The New York Rangers finally having a new captain after years of leaving the position vacant.
Late last night, ESPN hockey analyst Kevin Weeks announced Rangers would appoint a defender Jacob Trouba captain at some point today.
The team ended up officially announcing the news this morning.
The 28th captain of #NYR the story:
Ja©ob Trouba pic.twitter.com/PhhYhPeOAy
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 9, 2022
For some Rangers fans, myself included, that was a bit of a shock.
I thought the unanimous pick would have been the 52-goal scorer Chris Kreider, who is currently the most senior Ranger on the team.
You add that to his obvious leadership skills, just like when he destroyed an iPad after a threesome mate Mika Zibanejad watched his breakaway miss in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
Speaking of Zibanejad, he may have been a close second choice on everyone’s mind to have the C stitched onto his sweater.
But it’s pretty obvious today after the announcement that the players and management are fully behind Trouba’s choice for the captaincy.
Even Kreider admitted in a statement: If you ask the guys in this locker room, 100% of them will tell you he’s been our captain without wearing the “C” for the past two years.
“He is unequivocally himself as a person and how he leads. There is no ego for him off the ice or on the ice.
Some fans weighed in on the reactions and some supported the move.
One said: “I would have preferred Kreider, but if the venue wanted Trouba, I’m all for it. The puck always goes north. Let’s go! #nyr”
“I’m really not a fan of all the hate this is getting,” said another, criticizing some fan reactions.
“We have heard for a long time that he is a great leader in the team. They wouldn’t have made him captain if the players didn’t fully agree. »
But of course, there was a fair amount of negative reaction.
Chris Kreider discovers that Trouba is captain: pic.twitter.com/p1VrlLUmyZ
— Tyler McGillick (@TylerRichard93) August 9, 2022
Chris Kreider has been with the team for 10 years and scored 52 goals last season.
But Jacob Trouba will be named captain.
Now why is that? pic.twitter.com/iElI2JfFch
– please stop taking my tweets seriously (@EpicK8lin) August 9, 2022
Drury names Trouba captain so he can trade him to Tampa pic.twitter.com/6NRzJAdrvV
—David 🐠🏒📈 (@realdavidgold) August 9, 2022
Eventually, Rangers may have to settle Trouba’s $8 million cap on the trade market, but it’s hard to say he doesn’t deserve the C – especially if his teammates are all behind it.
Trouba’s full no-move clause converts to a modified no-trade clause before the start of the 2024-25 season.
Rangers haven’t had a team captain since swapping their defender Ryan McDonagh to Tampa Bay Lightning in February 2018.
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