Earlier this season, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby passed the legendary Mario Lemieux for the most points in franchise history.

Crosby, is his 21st season in the NHL, now has 652 goals and 1,744 points in 1,403 career games (and counting).

The future Hall of Famer passing Super Mario marked a changing of the guard at the top of the Penguins’ history books and also raised the question: “Who is the face of the Penguins franchise – Crosby or Lemieux?”

And that question then morphed into: “Who is the face of the franchise for every team in the National Hockey League?”

To answer that, TSN put together a panel of voters to decide the Face of the Franchise for every NHL team – defined as the person who comes to mind when you think of that franchise, and not just that franchise’s best player ever.

Only the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Utah Mammoth (Arizona Coyotes), and Washington Capitals had a unanimous player voted. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Ottawa Senators missed out on a unanimous winner by one vote each.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks each had seven players receiving votes, while the Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, and Seattle Kraken had six each.

There were five players voted as a team’s Face of the Franchise who have yet to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and there were also four winners who never captured a Stanley Cup with the franchise they were voted to represent.

Wayne Gretzky, Teemu Selanne, Pavel Bure, and Scott Niedermayer were the only four players to receive votes for multiple franchises.

Ron Francis was the only person to receive votes as both a player (with the Carolina Hurricanes) and an executive (with the Seattle Kraken) with two separate franchises.

See our full results below, and make your own vote here for each Face of the Franchise.

Anaheim Ducks

Winner: Teemu Selanne (37.5%) Also receiving votes: Paul Kariya (33.3%), Ryan Getzlaf (25%), Scott Niedermayer (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Anaheim Ducks (TSN)

The race for the Ducks’ Face of the Franchise came down to the wire, with Selanne beating out Kariya by a single vote.

Selanne and Kariya were the faces of a brand-new expansion franchise trying to establish itself in the 1990s.

Nicknamed the “Finnish Flash,” Selanne played parts of 15 seasons in Anaheim and is all over the team’s record book, leading the club with 457 goals. He is also second behind Getzlaf with 531 assists and 988 points.

In his first stint with the Ducks, from 1996-01, Selanne was a prolific goal scorer who cracked the 50-goal plateau twice (in 1997 and 1998) and became the inaugural “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner in 1999 by scoring 47 goals.

After making stops in San Jose and Colorado, he returned to Anaheim prior to the 2005-06 campaign, where he played the final nine seasons of his career. This period was highlighted by the team’s first Stanley Cup championship in 2007.

Selanne was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.

Boston Bruins

Winner: Bobby Orr (83.3%) Also receiving votes: Ray Bourque (8%), Johnny Bucyk (4%), Phil Esposito (4%)

Who could forget the shot of No. 4 flying through the air as he scored Boston’s Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970?

Orr is one of the greatest players to ever play in the NHL and changed the way defencemen played the game.

The Port Perry, Ont., native played 10 seasons in Boston, helping the Bruins to two Stanley Cup titles in 1970 and 1972. 

Orr won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman an NHL-record eight times and became the first and only blueliner to lead the league in scoring, accomplishing the feat in 1969-70 (120 points) and 1974-75 (135 points).

The eight-time first-team all-star also became the first defenceman to score 30 goals in a season in 1970 and then broke the 40-goal plateau during the 1974-75 campaign. He also holds the league record for the highest single-season plus-minus rating at plus-124 in 1970-71.

Orr won the Hart Trophy three straight years from 1970 to 1972 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in both of Boston’s championships.

He registered 264 goals and 888 points in 631 career games as a Bruin and was one of 10 players to have his mandatory waiting period waived to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Buffalo Sabres

Winner: Dominik Hasek (58.3%) Also receiving votes: Gilbert Perreault (29.1%), Pat LaFontaine (12%)

Sporting his famous helmet and cage, ‘The Dominator’ struck fear in the hearts of goal scorers during his nine-year tenure with the Buffalo Sabres.

