{"id":439139,"date":"2026-01-26T19:32:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/439139\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T19:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:32:12","slug":"who-is-the-definitive-face-of-each-nhl-franchise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/439139\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is the definitive face of each NHL franchise?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this season, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby passed the legendary Mario Lemieux<\/a> for the most points in franchise history.<\/p>\n

Crosby,\u202fis his 21st season in the NHL, now has 652 goals and 1,744 points in 1,403 career games (and counting).<\/p>\n

The future Hall of Famer passing Super Mario marked a\u202fchanging\u202fof the guard at the top of the Penguins\u2019 history books and also raised\u202fthe question:\u202f\u201cWho is the face of the Penguins franchise – Crosby or Lemieux?\u201d<\/p>\n

And that question then morphed into: \u201cWho is the face of the franchise for every team in the National Hockey League?\u201d <\/p>\n

To answer that, TSN put together a panel of voters to decide the Face of the Franchise for every NHL team \u2013 defined as the person\u202fwho\u202fcomes to mind when you think of that franchise, and not just that franchise\u2019s\u202fbest player ever.<\/p>\n

Only the Colorado Avalanche<\/a>, Dallas Stars<\/a>, Utah Mammoth<\/a> (Arizona Coyotes), and Washington Capitals<\/a> had a unanimous player voted. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>, Edmonton Oilers<\/a>, and Ottawa Senators<\/a>\u202fmissed out on\u202fa unanimous winner by one vote each. <\/p>\n

At the other end of the spectrum, the Toronto Maple\u202fLeafs\u202fand Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> each had seven players receiving votes,\u202fwhile the Nashville Predators<\/a>, Florida Panthers<\/a>, and Seattle Kraken<\/a> had six each. <\/p>\n

There were five\u202fplayers\u202fvoted as a team\u2019s Face of the Franchise\u202fwho\u202fhave yet to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and there were also four winners\u202fwho\u202fnever captured a Stanley Cup with the franchise they were voted to represent. <\/p>\n

Wayne Gretzky<\/a>, Teemu Selanne<\/a>, Pavel Bure<\/a>, and Scott Niedermayer<\/a> were the only four players to receive votes for multiple franchises. <\/p>\n

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

See our full results below, and make your own vote here for each Face of the Franchise<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n

Winner: Teemu Selanne<\/a> (37.5%) Also receiving votes: Paul Kariya<\/a> (33.3%), Ryan Getzlaf<\/a> (25%), Scott Niedermayer<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Anaheim Ducks (TSN) <\/p>\n

The race for the Ducks\u2019\u202fFace of the Franchise came down to the wire, with Selanne\u202fbeating out Kariya\u202fby a single vote. <\/p>\n

Selanne\u202fand Kariya were the faces of a\u202fbrand-new\u202fexpansion franchise trying to establish\u202fitself in the 1990s. <\/p>\n

Nicknamed\u202fthe \u201cFinnish\u202fFlash,\u201d Selanne\u202fplayed parts of\u202f15\u202fseasons in Anaheim and is all over the team\u2019s record book, leading the club with 457 goals. He is also second behind Getzlaf with 531 assists and 988 points. <\/p>\n

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)\u202fand\u202fbecame the inaugural \u201cRocket\u201d Richard\u202fTrophy\u202fwinner in 1999\u202fby\u202fscoring\u202f47 goals. <\/p>\n

After\u202fmaking stops in San Jose and Colorado, he returned to Anaheim\u202fprior to the 2005-06 campaign, where he played the final nine seasons of his career. This period was\u202fhighlighted by the team\u2019s first Stanley Cup\u202fchampionship in 2007. <\/p>\n

Selanne was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. <\/p>\n

Boston Bruins<\/p>\n

Winner: Bobby Orr (83.3%) Also receiving votes:\u202fRay Bourque (8%), Johnny\u202fBucyk\u202f(4%), Phil Esposito (4%) <\/p>\n

Who could forget the shot of No. 4 flying through the air as he scored Boston\u2019s Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970?<\/p>\n

Orr is one of the greatest players to ever play in the NHL and changed\u202fthe\u202fway\u202fdefencemen\u202fplayed the game. <\/p>\n

The Port Perry, Ont., native played\u202f10 seasons in Boston, helping the Bruins to two Stanley Cup titles in 1970 and 1972.\u202f<\/p>\n

