*Note: Stats courtesy of Frozen Tools

This week, we will be doing things a bit differently and having some fun with the Top 10. Conveniently, there are exactly ten vacant captaincies across the NHL, and we will be predicting who will fill those openings and ranking them based on their fantasy value for next season. Let's take a look at the Top 10 Future NHL Captains.

10. Filip Hronek, D, Vancouver Canucks

After the departure of captain Quinn Hughes last season, the Canucks organization is heading into a rebuild. It was once thought that Elias Pettersson would take them into a new era, but after the last few seasons he's had, both on and off the ice, he no longer seems like a logical captain choice. Instead, Filip Hronek, who is still only 28 years old, could make a lot of sense for Vancouver. He currently wears a letter and is under contract until 2032. Unlike players like Pettersson and Brock Boeser, Hronek hasn't consistently found himself in trade rumors. On the ice, he quietly puts up solid assist numbers year over year, making him a great addition in the later fantasy rounds.

9. Bo Horvat, C, New York Islanders

The Islanders could go several ways with their captaincy choice. If they wait a few years, Matthew Schaefer is destined to wear the letter for the team; meanwhile, their longest tenured player, Matthew Barzal, has never worn a letter. However, Bo Horvat is an assistant captain, despite coming over from Vancouver only a couple of seasons ago. He was the captain of the Canucks from a young age and is a natural leader who could take the Islanders into a retool. At 31, Horvat still finds the back of the net consistently as well as maintaining high shot volumes. He is an underrated fantasy option for managers looking to add some scoring punch to their lineup next season.

8. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins

The Bruins have entered a new era following the departures of players like Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Brad Marchand. The team now belongs to Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak, one of whom will become the franchise’s next captain. Both have been with the organization for about a decade, while Pastrnak has one more year under contract remaining than McAvoy. It's honestly a coin toss between the two players on who will be the team’s next captain; there's no wrong answer for Boston. Charlie McAvoy is a top 10-15 defenseman in the NHL, and while his offensive numbers haven't always been amongst the elite, he did manage 61 points in only 69 games in 2025-26.

7. Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues

Robert Thomas is the clear choice to be the next captain of the Blues. The team is heading into a transitional period, and while there are still some veterans on the backend, Thomas has become the face of this team and its leadership group. He is an elite playmaker, recording back-to-back 60-assist seasons before dealing with some injuries last season. The Blues acquired some new talent to help insulate him offensively, and it seems as though he's found some chemistry with Holloway and Snuggerud on the top line. He may slip a bit in fantasy drafts after a bit of a setback last season, but should be a target for managers in the middle rounds. Thomas is entering his prime and is capable of hitting the 90-point plateau.

6. Jackson Lacombe, D, Anaheim Ducks

After signing a deal worth 72 million dollars, Jackson Lacombe will be with the Anaheim Ducks for the foreseeable future. On a young team, the 25-year-old has become a stable presence on the backend. With very few long-tenured veterans on the squad, Lacombe makes sense as the next captain. The captaincy will ultimately come down to him and Leo Carlsson, who was briefly the highest-paid player in league history before Macklin Celebrini signed his new deal. However, Anaheim may not want to give Carlsson the "C" after he signed an offer sheet that they were forced to match. Lacombe isn't an elite offensive defenseman, but he still puts up impressive numbers to go along with his stellar defensive play, recording 58 points last season. He may go a bit higher than he should in many drafts, but if he falls to the middle rounds, he is a great selection.

5. Adrian Kempe, LW, Los Angeles Kings

After the retirement of Anze Kopitar, the Los Angeles Kings are in need of a new captain. If not for his age, Drew Doughty would be the obvious choice, having been with the team for the better part of two decades. They may very well decide to give him his chance as the team’s captain until he retires; however, he only has a year left on his deal. As a result,  Adrian Kempe seems the more likely choice as he's signed with the team until 2034. Kempe has become the team’s best player and, along with Artemi Panarin, will be leading the Kings offense next season. Could he also wear the "C"?

4. Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators

American blueliner Jake Sanderson has quickly blossomed into a premier two-way defenseman in the game and has changed the Senators defense core in the process. He currently dons the "A" for Ottawa alongside Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle. All three are strong candidates to become the team’s next captain, but Sanderson should have an edge as Chabot's contract is up at the end of next season and he's signed until 2032. Much like Jackson Lacombe, Sanderson isn't known as an offensive dynamo like a Makar or a Hughes, but he still can put up 60+ points while being a stud defensively. If not for injuries last season, he would have likely been closer to 70 on the campaign. Expect his numbers to take a jump next season and draft accordingly.

3. Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks

The only thing holding Connor Bedard back from being one of the faces of the league has been injuries. Yet another shoulder injury is set to force him to miss the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign. When healthy, he has shown that he can be a dominant force, despite the lack of run support he's had throughout his young career. Regardless of his on-ice performance, Chicago just gave him a monster extension, and he is the obvious option to wear the "C" moving forward after already receiving the assistant captaincy at a young age. Managers may be able to get Bedard later than usual in most drafts due to his health status to begin the season.

2. Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets

Despite his future in Columbus seeming uncertain heading into the offseason, it appears as though Werenski will remain a Blue Jacket into training camp. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2027-28 season; however, if the team can lock him up long-term, he is the logical choice to fill the vacant captaincy. Adam Fantilli is also an option as he is the future of the team’s forward group. But Werenski has been with the team since 2016 and has established himself as a top defenceman in the league, right behind Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes.

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

No surprise here. At only 20 years old, Macklin Celebrini is already the face of the San Jose Sharks franchise and arguably the league as a whole after being named the EA Sports NHL 27 cover athlete. He cemented himself as one of the NHL's premier players in his 115-point sophomore campaign. Not to mention he was dominant on the world stage for Canada at both the Olympics and the World Championships. He would captain the men’s national team at the latter tournament, demonstrating his leadership capabilities at a young age. After becoming the highest-paid player in the league this offseason, it's only a matter of time until the Sharks make him their next captain.

*For more hockey and fantasy coverage, follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @Cdesjardins67