On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The New York Rangers have been the center of attention in the NHL for a good chunk of the 2024-25 season, and that won’t be changing any time soon. A horrible stretch of 4-12-0 on their last 16 games has forced quite a few trade rumors, but also a couple of actual dealings.
Over their poor run, the Rangers have traded former second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko and now former captain Jacob Trouba. With the Anaheim Ducks taking Trouba off their hands, the Rangers are without a captain.
There are a few key names in the organization could easily take his place, but a former Stanley Cup champion with the Rangers believes the perfect choice is obvious. According to Alex Kovalev, Artemi Panarin should be the next Rangers captain.
“Panarin has all the abilities for this. He is a leader,” Kovalev told rg.org. “I don't know how he behaves in the locker room, but on the ice, he is an absolute leader. This is the main thing—you need to go out on the ice and lead your teammates by example.”
Ever since arriving in New York ahead of the 2019-20 season, Panarin has by far been the Rangers’ most productive player. He’s led the team in scoring in all five seasons he’s been a Ranger, and is leading this year by a wide margin.
In 381 career games with the Rangers, Panarin has scored 164 goals and 334 assists for 498 points. Soon enough he’ll have 500 as a member of the Rangers, and should quickly climb the franchise ranks for offense.
As for taking over as captain, there are a lot of viable options the Rangers could consider, but Panarin is one of a very view that haven’t been found in the rumor mill.
Chris Kreider might be on the trade block, as well as Mika Zibanejad. Those are perfect candidates for the captaincy, but you can’t place the “C” on someone who might see his name in such rumors.
Panarin and Adam Fox are easily the two top options in New York, and it might be high powered forward who takes over the role.
More must-reads:
- NHL coaches who have the best chance of success with their new teams
- Is a Connor Bedard breakout coming in 2025-26?
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Hockey Canada invites MacKenzie Weegar to 2026 Winter Olympics orientation camp
Hockey Canada has invited Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to its summer orientation camp ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics in Italy. Weegar, 31, was the only Flame invited to the summer camp, which will take place in Calgary from August 26 to 28. The Ottawa product collected eight goals and 47 points while averaging 24:10 of ice time in 81 games with the Flames in the 2024-25 regular season. In total, Hockey Canada invited three goaltenders, 13 defencemen, and 26 forwards to vie for a spot on its men’s Olympic team. The federation also announced the camp rosters for its women’s and para teams on Friday. Here is the full roster of NHL players invited to the camp, sorted by position: Goaltenders (3): Jordan Binnington (STL), Adin Hill (VGK), and Sam Montembeault (MTL) Defencemen (13): Evan Bouchard (EDM), Noah Dobson (MTL), Drew Doughty (LA), Aaron Ekblad (FLA), Thomas Harley (DAL), Cale Makar (COL), Brandon Montour (SEA), Josh Morrissey (WPG), Colton Parayko (STL), Travis Sanheim (PHI), Shea Theodore (VGK), Devon Toews (COL), and MacKenzie Weegar (CGY). Forwards (26): Connor Bedard (CHI), Sam Bennett (FLA), Quinton Byfield (LA), Macklin Celebrini (SJ), Anthony Cirelli (TB), Sidney Crosby (PIT), Brandon Hagel (TB), Bo Horvat (NYI), Zach Hyman (EDM), Seth Jarvis (CAR), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Travis Konecny (PHI), Nathan MacKinnon (COL), Brad Marchand (FLA), Mitch Marner (VGK), Connor McDavid (EDM), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM), Brayden Point (TB), Sam Reinhart (FLA), Mark Scheifele (WPG), Mark Stone (VGK), Nick Suzuki (MTL), John Tavares (TOR), Robert Thomas (STL), Carter Verhaeghe (FLA), and Tom Wilson (WSH). Hockey Canada invited each and every player who suited up for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year to its Olympic camp, meaning the remaining players — Weegar included — are all facing an uphill battle to punch their tickets to Italy this coming winter. Despite outscoring multiple forwards included on the camp roster, neither Nazem Kadri nor Jonathan Huberdeau will be taking part in the orientation camp. It remains to be seen whether any other Flames players will get the chance to represent their respective countries at the Olympics next year. The Flames originally acquired Weegar from the Florida Panthers in the 2022 offseason as part of the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade. Weegar is under contract through the 2030-31 season at a $6.25 million cap hit.
