Ducks’ Mikael Granlund named 10th captain in team history

There will be a new leader of the flock for the 2026-27 season.

On Tuesday, the Anaheim Ducks announced that they have named forward Mikael Granlund as the 10th captain in franchise history.

Anaheim’s captaincy was vacated when defenseman Radko Gudas, who had been the team’s captain over the past two seasons, left for the Florida Panthers over the offseason.

The naming of Granlund as Gudas’ replacement could be seen as a bit of a surprise, as he was not even one of the Ducks’ alternate captains last season.

Granlund, 34, does have plenty of leadership experience, however. He has served as an alternate captain for the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks at previous points in his career. He was also the captain for the Finnish men’s national team at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February, along with the 2024 and 2018 IIHF World Championships.

Anaheim’s alternate captains for the 2026-27 season will be forwards Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, Alex Killorn, and defenseman Jackson LaCombe, all of whom have previously served in the role for the Ducks.

Last season, Granlund had 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 58 games for Anaheim. He then contributed five goals and five assists for 10 points in the Ducks’ 12 playoff games.

The Finnish national is entering the second season of a three-year, $21 million contract with Anaheim. He’ll likely captain the Ducks for the next couple of seasons before handing the ‘C’ to one Anaheim’s young, core players such as Carlsson or LaCombe.

Granlund was initially drafted ninth overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. After spending his first five-plus NHL seasons in Minnesota, he was dealt at the 2019 trade deadline to the Predators, where he played for three-plus seasons. He then spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sharks, and the Dallas Stars before signing with the Ducks as a free agent.