Orr won the Norris Trophy as the NHL\u2019s best defenceman an NHL-record eight times and became the first and only blueliner to lead the league in scoring,\u202faccomplishing\u202fthe feat in 1969-70 (120 points) and 1974-75 (135 points). <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Orr\u202fwon the Hart Trophy three straight years from 1970 to 1972 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in both of Boston\u2019s championships. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Buffalo Sabres<\/p>\n

Winner: Dominik Hasek<\/a> (58.3%) Also receiving votes:\u202fGilbert Perreault<\/a> (29.1%), Pat LaFontaine (12%) <\/p>\n

Sporting his famous helmet and cage, \u2018The Dominator\u2019 struck fear in the hearts of goal scorers during his\u202fnine-year tenure with the Buffalo Sabres<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Hasek was Buffalo\u2019s anchor in net in the late\u202fnineties, 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<\/a> netminder Carey Price<\/a> has equaled the feat in 2015. <\/p>\n

He led the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999, falling to the Dallas Stars<\/a> in a hard-fought six-game series. <\/p>\n

Hasek\u202fis second in franchise history with 234 wins and 170 losses, only sitting behind Ryan Miller<\/a>. He\u202fremains\u202fas the franchise leader with 55 shutouts, a career .926 save percentage, and a 2.22 goals-against average. <\/p>\n

Hasek won six Vezina Trophies, two Hart Trophies, two Lester B. Pearson Awards, and was a six-time first-team all-star\u202fas a member of the Sabres and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. <\/p>\n

Calgary Flames<\/p>\n

Winner: Jarome Iginla<\/a> (70.8%) Also receiving votes:\u202fLanny McDonald<\/a> (20.8%), Theo Fleury (4%), Al MacInnis<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Calgary Flames (TSN) <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

The Edmonton native led the Flames to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004. <\/p>\n

Iginla is the franchise leader in goals (525) and points (1,095).\u202fHe\u202fis second in\u202ffranchise history\u202fwith 570 assists\u202f(behind Al MacInnis<\/a>)\u202fand was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2021. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-1 winger\u2019s offensive career was highlighted by a magical 2001-02 season, where he registered 52 goals and 96 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy, \u201cRocket\u201d Richard Trophy, and Lester B. Pearson Award in the process. <\/p>\n

Iginla also won a second Maurice \u201cRocket\u201d Richard Trophy in 2003-04, registering 41 goals. <\/p>\n

His leadership and dedication to Calgary was recognized when he won the King Clancy<\/a> Trophy in 2004 and the Mark Messier<\/a> Leadership Award in 2009. <\/p>\n

Carolina Hurricanes<\/p>\n

Winner:\u202fRod Brind\u2019Amour (62.5%) Also receiving votes:\u202fRon Francis (25%), Eric Staal<\/a> (12.5%) <\/p>\n

Brind\u2019Amour\u202fwas\u202facquired\u202fby the Hurricanes as part blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> in 2000 that saw Keith Primeau<\/a> go the other way. <\/p>\n

The Ottawa native soon become the\u202fFace of the\u202fFranchise during its most prosperous\u202fperiod. <\/p>\n

Brind\u2019Amour played parts of 10 seasons in Carolina, helping the club reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 and win its first championship in 2006. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-1\u202fcentre\u202fwas one of the premier defensive forwards in the game, winning the Selke Trophy twice (2006 and 2007).\u202fHe\u2019s one of five Face of the Franchise winners who is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame. <\/p>\n

After\u202fBrind\u2019Amour\u202fretired,\u202fhe joined the Hurricanes\u2019 coaching staff and eventually became head coach prior to the 2018-19 season.\u202fHe\u202festablished\u202fhimself as one of the top coaches in the league,\u202fleading\u202fthe team to\u202fthree Metropolitan Division titles and seven playoff appearances. <\/p>\n

Brind\u2019Amour won the Jack Adams<\/a> Award as coach of the year in 2021, leading the team to a 36-12-8 record in a shortened 56-game season. <\/p>\n

Chicago Blackhawks<\/p>\n

Winner: Jonathan Toews<\/a> (25%) Also receiving votes:\u202fPatrick Kane<\/a> (20.8%), Bobby Hull (20.8%), Stan Mikita<\/a> (20.8%), Glenn Hall<\/a> (4%), Chris Chelios<\/a> (4%), Jeremy Roenick<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Chicago Blackhawks (TSN) <\/p>\n

