Who is the youngest captain in NY Islanders history?

There is no greater honor for a hockey player than being named captain by their team. Whether it be pee-wee, juniors, or the NHL, it takes a certain type of player to wear the 'C' and lead their team onto the ice every night.

There are five teams in the NHL currently without a captain, including a member of the Original 6, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Considered one of the favorites for the position in the Windy City is phenom Connor Bedard. Turning 19 years old two weeks ago, Bedard would be the youngest captain in NHL history, edging out Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, who was named captain at 19 years and 266 days.

Who is the youngest captain for the Islanders?

To find the youngest Islanders captain, you need to head back to 1997 when Bryan McCabe was named at 22 years old.

After lifetime Islander, Pat Flatley, who held the captaincy for five seasons between 1991 and 1996 had his contract bought out by Mike Millbury, the Islanders spent the 1996-1997 season without a captain.

McCabe, drafted by the Islanders in the second round in 1993, played two seasons with the Islanders before being named captain, appearing in every game, contributing 51 points (15 G, 36 A) from the blue line.

"I think it is safe to say I have had him targeted since the second day I met him,'' Milbury said after donning McCabe with the 'C'. ''He is a guy we have seen develop in the locker room. We were a bit concerned about his age. But I've talked with him and he is comfortable with the responsibility.''

At the time McCabe edged out Clark Gillies for youngest Islanders captain in history, who was 23 when he took the captaincy after Ed Westfall.

"I am honored and proud to have the 'C' on my jersey,'' McCabe said. ''It is a dream for me to play in the NHL, let alone have a 'C' on my jersey. I am going to do the best job I can.''

After only 56 games as the captain on Long Island, Millbury dealt McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi, and a third-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Trevor Linden.

McCabe, bestowed with the honor of leading his team just a few months earlier, was caught completely off-guard by the trade.

“I guess I was stupid to think like that,” McCabe told Daily News’ Ralph Vacchiano. “But I figured I was just named captain, so I’d stick around for a while.”

McCabe went on to play 15 seasons in the NHL, but only recently won his first Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers as the organization's Director of Player Personnel.