Darnell Nurse’s move to the San Jose Sharks did more than alter the Edmonton Oilers’ blue line. It also opened up a leadership vacancy that has been part of the team’s identity since 2019, when Nurse became an alternate captain.
With Connor McDavid still wearing the “C” and Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins holding the other two alternate captain spots, Edmonton now has to decide who gets the next letter. New head coach Mike Babcock and the Oilers have a few strong candidates to weigh, and the choice could say plenty about what kind of room they want to build moving forward.
Zach Hyman is an obvious place to start. He has worn a letter before, serving as an alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020-21, and he also filled in for one game last spring when injuries left the Oilers needing someone to step up. Even without the “A,” his leadership has been hard to miss.
His speech after the Oilers lost the 2024 Stanley Cup Final spread widely on social media, then resurfaced again when the team returned to the Final the following season. Hyman’s presence has carried through everything, including the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, when he was injured but still remained around the group and kept pushing them toward a win. He brings energy, work rate and offense when it matters most, which is why he belongs in the conversation.
Mattias Ekholm has a strong case too. He already has experience in the role, having served as an alternate captain with the Nashville Predators from 2017 to 2023 before coming to Edmonton. The Oilers have trusted him in big moments, and he has rewarded that confidence with steady play and veteran presence on deep runs.
Ekholm has also connected well with the fan base since arriving. He showed up around the community from his first summer in the city, supporting local events and making himself visible away from the rink. On the ice, he brings a harder edge; off it, he fits the kind of leader teams want representing them.
Then there’s Evan Bouchard, the longest-tenured Oiler on this list. Drafted in the first round in 2018, he came up through the organization and has developed into one of the NHL’s most elite defencemen. That alone makes him a natural candidate for a leadership role.
Bouchard’s case goes beyond his play. He has strong chemistry with his teammates and has become a regular presence in the Edmonton community, showing up at countless events throughout the year. If a player is going to wear a letter, commitment to the city matters, and Bouchard checks that box.
All three bring something real to the table, and there are probably a few other names the Oilers could consider. Still, if the choice were mine, Hyman would get the nod. The 34-year-old has brought heart, determination and a willingness to put his body on the line since arriving in Edmonton, and he has never shied away from the work.
Ekholm and Bouchard both have strong arguments as well, and the coaching staff could lean toward a defenceman simply to keep Nurse’s old role in the same spot on the ice. However Edmonton handles it, the next alternate captain will be a meaningful call.
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