Rangers name Trouba team captain

*Photo from the San Diego Union Tribune*

   It appears as if the New York Rangers captain search has reached it's end. On Tuesday, August 9, the Rangers named defenseman Jacob Trouba their next team captain, according to an announcement made by the team.

   Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said that "He played 101 games last year for us and he prepares himself. The young players, he took under his wing and helped them be better players. He just looked like a leader. He looked like a character guy and a leader. He played his game every night and it didn't affect him. Last year, we talked about it all the time. We didn't discuss it one day and forget about it. We talked about it during the season. We talked about it during the offseason. We just think now is the right time."

   Last season, Trouba served as an alternate captain for the Rangers, alongside Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome, and Barclay Goodrow. Trouba stood out enough to Rangers management that he, the only defenseman in that group, became the team's next captain.

   By becoming captain, Trouba becomes the 28th team captain in Rangers history, and the first since the 2017-2018 season. Ryan McDonagh was the previous captain, before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at that season's trade deadline. Mark Messier held the role of captain two separate occasions for the Rangers.

   Rangers GM Chris Drury said of Trouba that "Every day he brings something to the group. I think everyone sees the K'Andre relationship and what he does with him because they're partners, but there are so many things that go into leadership that I don't see, and you guys (the media) don't get to see and fans don't get to see. They're behind the scenes that I hear about and he doesn't even tell me about."\

   Last season was Trouba's 3rd with the Rangers after being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets. He tallied 11 goals and 28 assists, posting a +25 plus/minus rating in 22:26 per game in 81 regular season games. He added one goal and 4 assists in 20 playoff games.