Returning alternate captains include Barclay Goodrow, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, and Mika Zibanejad, with Jacob Trouba being the team's captain.
One former NHL player, however, may not be a fan of a team having six players in leadership roles.
Retired NHL player Marc Methot is very vocal of the Rangers having six players in leadership roles, thinking ego may have a hand in the decision for a team to have more alternate captains than any other team:
Some NHL teams have four alternate captains at most, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars as examples.
It's questionable, how having alternate captaincy depth spread across their entire lineup is detrimental to the team.
Not every member of the leadership group will wear the alternate patch each game, there will be five players who rotate the honor. Adam Fox was somewhat included even without the formalities.
He's been the Rangers' most reliable defenseman, winning one Norris Trophy and being a finalist another year to an already-lengthy résumé so early in his NHL career. Fox's official induction into the leadership group was on the horizon for some time.
Adam Fox and the Rangers will open the season, Thursday, October 12, against the Buffalo Sabres, at KeyBank Center, in Buffalo.
POLL | ||
Do the New York Rangers have too many captains? | ||
Yes | 64 | 59.8 % |
No | 43 | 40.2 % |
List of polls |