Toews captained the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years in 2010, which was the longest\u202factive\u202fdrought in\u202fthe\u202fNHL at the time. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Nicknamed \u201cCaptain Serious,\u201d\u202fToews was the\u202fone of the main\u202ffaces\u202fof a golden age\u202ffor hockey in Chicago, leading the\u202fteam\u202fto a Presidents\u2019 Trophy in 2012-13, three division titles, and 10 playoff appearances. <\/p>\n

He was also recognized as one of the game\u2019s best defensive forwards, winning the Selke Trophy in 2013 and\u202fwon\u202fthe Mark Messier<\/a> Leadership Award in 2015. <\/p>\n

Toews is\u202fsixth all-time in franchise history with 372 goals and 883 points as well\u202fas being\u202fninth all-time with 1,067 games played as a Blackhawk.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Colorado Avalanche<\/p>\n

Winner: Joe Sakic (100%) <\/p>\n

Sakic was one of four players\u202fto be unanimously voted\u202fas a team\u2019s Face of the Franchise. <\/p>\n

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\u202fprior to\u202fthe 1995-96 season. <\/p>\n

Sakic was the team\u2019s superstar upon arrival. He led the team to a Stanley Cup in their inaugural season and then repeated the feat in 2001. <\/p>\n

He sits atop the Avalanche\u2019s record books in games played (1,378), goals (625), assists (1,016), and points (1,641). <\/p>\n

The three-time first-team all-star\u2019s\u202fpinnacle\u202fwas 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. <\/p>\n

Sakic was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and rejoined\u202fthe Avalanche as part of their management group in 2013 and became general manager a year later. He put together a team that won\u202fthe franchise\u2019s third\u202fStanley Cup in 2022,\u202fwhich was\u202ftheir first in 21 years. <\/p>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets<\/p>\n

Winner:\u202fRick Nash<\/a> (95.8%) Also receiving votes:\u202fZach\u202fWerenski\u202f(4%) <\/p>\n

Nash narrowly\u202fmissed out on\u202fa unanimous vote for the Blue Jackets\u2019 Face of the Franchise by one vote. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-4 power forward\u202fwas drafted first overall in the 2002 draft and\u202fwas the Blue Jackets\u2019 most marketable forward in the early years of their franchise as they tried to get a foothold in the Columbus community. <\/p>\n

He won the \u201cRocket\u201d Richard Trophy during his sophomore season in 2004, recording 41 goals. <\/p>\n

Nash holds the all-time Blue Jackets\u2019 record in career goals (289), points (547), and has 258 assists, which is second to only Werenski. <\/p>\n

The Brampton, Ont., native had the ability to lift fans out of their seats with his power\u202fskating\u202fand had a knack for scoring\u202fhighlight-reel\u202fgoals.\u202f<\/p>\n

Dallas Stars<\/p>\n

Winner: Mike Modano<\/a> (100%) <\/p>\n

Drafted first overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1988, Modano came along with the team to Dallas when they\u202frelocated\u202fin 1993 and became the face of hockey in Texas. <\/p>\n

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,\u202fhelped Texas become a hockey hotbed that is producing young talent. <\/p>\n

Modano helped the Stars win their first Stanley Cup in 1999 and then led the team back\u202fto the final\u202fin 2000, where they fell to the New Jersey Devils<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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\u2019 organization. <\/p>\n

Modano was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.<\/p>\n

Detroit Red Wings<\/p>\n

Winner: Gordie Howe<\/a> (66.6%) Also receiving votes: Steve Yzerman<\/a> (29.1%), Nicklas Lidstrom<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"Face of the Franchise – Detroit Red Wings (TSN) <\/p>\n

Howe was one of the most feared and talented players during the Original\u202fSix\u202fera. <\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hockey\u201d helped the Red Wings to four Stanley Cups\u202fin 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1955. <\/p>\n

He was known as one of the most relentlessly physical players in the NHL, with\u202fopponents\u202ffearing his elbows when the officials\u202fweren\u2019t\u202flooking. <\/p>\n

Howe won six Hart Trophies and six Art Ross Trophies during his time in Detroit and\u202ffinished up\u202fas the franchise record holder for goals (786) and points (1,809)\u202fin 1,687 career games over his 25-year career with the Red Wings <\/p>\n

He\u202fis\u202falso\u202fsecond in team history with 1,023 assists,\u202fsitting\u202fonly behind Yzerman. <\/p>\n

Howe\u2019s career goal and point total also topped the NHL record book, until Wayne Gretzky<\/a> 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<\/a> passed him in 2021. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Edmonton Oilers<\/p>\n

