One of the things that makes hockey so special is the respect and admiration gained from one single letter on the corner of the front of a jersey. Sure other sports have captains, but does it carry the same weight as it does in hockey?
I think not.
The New York Rangers have had a lot of captains in their long and historic history. The number is 28 to be exact. That includes newly departed defenseman Jacob Trouba, as he is the second captain traded in a row. The other was Ryan McDonaugh.
It begs the question, is it worth it to burden a player with that much responsibility, or leave that role vacant? For the Rangers, it needs to be vacant for a long time, as no current Blueshirt deserves the honor. You can make the case for Chris Kreider for his veteran status and unwavering loyalty to the Rangers franchise, or you can even make the case for Mika Zibanejad who has also been a huge part to the leadership group over the years.
But, neither of those guys truly deserves this kind of honor.
Let me explain.
O Captain! My Captain!
This entire Trouba saga has been a massive distraction. As much as the team tried to push past it, you could tell that drama was in the locker room. His standing as the captain completely blew this whole situation out of proportion. If he was anyone else, it would not have grown to that kind of level of importance.
That is why this letter needs to be shelved for a while until the Rangers can truly find their bonafide leader. And, more importantly, a leader that will last his career with this franchise. After signing his record-breaking deal, goaltender Igor Shesterkin could be the most logical choice as to be the next captain. Having a goaltender as the captain is not normal, but also not taboo either. That pick almost makes too much sense.
Do you think the Rangers should name another captain befoe the 2024-25 season is done, or just let it sit?