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NHL Captain Trivia (Longest Tenures, Youngest Captains)

January 28, 2026

Longest Tenures

Q: Which player holds the record for longest-serving captain of a single NHL team?

A: Steve Yzerman with the Detroit Red Wings.

Q: How many seasons did Steve Yzerman serve as captain of the Detroit Red Wings?

A: 19 seasons from 1986 to 2006.

Q: Which Boston Bruins defenseman served as captain from 2006 to 2021?

A: Zdeno Chára.

Q: Which long-time San Jose Sharks forward served as captain multiple times, wearing number 19?

A: Joe Thornton.

Q: Which Arizona Coyotes captain was known for his leadership and community work, wearing number 19?

A: Shane Doan.

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Youngest Captains

Q: Which Pittsburgh Penguins center became one of the youngest captains in NHL history at age 19?

A: Sidney Crosby in 2007.

Q: Which Colorado Avalanche star was named captain at age 19, becoming the youngest full-time captain at the time?

A: Gabriel Landeskog in 2012.

Q: Which Edmonton Oilers captain succeeded Andrew Ference and wore number 97?

A: Connor McDavid, named captain at age 19 in 2016.

Championship Captains

Q: Who was captain of the Chicago Blackhawks during their three Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013 and 2015?

A: Jonathan Toews.

Q: Which Swedish defenseman captained the Detroit Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup?

A: Nicklas Lidström.

Q: Who captained the Washington Capitals when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018?

A: Alex Ovechkin.

Q: Which Hall of Fame center captained the Colorado Avalanche to Cups in 1996 and 2001?

A: Joe Sakic.

Q: Which New York Rangers forward famously guaranteed a Game 6 win in 1994 as captain and delivered a hat trick?

A: Mark Messier.

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Q: Which Tampa Bay Lightning center captained the team to back-to-back Cups in 2020 and 2021?

A: Steven Stamkos.

Q: Which New Jersey Devils defenseman captained the team to three Stanley Cups in 1995, 2000 and 2003?

A: Scott Stevens.

Q: Which Montreal Canadiens captain lifted the Cup in 1993, the last Canadian team to win it?

A: Guy Carbonneau (though others wore the C that year, he was a key leader).

Q: Which Carolina Hurricanes captain hoisted the Cup in 2006 and later became their head coach?

A: Rod Brind'Amour.

Q: Which Anaheim Ducks captain lifted the Cup in 2007 and wore number 15?

A: Scott Niedermayer (Ryan Getzlaf became captain later).

Q: Which Los Angeles Kings captain led the team to Cups in 2012 and 2014, wearing number 11?

A: Anze Kopitar (though Dustin Brown was captain, both were leaders).

Q: Which New York Islanders captain led the team to four straight Stanley Cups in the early 1980s?

A: Denis Potvin.

Current and Recent Captains

Q: Which Toronto Maple Leafs center was named captain in 2019 after previously captaining the New York Islanders?

A: John Tavares.

Q: Which Vancouver Canucks twin forward served as captain from 2010 to 2018?

A: Henrik Sedin.

Q: Which Ottawa Senators captain wore number 11 and is considered the franchise's greatest player?

A: Daniel Alfredsson.

Q: Which Calgary Flames captain wore number 12 and was known for his power-forward style?

A: Jarome Iginla.

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Q: Which Winnipeg Jets captain is known for being a physical power forward and vocal leader, wearing number 26?

A: Blake Wheeler.

Q: Which Seattle Kraken veteran defenseman was named the franchise's first captain?

A: Mark Giordano.

Historic Captains

Q: Who was the first European-born captain to win the Stanley Cup?

A: Nicklas Lidström with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.

Q: Which Philadelphia Flyers captain was known as "The Legion of Doom" line's center?

A: Eric Lindros.

Why Captaincy Matters

The C on a jersey signifies trust. Teams choose captains who embody franchise values, command locker room respect, and handle media pressure. Great captains elevate teammates, hold everyone accountable, and deliver in crucial moments. The best captains are remembered as much for leadership as for statistics.

The Youngest vs. Longest Debate

Sidney Crosby becoming captain at 19 sparked debate about whether teenagers can lead grown men. He proved doubters wrong by winning three Cups. Meanwhile, Yzerman's 19-year tenure showed the value of stability and continuity. Both approaches work when the right player wears the C.

Captaincy and Hall of Fame

Most Hall of Famers served as captains. The role correlates strongly with elite performance because teams choose their best players for the honor. Understanding captain history means knowing which players defined their franchises beyond just on-ice contributions.

Play Gridzy Hockey Free Every Day

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