Selecting the next Rangers Captain

[LastWordArmy]

Our Rangers writer took a look at the top 3 candidates today and made his pick.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/07/15/who-will-be-the-next-new-york-rangers-captain/

Click to read more...

 

[Fitzy]

So neither of our current alternate captains is a candidate for the captaincy? Not sure on that one.

 

[cwede]

Should be Staal.

I expect him to re-sign
He's consistently been one NYR's most valuable players, and respected leaders, since he arrived.

but obviously the vocal group of folks here that want to trade him won't agree

 

[Thirty One]

So neither of our current alternate captains is a candidate for the captaincy? Not sure on that one.

Yeah, seems to be ignoring all the evidence there.

Also, when AV was in Vancouver, they ended the farce that was Luongo's captaincy. Don't see him trying it again here.

 

[zuckera1]

Personally, I'd be happy with MSL or McDonagh. Unless they can extend Staal, he shouldn't be a candidate.

MSL could serve as Captain in a stop-gap role until McDonagh gets a little more experience, and then when MSL retires he can hand it over to Mac.

 

[Nyrvana]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/16/hartnetts-rangers-offseason-preview-who-stays-and-who-goes/

At some point before training camp, the Rangers are expected to name 25-year-old defenseman Ryan McDonagh as their 27th captain in franchise history. A number of teammates including Rick Nash and Derick Brassard have endorsed McDonagh as next captain of the Blueshirts.
In addition to being a growing, all-situation defenseman, McDonagh is a character who is mature beyond his years. McDonagh will have benefited from having studied current letter-wearing veterans Richards, Staal, Dan Girardi and former captain Ryan Callahan. He will also lean on the wisdom of respected leader St. Louis, who will turn 39 on June 18.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06...-ryan-mcdonagh-becoming-rangers-next-captain/

It's got to be McDonagh. It's amazing to me how few people recognize the emerging talent that is Ryan McDonagh.

Top 5 NHL Defensemen and age for start next season:
Keith (31)
Weber (29)
Chara (37)
Doughty (24)
McDonagh (25)

 

[WVULax22]

Stepan, Hank, or Mac? Your writers need to find a new job.

It will be Mac or Staal. Dark horse would be St Louis, and only because its not a bad idea to have St Louis play one or two seasons as the captain so Mac could get a little older and more experienced before it was his turn.

 

[Wolfy*]

I doubt McDonagh is the captain, he doesn't have enough NHL experience. It also means a lot what AV thinks, and I believe he's leaning towards Staal.

 

[Thirty One]

I doubt McDonagh is the captain, he doesn't have enough NHL experience. It also means a lot what AV thinks, and I believe he's leaning towards Staal.

You should bet on it (I did). Any other player is paying out very well.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

MSL should be the captain for sure.

 

[eco's bones]

McDonagh is the hands down favorite.

Naming Staal captain however would signal that the Rangers are going to do whatever possible to re-sign him.

I really don't think St. Louis has that much a shot. Possibility he gets the next available A. His contract is coming up after next year as well.

 

[TeamStewie]

I doubt McDonagh is the captain, he doesn't have enough NHL experience. It also means a lot what AV thinks, and I believe he's leaning towards Staal.

I've heard AV do nothing but gush about McD and all he brings to the team. Don't know what he's said about Staal though to think he's leaning that way.

 

[iamthewalrus]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/16/hartnetts-rangers-offseason-preview-who-stays-and-who-goes/



http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06...-ryan-mcdonagh-becoming-rangers-next-captain/

It's got to be McDonagh. It's amazing to me how few people recognize the emerging talent that is Ryan McDonagh.

Top 5 NHL Defensemen and age for start next season:
Keith (31)
Weber (29)
Chara (37)
Doughty (24)
McDonagh (25)

Wow, is Doughty really only 24? Makes him all the more impressive. Thought he was at least a couple years older than McD for some reason.

As far as captaincy goes, if Staal re-signs it'd be between him and McD for me. I see Staal as more of a leader-type than McD.

 

[OverTheCap]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/16/hartnetts-rangers-offseason-preview-who-stays-and-who-goes/



http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06...-ryan-mcdonagh-becoming-rangers-next-captain/

It's got to be McDonagh. It's amazing to me how few people recognize the emerging talent that is Ryan McDonagh.

