New York Rangers announce their new leadership group ahead of game

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Joshua Deeds
October 11, 2022 (5:15 PM)

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The New York Rangers have had a tough choice choosing new Alternate Captains after Jacob Trouba was designated Captain in August of 2022. Trouba wore the "A" and was named an alternate prior to the start of the 2020-2021 NHL season.

However, Gallant spoke of wanting to spread the captaincy last year instead of wanting to name one captain alone and named six Alternates last year:

Instead of having someone wear the «C», the Rangers will open the 2021-22 season with six alternate captains (yes, you read that right, SIX), where presumably, these six men will also alternate with the «A» on their jerseys on the road and at home.

The six alternate captains for this 2021-22 season are Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome, and Barclay Goodrow.

This year's alternates have been reduced by 2 after Trouba's Captaincy had been established in August.

Gallant went with the players who you'd expect, along with some returning alternates in Barclay Goodrow, Mike Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider, who make contributions every night on the ice, whether they're a depth defensive forward, to the electric Kreider and Zib linemates, also in a bromance.

Kreider and Zibanejad's shared captaincy is to be expected, as Kreider is a natural leader and had a career year last season, under Gallant's first year as bench boss.

His feeling about the captaincy isn't what you'd expect though:

Your value as a leader is not dependent on what letter you're wearing or even if you have one,» Kreider told The Post a day ahead of the season opener against the Lightning at the Garden. «When I came up and we had that veteran core, nobody cared who wore the �C' or the �A.'

«Rick Nash, I don't even think he had a letter for about four years and he was as much of a leader as we had on those teams. I've been pretty adamant that naming Jacob [Trouba] as captain was the right move, and it would have been before last season with all of the things he does both here and away from the ice. I think it's great for him and for us.

«But I'm confident in the role I have as a leader. I know what I bring.»

Kreider's much more concerned with winning a cup than wearing an "A" and as the Rangers will be working towards running it back, after their 2nd round loss you can't help but feel the humility isn't lacking in Kreider's stance.

But on the ice is where his play does the talking; 11 seasons is still on his first NHL team, his dedication is sincere.

With four Alternates, the Rangers leadership group is still as good as ever.

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