Hasek was Buffalo’s anchor in net in the late nineties, winning the Hart Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award and Vezina Trophy in the same year, doing it twice in 1997 and 1998. Only Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price has equaled the feat in 2015.

He led the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999, falling to the Dallas Stars in a hard-fought six-game series.

Hasek is second in franchise history with 234 wins and 170 losses, only sitting behind Ryan Miller. He remains as the franchise leader with 55 shutouts, a career .926 save percentage, and a 2.22 goals-against average.

Hasek won six Vezina Trophies, two Hart Trophies, two Lester B. Pearson Awards, and was a six-time first-team all-star as a member of the Sabres and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.

Calgary Flames

Winner: Jarome Iginla (70.8%) Also receiving votes: Lanny McDonald (20.8%), Theo Fleury (4%), Al MacInnis (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Calgary Flames (TSN)

Iginla was the marquee player on a Flames team that took the franchise to its highest peak since winning their only Stanley Cup in 1989.

The Edmonton native led the Flames to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004.

Iginla is the franchise leader in goals (525) and points (1,095). He is second in franchise history with 570 assists (behind Al MacInnis) and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2021.

The 6-foot-1 winger’s offensive career was highlighted by a magical 2001-02 season, where he registered 52 goals and 96 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy, “Rocket” Richard Trophy, and Lester B. Pearson Award in the process.

Iginla also won a second Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2003-04, registering 41 goals.

His leadership and dedication to Calgary was recognized when he won the King Clancy Trophy in 2004 and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2009.

Carolina Hurricanes

Winner: Rod Brind’Amour (62.5%) Also receiving votes: Ron Francis (25%), Eric Staal (12.5%)

Brind’Amour was acquired by the Hurricanes as part blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2000 that saw Keith Primeau go the other way.

The Ottawa native soon become the Face of the Franchise during its most prosperous period.

Brind’Amour played parts of 10 seasons in Carolina, helping the club reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 and win its first championship in 2006.

The 6-foot-1 centre was one of the premier defensive forwards in the game, winning the Selke Trophy twice (2006 and 2007). He’s one of five Face of the Franchise winners who is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

After Brind’Amour retired, he joined the Hurricanes’ coaching staff and eventually became head coach prior to the 2018-19 season. He established himself as one of the top coaches in the league, leading the team to three Metropolitan Division titles and seven playoff appearances.

Brind’Amour won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2021, leading the team to a 36-12-8 record in a shortened 56-game season.

Chicago Blackhawks

Winner: Jonathan Toews (25%) Also receiving votes: Patrick Kane (20.8%), Bobby Hull (20.8%), Stan Mikita (20.8%), Glenn Hall (4%), Chris Chelios (4%), Jeremy Roenick (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Chicago Blackhawks (TSN)

Toews captained the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years in 2010, which was the longest active drought in the NHL at the time.

The Winnipeg native led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships in six seasons in (2010, 2013, and 2015) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.

Nicknamed “Captain Serious,” Toews was the one of the main faces of a golden age for hockey in Chicago, leading the team to a Presidents’ Trophy in 2012-13, three division titles, and 10 playoff appearances.

He was also recognized as one of the game’s best defensive forwards, winning the Selke Trophy in 2013 and won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015.

Toews is sixth all-time in franchise history with 372 goals and 883 points as well as being ninth all-time with 1,067 games played as a Blackhawk.

Face of the Franchise: Blackhawks Every franchise has one player that embodies everything the team represents and is synonymous with its name. OverDrive host Bryan Hayes is joined by Director of Scouting Craig Button and TSN Hockey analyst Mike Johnson to discuss who they believe is the face of the Blackhawks franchise.

Colorado Avalanche

Winner: Joe Sakic (100%)

Sakic was one of four players to be unanimously voted as a team’s Face of the Franchise.

The Burnaby, B.C., native was drafted 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1987 and came with the team to Colorado when they relocated prior to the 1995-96 season.

