These NHL teams may have found their new captains!

New seasons always bring new questions, and choosing a team's captain has always been a delicate matter regardless of the sport. 

As it stands, there are four teams in the NHL that do not have a captain: the Arizona Coyotes, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Carolina Hurricanes, and evidently the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

With training camps just around the corner, it will be important for the teams to decide which players will be rewarded with a "C" on their jersey. 

A team's captain is important not only because he serves as a leader on-and-off the ice, but also because they are great assets for marketing purposes. An option that could appeal to most of the teams listed above considering they are in transitory periods. 

Here is a list of the different teams and the players who are the most likely of obtaining the role:

1 - Arizona Coyotes

With the departure of Shane Doan, the Arizona Coyotes may have already found their new captain. In an exchange with NHL Tonight, John Chayka made it clear that the team's rebirth would come from defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson:

“It’s a bit of a reboot here but I think we’ve got a good core, a young nucleus led by Oliver Ekman-LarssonHe’s going to carry us. You only go as far as your top players can bring you.”

According to an Azcentral Sports' article dating back from June, Shane Doan has even confirmed that he's heard about a job offer for the young play. 

It seems all that remains is the officialization of his captaincy.

Ekman-Larsson is the Coyotes' sixth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and is one the teams longest standing member. Last season, he averaged 24:36 of ice time per game, making him one of the team's most utilized player. 

2 - Las Vegas Golden Knights

An inaugural season, means a new team, a new roster, and a new captaincy. 

Reports have surfaced that the Knights have been actively marketing goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, but as per NHL regulation goalies cannot serve as official captains during games.

According to The Score, this leaves very few options for captaincy other than veteran James Neal. An important pick during this year's expansion draft, his experience could help the team in their first season and he could be a great mentor for up-and-coming captain Nic Hague, if we're to believe George McPhee's comments:

"I think Hague is going to be the Captain of the Vegas Golden Knights at some point in time. The way he talks, the way he commands the players around him, his stature. He was the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year last year. He is a really impressive young man."

3 - Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes haven't had it easy since they're Stanley Cup win in 2006: they've had difficulties solidifying a core of players on which to build upon, which has forced them into incessant restructuring attempts.

After seemingly having found their path in the latter half of last year's season, determining a captain might be the next step in pushing this developing team forward. 

Much how Eric Staal lifted the cup back then, GM Ron Francis believes another Staal might just be what the team has been looking for. Having already won the great honors with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, 

4 - Toronto Maple Leafs

The organization went beyond expectations last season, earning themselves a playoff spot against the Washington Capitals. 

A large part of the team's success came from Austin Matthews, who make entrance in his first NHL game by scoring four goals. 

The Leafs have found their core, and the reconstruction process is progressively giving way to a cup contending team. A team that could not be better lead than by Austin Matthews, according to The Score: 

"Matthews will turn 20 prior to the start of the regular season, but he'd still be one of the youngest captains in NHL history. His cool demeanor and ability to get the job done suggests he's up to the taskIn order to lead that team"