The Next Florida Panthers Captain?

After considering the batch of players that show tremendous leadership on the Florida Panthers roster, which include Brian Campbell and Willie Mitchell, there is one logical answer to the question, "Who should be the next captain of the Panthers?": no one. Yes, the Panthers possess players that are willing to step up and provide their leadership abilities to benefit the team, but there is not one player that sticks out among the rest to replace former captain Ed Jovanovski.

For the last two seasons, the Panthers were gracious to have Jovanovski serve the role as captain. He provided great leadership and served as a role model for the younger players, while adding plenty of grit to a roster that has consistently been one of the least physical teams in the National Hockey League. A'las, at the age of 38, his body has failed to handle a full 82 game NHL season, forcing the Panthers to buy out their captain and the first overall pick of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

When you look at the Panthers newly improved roster, you see veterans who have been around the league for a while, such as Campbell, Mitchell, Dave Bolland, and Shawn Thornton. But the next captain will emerge from the Panthers young crop of prospects, including defenseman Erik Gudbranson, forward Nick Bjustad, and the newly drafted defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who will most certainly begin his rookie season with the Panthers come October. The Panthers will not have a captain next season because that honor should be held for the future leaders of this team. This would provide the team with a long-term solution to their leadership ranks, which have long been occupied by a revolving door of players throughout the franchise's twenty years of existence. Each of these young players have worn the "C" for their respective junior/college teams and they all provide valid reasons to become the next captain of the Panthers.

Erik Gudbranson might be the frontrunner for the "C". After becoming general manager Dale Tallon's first draft pick as a member of the Panthers, Tallon has always referred to Gudbranson as a pure leader. While he has not reached his potential on the ice, he has shown flashes of potential throughout his first three NHL seasons. During the Panthers' 2012 first round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils, Gudbranson was often played against the Devil's top line, shutting them down before they even skated across the blue line. He would throw hard hits and was always in position to prevent the opposition from scoring. Gudbranson has turned into a vocal player inside the locker room the past few seasons, accepting his role as a leader and has even worn the "A" for a few games throughout last season. Within the next two to three seasons, Gudbranson will state his case to don a letter for good, and he will become a leader on this young Panthers squad.

Nick Bjustad is a darkhorse candidate to wear the "C" for the Panthers. At 6'6 and 215+ pounds, Bjustad has always used his size to his advantage, leading the Panthers in points (38) last season. Wearing the "C" in his final year as a Minnesota Golden Gopher, Bjustad was born with the ability to lead a team. He led them to two WCHA championships and led the club to the Frozen Four in 2013. Now a member of the Panthers, Bjustad has always been very approachable by his teammates and has always contributed his thoughts to the media, no matter the result of the game. After finally obtaining the second line center position for the Panthers, Bjustad will continue to fight for the privilege to wear a letter on his sweater.

When talking about Aaron Ekblad, a few names instantly pop into your head. PK Subban. Shea Weber. Drew Doughty. While all of these all-star defensemen have been around the league for years now, Aaron Ekblad will be playing his rookie season as a member of the Panthers come October. The first overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Ekblad has the perfect mix of skill, grit, and maturity to represent the Panthers with a "C" on his jersey. At the young age of fifteen, Ekblad became one of only four players to be given "exceptional status" by the OHL, also becoming the first defenseman to receive that honor. He led the OHL's Barrie Colts throughout his three seasons in juniors, scoring a eye-opening career high 53 points in 58 games and was a mainstay on the Colts' blueline. At age eighteen, he is as mature as a thirty-year old. Members of the National Hockey League have been praising him as the next star defensemen in the league, and it is only a matter of time before Ekblad makes the Panthers squad and earns a letter sometime over the next few seasons.

The Panthers franchise seems to be finally gaining stability with their roster and will soon be competing for a playoff spot year after year. With their largely young roster, including Gudbranson, Bjustad, Ekblad, and a few others including Jonathan Huberdeau and Drew Shore, they will need one of these young players to emerge as the leader and face of the franchise. Whether it is one of the aforementioned players or someone not mentioned, the Panthers have a very bright future and have all the potential leaders needed to turn this franchise into an annual playoff contender.