Sakic was the team’s superstar upon arrival. He led the team to a Stanley Cup in their inaugural season and then repeated the feat in 2001.

He sits atop the Avalanche’s record books in games played (1,378), goals (625), assists (1,016), and points (1,641).

The three-time first-team all-star’s pinnacle was during the 2000-01 season, where he won the Hart Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award, and Lady Byng Trophy after registering 54 goals and 118 points in 82 games.

Sakic was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and rejoined the Avalanche as part of their management group in 2013 and became general manager a year later. He put together a team that won the franchise’s third Stanley Cup in 2022, which was their first in 21 years.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Winner: Rick Nash (95.8%) Also receiving votes: Zach Werenski (4%)

Nash narrowly missed out on a unanimous vote for the Blue Jackets’ Face of the Franchise by one vote.

The 6-foot-4 power forward was drafted first overall in the 2002 draft and was the Blue Jackets’ most marketable forward in the early years of their franchise as they tried to get a foothold in the Columbus community.

He won the “Rocket” Richard Trophy during his sophomore season in 2004, recording 41 goals.

Nash holds the all-time Blue Jackets’ record in career goals (289), points (547), and has 258 assists, which is second to only Werenski.

The Brampton, Ont., native had the ability to lift fans out of their seats with his power skating and had a knack for scoring highlight-reel goals. 

Dallas Stars

Winner: Mike Modano (100%)

Drafted first overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1988, Modano came along with the team to Dallas when they relocated in 1993 and became the face of hockey in Texas.

He was the marquee player who made the Stars a powerhouse in the Western Conference in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which, in turn, helped Texas become a hockey hotbed that is producing young talent.

Modano helped the Stars win their first Stanley Cup in 1999 and then led the team back to the final in 2000, where they fell to the New Jersey Devils.

The Livonia, Mich, native holds the franchise record for goals (557), assists (802), points (1,359), and games played (1,459) over the course of his 20-year career in the Stars’ organization.

Modano was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.

Detroit Red Wings

Winner: Gordie Howe (66.6%) Also receiving votes: Steve Yzerman (29.1%), Nicklas Lidstrom (4%)

Face of the Franchise – Detroit Red Wings (TSN)

Howe was one of the most feared and talented players during the Original Six era.

“Mr. Hockey” helped the Red Wings to four Stanley Cups in 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1955.

He was known as one of the most relentlessly physical players in the NHL, with opponents fearing his elbows when the officials weren’t looking.

Howe won six Hart Trophies and six Art Ross Trophies during his time in Detroit and finished up as the franchise record holder for goals (786) and points (1,809) in 1,687 career games over his 25-year career with the Red Wings

He is also second in team history with 1,023 assists, sitting only behind Yzerman.

Howe’s career goal and point total also topped the NHL record book, until Wayne Gretzky surpassed him in points in 1989 and goals in 1994. He also held the record for most games played in the NHL until Patrick Marleau passed him in 2021.

Howe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame of Fame when he retired from the Red Wings in 1971, becoming one of 10 players who had their mandatory waiting period waived.

Edmonton Oilers

Winner: Wayne Gretzky (95.8%) Also receiving votes: Connor McDavid (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Edmonton Oilers (TSN)

“The Great One” dominated in his nine seasons with the Oilers and basked Edmonton with his greatness.

His extraordinary hockey IQ and his ability to know where the puck was going to end up led him to accomplish feats that were never thought to be possible.

The Brantford, Ont., native was a threat every night he was on the ice, holding team records with 583 goals, 1,086 assists, and 1,669 points.

He was the catalyst of a dynasty that won four Stanley Cups in five years in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988.

His 50 goals in 39 games during the 1981-82 campaign remains a record that may never be broken and ended up with 92 goals in that year, which is a league record for a single season.

Gretzky won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in eight of his nine years in Edmonton and added seven Art Ross Trophies, four Lester B. Pearson Awards, and a Lady Byng Trophy during that span.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, becoming the last player to be included without going through the mandatory waiting period.

