For the most part, every team in the NHL currently has the appropriate player rocking the ‘C’ for them, but let’s be real here… there have been some really random players that have worn the cheddar in the past.

Like, really, really random.

Look, we’re not questioning their leadership or anything but based on play/skill, they may not have deserved the honour. It obviously doesn’t come down to whether a player can score goals but with all of this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the more random players to have been named team captain in recent memory.

 

DEREK MACKENZIE, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Based on heart, sure, give it to the guy. But skill? Heck no. MacKenzie rocked the ‘C’ from 2016-18 for the Cats before getting succeeded by the far superior Aleksander Barkov. During those two seasons, he reached 10 and 11 points respectively. Those have got to be some of the worst numbers ever put up by a captain, forward or defence. He’s now out of the league.

 

KELLY BUCHBERGER

Kelly who? The first captain in Atlanta Thrashers history, Buchberger lasted just one season with the title before getting moved to the LA Kings later on in the 1999-00 season. The right winger recorded just 17 points with the franchise. He did, however, finish his tenure with 139 penalty minutes… in just 68 games. That’s a lot.

 

ETHAN MOREAU

Think of all the great Oilers captains… Wayne Gretzky… Mark Messier… Ethan Moreau? Don’t get me wrong, I liked Moreau quite a lot as a kid but this one was just a bit… random? The Huntsville, Ontario native served from the 2007-08 to 2009-10 seasons and failed to eclipse 26 points in a single campaign over that span. Ryan Smyth likely would have been given the letter had he stuck around with the Oilers during that time.

 

RAY WHITNEY

Let's be clear... Ray Whitney was a fantastic hockey player. But are the Columbus Blue Jackets the first team you think of when he comes to mind? It’s probably the Carolina Hurricanes, or Florida Panthers for that matter. Or maybe even the San Jose Sharks, who drafted him in 1991. But the Jackets? Nah… ‘The Wizard’ served as team captain for one season in Columbus (2002-03) and actually had one of his best campaigns there (76 points), but it wasn’t long before he made the move over to Carolina, where he would eventually capture his lone Stanley Cup. Again, great player, just kind of random.

 

Roberto Luongo

Yes, Bobby Lu had to crack the list. We absolutely love Luongo at BarDown but the decision to make a goalie captain was… interesting? Not that there was a problem with it, but you can only do so much leading on the ice from the crease. If any goalie was up to the task it was Bobby, but he still only lasted two seasons. If he were a forward or D though, that cheddar probably wouldn’t have come off for years. Guy is such a beauty!

So… who do you think is the most random captain in recent memory?! Let us know @BarDown!