Winner:\u202fWayne Gretzky<\/a> (95.8%) Also receiving votes:\u202fConnor McDavid<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Edmonton Oilers (TSN) <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Great One\u201d dominated in his nine seasons with the Oilers and basked Edmonton with his greatness. <\/p>\n

His extraordinary hockey IQ and his ability\u202fto know where the puck was going to end up\u202fled him to\u202faccomplish\u202ffeats that were never thought to be possible. <\/p>\n

The Brantford, Ont., native was a threat every night he was on the\u202fice,\u202fholding team records with 583 goals, 1,086 assists, and 1,669 points. <\/p>\n

He was the catalyst of a dynasty that won four Stanley Cups\u202fin five\u202fyears in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988. <\/p>\n

His 50 goals in 39 games during the 1981-82 campaign\u202fremains\u202fa record that may never be broken and ended up with 92 goals in that year, which is a league record for a single season. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

He was\u202finducted\u202finto the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, becoming the last player to be included without going through the mandatory waiting period. <\/p>\n

Florida Panthers<\/p>\n

Winner: Roberto Luongo<\/a> (37.5%) Also receiving votes:\u202fAleksander Barkov<\/a> (33.3%), Matthew Tkachuk<\/a> (8%), Pavel Bure<\/a> (8%), John\u202fVanbiesbrouck\u202f(8%), Scott Mellanby<\/a> (2%) <\/p>\n

\"\"Face of the Franchise – Florida Panthers (TSN) <\/p>\n

Luongo narrowly beat Barkov, who\u202fcaptained\u202fthe\u202fPanthers\u202fto back-to-back\u202fStanley Cup\u202fchampionships in 2024 and 2025. <\/p>\n

Luongo was\u202facquired\u202fby\u202fFlorida\u202ffrom\u202fthe New York Islanders<\/a> prior to the 2000-01 season and became the marquee\u202fstar\u202ffor a franchise that struggled to find team success. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-3 netminder was one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL in his\u202ffirst 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<\/a> prior to the 2006-07 campaign. <\/p>\n

Luongo was dealt back to Florida in 2014,\u202fplaying\u202fthe final six seasons of his career in the Panthers\u2019 crease\u202fand\u202festablishing\u202fhimself as the face of hockey in South Florida. <\/p>\n

The Montreal native has the Panthers\u2019\u202fall-time\u202fgoaltending records\u202fwith 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.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Los Angeles Kings<\/p>\n

Winner: Wayne Gretzky<\/a>\u202f(45.8%) Also receiving votes: Anze Kopitar<\/a> (25%), Luc Robitaille<\/a> (12.5%), Marcel Dionne (12.5%), Drew Doughty<\/a> (4%)\u202f <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Los Angeles Kings (TSN) <\/p>\n

Gretzky was the only player to be named Face of the Franchise for two organizations.<\/p>\n

While much of Gretzky\u2019s team success occurred while he was a member of the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>, many of his\u202fmarquee\u202findividual accomplishments\u202fhappened after he was traded to the Kings in 1988. <\/p>\n

His arrival in Los Angeles set off a wave of\u202fhockey interest\u202fin California and led to more expansion teams in the American sunbelt. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Gretzky\u2019s goal record of 894 stood until the 2024-25 season when it was broken by Alex Ovechkin<\/a> of the Washington Capitals<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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). <\/p>\n

Gretzky\u2019s time with the Kings was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993. <\/p>\n

Minnesota Wild<\/p>\n

Winner: Mikko Koivu<\/a> (37.5%) Also receiving votes:\u202fMarian Gaborik<\/a> (29.1%), Kirill\u202fKaprizov\u202f(20.8%), Jacques Lemaire<\/a> (8.3%), Ryan Suter<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

Koivu beat out four other suitors as the Face of the Franchise, including long-time head coach Jacques Lemaire<\/a>, who received multiple votes. <\/p>\n

Koivu\u202fwas Mr. Wild during his 15-season career, captaining the team for 13 seasons. He is the\u202fhighest-scoring player in franchise history, recording 205 goals and 709\u202fpoints and\u202fhis 1,028 games is the most in team history. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-3\u202fcentre\u202fled the team to nine playoff appearances\u202fand helped his team win the Central Division in 2008. <\/p>\n

Montreal Canadiens<\/p>\n

Winner: Maurice Richard<\/a> (54.1%) Also receiving votes: Jean Beliveau<\/a> (16.6%), Guy Lafleur<\/a> (16.6%), Patrick Roy<\/a> (8%), Yvan Cournoyer<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Montreal Canadiens <\/p>\n