Florida Panthers

Winner: Roberto Luongo (37.5%) Also receiving votes: Aleksander Barkov (33.3%), Matthew Tkachuk (8%), Pavel Bure (8%), John Vanbiesbrouck (8%), Scott Mellanby (2%)

Face of the Franchise – Florida Panthers (TSN)

Luongo narrowly beat Barkov, who captained the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025.

Luongo was acquired by Florida from the New York Islanders prior to the 2000-01 season and became the marquee star for a franchise that struggled to find team success.

The 6-foot-3 netminder was one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL in his first stint with the Panthers, going 108-154-41 with a .920 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average in five seasons. He was then traded to the Vancouver Canucks prior to the 2006-07 campaign.

Luongo was dealt back to Florida in 2014, playing the final six seasons of his career in the Panthers’ crease and establishing himself as the face of hockey in South Florida.

The Montreal native has the Panthers’ all-time goaltending records with 230 wins, 241 losses, 38 shutouts, and 572 appearances. He is second in franchise history with a .919 save percentage and third with a 2.62 goals-against average.

Face of the Franchise: Panthers Every franchise has one player that embodies everything the team represents and is synonymous with its name. OverDrive host Bryan Hayes is joined by Director of Scouting Craig Button and TSN Hockey analysts Mike Johnson and Martin Biron to discuss who they believe is the face of the Panthers franchise.

Los Angeles Kings

Winner: Wayne Gretzky (45.8%) Also receiving votes: Anze Kopitar (25%), Luc Robitaille (12.5%), Marcell Dionne (12.5%), Drew Doughty (4%) 

TSN Face of the Franchise – Los Angeles Kings (TSN)

Gretzky was the only player to be named Face of the Franchise for two organizations.

While much of Gretzky’s team success occurred while he was a member of the Edmonton Oilers, many of his marquee individual accomplishments happened after he was traded to the Kings in 1988.

His arrival in Los Angeles set off a wave of hockey interest in California and led to more expansion teams in the American sunbelt.

During his time in Los Angeles, Gretzky passed Howe for the most points in a career in 1989 and then passed Howe again for the most goals in a career in 1994.

Gretzky’s goal record of 894 stood until the 2024-25 season when it was broken by Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

The Great One played eight seasons in Los Angeles where he won the Hart Trophy (in 1989), three Art Ross Trophies (1990, 1991, and 1994), and three Lady Byng Trophies (1991, 1992, and 1994).

Gretzky’s time with the Kings was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993.

Minnesota Wild

Winner: Mikko Koivu (37.5%) Also receiving votes: Marian Gaborik (29.1%), Kirill Kaprizov (20.8%), Jacques Lemaire (8.3%), Ryan Suter (4%)

Koivu beat out four other suitors as the Face of the Franchise, including long-time head coach Jacques Lemaire, who received multiple votes.

Koivu was Mr. Wild during his 15-season career, captaining the team for 13 seasons. He is the highest-scoring player in franchise history, recording 205 goals and 709 points and his 1,028 games is the most in team history.

The 6-foot-3 centre led the team to nine playoff appearances and helped his team win the Central Division in 2008.

Montreal Canadiens

Winner: Maurice Richard (54.1%) Also receiving votes: Jean Beliveau (16.6%), Guy Lafleur (16.6%), Patrick Roy (8%), Yvan Cournoyer (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens have a long-storied history, but Richard is the figure who captured the hearts and minds of French Canadians throughout Quebec.

Known for his fiery eyes, Richard helped Montreal to eight Stanley Cup titles, including five straight from 1956 to 1960, which is the only time an NHL franchise has won five straight championships.

Richard was the first player to score 50 goals, doing it in 50 games during the 1944-45 campaign. That was a record that stood until Mike Bossy equalled the feat during the 1980-81 season with the New York Islanders.

The Montreal native recorded 544 goals in his 18-year career, which was the NHL record until Howe surpassed him during the 1963-64 campaign.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961 after his retirement – one of 10 players who didn’t go through the mandatory waiting period.

