The New York Rangers finally have a new captain after years of leaving the role vacant.
Late last night ESPN hockey analyst Kevin Weeks reported that the Rangers would name defenseman Jacob Trouba captain at some point today.
The team wound up breaking the news officially this morning.
For some Rangers fans including myself, this came as a bit of shock.
I thought the unanimous choice would have been 52-goal scorer Chris Kreider, who is currently the longest-tenured Ranger on the team.
You add that to his obvious leadership skills just like when he destroyed an iPad after linemate Mika Zibanejad was watching his breakaway miss in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
Speaking of Zibanejad, he may have been a close second-choice in everyone else’s mind to have the C sewed on his sweater.
But it’s pretty obvious today after the announcement that the players and management are fully behind the Trouba pick for captaincy.
Even Kreider admitted in a statement: If you ask the guys in that locker room, 100% of them will tell you that he’s been our captain without actually wearing the “C” for the last couple of years.”
“He’s unequivocally himself as a person and how he leads. There’s no ego to him off the ice or on the ice.”
Some fans weighted in reactions and some got behind the move.
One said: “I would have preferred Kreider, but if the room wanted Trouba, I’m all for it. The puck is always going north. Let’s go! #nyr”
“I am really not a fan of all the hate this is getting,” another said, criticizing the reactions of some fans.
“We’ve heard for a long time now that he’s a big time leader in the team. They wouldn’t have named him captain if the players weren’t fully on board with it.”
But of course, there was a fair share of negative reactions.
Eventually, the Rangers may have to address Trouba’s $8 million cap hit in the trade market, but it’s hard to say he isn’t deserving of the C – especially if his teammates all are behind it.
Trouba’s full no-move-clause turns into a modified no-trade-clause before the 2024-2025 season begins.
The Rangers have not had a team captain since trading defenseman Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning in February 2018.
