Who's Next in Line for the "C" in Minnesota?

Since the 2009-10 season, the Minnesota Wild has awarded the coveted "C" to only two players... Mikko Koivu and Jared Spurgeon. Both of these gentlemen epitomize what the franchise truly desires in a team captain: leadership, communication, effective play, and promotion of team unity. The selection of players by the organization to serve in this role is not something the Wild seems to take lightly, and the trend for the franchise appears to lean toward picking a captain who can fill the role for multiple campaigns.

With the season-ending injury to Jared Spurgeon last year and now seeing him currently out with what appears to be related to his past injury, could a different player be filling this role for the Wild sooner rather than later? Don't get me wrong... I (along with most fans) would prefer several more seasons of Spurgeon's leadership service, but can his body hold up to the rigors of the NHL long-term?

Removing both Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustavsson from the list right off the top (goalies cannot serve as an official team captain), I have divided the remaining current roster into "tiers," each reflecting my thoughts on the possibility of being elevated to the coveted captainship and a take on their current "status" for consideration.

Not Happening...

Declan Chisholm... Although picking him up off waivers last season and plugging him into the lineup was a great move, Chisholm hasn't even played 50 career games at the time of this writing.

Frederick Gaudreau... Freddy's play last season pretty much eliminated any chance of him getting any sort of letter on his jersey... ever... with anyone in organized hockey... on any planet...

Daemon Hunt... At 22, Hunt sits on the edge of being a full-time NHL player... so no letter here.

Marcus Johansson... Johansson has been a bit of a journeyman since leaving the Capitals after the 2016-17 season, so he does not have the career stability needed to be considered... plus, he is 34 and has a career +/- of -64.

Marat Khusnutdinov... The sample size on Marat is too small to warrant any sort of consideration, but you have to feel there may be some exciting times ahead for him in Minnesota.

Jakub Lauko... As much as I liked the Lauko for Vinni Lettieri trade, Jakub isn't going to serve in a team leadership role.

Jon Merrill... Johnny Stache seems to be a good guy, but there is nothing that stands out about him that makes him captain material. He is a couple of free-agent signings from being off the ice entirely.

Liam Öhgren... Liam has an enormous upside, but he is an unproven 20-year-old right now.

Yakov Trenin... Trenin is a solid NHL player, one that a franchise loves to have, but not the type you make a captain.

Probably Not...

Zach Bogosian... Bogosian has an intruiging hockey resume. He is one of the last two remaining Atlanta Thrashers to be playing in the NHL, and he won a Stanley Cup after being traded to Tampa Bay in 2020. Zach has a shot to play 1,000 games and has been a solid addition to Minnesota since he was traded there near the beginning of the 2023-24 season. He is 34, so probably not.

Ryan Hartman... Although fun to watch and always a threat to do something tremendous, Hartman is too much of a loose cannon. His play is peppered with bone-headedness to gain more than slight consideration, but it is interesting to think about what the world might be like if he was given the "C."

Jake Middleton... By all accounts, the Wild players seem to truly enjoy Middleton, but I get the feeling he is way too goofy to be captain material. He loves playing in Minnesota, but that just isn't enough for any real consideration.

Perhaps...

Jonas Brodin... I always felt Brodin got the shaft when Dumba got the "A" instead of him in 2021. He is currently the second longest-tenured member of the Wild and has played his entire career in the green and red. Initially taking the ice for Minnesota in 2013 at 19, his longevity for the Wild makes one think he is older than he is, as he is only 31. The biggest detraction to Jonas is his durability. He has only played more than 80 games once in his career. Be that as it may, Brodin is a lockdown defenseman with a bit of an edge. What's not to like?

Brock Faber... Faber would probably be a significant stretch to be a finalist, as he is only 22, but the Wild signed him to a massive contract extension that begins next season and will run for two years short of a decade. His conduct on the ice reminds me of Spurgeon, but Faber has a more significant ceiling as a player. He is a native Minnesotan and looks to be with the Wild for the long haul while quickly turning into the defensive anchor for the club. If Spurgeon were to overcome his injuries and play a few more seasons, this would provide Faber with his most realistic path to the captainship.

Marcus Foligno... Yes, Foligno currently has an "A" on his jersey, but I just don't foresee it going any further than this... He is a competitive guy with a charisma that resonates with the other Wild players, but Foligno has been injury-prone. He does have an NMC through the 2025-26 season, so he will be around for a bit, sporting that "A."

Marco Rossi... With all the trade speculation surrounding Rossi and the fact that he is in the last year of his entry-level deal, I cannot see a path for him for the "C" or an "A." He unequivocally needs to be resigned, and the fact that he scored 20+ goals in his first full NHL season shows there is just so much upside to Rossi. Get this extension figured out, Guerin.

Mats Zuccarello... If we were having this conversation ten years ago, Zuccy's name would have been in the mix. He's 37... so he is not a viable option. Nevertheless, he is an undrafted player who has played over 800 NHL games and scored over 600 points, so I can't imagine other players not buying into his leadership, but again... his age.

Gone Puck Wild's Three Finalists...

Matt Boldy... What is not to like about this guy? He's 23. He is distinctly improving during each season of his young career, and at his best, he could be considered to be on the fringe of being a superstar. The mutual long-term commitment between Boldy and the franchise is carved in stone with his seven-year deal. If I were betting on the last Wild player who wouldn't have any off-the-ice issues, Boldy would be one of my favorites. You can't fake the kind of love of the game Matt displays each night he takes the ice. What hockey team wouldn't consider this type of guy as their captain?

Joel Eriksson Ek... The Wild are a different team when Ek is off the ice. The value he adds doesn't always show up in the box score, but he is the real deal and one of the franchise's most important players. Joel is integral to both the first power play unit and the first penalty kill unit and is as hard-nosed as they come. Eriksson Ek makes any line he is a part of seem to perform at a much higher level and, in my opinion, is a franchise cornerstone. Joel has nearly the same value as Kaprizov regarding the team's overall success.

Kirill Kaprizov... The undisputed most outstanding player in Wild history, Kaprizov, a 27-year-old, is in the statistical middle of his peak. He has already turned in some fantastic seasons for Minnesota, but for some reason, it feels like there is still another level Kirill hasn't shown us. Kaprizov is only under contract through next season, and losing your statue in front of the arena-type player that happens to be your captain to free agency, well, that would be one of the most devastating things to ever happen in the State of Hockey... third to the North Stars losing the 1990-91 Stanley Cup Finals to Pittsburgh after leading 2-1 and the franchise leaving for stupid Dallas two seasons later. GM Bill Guerin and Wild owner Craig Leipold are saying all the right things regarding getting Kaprizov to stay with the franchise, but crazy stuff happens in sports.