What's makes a great captain? Championships are NOT a necessity but they help. The best captains lead by example meaning they either produce in the biggest moments (offensively, defensively or both), are selfless and/or team-first, carry themselves with class or better yet, all of the above.
http://www.ranker.com/list/the-greatest-nhl-captains/willyboymcoy,
Denis Potvin
Wayne Gretzky
Scott Stevens
Steve Yzerman
George Armstrong
Joe Sakic
Bobby Clarke
Jean Beliveau
Ray Bourque
Mark Messier