Rick Carpiniello

rcarpini@lohud.com

GREENBURGH –

The choice had been pretty obvious since, well, since the Rangers' captaincy went vacant with the trade of Ryan Callahan last March.

Yeah, the Rangers had other guys who would have made perfectly good captains. But Ryan McDonagh was the guy.

So on Sunday, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault met with McDonagh and told him he was the 27th captain in franchise history. Vigneault told him to just be who he is.

"He just embodies the core values we feel the captain has to have," Vigneault said. "I think he's a great role model. He's one of our hardest-working players and probably the most important thing is the respect that he has in our dressing room, from the coaches and from management. After giving it a lot of thought, and talking to some of the players, his name was the name that stood out."

Just as his play stands out. His strength and will. Especially his skating. And now he has added offensive elements, too.

"When he first came into the league he was making good plays," defense partner Dan Girardi said. "He always had good legs and a good shot. I think he just has more confidence offensively, to hold on to pucks, make that extra play, deke guys at the blue line … when he plays with confidence and is moving his legs, he's a beast out there."

Girardi is one of four Rangers tabbed to rotate as alternate captains, along with former Tampa Bay captain Martin St. Louis, longtime Rangers alternate Marc Staal, and Derek Stepan. The announcement was made at a private team dinner Monday night, a ceremony attended by former Rangers captains Vic Hadfield, Dave Maloney and Ron Greschner.

"It was a great way to receive the news with Vic, Dave and Gresch there, some of the great captains this team has had," McDonagh, 25, said "I'm very honored to have them be part of the process."

He used the words "excited, honored and humbled" at various times. He called it a great responsibility and challenge. McDonagh understands, too, that "it's the stuff you do when people aren't looking that really makes a difference, too.

"I think they trust me," he said of his teammates. "They understand the attitude, the kind of player I'm going to be every day and hopefully I'm someone they can look to to improve their game and overall improve this team's game."

McDonagh's been here for three and a half seasons, and has played in 10 playoff series, nine of those the last three years. He has steadily and briskly become a dominant player at his position.

"Every 10 games, it seems, since he's come in here, he's gotten better and better," Staal said. "He just keeps making leaps and it's been great to see. He definitely puts the work in for it, and it's well deserved."

"Great choice," added Henrik Lundqvist, who is a team leader without a letter. "Well deserved. He's a great player, great person, a guy that comes to the rink to work hard and he just shows everyone how much he wants it, to get better and compete and be a good teammate. For us to have him as captain now, it's good for this team and this organization."

St. Louis, 39, is and will be a top leader, too. But he thought McDonagh was the right move. When asked if he had any advice, St. Louis said he hadn't.

"He's a mature guy for his age and he knows what he's doing," St. Louis said. "I shook his hand, congratulated him, gave him a big hug."

Twitter: @RangersReport