The New York Rangers are without a captain for the first time since the end of the 2013-14 season. However, they shouldn’t feel the need to rush right into naming a new one.
The New York Rangers finished the 2017-18 season without a captain after trading former captain Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The last time the Rangers finished a season without a captain was after they traded away Ryan Callahan to Tampa.
The last time the Rangers played a full season without a captain was the 2005-2006 season. This was the only full season in Rangers history that they were captain-less. However, they did manage to go 44-26-12, total 100 points and making they playoffs.
Only four NHL teams played last season without a captain. They were the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs and Las Vegas Golden Knights. Where were the Knights a few weeks ago? Oh yea, the Stanley Cup Finals.
You look around at all of the captains in the NHL right now and most of these players have superstar status. It is not uncommon for many of them to be top scorers either. Jamie Benn, Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby to name a few.
The Rangers should not name a captain for next season UNLESS Mats Zuccarello is still on the team.
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Zucc stays a Ranger
So let’s assume that the Rangers decide not to move Mats Zuccarello after not trading him at the draft like 4/9 members of the BLS team predicted. He is a shoo-in to be the next captain of the Rangers.
Zucc has been the team’s top scorer for four of the past five seasons, but plays more grittier of a game than his numbers show. Despite only having one fight under his belt, he isn’t afraid to stand up for himself or his teammates.
Zucc doesn’t let size get in the way and he isn’t afraid of getting under anyone, and everyone’s skin. A selfless player who doesn’t let their size get in the way, who does that sound like? Oh yea; former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan.
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If they trade Zucc
Without Mats Zuccarello the Rangers don’t really have anyone deserving of wearing the “C”. Taking a look at the roster as it stands, the Rangers don’t have enough experienced candidates.
Let’s take a look at Marc Staal. Everyone knows that Staal hasn’t been the same player since taking a puck to the eye. Despite being the longest tenured Ranger aside from Henrik Lundqvist, he can’t have the “C”. A leader leads by example, Staal’s been average at best the last few seasons.
How about Kevin Shattenkirk? Well, as a result of missing half the season due to injury, he’s still too new to the team to be named captain. How would some of the players who’d been around longer react if the new-guy got the captaincy?
If goalies were allowed to be captains, then Henrik Lundqvist would get it without a doubt, but that’s not allowed.
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The Rangers need to be smart about this. They should not jump the gun and make someone a captain who shouldn’t be a captain just for the sake of having one. The player could be too inexperienced to lead, or the team could just flat out make the wrong choice. The Rangers need to be patient, and let their captain find them.