The Rangers have altered the veteran makeup of their team. In trading, away Rick Nash, Michael Grabner and McDonagh, the team has created a leadership vacuum. The team definitely has leaders in the dressing room, anyone who follows the Rangers knows that this is Henrik Lundqvist’s team. But, being that the NHL does not allow goalies to be captains due to practicality, the league does not want goalies to skate out to center ice to talk with officials, Lundqvist will never be captain.
Part of this rebuild is a transition from the old group of players from the last five years.