With the recent trade of Jacob Trouba, the New York Rangers have a void at captaincy. They went six years without naming a captain after they traded Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning before naming Trouba the captain, so this isn't expected to be a decision we get soon, but we do expect the Rangers to name another player to their leadership group in the absence of the big defenseman. So, who could don the iconic "C" on their jersey?
Let's start by examining a few criteria for this. They would need to know what being a New York Ranger means. It means those who have joined recently probably shouldn't be considered. They should be able to lead by example and set the tone when the roster needs it. New York's captain should be here for the foreseeable future, and it needs to be someone who knows what it means to be a Ranger. So, what are the options?
Adam Fox
As a boyhood Rangers fan, Adam Fox is a candidate. As the defenseman won the Norris Trophy as the best blueliner in the NHL, the Rangers' next captain needs to embody that notion of being a fan and a fantastic player. Fox has the trophies to prove he is a tremendous player, and Fox is from Jericho, New York. He's a hometown kid and a Rangers fan. He's an option. He's still young, but that would mean he could lead the next group as they come through.
Chris Kreider
Many fans felt Chris Kreider should have been awarded the captaincy when Jacob Trouba got it. Still, with Trouba departing the organization, there is a chance to atone for prior mistakes and give the longest-tenured Rangers the captaincy. This is unlikely if the Rangers front office is still exploring trade options for Kreider, but fans wanted him appointed as captain years ago, so the second best time to do it is now.
Vincent Trocheck
If you want to talk about a player who gives everything for the crest on his chest rather than the name on his back, look no further than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native Vincent Trocheck. It means everything to him to play in the NHL, and you can see that almost every time he takes to the ice. With the talent to turn a game on its head, Trocheck can lead by example, too.
While there are other options like Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin, the Rangers will not make this decision for a while. They'll likely get to the end of the season before considering a replacement for the captaincy. It may not be for another 2-3 years that we get an answer to this question of the next Rangers captain, but this debate will rage on until we get an answer.