AV: “Captain Decision Will Come At The End of Training Camp”

Anthony Scultore Updated: Sep 18, 2014

AV at the podium (photo: Sean Hartnett/WFAN)

BOOM! Goes the dynamite? More like – pop. Alain Vigneault tells reporters today that a “captain decision will come at the end of training camp.”

So what does that mean?

Honestly, I wouldn’t read too much into it. Of course the foregone conclusion that McDonagh will be the next captain is up in the air.

As we wrote earlier today, questions like; maybe AV isn’t sure that McDonagh is the right choice? Is Marty St. Louis very much in the mix for the C? Will run rampant.

Still, while AV has been more forthcoming than John Tortorella, he still plays many things close to the vest.

MONKEY IN THE MIDDLE

Sean Hartnett of WFAN, is covering the presser today and sent this out:

#NYR head coach Alain Vigneault said he will start Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller “in the middle” during training camp.

— Sean Hartnett (@HartnettHockey) September 18, 2014

That’s actually great news because it shows the Rangers believe one of these youngster can claim and produce at a position where the Blueshirts are not very deep.

Vigneault also told the press that his intent is to open with 13 forwards and 7 defenseman. Looks like the cap crunch might mean carrying 22 and not 23 on the opening day roster.

“Each year is a new opportunity…we are moving forward…our focus has to be on training camp now”-AV #NYR — New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 18, 2014

If that’s the case we believe that Matt Hunwick has the inside track to claim the 7th defenseman spot.

As for forwards, we count 10 with solid spots (Nash, MSL, Stepan, Kreider, Zucc, Brass, Hags, Moore, Stempniak, Glass). That leaves 2 spots for the likes of JT Miller, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Malone and Matthew Lombardi.

Here is the full camp invite:

Here is the full #NYR Training Camp Roster: https://t.co/glrMKe8kc3 #NYRTC @SAPsports pic.twitter.com/kAqXZlvMU6

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 17, 2014