Top 5 NHL Defensemen and age for start next season:
Keith (31)
Weber (29)
Chara (37)
Doughty (24)
McDonagh (25)

I don't think there are many Rangers fans out there questioning McDonagh's talent level.

But there are some concerns about whether his leadership ability is sufficient enough to leapfrog over veterans like Staal, Girardi, and St. Louis. It depends on what AV and the organization are looking for in a captain.

 

[TeamStewie]

I don't know what kind of leadership people see in Staal. He reminds me a lot of Leetch in that regard.

 

[OverTheCap]

I've heard AV do nothing but gush about McD and all he brings to the team. Don't know what he's said about Staal though to think he's leaning that way.

He's made a few comments about Staal over the course of season:

"One thing with Marc is that he's a real good person," Vigneault said. "He looks you in the eye, always makes a lot of sense. I always know he's going to put his best foot forward. He's thinking about the game all the time. I've got a lot of time for players like that."

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303973704579355123613117900

Not sure if he's the leading candidate but one would presume he would be in the running for the captaincy, especially if he hammered out an extension prior to the season.

 

[n8]

without an extension, Staal does not have a shot

 

[Fitzy]

I'm curious as to why Staal is more popular choice than Girardi, who hasn't even been mentioned despite being the longest tenured skater on the team, and already has an extension.

I'm also curious as to why being the best player on the team (McDonagh) somehow mean's you're the ideal candidate for the captaincy.

 

[East Coast Bias]

I highly doubt Staal gets the C without a contract extension. There's no way anyone wants to deal with the bs "could the Captain leave two years in a row????" stories.

MSL might only be here a year more, maybe 2. Then you have this process all over again.

McD is the present and the future, and is signed long-term. He's the choice.

 

[Nyrvana]

I doubt McDonagh is the captain, he doesn't have enough NHL experience. It also means a lot what AV thinks, and I believe he's leaning towards Staal.

That's just nonsense. Considering there are 6 vacant captaincies in the NHL and 30 NHL teams, 14 out of the possible 24 NHL teams have captains that were 25 or younger when they were named captain.

The amount of current captains that were 25 or under when named captain

Landeskog (19)
Crosby (19)
Toews (20)
Benn (24)
Ovechkin (25)
Stamkos (24)
Weber (25)
Getzlaf (25)
Girioux (25)
Phaneuf (25)
Dustin Brown (23)
Eric Staal (25)
Taveres (21)
Ladd (25)

 

[Wolfy*]

McDonagh is just a kid to me, he lacks the ability to lead. He simply needs more time.

 

[Nyrvana]

I'm curious as to why Staal is more popular choice than Girardi, who hasn't even been mentioned despite being the longest tenured skater on the team, and already has an extension.

I'm also curious as to why being the best player on the team (McDonagh) somehow mean's you're the ideal candidate for the captaincy.

Because, teammates have already raved about his leadership, and have publicly promoted him as captain (Former captain himself, Rick Nash, and Brassard.) He's also signed for a long time, and far better option than Girardi (remember when Girardi let Gaborik get pummeled by Carcillo?)

 

[WVULax22]

McDonagh is just a kid to me, he lacks the ability to lead. He simply needs more time.

"Just a kid" is somewhat fair I think.

"Lacks the ability to lead" is just kind of an asinine statement to make. Have you been in the locker room with him? Have you skated on the ice with him? What makes you think that he lacks the ability to lead? Everything I've seen shows me that he has the ability to lead, both on and off the ice.

 

[RangersFan]

No need for another stop-gap captain. Just name McD the captain, no reason to delay the inevitability.

 

[Wolfy*]

I'm curious as to why Staal is more popular choice than Girardi, who hasn't even been mentioned despite being the longest tenured skater on the team, and already has an extension.

I'm also curious as to why being the best player on the team (McDonagh) somehow mean's you're the ideal candidate for the captaincy.

You got two good points there, can't rule out Girardi. Not even Nash, who was captain in Columbus.

I agree with others that the new captain should have a long term contract. Staal is UFA next year, if he's named captain I'll be surprised if they don't announce a contract extension at the same time.