The significance of an NHL captain is often contested, but ranking them is likely to invoke even more debate.
The best captains aren't merely great players, but ones who help balance egos and lead - often both vocally and by example - teams well into the spring.
Related: Captain Power Rankings (30-16): McDavid's next, Pacioretty can only get better
Here is the NHL's second tier of captains:
15. Zdeno Chara
The veteran defenseman isn't his formerly dominant self at age 39, and the Boston Bruins are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
14. Ryan McDonagh
He's overcome some brutal luck, suffering a concussion and a jaw injury within a two-week span, then sustaining another injury Monday that could force him to miss playoff games.
13. Henrik Zetterberg
The Swedish winger has spent his entire 13-year career with the Detroit Red Wings, who named him Nicklas Lidstrom's replacement as captain in 2013.
Zetterberg has lost a step at age 35, but he's a steadying presence on the third-oldest club in the NHL as it begins the transition to a younger core featuring the likes of Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha.
12. David Backes
The physical center's offensive production has dropped off in a contract year, but that hasn't slowed down the surging St. Louis Blues, and he has picked up his game lately.
11. Shea Weber
The leader of Nashville's loaded blue line has helped the Predators remain a tough out for years in the fiercely competitive Central Division, but the club has yet to advance past the second round.
10. John Tavares
Tavares locked in his third 30-goal campaign Monday, but the Islanders have slipped into wild-card territory and aren't exactly heading into a potential playoff matchup on the most inspiring note.
9. Claude Giroux
Giroux is on pace to post his lowest point total in an 82-game season since his first full campaign in 2009-10, but he's already over the 60-point plateau, so that's just a testament to how consistent he's been in his career.
8. Ryan Getzlaf
The Anaheim Ducks' first-line center struggled in the first half of the season and his prolonged slump mirrored the team's woes, but Getzlaf resurrected his campaign in the second half and his teammates followed suit.
Anaheim is now on pace to finish on a historic post-break scoring pace, and the Ducks captain is a major reason for the resurgence.
7. Erik Karlsson
Karlsson is in the midst of a Norris Trophy-caliber season and ranks among the most productive skaters in the league, but his less than flattering jab at teammates - and arguably Ottawa Senators management - didn't help his cause here.
6. Steven Stamkos
Everyone knows the Tampa Bay Lightning captain is one of the game's best offensive talents, but his value as a leader will be even more evident now that he'll miss at least a month and possibly three.
The Lightning are the youngest team in the league among playoff-bound clubs, and their only regular alternate captain, Ryan Callahan, is now banged up, too. Stamkos is a captain who leads by example, and his absence will truly illustrate how important he is to the youthful squad when healthy.
Check back Saturday for the top five captains.
