Add another player to the list of NHLers who were inspired by Yzerman’s play and leadership. After recently being named captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Rick Nash pointed to Mats Sundin and Steve Yzerman as the two captains he admired most growing up.

Q: Who are the captains you admired growing up?

A: I would say Mats Sundin and Steve Yzerman. I was a Leafs fan growing up 20 minutes north of Toronto, and the Red Wings were right there, too. You had Stevie Y, a Canadian, with those great Red Wings teams and Sundin, who was my favorite player growing up with Toronto.