- Mikael Granlund is the 10th captain in Anaheim Ducks history, taking over from Radko Gudas
- The 34-year-old had 41 points in 58 games in his first season with Anaheim
- Read below for Granlund’s reaction, the four alternate captains and what Pat Verbeek said
The Ducks went with the veteran.
Anaheim named Mikael Granlund the 10th captain in franchise history on Tuesday, 10 days out from its season opener. The 34-year-old takes the C from Radko Gudas, who was traded to Florida in June for A.J. Greer.
Granlund is coming off a first year in Anaheim that ended with the Ducks in the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18. He put up 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 58 games, then added 10 more in 12 postseason games as Anaheim knocked out Edmonton in the first round before Vegas ended the run.
The new captain talked about what the letter means to him in the team’s announcement.
“This is an incredible honor to be the captain of the Anaheim Ducks and join the many other great captains in the organization’s history. I am grateful to (general manager) Pat (Verbeek), the coaching staff and the other players in this locker room to trust me with this responsibility.”
Four players will wear an A: Leo Carlsson, Alex Killorn, Troy Terry and Jackson LaCombe. All four had the role last season.
Carlsson is 21 and pretty clearly the long-term answer here. Giving Granlund the C first hands the kid a couple more years before the job is his.
Verbeek laid out why the choice landed on a guy who was not even an alternate a year ago.
“Mikael has been a strong leader in our locker room and with his national team over the years, and he is a natural fit with where we are as a hockey club. He personifies the professionalism, humility, mentorship and quiet intensity that will lead the various personalities of our group.”
This is not his first C. Granlund captained Finland at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February and came home with a bronze medal. Minnesota took him ninth overall in 2010, and he has 651 points in 960 NHL games across six teams since.
Take a look at Granlund on the news:
Six clubs are still running without a captain: Boston, Columbus, Detroit, Ottawa, San Jose and Vancouver. Anaheim, which opened its preseason with a Beckett Sennecke hat trick, starts the year Oct. 2 at Vegas.