Richard’s relationship with the city of Montreal was so strong that after he passed away, more than 100,000 people lined up to pay their last respects as he lay in state at the Bell Centre in 2000.

Nashville Predators

Winner: Pekka Rinne (37.5%) Also receiving votes: Shea Weber (33.3%), Roman Josi (16.6%), Barry Trotz (4%), Filip Forsberg (4%), David Legwand (4%)

Rinne was man in the crease during the Predators’ most successful run since the team’s inception in 1998.

Rinne is the franchise leader in wins (369), shutouts (60), save percentage (.917), and goals-against average (2.43) in his 15-season career with the team.

The 6-foot-5 netminder won the Vezina Trophy during the 2017-18 campaign and was a first-team all-star after going 42-13-4 with eight shutouts to go along with a .917 save percentage and 2.31 GAA.

Rinne’s career in Nashville was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

New Jersey Devils

Winner: Martin Brodeur (70.8%) Also receiving votes: Scott Stevens (20.8%), Scott Niedermayer (4%), Lou Lamoriello (4%)

Brodeur is one of the best goaltenders in hockey history who played on one of the stingiest teams when it came to allowing goals.

The Montreal native helped lead his team to three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, and 2003) as the Devils were perennial contenders throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s.

Brodeur won four Vezina Trophies during his time in New Jersey and five William M. Jennings Trophies for allowing the fewest goals in a season.

His ability to play the puck was so respected that it led to a rule change in 2005, limiting goaltenders to only play the puck behind the net within a trapezoid.

Brodeur is the standard for all-time NHL goalies, holding the record for wins in a season (48), all-time wins (691), shutouts (125), games played (1,266), and losses (397).

New York Islanders

Winner: Mike Bossy (58.3%) Also receiving votes: Bryan Trottier (20.8%), Denis Potvin (20.8%)

When Bossy was drafted 15th overall by the Islanders in 1977, he told Hall of Fame general manager Bill Torrey that he was going to score 50 goals.

Bossy put his money where his mouth was and scored 50 or more goals in nine of his 10 seasons on Long Island.

He helped create a dynasty in the early 1980s, leading the Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-1983 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1982 as the playoff MVP.

Bossy finished his career with 573 goals and 1,126 points in 752 career games and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

New York Rangers

Winner: Mark Messier (70.8%) Also receiving votes: Rod Gilbert (16.6%), Henrik Lundqvist (8%), Brian Leetch (4%)

Face of the Franchise: Rangers Every franchise has one player that embodies everything the team represents and is synonymous with its name. OverDrive host Bryan Hayes is joined by Director of Scouting Craig Button and TSN Hockey analyst Mike Johnson to discuss who they believe is the face of the Rangers franchise.

Messier is known as the epitome of leadership in hockey, which was something the Rangers sorely needed when they acquired him prior to the 1991-92 season.

The team was trying to end a historic Stanley Cup drought that reached 54 years with Messier being a cornerstone of the team.

During the 1993-94 campaign, the Rangers were down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils, leading to Messier famously guarantee that his team would win Game 6.

New York won both Games 6 and 7, moving onto the Stanley Cup Final where they would take down the Vancouver Canucks in seven games to end the championship drought.

In the process, Messier became the first player in NHL history to captain two different teams to a Stanley Cup title, previously leading the Edmonton Oilers to a championship in 1990.

Ottawa Senators

Winner: Daniel Alfredsson (95.8%) Also receiving votes: Jason Spezza (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Ottawa Senators (TSN)

Alfredsson missed out on being a unanimous selection for Face of the Franchise by one vote.

The 5-foot-11 winger took Ottawa by storm during the 1995-96 season, recording 26 goals and 61 points to win the Calder Trophy.

He became the marquee player on a team that needed consistency after they were forced to trade disgruntled forward Alexei Yashin to the New York Islanders in 2001.

