2011-2012 NHL Season: Will the New York Rangers Have a New Captain?
The New York Rangers are a storied franchise with a rich history. This year the club celebrates its 85th anniversary.
Throughout the years, many different men have worn the storied captain’s “C” across their chest. Over the past few years the Rangers have had captain’s such as Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Jaromir Jagr and the current captain Chris Drury. All of these men have a common attribute. These men all had the ability to lead their teams.
This year has been full of a lot of injuries for the Rangers. Many different players have fallen victim to the injury bug including the captain Chris Drury. Drury has had a broken thumb twice this year and he has succumbed to a knee injury which required arthroscopic surgery. As a result of this, many Rangers fans wonder if Chris Drury has played his last game as a "blueshirt".
The once gifted prolific scorer and Stanley Cup veterans game has significantly dropped off since he was signed as a free agent by the Rangers a few summers ago. At a cap hit of $7.5 million a year, he is way too expensive to sit on the bench as a healthy scratch. Rising talent like Calder Trophy candidate, Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello, make Drury’s playing time expendable. If the Rangers attempt to buy out his contract this offseason, the captaincy will remain vacant.
Coach Tortorella has been known to hesitant when it comes to putting letters on his players’ jerseys. In Drury’s absence, Ryan Callahan and Marc Staal have served as the alternate captains. He feels that every player should work hard and set an example regardless of the letter on their chest. So if the scenario above were to come up this offseason, there are only a couple of players that many feel are worthy of the captain’s “C”.
Ryan Callahan
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Ryan Callahan is a homegrown kid from Rochester, New York.
He was drafted by the Rangers in 2004 and was a product of the Hartford Wolfpack.
Ryan Callahan has many characteristic that make him worthy of being the captain. One of these characteristics is he is a natural leader. In the absence of Chris Drury, Callahan has often been the focus during interviews conducted by media members in the dressing room. He felt the need to step up and speak on behalf of the team. He fields the tough questions and sets the tone of how the team needs to play.
Callahan is a nitty-gritty player who loves to grind and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves when necessary. Callahan missed some key games this year after breaking his hand by blocking a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is this attitude and heart which has made Callahan and instant fan favorite.
On the ice he is often a catalyst for offense and makes others around him step up their game. Callahan has had an explosive year so far for the Rangers by tallying 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in the 56 games he has suited up for. One can only imagine the totals he would have had he appeared in all of the Rangers 76 games thus far.
When you take his leadership abilities both on the ice and in the locker room into consideration, you have a strong candidate for the next Rangers captain.
Brandon Dubinsky
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Brandon Dubinsky would be wearing an “A” on his chest had not contract negotiations halted his arrival to training camp a summer ago. Many critics felt Dubinsky was demanding way too much. As the fans have seen so far this year, Dubinsky has lived up to and exceeded expectation.
The 24-year-old Alaskan native was another 2004 draft pick by the New York Rangers.
He is another grinder who sticks up for his team when necessary. Dubinsky was in an infamous brawl with Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin earlier this year. He has also had fights with Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards on occasion. Dubinsky loves sticking up for his teammates and is another good leader.
Like Callahan, Dubinsky’s on-ice play makes him a catalyst for offense. It seems that when the chips are down and the Rangers need someone to step up, Brandon Dubinsky is one of the first to answer the call. It is more likely that next season Dubinsky will be sporting a alternate captain’s “A” instead of the “C”.
Hopefully, Brandon Dubinsky will be a mainstay on the Rangers for many years to come.
Marc Staal
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Like Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky, Marc Staal is also a product of the Rangers farm system and played for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Marc Staal’s game has significantly grown this season.
Staal was given the "A" by Coach John Tortorella earlier this season. Since he was given a significant increase in minutes, John Tortorella has leaned on Stall heavily this season especially on the penalty kill.
Marc Staal has been very influential this year with the young defensive core. Staal has been a mentor to younger players like Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh. As a result, even though the Rangers have the youngest defense in the league, they are near the top when it comes to hits and blocked shot totals.
Marc Staal will continue to grow as a leader and as a player and has great years ahead of him.
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Alternate Captain Replacements
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The most likely scenario to occur would for Ryan Callahan or Marc Staal to make the transition from an "A" to a "C". If this is the case the following players could potential wear an "A" next season.
Dan Girardi
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Dan Girardi is one of the Rangers bravest players.
He is one of the best in the NHL when it comes to blocking shots.
He has been a mainstay on the top defensive pair for the Rangers.
Girardi would be a no-brainer to put the "A" on. His heart and soul set the tone an he truly exhibits what it means to be a Ranger.
Brian Boyle
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Brian Boyle has had a great season for the Rangers.
His offensive numbers are a career high for the 6' 7" center.
He is a grinder who plays hard and tries to make himself and the linemates he plays with better.
While he may not be one of the more obvious choices it would still be a possibility.
Conclusion and Looking Towards the Future
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The Rangers would be well represented by any of the men listed above as their captain.
With these players all currently leading by example, they have been great mentors and role models to young rookies like Mats Zuccarello, Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh and Michael Sauer.
The future is bright for all these young players and the fans can expect greatness in the years to come.
Tom Urtz is an aspiring sports writer out of the New York area. You can follow him on twitter @ SH_TomUrtzNYR for all your New York Rangers news, rumors, and more
You can also see more of Tom's work featured at SportsHaze.com
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