The Canadiens have a\u202flong-storied\u202fhistory, but\u202fRichard is the figure who\u202fcaptured the hearts and minds of French Canadians throughout Quebec. <\/p>\n

Known for his fiery eyes, Richard\u202fhelped\u202fMontreal 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. <\/p>\n

Richard was the first player to score 50 goals, doing it in 50 games during the 1944-45 campaign.\u202fThat was\u202fa record that stood until Mike Bossy equalled\u202fthe feat\u202fduring the 1980-81 season with the New York Islanders<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

He\u202fwas inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961 after his retirement – one of 10 players who\u202fdidn\u2019t\u202fgo through the mandatory waiting period. <\/p>\n

Richard\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

Nashville Predators<\/p>\n

Winner: Pekka Rinne<\/a>\u202f(37.5%) Also receiving votes:\u202fShea Weber<\/a> (33.3%), Roman Josi<\/a> (16.6%), Barry Trotz (4%), Filip Forsberg<\/a> (4%), David\u202fLegwand\u202f(4%) <\/p>\n

Rinne was man in the crease during the Predators\u2019 most successful run since\u202fthe team\u2019s\u202finception\u202fin 1998. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Rinne\u2019s career in Nashville was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in\u202f2017. <\/p>\n

New Jersey Devils<\/p>\n

Winner: Martin Brodeur<\/a> (70.8%) Also receiving votes: Scott Stevens<\/a> (20.8%), Scott Niedermayer<\/a> (4%), Lou Lamoriello (4%) <\/p>\n

Brodeur is one of the best goaltenders\u202fin hockey history\u202fwho played on one of the\u202fstingiest\u202fteams when it came to allowing goals. <\/p>\n

The\u202fMontreal native helped lead\u202fhis team\u202fto three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, and 2003) as the Devils were perennial contenders throughout the \u201890s and early 2000s. <\/p>\n

Brodeur won four Vezina Trophies during his time in New Jersey and five William M. Jennings Trophies for allowing the\u202ffewest\u202fgoals in a season. <\/p>\n

His ability to play the puck was so respected\u202fthat it led to a\u202frule\u202fchange in 2005, limiting goaltenders to only play the puck behind the net within a trapezoid. <\/p>\n

Brodeur is the standard for all-time NHL goalies, holding\u202fthe record for wins in a season (48), all-time wins (691), shutouts (125), games played (1,266), and losses (397). <\/p>\n

New York Islanders<\/p>\n

Winner: Mike Bossy (58.3%) Also receiving votes:\u202fBryan Trottier<\/a> (20.8%), Denis Potvin<\/a> (20.8%) <\/p>\n

When Bossy was drafted 15th\u202foverall by the Islanders in 1977, he told Hall of Fame general manager Bill Torrey that he was going to score 50 goals. <\/p>\n

Bossy put his money where his mouth was and scored 50 or more goals in nine of his 10 seasons on Long Island. <\/p>\n

He helped create a dynasty in the\u202fearly\u202f1980s, leading the Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-1983 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1982 as the playoff MVP. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

New York Rangers<\/p>\n

Winner: Mark Messier<\/a> (70.8%) Also receiving votes:\u202fRod Gilbert<\/a> (16.6%), Henrik Lundqvist<\/a> (8%), Brian Lee<\/a>tch (4%) <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Messier is known as the epitome of leadership in hockey, which was something the Rangers sorely needed when they\u202facquired\u202fhim prior to the 1991-92 season. <\/p>\n

The\u202fteam was\u202ftrying to end a historic Stanley Cup drought\u202fthat reached 54 years\u202fwith Messier being a cornerstone of the\u202fteam. <\/p>\n

During the 1993-94 campaign, the Rangers were down 3-2 in\u202fthe\u202fEastern Conference Final\u202fagainst\u202fthe New Jersey Devils<\/a>,\u202fleading to\u202fMessier famously guarantee\u202fthat his team would win Game 6. <\/p>\n

New York won both Games\u202f6 and 7, moving onto the Stanley Cup Final where they would take down the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> in seven games to end the\u202fchampionship\u202fdrought. <\/p>\n

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<\/a> to a championship in 1990.<\/p>\n

Ottawa Senators<\/p>\n

Winner: Daniel Alfredsson<\/a> (95.8%) Also receiving votes: Jason Spezza<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Ottawa Senators (TSN) <\/p>\n

Alfredsson\u202fmissed out on\u202fbeing\u202fa\u202funanimous\u202fselection\u202ffor Face of the Franchise by one vote. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