Alfredsson was exactly what the Ottawa market needed, leading the team to four division titles, 14 playoff appearances, and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.

He captained the team from 1999 to 2013 and holds the team record for goals (426), assists (682), points (1,108), and games played (1,178).

Alfredsson’s leadership was recognized in 2013 when he won the Mark Messier Leadership Award, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Philadelphia Flyers

Winner: Bobby Clarke (83.3%) Also receiving votes: Eric Lindros (12.5%), Claude Giroux (4%)

Remembered for his toothless grin with the Stanley Cup, Clarke was the face of a Flyers team that was known as one of the most physical and feared to ever play.

The Flin Flon, Man., native was the heart and soul of the “Broadstreet Bullies,” captaining the team to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. The two championships were the first time an expansion team won the title after the league grew from six teams to 12 teams in 1967.

Clarke won three Hart Trophies (in 1973, 1975, and 1976) and his defensive play was recognized during the 1982-83 campaign when he won the Selke Trophy.

The 5-foot-10 centre remains the Flyers’ all-time scoring leader with 1,210 points and leads the team 1,144 games and 852 assists.

After he retired in 1984, Clarke had two stints as the Flyers general manager. In his first tenure from 1984 to 1990, he put together a team that went to two Stanley Cup Finals (in 1985 and 1987).

He had brief stints with the Minnesota North Stars and Florida Panthers before returning to Philadelphia as president and GM in 1994, remaining in that position for 12 seasons. Clarke put another team together that returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 1997.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Winner: Mario Lemieux (75%) Also receiving votes: Sidney Crosby (25%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Pittsburgh Penguins (TSN)

For the question that started this discussion, Lemieux beat Crosby despite both players having very similar stories from their time in Pittsburgh.

Lemieux joined a floundering Penguins team when they drafted him first overall in the 1984 draft. From there the Penguins’ prospects changed dramatically as Lemieux challenged Gretzky as the best player in the NHL.

The Montreal native led the Penguins to their first two Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy both years.

Lemieux won the Hart Trophy three times (1988, 1993, and 1996) to go along with four Lester B. Pearson Awards.

“Super Mario” led the league in scoring six times, including a resounding 85 goals and 199 points in 1988-89. He led the league in scoring in 1996-97 before abruptly retiring when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Lemieux was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 and formed an ownership group in 1999 to save the team from bankruptcy.

He came out of retirement during the 2000-01 campaign, becoming the first player-owner in NHL history and joining Gordie Howe and Guy Lafleur as the only players to play after being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

As an owner, Lemieux oversaw three more Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017, captained by Crosby.

Face of the Franchise: Penguins Every franchise has one player that embodies everything the team represents and is synonymous with its name. OverDrive host Bryan Hayes is joined by Director of Scouting Craig Button and TSN Hockey analysts Mike Johnson and Frankie Corrado to discuss who they believe is the face of the Penguins franchise.

San Jose Sharks

Winner: Joe Thornton (75%) Also receiving votes: Patrick Marleau (25%)

When the Sharks acquired Thornton from the Boston Bruins in the middle of the 2005-06 season, they added a player who would be the cornerstone for their franchise for the next 15 seasons.

“Jumbo Joe” immediately made history when he was acquired, becoming the first player to win the Hart Trophy after being traded in-season and won the Art Ross Trophy, recording 29 goals and 125 points in 81 games split between the Bruins and Sharks.

With Thornton leading the way, his teams were always a contender to win the Stanley Cup during the late 2000s, highlighted by winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2009. The Sharks won four straight division titles from 2008 to 2011 and made 13 playoff appearances.

The St. Thomas, Ont., native’s time in San Jose was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.

Thornton is the Sharks’ all-time leader with 804 assists and is second to Patrick Marleau with 1,104 games played, and 1,055 points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025. 

Seattle Kraken

Winner: Jordan Eberle (47.8%) Also receiving votes: Matty Beniers (21.7%), Ron Francis (17.3%), Jared McCann (4%), Jaden Schwartz (4%)

Eberle was named the face of a Seattle franchise that’s still finding its place in the NHL history books.

