The captaincy call in Chicago and San Jose has put youth under the NHL microscope again, but the Blackhawks and Sharks have made their answer clear: Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini are ready for the “C.” Bedard, 21, became Chicago’s 37th captain 10 days before Celebrini, 20, was named the youngest captain in Sharks history on Sept. 25.
Young captains have set the standard before
Neither club is venturing into unknown territory. The NHL’s record for the youngest captain still belongs to Connor McDavid, who was 19 years and 266 days old when Edmonton gave him the role on Oct. 5, 2016. He passed Gabriel Landeskog, who had been 19 years and 286 days old when Colorado named him captain on Sept. 4, 2012.
- McDavid remains the youngest captain in League history.
- Landeskog held that distinction before McDavid and later led the Avalanche through their championship era.
- Steve Yzerman was only 21 when Detroit made him captain, a move that preceded three Red Wings Stanley Cup titles in 1997, 1998 and 2002.
- Wayne Gretzky was 22 when he captained Edmonton into the 1983-84 season, then led the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup that spring.
Detroit executive Jim Devellano later wrote that Yzerman’s age was not an obstacle for the organization. He and coach Jacques Demers believed the club’s top player should wear the captain’s letter, and Yzerman’s tenure produced three championships.
Kevin Lowe recalled a similar feeling in Edmonton when Gretzky took over. In Lowe’s view, naming Gretzky captain was simply the obvious move, not a gamble on an inexperienced player.
Celebrini receives the Sharks sweater
San Jose marked Celebrini’s appointment after practice at Sharks Ice in San Jose, where former Sharks captain Joe Thornton presented the young center with a team jersey carrying the “C.” Thornton served as San Jose captain from 2010 through 2014.
“I know how much this guy means to everyone in this room and the whole Bay Area,” Thornton said.
Celebrini said the honor comes with a responsibility he does not intend to treat casually, while stressing that the title will not change his personality or approach.
The new Sharks captain and Bedard have each earned praise for more than their offensive ability. Both have been viewed as players whose skill, character and presence draw teammates toward them, the same kind of profile that made Yzerman and Gretzky natural choices at a young age.
Bedard takes over a familiar Chicago role
Bedard’s appointment follows a Blackhawks tradition that includes Jonathan Toews, who became captain at 20 on July 18, 2008. Comparisons between the two are unavoidable, particularly with Patrick Kane back in Chicago after signing a two-year, $16 million deal on July 23. Kane was made an alternate captain Sept. 15.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said he could not identify a better person to guide the franchise into its next era than Bedard.
Kane said teammates naturally seek Bedard out, much as they did with Toews. He described Bedard as someone players want to spend time with and talk to, calling the captaincy decision the right one.
- Bedard was selected first overall by Chicago in the 2023 NHL Draft.
- He led the Blackhawks last season with 75 points, scoring 30 goals and adding 45 assists.
- Those totals came despite Bedard missing 13 games.
- His return timetable is still unclear after left shoulder surgery following an injury suffered while training in Vancouver on July 2.
Bedard said the trust placed in him by the people around the team carries particular meaning because he values their opinions.
Coach Jeff Blashill has pointed to Bedard’s competitiveness as the defining trait behind the decision. Blashill said Bedard is more interested in winning than piling up points, accepts demanding coaching without excuses and consistently tries to make the right play for the team.
Blashill also expects Kane’s influence to matter, calling him an elite professional and saying Bedard will continue to push himself when he returns to the lineup.
Hart Trophy talk is already on the board
The captaincies arrive with major expectations. Celebrini and Bedard are both entering their first seasons wearing the “C,” and their early impact could place them in the Hart Trophy conversation by next spring.
For Chicago and San Jose, the question is no longer whether 20- and 21-year-olds are too young to lead. Their franchises have handed them the room, the letter and the responsibility that comes with it.
