An Original Six franchise, the Boston Bruins have a deep NHL history — and an equally strong tradition of leadership. Over the decades, Bruins captains have ranged from Hall of Fame legends to respected veterans, each setting a tone the next generation has tried to match.
Brad Marchand is the most recent player to wear the “C,” serving as captain from 2023–25. For the 2025–26 season, Boston entered the year without naming a captain, leaning on a shared leadership group led by alternates David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy (with additional support across the room).
McAvoy put it simply when asked about what comes next for this era of Bruins leadership: “What is our legacy going to be?”
Can the next wave of leaders eventually join the list of greats who have worn the “C” in Boston?
Below is a cleaned-up breakdown of the Boston Bruins' captains list and the captains who made the biggest imprint on the franchise.
Complete list of Boston Bruins captains by era
Note: The Bruins did not have a captain in their inaugural 1924–25 season; the first official captain was named the following year.
- Sprague Cleghorn (1925–1928)
- Lionel Hitchman (1928–1931)
- George Owen (1931–1932)
- Dit Clapper (1932–1933, 1939–1944)
- Marty Barry (1933–1934)
- Nels Stewart (1934–1935)
- Eddie Shore (1935–1936)
- Red Beattie (1936–1937)
- Cooney Weiland (1937–1939)
- Bill Cowley (1944–1945)
- Jack Crawford (1945–1946)
- Bobby Bauer (1946–1947)
- Milt Schmidt (1947–1954)
- Ed Sandford (1954–1955)
- Ferny Flaman (1955–1961)
- Don McKenney (1961–1963)
- Leo Boivin (1963–1966)
- Johnny Bucyk (1966–1967, 1973–1977)
- Wayne Cashman (1977–1983)
- Terry O’Reilly (1983–1985)
- Ray Bourque & Rick Middleton (1985–1988)
- Ray Bourque (1988–2000)
- Jason Allison (2000–2001)
- Joe Thornton (2002–2005)
- Zdeno Chara (2006–2020)
- Patrice Bergeron (2021–2023)
- Brad Marchand (2023–2025)
The most influential captains in Bruins history
Ray Bourque
Few Bruins captains matched Bourque’s combination of excellence and longevity. From 1985–2000 (including his early co-captain years), Bourque set the standard for consistency, professionalism, and elite play from the blue line.
Dit Clapper
A defining figure of the franchise’s early decades, Clapper served two separate captaincy stints and helped shape Bruins hockey across eras — including a rare transition from forward to defense while remaining an impact player.
Milt Schmidt
Schmidt’s leadership went far beyond the sweater. A key member of the famed “Kraut Line,” he became one of the central pillars of Bruins history — respected as a player and captain, and later trusted in major roles beyond his playing career.
Zdeno Chara
Chara arrived in Boston and immediately became the face of the room. He captained the Bruins from 2006–20, won the Norris Trophy, and lifted the Stanley Cup in 2011 — ending Boston’s long championship drought. He also embodied the “play through anything” reputation Bruins captains are known for, including confirming he played through multiple jaw fractures during the 2019 Final.
Johnny Bucyk
Bucyk wore the “C” in two different stretches and remained one of the most influential figures in franchise history. A Hall of Famer and long-time Bruins fixture, he’s also remembered for how he carried himself — a captain’s captain in the classic mold.
What leadership means in Bruins culture
In Boston, wearing the “C” isn’t just an honor — it’s a responsibility. Bruins captains are expected to set standards daily: work habits, accountability, and the kind of composure that steadies a team when things get loud.
And as the Bruins’ leadership group evolves, that same expectation doesn’t disappear — it just gets shared. McAvoy summed up the reality of modern leadership best: “There’s no one-size-fits-all about a leader.” Pastrnak echoed that mindset, noting he’s ready to grow into a larger voice as the roster turns over.