Among the people he beat out was general manager Ron Francis, who received the most votes of any executive on any team.

After being left unprotected by the New York Islanders, the Kraken selected Eberle as part of the 2021 Expansion Draft ahead of their inaugural season in 2021-22.

The 5-foot-11 winger played has been a part of all five of the Kraken’s seasons, headlined by a playoff appearance in only the team’s second season.

Eberle has 85 goals and 211 points in 330 games in Seattle and was named the second captain in team history prior to the 2024-25 campaign.

St. Louis Blues

Winner: Brett Hull (78.2%) Also receiving votes: Bernie Federko (13%), Chris Pronger (4%), Alex Pietrangelo (4%)

Hull was the biggest offensive threat on a Blues team that was always considered to be a contender throughout the 1990s.

Nicknamed “The Golden Brett” as a nod to his father, Bobby, who was known as “The Golden Jet”, Hull was known as one of the best pure goals scorers in NHL history.

The 5-foot-11 winger had a three-year period between 1990 to 1992 where he scored 70 goals or more in each season. His 86 goals during the 1990-91 campaign are the third most in NHL history, winning the Hart Trophy for his efforts.

Gretzky is the only player in NHL history to surpass Hull’s single-season goal mark, scoring 92 goals in 1981-82 and 87 goals in 1983-84.

During Hull’s 11-season tenure as a Blue, his teams made the playoffs all 11 years but failed to get over the hump to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Winner: Steven Stamkos (70.8%) Also receiving votes: Martin St. Louis (12.5%), Vincent Lecavalier (12.5%), Victor Hedman (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Tampa Bay Lightning (TSN)

Tampa Bay drafted Stamkos first overall in the 2008 draft and he instantly became the face of a new era of Lightning hockey after the team won its first Stanley Cup four years earlier.

Stamkos captained the Lightning for 11 seasons, leading the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 as well as four Stanley Cup Final appearances.

He overtook original Lightning stars like Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier in the team record books, holding the franchise lead in goals (555) and points (1,137). He is also second behind Victor Hedman in games played (1,082) and fourth in assists (582).

Stamkos won the “Rocket” Richard Trophy twice in 2010 and 2012 and his leadership was recognized in 2023 when he was named the Mark Messier Leadership Award winner.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Winner: Wendel Clark (24%) Also receiving votes: Dave Keon (20%), Mats Sundin (16%), Darryl Sittler (12%), Doug Gilmour (12%), Auston Matthews (12%), Borje Salming (4%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Toronto Maple Leafs (TSN)

Clark was named the face of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the most varied vote among the 32 teams.

The Kelvington, Sask., native was drafted first overall by Toronto in 1985 and had three stints with the team during his 15-year career.

Clark personified the blue-collars of Toronto with his rough and tumble style of play.

His first stint with the Maple Leafs lasted nine seasons, acting as captain for three of them, leading the team to some of the organization’s greatest heights in modern NHL history.

Clark led Toronto to back-to-back conference finals in 1993 and 1994 and came one game away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, which would have been their first trip since 1967.

The 5-foot-11 winger was traded in a blockbuster deal in 1994-95 that saw future icon Mats Sundin come to Toronto in return. Clark was re-acquired just over a year later and ended up playing parts of three seasons with the team and then returned a third time for his final season in 2000.

Clark had his No. 17 honoured by the Maple Leafs in 2008, and it was later retired in 2016. His statue stands outside Scotiabank Arena, along with the other legends in Maple Leafs history.

Utah Mammoth (Arizona Coyotes)

Winner: Shane Doan (100%)

For the purposes of this vote, the history of the Arizona Coyotes was also included along with the two seasons of the Utah Mammoth franchise.

There’s only one name that comes to many people’s minds when it comes to the franchise, and that’s Shane Doan.