He became the marquee player on\u202fa team that needed consistency after they were forced to trade disgruntled forward Alexei Yashin<\/a> to the New York Islanders<\/a> in 2001. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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). <\/p>\n

Alfredsson\u2019s leadership was recognized in 2013 when he won the Mark Messier<\/a> Leadership Award, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in\u202f2022.\u202f<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Flyers<\/p>\n

Winner: Bobby Clarke\u202f(83.3%) Also receiving votes: Eric Lindros<\/a> (12.5%), Claude Giroux<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

The\u202fFlin\u202fFlon, Man., native was the heart and soul of the\u202f\u201cBroadstreet Bullies,\u201d\u202fcaptaining\u202fthe 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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

The 5-foot-10 centre remains the Flyers\u2019 all-time scoring leader with 1,210 points and leads the team 1,144 games and 852 assists. <\/p>\n

After he retired in 1984, Clarke had two stints as the\u202fFlyers\u202fgeneral manager. In his first tenure from 1984 to\u202f1990,\u202fhe put together a team that went to two Stanley Cup Finals (in 1985 and 1987). <\/p>\n

He had brief stints\u202fwith the\u202fMinnesota North Stars and Florida Panthers<\/a> before returning to Philadelphia\u202fas president and GM in 1994,\u202fremaining\u202fin that position for 12 seasons. Clarke put another\u202fteam together that returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 1997. <\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n

Winner: Mario Lemieux<\/a> (75%) Also receiving votes: Sidney Crosby<\/a> (25%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Pittsburgh Penguins (TSN) <\/p>\n

For the question that started this discussion, Lemieux beat Crosby\u202fdespite both players having\u202fvery similar\u202fstories from their time in Pittsburgh. <\/p>\n

Lemieux joined a floundering Penguins team when they drafted him first overall in the 1984 draft. From\u202fthere\u202fthe Penguins\u2019 prospects changed dramatically as Lemieux challenged Gretzky as the best player in the NHL. <\/p>\n

The\u202fMontreal native led the Penguins to their first two Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy both years. <\/p>\n

Lemieux won the Hart Trophy three times (1988, 1993, and 1996) to go\u202falong with\u202ffour Lester B. Pearson Awards. <\/p>\n

\u201cSuper Mario\u201d\u202fled 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\u202fbefore abruptly\u202fretiring when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma. <\/p>\n

Lemieux was\u202fimmediately\u202finducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 and formed an ownership group in 1999 to save the team from bankruptcy. <\/p>\n

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

As an owner, Lemieux oversaw three more Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017, captained by Crosby. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

San Jose Sharks<\/p>\n

Winner: Joe\u202fThornton\u202f(75%) Also receiving votes: Patrick Marleau<\/a> (25%) <\/p>\n

When the Sharks\u202facquired\u202fThornton from the Boston Bruins<\/a> in the middle of the\u202f2005-06 season, they\u202fadded\u202fa player\u202fwho\u202fwould be the cornerstone for their franchise for the next 15 seasons. <\/p>\n

\u201cJumbo Joe\u201d\u202fimmediately\u202fmade history when he was\u202facquired, 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. <\/p>\n

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\u2019 Trophy in 2009. The Sharks won four straight division titles from 2008 to 2011 and made 13 playoff appearances. <\/p>\n

The St. Thomas, Ont., native\u2019s time in San Jose was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. <\/p>\n

Thornton is the Sharks\u2019 all-time leader with 804 assists and is second to Patrick Marleau<\/a> with 1,104 games played, and 1,055 points.\u202fHe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025.\u202f<\/p>\n

Seattle Kraken<\/p>\n

Winner: Jordan Eberle<\/a> (47.8%) Also receiving votes: Matty\u202fBeniers\u202f(21.7%), Ron Francis (17.3%), Jared McCann<\/a> (4%), Jaden Schwartz<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

Eberle was named the face of a Seattle franchise\u202fthat\u2019s\u202fstill finding its place in the NHL history books. <\/p>\n

Among the people he beat out was general manager Ron Francis, who received the most votes of any executive on any team. <\/p>\n

After being left unprotected by the New York Islanders<\/a>, the Kraken selected Eberle as part of the 2021 Expansion Draft ahead of their inaugural season in 2021-22. <\/p>\n

The 5-foot-11 winger played has been a part of all five of the Kraken\u2019s seasons, headlined\u202fby a playoff appearance in only the team\u2019s second season. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

