Six A’s may be a little too much this time around for the New York Rangers

There is quite the distinction between stating every player needs to have leadership qualities on a professional sports team and actually anointing each player as a leader.

In the 2021-22 season, the New York Rangers organization seemingly attempted to choose the latter.

Unable to decide on who should be the captain, the Rangers entered last season with six (6) players wearing the alternate “A” on their sweater; those players being Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Jacob Trouba, Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Strome, and Artemi Panarin.

This time around, the Rangers staff was able to decide on an individual whom they felt would best handle wearing the captain “C” on their jersey for the 2022-23 season, opting to go with defenseman Jacob Trouba.

Since 2018, when the General Manager at the time shipped off captain Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lighting, the organization has been without a captain.

Now that the team does have a particular player labeled as the team’s leader, the final step in identifying a leadership core would be to name alternate C’s to Captain Trouba.

Personally, I think six may be too many this time around.

The two obvious choices

In regards to the idea of having alternate captains on a squad, it has always been my personal preference to have two alternates.

Since NHL rules dictate that only three players can wear a letter on their sweater for a game, consistency is key. Thus, having the same three individuals wear a letter each night seems like the smartest move. However, not all agree with that sentiment, so perhaps identifying a tertiary player to have the “A” sewn onto their jersey may be a good idea.

The two players that immediately jump off the page in this discussion are Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. Both have a history in leadership roles and have taken players under their wing in the past. Additionally, the on-ice product from both players is sufficient, to say the least, allowing others to follow their example.

Young players, especially, need to be shown the on-ice standard of an NHL player first and foremost. Yet, there is room for one final player to wear a letter for the upcoming 2022-23 season.

The underdog

While many may point to Barclay Goodrow and his Stanley Cup pedigree from his time with the Lightning, or perhaps Artemi Panarin and his elite-level skill, there is another who could grab that role and run with it.

That player is Ryan Lindgren. His history of receiving wounds from harsh, on-ice encounters is well documented. Yet, his battle level is unmatched. If there should be a player to set the standard of NHL-level work ethic, it should be Lindgren.

He may not have the Cup pedigree of a Goodrow, and he certainly does not possess the high-end skill of a Panarin. However, Lindgren is always willing to sacrifice his body to block a shot, always willing to throw a check on an oncoming puck carrier.

Furthermore, head coach Gerard Gallant consistently preaches a strong, defensively responsible playstyle, something Lindgren embodies perfectly. There is never a time when Ryan Lindgren’s effort is taken into question. That is not to say that the effort of other players can be.

It is just so easy to observe the game and marvel at Lindgren’s style of play. It isn’t flashy, he won’t dangle the opponent’s socks off like Cale Makar, but Lindgren is an honest player and mistakes are few and far between.

It is far more likely that Barclay Goodrow or Artemi Panarin will receive the honor of being named an alternate captain, but Ryan Lindgren’s name should certainly be in the hat.