Rangers Name Jacob Trouba 28th Captain in Franchise History

On Tuesday afternoon, the New York Rangers' front office and management team introduced defenceman Jacob Trouba as the team's 28th captain in franchise history. The former Winnipeg Jets draft pick - ninth overall in 2012 - was shipped to the Rangers in the deal that saw Neal Pionk and a first round pick (which turned into Ville Heinola) join Winnipeg in a sizeable offseason trade in 2019. Since then, Trouba has grown with the Rangers and put up one of the best seasons of his career last year on Broadway. His 11 goals were a career high, while his 39 points were second to his 50 scored in 2018-19 with Winnipeg. Trouba has also made a name for himself through heavy contact bodychecks that have mostly left his opponents wounded or needing serious medical attention. On Wednesday morning, Trouba posted an open letter to both the front office and the fans of the Rangers organization, thanking them for their trust and support of him going forward. The body of his letter is listed below: "Dear Rangers fans, It is a privilege and an honour to be named the next captain of the New York Rangers. After I was told, one of the first things I did was look up the 27 captains before me. Messier, Leetch, Jagr, and Drury were players I grew up watching as a kid, and I dreamed of being in their skates one day. Once I became a Ranger, I started learning more about the history of the organization. Being around MSG and the Training Center, you see a lot of pictures and jerseys. I started to realize I'd see the same names more frequently - Howell, Bathgate, Hadfield, Esposito, Lundqvist. All of these players have had a lasting impact on the NHL and are New York Ranger legends. At the Training Center, two of the jerseys that line the walls stand out to me - Esposito's jersey from the mid-70s and Messier's jersey from '94. Both jerseys have the "C" on the front. Seeing those jerseys reinforce that not every player gets the opportunity to have that honour, let alone for an Original Six team. To share that honour with the players who have worn the "C" before for this organization is something I don't take lightly. I've said before that it takes me a certain amount of time to adjust to new surroundings. After coming to a new team and a new city, and getting to know new teammates and staff, it took most of my first season until I felt at home. One person who helped me though the transition is my wife, Kelly. Coming to New York three years ago was not just a great opportunity for me, but it was also a place my wife could chase her dreams and her career as a physician. There isn't a moment of this journey that we take for granted. My wife and I owe all of New York a thank you. You made us feel welcomed and showed us that New York City really is the greatest city in the world. Our friends are here, our careers are here, and we hope to start a family here. New York is home. Getting a taste of playoff hockey at MSG last year was special. You guys brought the energy, and we could feel that around the city. As players, you hang on to the memories and learn from the experience. While we all enjoyed that run, I am looking forward to the 2022-23 season. Like I said at the end of the season, I feel we are right there and I'm excited to see what lies ahead for our group. I know I am ready for this. There will be challenges, we will face adversity, but I will give you all I have. Our goal is to bring a Stanley Cup to this city. And while I can't promise it, I can promise I will give you my entire heart trying. Thank you, Rangers fans, for your constant and continued support. I can't wait to see you all at the Garden this year! Your captain."