St. Louis Blues<\/p>\n

Winner: Brett Hull<\/a> (78.2%) Also receiving votes: Bernie\u202fFederko\u202f(13%), Chris Pronger<\/a> (4%), Alex Pietrangelo<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

Hull was the biggest offensive threat on a Blues team that\u202fwas always considered\u202fto\u202fbe a\u202fcontender\u202fthroughout the 1990s. <\/p>\n

Nicknamed \u201cThe Golden Brett\u201d as a nod to his father,\u202fBobby,\u202fwho was known as \u201cThe Golden Jet\u201d,\u202fHull was known as one of the best pure goals scorers in NHL history. <\/p>\n

The 5-foot-11 winger had a three-year period between\u202f1990 to 1992\u202fwhere he scored 70 goals or more in each season. His 86 goals during the 1990-91 campaign\u202fare the third most in NHL history,\u202fwinning the Hart Trophy for his efforts. <\/p>\n

Gretzky is the only player in NHL history to surpass Hull\u2019s single-season goal mark, scoring 92 goals in 1981-82 and 87 goals in 1983-84. <\/p>\n

During Hull\u2019s 11-season tenure as a Blue, his teams made the playoffs all 11 years but\u202ffailed to\u202fget over the hump to reach the Stanley Cup Final. <\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Lightning<\/p>\n

Winner: Steven Stamkos<\/a> (70.8%) Also receiving votes: Martin St. Louis<\/a> (12.5%), Vincent Lecavalier<\/a> (12.5%), Victor Hedman<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Tampa Bay Lightning (TSN) <\/p>\n

Tampa Bay\u202fdrafted Stamkos first overall in the 2008\u202fdraft\u202fand he instantly became the face of a new era of Lightning hockey after\u202fthe team won\u202fits first Stanley Cup four years earlier. <\/p>\n

Stamkos captained the Lightning for 11\u202fseasons,\u202fleading the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 as well as\u202ffour\u202fStanley Cup Final appearances. <\/p>\n

He overtook original Lightning stars like Martin St. Louis<\/a> and Vincent Lecavalier<\/a> in the team record books, holding the franchise lead in\u202fgoals (555) and points (1,137). He is also second behind Victor Hedman<\/a> in games played (1,082) and fourth in assists (582). <\/p>\n

Stamkos won the \u201cRocket\u201d Richard Trophy twice in 2010 and 2012 and his leadership was recognized in 2023 when he was named the Mark Messier<\/a> Leadership Award winner. <\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs<\/p>\n

Winner: Wendel Clark<\/a> (24%) Also receiving votes:\u202fDave Keon (20%), Mats Sundin<\/a> (16%), Darryl Sittler<\/a> (12%), Doug Gilmour (12%), Auston Matthews<\/a> (12%), Borje Salming<\/a> (4%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Toronto Maple Leafs (TSN) <\/p>\n

Clark\u202fwas\u202fnamed the face of the Toronto Maple\u202fLeafs\u202fin the most varied vote among the 32 teams. <\/p>\n

The Kelvington, Sask., native was drafted first overall by Toronto in 1985 and had three stints with the team\u202fduring\u202fhis 15-year career. <\/p>\n

Clark personified the blue-collars of Toronto with his rough and tumble style of play. <\/p>\n

His first stint with the Maple\u202fLeafs\u202flasted nine seasons, acting as captain for three of them, leading\u202fthe team to some of the organization\u2019s greatest heights in modern NHL history. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

The 5-foot-11 winger was traded in a blockbuster deal in 1994-95 that saw future icon Mats Sundin<\/a> come to Toronto in return. Clark was re-acquired\u202fjust over a year later and ended up playing parts of\u202fthree seasons\u202fwith the team and then returned\u202fa third time for his final season in 2000. <\/p>\n

Clark had his No. 17\u202fhonoured\u202fby the Maple\u202fLeafs\u202fin 2008, and it was later retired in 2016. His statue stands outside Scotiabank Arena, along with the other legends in Maple\u202fLeafs\u202fhistory. <\/p>\n

Utah Mammoth (Arizona Coyotes)<\/p>\n

Winner: Shane Doan (100%) <\/p>\n

For the purposes of this vote, the history of the Arizona Coyotes was also included along with\u202fthe two seasons\u202fof the Utah Mammoth<\/a> franchise. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s only one name that comes to many people\u2019s\u202fminds\u202fwhen it comes to the franchise, and that\u2019s Shane Doan. <\/p>\n

