes "high-motor."

McTavish is a player who saves his best performances for the brightest stages. Along with his two gold medals and a World Junior Championship MVP, he has won an OHL championship scoring 29 points in 19 playoff games, was a Memorial Cup finalist scoring eight points in five games, and played in the Swiss League playoffs as an 18 year old where he scored seven points in four games.

“It’s something that has to come naturally, I think," McTavish said when asked if he sees himself shifting into more of a leadership role. " It’s just (about) becoming more confident and more comfortable in the room. It’s something that has to be authentic.”

McTavish was an alternate captain for a short stint in 2023-24, has one year remaining on his entry-level contract, and his rights remain with the Ducks until after the 2028-29 season.

Radko Gudas

Gudas (33) has only been in Anaheim for a season, but his impact on and off the ice was felt immediately. 

Radko Gudas: The Perfect Partner for a Young D-Man

On the ice, he personifies "heart and soul." He plays with an emotional quality and is willing to absorb bumps and bruises to make plays. Gudas is always at the front of the line to stand up for a teammate. He makes life difficult on opponents when in corners or attempting to get to the front of the net. 

Throughout the year, Gudas was consistency paired with one of a number of young blueliners on the Ducks roster. He provided a steady and nurturing environment for partners to grow and flourish as they experienced the highs and lows of an 82-game NHL season. 

Gudas has two years remaining on his three-year contract.

Honorable Mentions

Alex Killorn: Killorn is the only player on the Ducks roster to hoist the Stanley Cup. He knows what it takes to reach hockey's ultimate goal and was signed in the summer of 2023, in part, to display to the Ducks' locker room what necessary sacrifices are needed to sustain contention.

Trevor Zegras: Zegras made tremendous strides in improving his 200-foot game in 2023-24. He battled through injuries and achieved what what asked of him from the coaching staff and front office. While he has a bubbly personality, his competitive spirit is unmatched. Teammates like Ryan Strome along with Pat Verbeek and Greg Cronin have suggested he possesses leadership qualities unbeknownst to Zegras, himself.

Player not currently on the roster: The voice Verbeek and Cronin are searching for may not be in the organization yet. It's possible the Ducks' next captain is a player who will be signed as an unrestricted free agent or acquired in a trade this offseason. 

Trevor Zegras to Represent United States at World Championships

Significant Injuries to Key Pieces Steepened the Climb for the 2023-24 Ducks