- SNY
Options to replace Girardi & Stepan as alternate captains
Last season the Rangers had a group of four alternate captains including Marc Staal, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Dan Girardi. After moving Stepan and Girardi the Rangers could have two potential openings for players to wear letters on the front of their jerseys. Since Ryan McDonagh became captain in 2014-15, the Rangers alternate captains have been: 14-15: Stepan, Marty St. Louis, Staal and Girardi 15-16: Stepan, Staal and Girardi 16-17: Stepan, Staal, Girardi and Rick Nash Alain Vigneault told Dan Rosen of NHL.com that he and his staff will see who wants to do more on the ice and off the ice, "who wants to expand his role as far as leadership and example and influence?" (NHL.com) Adam Rotter:
- Puck Daddy
John Tavares and the one-year Maple Leafs fantasy
When an NHL insider puts forth an outlandish notion, it’s usually born from one of two places: Their own attention-seeking imagination, or from a seed planted by someone else, perhaps during an informal chat or a over beer in Toronto. Craig Button is an NHL insider for TSN, and recently proffered a whopper: What if New York Islanders star John Tavares hit unrestricted free agency, opted not to sign a long-term deal with anyone and instead went home to Ontario on a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs in an all-in attempt to win a Stanley Cup before the Leafs salary cap blows up? Button’s theory is that the Leafs could make this happen with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner still on their entry-level deals.
- NBC Sports
Malkin on ‘workaholic’ Crosby, Penguins’ chances for three Cups in a row
Evgeni Malkin shared some interesting observations with Sports-Express’ Igor Eronko this weekend, including that he believes that the Pittsburgh Penguins “have all the tools” to win a third Stanley Cup in a row. Quite reasonably, Malkin notes that the team kept its core intact. Of course, Malkin and Sidney Crosby are still the catalysts for the Penguins, so it’s always fun to come across the latest observations from the Russian star.
