Oh Captain, My Captain- But Who Will It Be?

Claude Giroux was traded to the Florida Panthers along with Connor Bunnaman, German Rubstov, and a 2024 fifth-round pick for a 2024 first-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick, and 23-year-old Owen Tippett; a trade the Flyers needed to make to move forward with a new identity, and a new leader/captain to push these team to new heights. With that being said, who will it be? Let's get into it.

There are some proven leaders on this Flyers team. Have they proven themselves enough to wear the «C» and become the franchise's 19th captain? Only time will tell. This is a team that has lacked leadership on and off the ice. A team that has shown zero accountability and with a new coach in John Tortorella, and a new captain, it may be exactly what the team needs. Here are my top two players that could be the captain for the 2023-2024 season:

Cam Atkinson
Flyer's best goal scorer as of right now, and a veteran of 11 seasons (going into his 12 th ), the former Columbus Blue Jacket and player for the new coach has shown that he is nothing short of a leader. Coming right on the Flyers team in 2021-2022, he scored 23 goals, and added 27 assists (50 points) in 73 games. Due to an injury, that certainly deflated any potential rise in stats. He is their
best player offensively and would be an incredible role model and leader.

Kevin Hayes
Aside from Oskar Lindblom, there may be no player in the NHL who has overcome what Kevin Hayes has and returned to play in the same season. Kevin Hayes dealt with a grueling injury and was off the ice for an extensive period of time. As a player of 18 years, this takes a toll mentally like no other. It's difficult not being out there to play. Aside from that, Kevin Hayes tragically lost his brother Jimmy. This is something that is bigger than hockey. Having to go through that and an injury is nothing short of intense. Hayes showed incredible leadership on and off the ice, attended every game while he was out, and did what he could for his team: the definition of a true leader and a great hockey player. That's exactly what you want in a captain.

The coaching staff sure has some work to do on deciding the next captain. Other than these two listed, there are some incredible candidates. Everyone expects «Coots» to just grab that «C» and run with it. I see things from a different standpoint. Although he is a great player, something just lacks to define him as the next captain, but you never know.

That's my story, and I am sticking to it.