New York Rangers name Ryan McDonagh captain

By Cory Buck | Oct 7, 2014

Oct 3, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) keeps the puck from Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ben Smith (28) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. New York Rangers won 3-2 in shootout. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Rangers brass would like to get back to the Stanley Cup this season and they’re leaning on a familiar face to lead the way as captain.

Ryan McDonagh has been named the next captain of the New York Rangers, per the team’s website. He will be the 27th captain of the Original Six franchise and he’ll likely serve in that capacity for a while. As a young defenseman under contract until 2019, McDonagh was among the front runners for the captaincy based on his time with the Rangers. Now he and the team can turn to their goal of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for a second straight year.

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“Ryan McDonagh exemplifies what we want a New York Ranger to be,” said Rangers President and GM Glen Sather. “He has earned the respect of his teammates through his commitment to excellence, both on and off the ice, and the passion with which he plays on a consistent basis. He is the ideal choice to lead our team as its captain.”

McDonagh is an ideal choice for captain because he’s a young, exceptional player who can provide a cornerstone on which the Rangers can grow their young core of talent. While it might have been tempting for the team to name a veteran like Rick Nash or Martin St. Louis captain, Sather realized that it’s ultimately McDonagh who will lead this team into the future and it’s better he starts down that path now while there are still plenty of veterans upon which McDonagh can rely for guidance as he learns to play with a C stitched on his sweater.

The new Rangers captain set career-highs in goals and points last season with 14 goals and 43 points in 77 games played. He added 17 points in 25 playoff games, solidifying his status as the team’s go-to two-way blue liner. Now with the captaincy set, the Rangers can turn their sights back to the wide-open Eastern Conference.

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