Three Possible Captaincy Options if New York Rangers Trade Jacob Trouba
With the recent news that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be making a change with their captaincy as former New York Islander John Tavares hands the "C" over to Auston Matthews, there has been debate about Tavares being stripped of the captaincy. While it seems more complex than that, there has been some debate about whether or not the New York Rangers should be exploring options with what they do with their captaincy with the knowledge that they want to move on from Jacob Trouba.
There has been a debate about who would fill the void left by the giant right-shot defenseman if the title became available ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, and there are several good options. With the Rangers' core being mature and their young players starting to come of age, the organization could take a couple of routes if they were to move Trouba out the door.
Peter Laviolette will probably be the determining voice in deciding who gets the honor of captaining this Original Six franchise. When Trouba was named captain, some other options weren't ready, and I think one man was just overlooked. There's been a roaring debate since then, but since it is the middle of August and hockey is not imminent, let's look at the players who could replace Trouba as the leader of this organization.
For clarification's sake, I firmly believe that the "C" is merely symbolic in hockey. The appointment of a new captain will keep the voices of all 23 players, coaches, training staff, and front office. Leadership does not come from one person; it takes everyone, especially if you will be a successful franchise in this league. Knowing it is the most taxing league in the world, everyone has to provide in this regard.
Chris Kreider
This is the obvious choice that was passed over last time. Chris Kreider is Mr. New York Ranger right now. Having never played for another franchise, this homegrown player has been synonymous with the Ranger way for over a decade. One of the historic Rangers, as he approaches the shoulders of giants in all three of points, goals, and assists, he's become someone that this franchise will never forget.
When he was looked over for the captaincy, many questions were asked about why. In the six years between the departure of Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the appointment of Jacob Trouba, the Rangers had to have mulled over the idea of dishing the captaincy to Chris Kreider, but they kept passing up on it. Some suggested that this was a shot at a lack of leadership ability from Kreider, but he wears an "A" anyway, so I do not think there is much truth to that.
Kreider had some uncertainty with his contract during that time, which may have had an impact if the organization didn't want a captain who would be moving on in a couple of seasons. Still, they put lipstick on a pig by appointing the worst contract on the roster as the captain. It feels a little bit like buyer's remorse. Trying to dress up Trouba like a great leader to increase his trade value is not the most outrageous thing in the world, but it hasn't led to much success.
Kreider has been everything you want from this organization. While he probably won't live up to the heights of Mark Messier or the aforementioned McDonagh, there is a chance that he could be a success, and that is what the Rangers need leading their team right now. He's been there and done it before for this organization in big moments, looking directly at game three against Carolina.
Adam Fox
A player finally emerging as a true candidate for captaincy is Adam Fox, the best defenseman in the world. The Norris Trophy winner is one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL. He has a collection of points and sensational defensive plays that outline his ability to lead by example. He rarely misses time and is often the Rangers' best player. There's much more weight when Fox demands more of you than when Trouba does it.
When Trouba was appointed, it felt a little rushed to put the "C" on Fox, and it still might be now. He was welcomed into the leadership ring, joining Mika Zibanejad, Kreider, Artemi Panarin, and Trouba, so there is a little more reason for it now, but that was only recently. It may be premature to put the weight of the captaincy on this child's chest, but there is a solid counterpoint to this.
Adam Fox is a New York Rangers fan. He turned down signing for Calgary and Carolina to come and play for his boyhood hockey club and dawn the iconic Blueshirts under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. He's backed himself to live up to the pressure put upon him, and he's done that and more. He knows what it takes to be a Ranger; he always wanted to be one.
One thing Fox has going for him over Kreider or Trouba is that the best years of his career still lay ahead of him. He's at the peak of his powers and will only help this team push further. While Kreider and Trouba are fighting father time, trying to stay on the ice as much as possible, Fox matures every season. His growth as a Ranger has been staggering.
Artemi Panarin
When in doubt, put the weight of the captaincy on your organization's best-eligible player. Artemi Panarin is undeniably the Rangers' best player. A 120-point season, the most by any Ranger not named Jaromir Jagr, and a campaign for the Hart Trophy as league MVP puts him up there with the best of the best for wingers in the NHL. Dynamic, speedy, and near impossible to shut down at his peak, the Russian winger is a dynamo.
Panarin is a different option. He's been around the league with Chicago and Columbus, but he chose to come to New York and leave more money on the table to play here. He has had Stanley Cup-winning experience since he was a young kid in Chicago. He knows what it takes to reach the levels of glory that the Rangers have been aspiring to achieve since the end of 1994. He would be quite the leader of Blueshirts.
He's also the best "lead by example" player in the NHL. Imagine going into game six of the Eastern Conference Finals and needing two wins to progress, and your captain carries the load to get you to the Stanley Cup Finals, where you win the Cup for the first time in a long time. Mark Messier did it, and Panarin is qualified to do it himself.
Is it likely that the New York Rangers change their captain? No. If they move Trouba, I doubt they'd appoint a new one, and they will not strip Trouba. But it is a fun conversation to have. There's almost no chance it actually happens.