NHL Rewind: Ranking the top 5 captains in history

The NHL has had a long history of captains who have been role models for their teams. Captains are tasked with the responsibility of leading their team to greatness, and there have been many in the history of the NHL who have done just that.

Here's a list of five players who have led from the front and played an important role in the success of their teams and players.

#5. Alexander Ovechkin, Washinton Capitals

Ovi was named the captain of the Capitals in 2010 when he was 24 years old. He led the Capitals to the 2017-2018 Stanley Cup. He is the league's greatest goal-scorer since Wayne Gretzky, trailing 'The Great One' by only a few goals on the All-Time Goals Scored list.

According to CapitalsPR in 2022, the Capitals have the most points (1176) and are tied for the most wins (535) in NHL history since Ovechkin became captain.

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#4. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby lifts the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup with Owner Ron Burkle (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

In 2007, Crosby was made captain which made him the youngest at the time. The record now lies with the Oilers' Connor McDavid.

The Penguins won the Stanley Cup three times in 2008-2009, 2015-16, and 2016-17 under the leadership of Sidney Crosby. Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy for Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

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#3. George Armstrong, Toronto Maple Leafs

Hall of Famer George Armstrong played in the NHL for 21 seasons and was the team's captain for 13 seasons from 1958-69. While he was the captain, the Leafs won three straight Stanley Cups and four in six seasons. Armstrong was lauded as "the best captain, as a captain, the Leafs have ever had" by the then-owner Conn Smythe.

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#2. Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings

The Great One captained Edmonton from 1983 to 1988 before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he served as captain from 1989 to 1996. With his dazzling game style, he is credited with changing the way hockey was perceived on the US West Coast.

Under Gretzky, the Oilers won four Stanley Cups in the 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, and 1987-88 seasons. He never won the Cup again as a captain. To this day, Gretzky holds many scoring records in the NHL.

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#1. Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens

Jean Beliveau won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens ten times. He was made captain in 1961 and helped Montreal to five Stanley Cup Championships between 1961-71.

He won seven more Stanley Cups as an executive vice president of the Canadiens and is heralded as one of the greatest hockey players in the league history.