Five Possibilities For The New York Rangers’ Captaincy In 2025-26

Five Possibilities For The New York Rangers’ Captaincy In 2025-26
The New York Rangers are one of only three NHL teams without an active captain.
The Boston Bruins traded Brad Marchand last season, and although Logan Couture has been the San Jose Sharks’ captain, he stepped away from professional hockey and won’t play again during the final two seasons of his contract, so the team doesn’t have someone wearing the ‘C’ on the ice.
The Rangers’ captaincy has been vacant since star defenseman Jacob Trouba was traded to the Anaheim Ducks last December. If they choose a new captain for this season, he will have the massive responsibility of not only leading a big-market, Original Six club but trying to guide it back to Stanley Cup contention after a very disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
From our perspective, there are five possibilities for the Rangers’ captaincy this upcoming season, and we’re going to explore them below
In many, if not most, cases, teams give their ‘C’ to the most talented player. You see that in Toronto with Auston Matthews, in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby, and in Edmonton with Connor McDavid. Those players lead by example, in part on the scoresheet. This is why Panarin should be the Rangers’ captain
Even in a down year by his standards, Panarin still had 52 assists, 37 goals and 89 points last year, which was 27 more points than the Rangers’ next-biggest contributor on offense. You want your captain to set an example, and when you’re your team’s best force on offense, you should be given the reins.
Panarin is now 33, and he’s the Rangers’ highest-paid player at $11.6 million per season. He’s also entering the final year of his contract. Panarin has every motivation to play well, and he should be embracing the role a captain plays.
If Panarin doesn’t want to be captain, that’s on him. But the Rangers should be giving him first dibs at the captaincy. He’s the Blueshirts’ best player, and putting the ‘C’ on him would be an indication the Rangers want him to remain with the team for the rest of his career. That would have to be enticing for Panarin.