Who will be the Alternate Captains this year?

[Crease]

Who ya got?

Staal is a safe bet. Does Richards keep his?

Click to read more...

 

[Krams]

Vigneault isn't going to ruffle any feathers like that his first year here by stripping Richards of his A.

 

[aemoreira1981]

The real question might be: who starts off with the third "A" while Cally is hurt? Should it be Girardi or should it be McD?

 

[GAGLine]

Girardi has worn it in the past when Staal was hurt. He'll likely get it again while Cally is out.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I like when the players (not coaches) pick who they respect most.

 

[JohnC]

Cally (C)
Staal (A)
Girardi (A)
Richie (A)

Girardi wears the A only while Cally's out or one of the thee alternates are out

 

[ChipAyten]

Ryan McDonagh?

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Cally (C)
Staal (A)
Girardi (A)
Richie (A)

Girardi wears the A only while Cally's out or one of the thee alternates are out

Vigneault isn't going to ruffle any feathers like that his first year here by stripping Richards of his A.

Agree with both of these.

 

[vipernsx]

Vigneault isn't going to ruffle any feathers like that his first year here by stripping Richards of his A.

yup, he'll let the GM do the dirty work when Richards' gets bought out at the end of the year.

Staal has always been an alternate and will keep his too.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

AV isn't going to strip Richards of his A unfortunately. But I can't think of a worse role model for the young guys then an out of shape bum like Brad that started coasting after he cashed in.

 

[Tawnos]

AV isn't going to strip Richards of his A unfortunately. But I can't think of a worse role model for the young guys then an out of shape bum like Brad that started coasting after he cashed in.

Ah yes, this tired argument. Richards was making $7.8m before he came to the Rangers and did just fine. Was he out of shape at the beginning of last season? Yes, but the contract has nothing to do with it.

But yeah, I don't think he's getting stripped of the A just yet. He's a prominent voice in the locker room. He's also the most experienced voice in there and the only one who has actually won the Cup on the team. I can see the argument for why he should lose it, but I also see the argument why he wouldn't.

 

[wolfgaze]

When the roster is healthy I would like to see:

C - Callahan
A - Staal
A - Girardi

I don't give a crap about Richards losing his A. He's got a lot more to be concerned about other than whether or not he's got a letter on his shoulder.

 

[Crease]

It's worth mentioning that Callahan (7 seasons), Girardi (7 seasons) and Staal (6 seasons) are the longest tenured Ranger skaters on the roster.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

Richards won't lose his A. The players, like it or not, all look up to him as a leader.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Ah yes, this tired argument. Richards was making $7.8m before he came to the Rangers and did just fine. Was he out of shape at the beginning of last season? Yes, but the contract has nothing to do with it.

But yeah, I don't think he's getting stripped of the A just yet. He's a prominent voice in the locker room. He's also the most experienced voice in there and the only one who has actually won the Cup on the team. I can see the argument for why he should lose it, but I also see the argument why he wouldn't.

The beginning of last season, the beginning of 11-12, and the beginning of this season. A player of his ilk doesn't magically lose talent. He started slacking.

And he signed a retirement contract this time around. Big difference; the feeling of knowing you'll be well compensated for the rest of your career can really change the way you approach it.

Playoff experience means squat when you're a healthy scratch for a good portion of it. He can say "great job out there!" to the players without an A in his jersey, without representing the leadership core of the Rangers.

Yes, there's certainly arguments both ways, I agree. Doesn't change the fact the he couldn't deserve it less.

 

[Tawnos]

The beginning of last season, the beginning of 11-12, and the beginning of this season. A player of his ilk doesn't magically lose talent. He started slacking

Players "magically" lose talent in their 30s all the time. It happens when you lose a step of footspeed or even the tiniest bit of reaction time. And, while every player is different in regards to exactly when it happens, there isn't a single player who avoids it.

 

[Machinehead]

I think Richards should get stripped of his A and it should be shared by the fans who put up with this team. We should all literally be alternate captains.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Players "magically" lose talent in their 30s all the time. It happens when you lose a step of footspeed or even the tiniest bit of reaction time. And, while every player is different in regards to exactly when it happens, there isn't a single player who avoids it.

Richards was playing some of the best hockey of his career right before he came to NY, maybe even his best.

You can't possibly be trying to argue that Richards being terrible is simply a product of his old (at the ripe age of 31 when he signed with NYR) age.

 

[Tawnos]

Richards was playing some of the best hockey of his career right before he came to NY, maybe even his best.

You can't possibly be trying to argue that Richards being terrible is simply a product of his old (at the ripe age of 31 when he signed with NYR) age.

I can, I am, and I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Sorry that your opinion that a guy who was always considered to have a fantastic work ethic suddenly lost 30 years worth of mental conditioning overnight is somehow more valid.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

I can, I am, and I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Sorry that your opinion that a guy who was always considered to have a fantastic work ethic suddenly lost 30 years worth of mental conditioning overnight is somehow more valid.

You're getting worked up. We're having a discussion.

No matter who you are, your body does not break down from playing the best hockey of your career to being a healthy playoff scratch 1.5 years later.

Let's agree that it's a combination of both (with a much, much heavier emphasis on him being a lazy ***** ).

 

[haveandare]

I can, I am, and I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Sorry that your opinion that a guy who was always considered to have a fantastic work ethic suddenly lost 30 years worth of mental conditioning overnight is somehow more valid.

He went from incredible to unable to make a pass due to age?

I'm fairly certain that he himself said he didn't condition properly for last season and then his lack of success got to his head and snowballed.

 

[Tawnos]

You're getting worked up. We're having a discussion.

No matter who you are, your body does not break down from playing the best hockey of your career to being a healthy playoff scratch 1.5 years later.

Let's agree that it's a combination of both (with a much, much heavier emphasis on him being a lazy ***** ).

I wasn't worked up. But I also didn't say anything about his body breaking down

Either way, don't think Tortorella would've been on board with a lazy player wearing an A. Even his boy.

 

[ChOyBoY]

you guys don't think Nash will keep the A?

 

[Machinehead]

you guys don't think Nash will keep the A?

He wouldn't have had it to begin with with a healthy Callahan.

 

[Krams]

I think Richards should get stripped of his A and it should be shared by the fans who put up with this team. We should all literally be alternate captains.

Semis last year, conference finals the year prior. There are a lot of fans around the league that would gladly put up with that.