New York Rangers: Top 5 candidates to replace McDonagh as captain

It is officially a new era for the New York Rangers. Captain Ryan McDonagh was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, leaving the Rangers with a gaping hole in their leadership group.

The New York Rangers actually did it. After publicly waving the white flag on this season, and subsequently trading key players like Rick Nash and Michael Grabner, the Rangers traded their captain.

Ryan McDonagh is now a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, along with J.T. Miller. While the return on the trade will be debated—probably for years—one thing is undeniable: the Rangers have a void in their leadership group.

McDonagh was the captain, and Rick Nash an alternate captain. Last summer, they traded an alternate captain (Derek Stepan) and bought out another (Dan Girardi). The usual leadership group is almost entirely gone. So who steps up next? Who will be the Rangers’ next captain?