After a wretched performance on home ice in Game 4 of the conference semifinals, the New York Rangers filed off the ice to a chorus of boos from the so-called Madison Square Garden faithful. A 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins left the Rangers in a 3-1 series hole and on the brink of expulsion from the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The giant silver door that leads to the locker room was slammed shut as players undressed following their third straight loss. This is the time when a team's captain might say a few words, perhaps measured, perhaps fiery and passionate, but the Rangers have been without a captain since dealing Ryan Callahan at the trade deadline.
Coach Alain Vigneault did not name a captain in the wake of that trade, instead leaning on the ever-popular "leadership group" idea. But one player has been acting as the captain since early March without being named the acting captain—Brad Richards.
So when it came time to address the room in a players-only, closed-door meeting, it was Richards who spoke first.
"We had a talk as a group after that game in the room," said Marc Staal, one of three Rangers who ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Dave Lozo
Brad Richards Filling the Leadership Void for Captain-Less Rangers
May 23rd, 2014 by Dave Lozo Leave a reply »
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