Doan came over to Phoenix with the team when the Winnipeg Jets<\/a>\u202frelocated\u202ffor the 1996-97 campaign. He played 20 seasons in Arizona, with his name plastered all over the top of the\u202ffranchise\u2019s\u202frecord books with 402 goals, 972 points in 1,540 career games. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Doan helped lead the team to eight playoff appearances, captaining the team to the Western Conference Final in 2012. <\/p>\n

Vancouver Canucks<\/p>\n

Winner: Sedin Twins (52%) Also receiving votes: Pavel Bure<\/a> (20%), Trevor Linden<\/a> (16%), Markus Naslund<\/a> (8%), Tiger Williams (4%)\u202f <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Vancouver Canucks (TSN) <\/p>\n

The Canucks\u2019 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. <\/p>\n

Henrik and Daniel Sedin<\/a> were drafted together, played on the same line together, retired together, and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame together. <\/p>\n

Both had significant impacts in Canucks\u2019 history and in the city of Vancouver. <\/p>\n

The Sedins\u202fplayed 17 seasons in Vancouver and\u202fboth of them\u202fare at the top of all major offensive categories in the Canucks\u2019 record books. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

The Sedin twins led the Canucks to some of their best regular season runs in franchise history, winning the Presidents\u2019 Trophy in\u202f2011 and 2012,\u202fand\u202fwinning their division seven times. <\/p>\n

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<\/a> Award the following year when he put up 41 goals and 104 points in 82 games. <\/p>\n

Their time in Vancouver was highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011.<\/p>\n

Vegas Golden Knights<\/p>\n

Winner: Mark Stone<\/a> (39.1%)\u202f Also receiving votes:\u202fMarc-Andre Fleury<\/a> (30.4%), Jack Eichel<\/a> (17.3%), Jonathan Marchessault<\/a> (13%) <\/p>\n

Stone was voted the face of the Golden Knights, who have\u202fdelivered\u202fa lot of memorable moments for such a young franchise. <\/p>\n

Stone was\u202facquired\u202fin blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators<\/a> prior to the trade deadline in 2018-19\u202fand remains a key player in Vegas. <\/p>\n

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\u202fshortened 2021 season. <\/p>\n

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\u2019s sixth season of existence. <\/p>\n

Washington Capitals<\/p>\n

Winner: Alex Ovechkin<\/a> (100%) <\/p>\n

When thinking of the Capitals,\u202fyou\u2019d\u202fbe hard pressed to think of anyone other than Ovechkin. <\/p>\n

He has dominated the scoresheet\u202fsince arriving in the NHL in the 2005-06 season, taking home nine Maurice \u201cRocket\u201d Richard Trophies, an Art Ross Trophy, and three Hart Trophies. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-3 winger\u202fhas\u202ftopped the 50-goal plateau nine times in his career and surpassed 60 goals in 2008. <\/p>\n

Ovechkin\u2019s ability to consistently put up strong offensive numbers allowed him to break Gretzky\u2019s NHL goal-scoring record of 894\u202fgoals in 2025, a mark that was once thought to be unbeatable. <\/p>\n

The Moscow native has captained the Capitals for the past 17 seasons, leading them to three Presidents\u2019 Trophies, 11 division titles, and 16 playoff appearances. <\/p>\n

His 20-season (and counting) career includes\u202fa Stanley Cup title in 2018, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> in five games. <\/p>\n

Winnipeg Jets<\/p>\n

Winner: Dale Hawerchuk<\/a> (80%) Also receiving votes: Teemu Selanne<\/a> (20%) <\/p>\n

\"\"TSN Face of the Franchise – Winnipeg Jets <\/p>\n

All of\u202fthe NHL\u2019s history with the Winnipeg Jets<\/a> was considered, including both iterations of the franchise. <\/p>\n

With that in mind, Hawerchuk was the key piece for the Winnipeg franchise\u202fthroughout the 1980s. <\/p>\n

The Toronto native leads all Winnipeg scorers with 379 goals and 929 points in 713 games during his nine seasons in Winnipeg. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

He led the Jets to eight postseason\u202fappearances but\u202fhad trouble getting past an\u202fEdmonton\u202fOilers dynasty that knocked them out of the playoffs six times. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Now have your say and make your own vote here for each Face of the Franchise<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Earlier this season, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby passed the legendary Mario Lemieux for the most points in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":439140,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[556],"tags":[16159,64,63,575,85],"class_list":["post-439139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-apple-news","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=439139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/439140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=439139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=439139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=439139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}