On the opening night of the 2024-25 season, Sidney Crosby will begin his 18th season as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. This is a historic achievement since few players serve as leaders for over five seasons.
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Considering the thousands of skaters who’ve played in the NHL, roughly five percent earn the honor of serving as a captain.
Like the goals, wins, and points records, a few exceptional skaters defied the odds and set milestones once deemed impossible to reach.
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Ahead of the upcoming season, Crosby is one season removed from tying Steve Yzerman, the longest-serving captain in NHL history.
Here’s a breakdown of players who had that honor for over 13 years.
Shane Doan – Arizona Coyotes
Shane Doan played his entire career with the Arizona Coyotes, debuting with the Winnipeg Jets before they relocated 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 2017.
Daniel Alfredsson – Ottawa Senators
Daniel Alfredsson is statistically the best player in the Ottawa Senators’ history, amassing 1,108 points in 1,178 games. Besides serving as the team’s captain from 1999 to 2013, he is one of just two Swedish-born skaters to wear the “C” in Ottawa, with Erik Karlsson the other.
Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Penguins
Mario Lemieux was the Penguins captain on three occasions, totaling 13 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 closing in on 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. As one of the tallest players in NHL history, he’s 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 to have been captain of a Stanley Cup winner on three occasions. He led the team to title wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015, arguably one of the greatest eras in Chicago Blackhawks history. He wore the “C” from 2008 to 2023.
Ray Bourque – Boston Bruins
As one of the top defensemen to ever…