By Josh Thomson
NEW YORK — Months after a long and often brilliant playoffs, Ryan McDonagh seemed destined to join the NHL’s elite defensemen. He had proven himself last spring on the ice against the likes of Montreal’s P.K. Subban and L.A.’s Drew Doughty. A new season would serve to confirm that he belonged in their class.
But, in a unique way, McDonagh’s rapid ascension into that Norris Trophy stratosphere hit a patch of turbulence last Oct. 6. The day the 25-year old was named the 27th captain of the Rangers, he suddenly had more to worry about than muscling forwards like Alex Ovechkin away from his goaltender’s crease.