New York Rangers Daily: Best captain options; Repeat PWHL champion; Mitch Marner eyes Vegas
When it comes to whether the New York Rangers need a captain next season and, if so, which player should wear the “C” is an intriguing debate.
I tend to agree with Larry Brooks, who wrote in the New York Post that the Rangers need a captain after this past rudderless season, both before and after Jacob Trouba was traded to the Anaheim Ducks.
If you think that last part — “both before and after” — is a small dig at Trouba’s leadership, well, you’re right. I know that so much of the team’s issues and Trouba’s lack of motivation came from general manager Chris Drury’s mishandling of the former captain’s exit, beginning last summer. Drury really cut Trouba’s legs out from under him from a leadership standpoint. But the former captain could’ve given more, too, instead of helping foster the malaise that shrouded the Rangers pretty much the entirety of the 2024-25 season.
That said, during Trouba’s time on Broadway, he was a respected leader on and off the ice for the Rangers. He earned that “C” on his sweater even before the honor was bestowed on him. He was deserving of the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2024.
Sure, Trouba’s contract was an albatross. He was overpaid for his on-ice production. Rangers fans and management were in agreement in the end on that one. But that doesn’t take away from what a good leader he was for the Blueshirts. But he did, in part, let them down his final couple months with the organization.
That’s all in the past. The Rangers, in my opinion, should name a captain this season. In my eyes, it’s a two-man competition: J.T. Miller or Vincent Trocheck. Yes, Adam Fox is younger, should be a more effective player for a longer stretch than the two veteran forwards. and has been part of the leadership group as a letter-wearing alternate already. But I’m not sure the 27-year-old’s personality is commanding enough to be captain, and I have my concerns that the “C” could weigh him down.
Of course, not being on the inside, it’s very difficult to provide a 100 percent clear view of who is best suited to be captain. Perhaps there’s more there with Fox behind the scenes. That’s why it’s so important that Drury and Mike Sullivan not rush into making this decision. Brooks called for the decision to be made before the start of training camp. But maybe giving Sullivan time to get to know the players, see how they interact with one another and the coaches before making a swift decision, is a better plan.
Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin are returning letter wearers, like Fox. Each is a hard no for me to be next captain. Knowing Kreider, it’s my opinion that he’s never wanted the “C,” preferring to be a respected voice and leader, just without the captain’s responsibilities. Panarin’s got only one season remaining on his contract and some off-ice controversy which doesn’t put him in the best position for this role. Zibanejad? Especially after this past season, no way.
Our Ryan McInerney made the case for Trocheck recently. Brooks threw his support behind Miller. Either works for me. Especially because they have each other. If Miller’s captain, Trocheck will be right there working alongside his longtime buddy. And vice versa.
Each embodies what the Rangers want to be, and are respected veterans and leaders in their own right. It’d be a fresh start putting letters on their sweaters, a new packaged pair to help the Rangers put this past season where it belongs, firmly in the past.
New York Rangers news
Congrats to Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers legend was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame this past weekend for his stellar international play with Sweden over a two-decade span.
ICYMI: We broke down Mika Zibanejad’s play at the 2025 World Hockey Championships, where he helped Sweden capture the bronze medal.
Another ICYMI from the holiday weekend: Our Tom Castro made the case for why the Rangers shouldn’t extend Panarin and move on from the star forward when his contract expires at the end of next season.
NHL news and rumors
ESPN: The Minnesota Frost won the Walter Cup for the second straight season as PWHL champion, after a 2-1 overtime win against the Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of their best-of-5 series Monday. Each of the four games in the Final was decided in overtime.
NHL.com: The Carolina Hurricanes did it! They won a conference final game for the first time since 2006, ending a 15-game losing streak in the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oh, and the Hurricanes kept their season alive with a 3-0 road win over the Florida Panthers, who still have a 3-1 series lead.
Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers didn’t have three regulars in the lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Hurricanes due to injuries: former Rangers defenseman Niko Mikkola, top-six forward Sam Reinhart and fourth-liner A.J. Greer.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers will be without injured forward Connor Brown for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. However, defenseman Mattias Ekholm might finally be healthy enough to make his 2025 playoffs debut and goalie Calvin Pickard may be able to dress as Stuart Skinner’s backup.
TSN: Roope Hintz is hopeful he’ll be able to play for the Stars in Game 4 after he missed the previous game of the West Final with a lower-body injury.
Vegas Hockey Now: There’s a report that the top free agent on the market this summer, Mitchell Marner, is very interested in playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Sportsnet: Erik Brannstrom, who was briefly in the Rangers organization after the defenseman was acquired along with J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31 before being shipped to the Buffalo Sabres weeks later, signed a three-year contract to play in Switzerland.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Veteran forward Tomas Tatar is leaving the New Jersey Devils after signing a two-year contract with EV Zug in Switzerland.
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