Since the New York Rangers traded their most recent captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks back on December 6th, the Blueshirts have been without a captain.
On Tuesday, DailyFaceoff.com host and analyst Jonny Lazarus asked Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette whether anyone particular has emerged as potential captain hopefuls following the departure of Trouba. Laviolette answered and named center Vincent Trocheck and defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
I asked #NYR Peter Laviolette this morning if anyone has emerged as a leader over the past couple of months.
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) January 28, 2025
The names he said were Ryan Lindgren and Vincent Trocheck. pic.twitter.com/Qayj9FNv8D
Lindgren being named should come as a surprise to Blueshirt fans, given the recent trade speculation regarding the 26-year-old. Nevertheless, Laviolette said he has stood out as a leader recently anyways.
He's collected six assists during the Rangers' recent run of 10 straight games without a regulation — a span that accounts for half of his points this season. He has two goals, 10 helpers, 30 shots on net, 51 hits, 85 blocked shots, 26 PIM and a minus-1 rating across 43 contests overall.
Where it does make since in Lindgren being listed as a leader is the fact that he's been with the Blueshirts since 2018. He was acquired in a trade that sent forward Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins on Feb. 25, 2018.
By 2020, Lindgren was playing on the top four in New York as part of a young, skilled group of defensemen.
"I think the guys that are, especially going through this last month and finding success when we needed to, are the guys both on the ice and in the locker room that are for me identified as leaders. I think Ryan Lindgren — through his play — has come back and really provided some good leadership inside of our team, based on what he's been doing on the ice."Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette
Veteran Trocheck being named as a potential candidate makes sense. The 31-year-old Trocheck has 15 goals, 17 assists and 131 shots on goal in 49 games this season. Clear from his four-game point drought in mid-January, Trocheck is slowly finding an offensive rhythm and can be considered a safe play with good coverage.
This bodes well as after all, a leader is there to both encourage and spur improvement.
The future captain of the Rangers should and will also represent the core values of the franchise. Trocheck signed a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers on July 13, 2022. He scored his 200th NHL goal in the Rangers' 5-2 win against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 3, 2024.
"I think [Vincent] Trocheck always jumps in and helps out with leadership. But you've got to have the guys in the room and on the ice doing the right things. Coming to work in the room, on the ice, making sure we're ready to play. I think the guys have done a pretty good job."Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette
While Laviolette mentioning the idea of a new captain in a press conference is encouraging, nothing is set in stone.