Doan came over to Phoenix with the team when the Winnipeg Jets relocated for the 1996-97 campaign. He played 20 seasons in Arizona, with his name plastered all over the top of the franchise’s record books with 402 goals, 972 points in 1,540 career games.

The Halkirk, Alta., native captained the Coyotes for 13 seasons, becoming the consistent face of the team as the organization faced uncertainty with ownership and arena problems.

Doan helped lead the team to eight playoff appearances, captaining the team to the Western Conference Final in 2012.

Vancouver Canucks

Winner: Sedin Twins (52%) Also receiving votes: Pavel Bure (20%), Trevor Linden (16%), Markus Naslund (8%), Tiger Williams (4%) 

TSN Face of the Franchise – Vancouver Canucks (TSN)

The Canucks’ Face of the Franchise vote was the only case where there were two winners, which is fitting for two players who were never separated throughout their hockey careers.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin were drafted together, played on the same line together, retired together, and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame together.

Both had significant impacts in Canucks’ history and in the city of Vancouver.

The Sedins played 17 seasons in Vancouver and both of them are at the top of all major offensive categories in the Canucks’ record books.

Henrik captained the Canucks for eight seasons and has the all-time lead in games played (1,330), assists (830), and points (1,070) with his brother right behind him in second in each category. Daniel leads the goals category in Canucks history with 393.

The Sedin twins led the Canucks to some of their best regular season runs in franchise history, winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2011 and 2012, and winning their division seven times.

Henrik won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2010 after recording 29 goals and 112 points in 82 games, while Daniel won the Art Ross and Ted Lindsay Award the following year when he put up 41 goals and 104 points in 82 games.

Their time in Vancouver was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011.

Vegas Golden Knights

Winner: Mark Stone (39.1%)  Also receiving votes: Marc-Andre Fleury (30.4%), Jack Eichel (17.3%), Jonathan Marchessault (13%)

Stone was voted the face of the Golden Knights, who have delivered a lot of memorable moments for such a young franchise.

Stone was acquired in blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators prior to the trade deadline in 2018-19 and remains a key player in Vegas.

The 6-foot-3 winger has helped the team to six playoff appearances and four division titles and was named the first captain in team history prior to the shortened 2021 season.

Stone has 128 goals and 375 points in 375 career games in Vegas and his tenure is highlighted by a Stanley Cup victory in 2023 in the team’s sixth season of existence.

Washington Capitals

Winner: Alex Ovechkin (100%)

When thinking of the Capitals, you’d be hard pressed to think of anyone other than Ovechkin.

He has dominated the scoresheet since arriving in the NHL in the 2005-06 season, taking home nine Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies, an Art Ross Trophy, and three Hart Trophies.

The 6-foot-3 winger has topped the 50-goal plateau nine times in his career and surpassed 60 goals in 2008.

Ovechkin’s ability to consistently put up strong offensive numbers allowed him to break Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record of 894 goals in 2025, a mark that was once thought to be unbeatable.

The Moscow native has captained the Capitals for the past 17 seasons, leading them to three Presidents’ Trophies, 11 division titles, and 16 playoff appearances.

His 20-season (and counting) career includes a Stanley Cup title in 2018, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Winnipeg Jets

Winner: Dale Hawerchuk (80%) Also receiving votes: Teemu Selanne (20%)

TSN Face of the Franchise – Winnipeg Jets

All of the NHL’s history with the Winnipeg Jets was considered, including both iterations of the franchise.

With that in mind, Hawerchuk was the key piece for the Winnipeg franchise throughout the 1980s.

The Toronto native leads all Winnipeg scorers with 379 goals and 929 points in 713 games during his nine seasons in Winnipeg.

Hawerchuk won the Calder Trophy during the 1981-82 campaign, recording 45 goals and 103 points as a rookie and went on to be named captain two years later.

He led the Jets to eight postseason appearances but had trouble getting past an Edmonton Oilers dynasty that knocked them out of the playoffs six times.

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