Larry Brooks
at the New
York Post is reporting that defenseman Dan Girardi will severe as the
Rangers second alternate captain on an interim basis until Marc Staal returns
to action. The first sign of this was
during pregame introductions for the home opener last night as Girardi was
wearing the “A” on his sweater for the first time.
The choice
of Girardi to hold Marc Staal’s “A” while he recovers from his concussion is a
phenomenal one. Girardi has proven
alongside Staal and now without him that he is capable of leading the Rangers’
defense corps. His play thus far this
season has been above and beyond what anyone could have expected because of how
heavily coach John Tortorella has leaned on him in all situations. He is playing an astounding 27:34 per game
recording one goal, three assists and being a plus three.
More than
being Staal’s normal defense partner and the most relied upon guy in his
absence, Girardi is deserving of this for the way he plays the game. Always amongst the league leaders in shot
blocking he sets the tone for the Rangers team in their own zone. When you watch Girardi throw his body around
with reckless abandon for his own safety, get dinged up and do it all over
again you cannot help but follow suit.
The negative
side here is that it likely means Staal is not coming back anytime soon because
the Rangers wouldn’t name an interim alternate captain if he was going to
return in relatively short order.
