Vigneault Expected To Name Next Rangers Captain Thursday
This Thursday, the Rangers bench boss, Alain Vigneault, will hold his first official press conference to kick off the season. It has been widely speculated that Ryan McDonagh will be named the next captain of the Blueshirts.
It started with Pat Leonard of the Daily News – who wrote that “All signs point to star defenseman Ryan McDonagh being named NY Rangers captain.”
Sunday #NHL Notes: McDonagh likely #NYR‘s next ‘C’ (vote in our poll); domestic violence policy; the new diving rule https://t.co/hZfrn4nwk5
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) September 14, 2014
Which then started this chain reaction:
Report: Rangers to name Ryan McDonagh captain https://t.co/vlwIejheSx pic.twitter.com/wMbJp7jT93 — theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) September 14, 2014
Followed by countless of Ranger accounts (mostly fans and fan pages) announcing it as official.
While the jump isn’t exactly a leap of faith, it still is not official. No one I’ve spoken to that covers the team knows it as “official”.
Still, as we’ve been speculating since Ryan Callahan was traded, he makes the most sense. The only other real option after this last playoff run would be Martin St. Louis.
Matter of fact, I’m pretty sure Alain Vigneault has given it serious consideration, and why shouldn’t he. Marty is a Cup champion, former captain and a natural born leader. Don’t think so – look no further than the Pittsburgh series where the Rangers overcame a 3 games to 1 deficit for the first time in franchise history.
However, we firmly believe – like Brian Leetch and the number of pundits before and after him, that Ryan McDonagh will be the next captain.
He is 25 years old and part of the core that have brought the NY Rangers back to prominence. McDonagh accompanied Henrik Lundqvist to NHL Media Day which is another inclination of what the Rangers think of him as a “face” of the franchise.
#RangerSelfie @NYRangers #NHLMediaDay @RMcDonagh27 pic.twitter.com/47e3TruAv2
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) September 9, 2014
Bottom line, no matter who is chosen to be the captain “it won’t change the aura in the room.” That is exactly what Ryan McDonagh said recently with regards to the possibility of being named captain.
“I think I’ve progressed into being a go-to guy, someone teammates can look up to and someone they can count on. I think guys see I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win.” Ryan McDonagh explained this to reporters at the Greenburgh practice facility and it sounds like the words of a real leader.
So on Thursday, it is very possible that the man who wears #27 will fittingly be named the franchise’s 27th captain.
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