The New York Rangers are in need of a leader in the locker room, and on the ice—a captain to replace the one that was traded away less than three weeks ago. Forward Mats Zuccarello, an eight-year veteran of the team, seems to be the player who has earned the opportunity.
The organization first needs to determine if Zuccarello is a long-term player with the team or if he is going to be the next player traded come the summer.
The Rangers are in a rebuilding mode. They have been calling up the kids of the organization, Neal Pionk and John Gilmour to name a few, over the last two months.