Cowboys make decision on Micah Parsons' trade request
First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been trying to instill civility at practice when tempers flare, but he has no choice but to stay idle as the Dallas Cowboys front office and Micah Parsons face off at training camp. On Friday, Parsons took to social media to announce he sent executive vice president Stephen Jones a request to be traded from the Cowboys. "Unfortunately I no longer want to be here," Parsons wrote, per a post on X. "I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present. "I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me." Dallas didn't appear fazed by Parsons' request. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Cowboys have no plans to trade Parsons this summer, though multiple teams will plan to inquire about the three-time All-Pro pass-rusher. "The Dallas Cowboys have no intention of trading Micah Parsons, per sources," Russini posted on X. "Still, teams around the league are planning to reach out to check on his availability today." The Cowboys selected Parsons with the No. 12 pick in the 2021 draft. The four-time Pro Bowl nominee has recorded 256 tackles and 52.5 sacks during his four years in the league. The former Penn State standout has appeared and started in 63 games. Parsons missed four games last year due to an ankle injury. The Cowboys front office could have made the situation better by talking with Parsons' agent and keeping any issues with the star pass-rusher in-house. The Cowboys have another preseason distraction. This one is of their own making.
Yankees Could Move Injured Starter to Bullpen
Even after landing three new high-impact relievers in David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird at the trade deadline, the New York Yankees could transition a starting pitcher currently on the injured list to the bullpen once he's healthy. The New York Daily News' Gary Phillips mentioned that after failing to land another left-handed reliever to pair with Tim Hill, the Yankees may consider moving Ryan Yarbrough to the bullpen. With Luis Gil set to make his season debut this weekend against the Miami Marlins following a rehab assignment while Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Marcus Stroman are all capable of filling a rotation spot to varying degrees, the Yankees don't necessarily need Yarbrough to eat innings down the stretch. The 33-year-old southpaw has resided on the IL with an oblique strain since June 22. Manager Aaron Boone stated on July 29, however, that he's begun throwing off a bullpen mound, per MLB.com. Yarbrough will almost certainly require a rehab assignment, but he should make his way back to the Yankees in the coming weeks nonetheless. Yarbrough's Prior Bullpen Experience Throughout Yarbrough's nine years in the major leagues, 136 of his 212 appearances and 419 of his 823 1/3 innings have come as a reliever. Over that stretch, he's pitched to a 3.74 ERA and 4.33 FIP with 336 strikeouts. In Yarbrough's 15 1/3 frames out of the bullpen for New York this season, he's logged a 4.11 ERA and 16 strikeouts. Yarbrough's Potential Bullpen Role Across Yarbrough's eight outings as a reliever in 2025 thus far, he's thrown two or more innings in four of them. With Hill as the Yankees' late-game lefty option, Yarbrough could flip-flop between filling a long relief role and serving as a middle reliever alongside fellow southpaw Brent Headrick. Yarbrough may still get some opportunities to start this year before entering free agency, but the bullpen is likely where he'll spend a majority of his time for New York moving forward. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Yankees World Series Odds Improve After Trade Deadline Yankees' Brian Cashman Wins Deadline War Against Rival GM What Yankees Bullpen Looks Like After Trade Deadline Stock Rising For Compelling Yankees Trade Target Former Yankees Outfielder Traded To NL East Contender
The 'MLB single-season switch-hitter home run leaders' quiz
While it was the action off of the diamond that dominated the baseball world’s attention on MLB trade deadline day, Cal Raleigh continued bashing on it for the Seattle Mariners. Raleigh hit his 42nd home run of the season as the Mariners began a key four-game set with their American League West (and Wild Card) rival Texas Rangers with a 6-0 victory. Raleigh is on pace for a season unlike any other. As August begins, Raleigh is just 12 home runs off of Mickey Mantle’s 1961 record of 54 home runs by a switch hitter and six away from Salvador Perez’s record of 48 by a catcher. Which brings us to today’s quiz. A switch-hitter has hit 35 home runs on just 35 occasions in MLB history. How many of the switch-hitters to reach the 35-dinger milestone can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
