Captains with the longest tenure in NHL history

On opening night of the 2024-25 season, Sidney Crosby begins his 18th season as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. This is a historic achievement as few players serve as leaders for more than five seasons.

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When you look at the thousands of skaters who have played in the NHL, about five percent earn the honor of serving as captain.

Like the goals, wins and points records, a few exceptional skaters defied expectations and achieved milestones once thought impossible.

Related: NHL announces rule changes for 2024-2025 season

Ahead of next season, Crosby is one season removed from tying Steve Yzerman, the longest-serving captain in NHL history.

Here is an overview of the players who have held this honor for more than 13 years.

Shane Doan – Arizona Coyotes

Shane Doan played his entire career with the Arizona Coyotes and debuted with the Winnipeg Jets before they moved in 1996. He is the former franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 972 points and their longest-serving captain, wearing the “C” from 2003 to 2003. 2017.

Daniel Alfredsson – Ottawa Senators

Daniel Alfredsson is statistically the best player in Ottawa Senators history, with 1,108 points in 1,178 games. In addition to being the team captain from 1999 to 2013, he is one of only two Swedish-born skaters to wear the “C” in Ottawa, with Erik Karlsson the other.

Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Penguins

Mario Lemieux captained the Penguins three times for a total of thirteen seasons. Until Crosby won the Stanley Cup in 2009, his former linemate was the only captain to lead the franchise to a championship.

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Lemieux remains Pittsburgh’s leader in goals (690), assists (1,033) and points (1,723), but Crosby is approaching all three milestones.

Zdeno Chara-Boston Bruins

Zdeno Chara led the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011, ending a 39-year championship drought for the club. One of the tallest players in NHL history, he is also a former Norris Trophy winner who led the Bruins as captain from the day he signed as a free agent in 2006 until 2020.

Jonathan Toews-Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews is one of three players on this list who have captained a Stanley Cup winner three times. He led the team to title wins in 2010, 2013 and 2015, perhaps one of the greatest eras in Chicago Blackhawks history. He wore the “C” from 2008 to 2023.

Ray Bourque-Boston Bruins

One of the best defensemen to ever skate in the NHL, Ray Bourque came close to leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup, but he had to leave and win elsewhere to retire as champion. Although he is a defenseman and has been retired for more than two decades, Bourque remains the Bruins’ all-time leading scorer with 1,506 points.

Alex Ovechkin – Washington Capitals

Crosby’s great rival, Alex Ovechkin, has been captain of the Washington Capitals since 2009 and continues to chase Wayne Gretzky’s goal record of 894.

Ovechkin is a nine Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner with 1,550 points and 853 goals. He is undoubtedly the greatest Russian player of all time and will go down as the game’s best goalscorer regardless of his final tally.

Joe Sakic – Colorado Avalanche

Like Doan, Joe Sakic played his entire career with one organization, even when they moved. He remains the leading scorer (1,641 points) in Colorado Avalanche history and helped the former Quebec Nordiques win the Stanley Cup during their first season in Denver in 1996. Despite a season between stints, Sakic was captain from 1990-91 and again from 1992 until 2009.

Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins

Crosby needs no introduction as one of the game’s greatest leaders. Sid the Kid has been the face of the Penguins organization for twenty years and continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest professional hockey players ever.

Related: 7 Fascinating Statistics About Sidney Crosby’s Career

Heading into the 2024-25 season, he remains in the hunt for a fourth Stanley Cup title as he chases Lemieux’s franchise records and continues his climb to the NHL’s all-time leaderboard, where he sits in 10th place with 1,596 points.

Steve Yzerman – Detroit Red Wings

As mentioned, Yzerman maintains his record as the longest-serving captain in NHL history, wearing the “C” on his Detroit Red Wings jersey for 19 seasons.

Yzerman could have played 20 seasons if not for the 2004-05 lockout, which wiped out an entire hockey season.

Although he played his entire career with the Red Wings, he was never able to break as many of Gordie Howe’s team records. He ranks second in goals (692) and points (1,755), while claiming first in assists (1,063).

Of the ten players on this list, Alfredsson, Lemieux, Bourque, Sakic and Yzerman are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, while other names like Chara, Toews, Ovechkin and Crosby are not yet eligible. Currently, Doan is the only skater eligible for an induction.

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