Is a Captain the Highest Priority for the Rangers Right Now?
In less than one month, the New York Rangers will hop back on the ice in Madison Square Garden, determined for a bounce-back season. Under the control of an almost entirely new coaching staff, the Blueshirts look to begin a new era of Rangers hockey. With some new additions acquired, it's hard to tell what this team can accomplish this season, but many remain confident that this is a team worthy of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For the first time since 2022, New York looks to play the whole season without a captain on the ice. Though they played much of last season without their former captain, Jacob Trouba, before trading him to Anaheim, it still wasn't a whole season. Many have already begun predicting the next Blueshirt worthy of the "C" on their uniform, but is it really the highest priority at this moment? After a season most fans are still trying to wrap their heads around, should the Rangers look to name their next captain this season?
When you look at a captain, it'd make sense to imagine right off the bat that they're the best player on the ice. While that may be a contributing factor when being the captain, especially with captains like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, it's not entirely the most essential part of being a captain. In the NHL, a captain is chosen not just for his skills on the ice, but also for his overall leadership, character, and ability to inspire the team he plays for. New York fans can surely agree that Jacob Trouba was far from the best Ranger on the ice, but it didn't necessarily mean he was a bad captain. Showing a strong presence in the locker room and being awarded the 2024 Mark Messier Leadership Award, Trouba was far from a bad leader. A captain should present the same type of presence Trouba has shown in his two seasons of captaincy, but are there any Blueshirts ready for this role?
Though a major issue with last season's collapse may have been due to a lack of leadership on and off the ice, it still may not be the biggest concern. Through almost the whole season, fans watched a defense completely shatter, star players underperforming, and an overall lack of resilience. After a season with players like Alexis Lafrenière, Vincent Trocheck, and Mika Zibanejad underperforming compared to their Presidents' Trophy season, it's hard to say if any of them deserve the role as captain. Let's say they can bounce back, which would be considered the right fit going into a later season?
Ever since Trouba left, fans have been quite eager to see two Blueshirts take the role: Vincent Trocheck or J.T. Miller. Trocheck has proven the last three seasons that he's pretty important on the ice with his ability in faceoffs, while J.T. Miller's physicality has been a satisfying sight for fans. It’s clear they both play significant roles on the ice in MSG; either one would be a fair choice. Both these Blueshirts have the qualities for a potential captain, but again, is it really their highest priority?
As fitting as both of them are to wear the letter on their jerseys, it would seem a bounce back may be needed. To go from the season they had in 2023-2024 to the embarrassment of 2024-2025 suggests they have more important things to worry about than simply naming a captain. A season like this is the perfect opportunity to retool on defense, as well as help players who underperformed last year bounce back; a captain is certainly not needed for much of that. The Rangers are less than one month away from their home opener in MSG; let's see what they can do to address their issues, ones that go much deeper than being without a captain.
