There are 32 captains in the NHL currently. In the summer of 2022, the New York Rangers named Jacob Trouba captain, adding him to this elite club, which is a moment he’ll never forget. “There was obviously excitement,” Trouba said on being named captain. “It was something that I wanted at the time, so to achieve something I wanted to achieve was fulfilling and it was kind of the start of the journey and then I actually started doing the job.” Trouba at practice. And Trouba does his job pretty well. A lot of fans are looking to nitpick Trouba’s individual game on the ice, but there are things that don’t show up on the statsheet and not noticed that actually have value. Being captain doesn't just mean you have a C strapped to your jersey. There are aspects of serving as captain that hold a tremendous amount of pressure and Trouba has to not only lead by example, but also be the vocal leader even during the most difficult of times. “When times are not as great you gotta step up and say something and be a leader… They kind of feed into each other, the way you play and the way you carry yourself,” Trouba said. “Just the way you act day-to-day. It’s pretty natural being yourself, you can’t really force it. You can’t be fake about it, it’s pretty genuine. Most people can see right through it, so kind of being yourself everyday and be who you are.” For his unique leadership qualities, the 30-year-old won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, an award presented annually to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhffjP2ZqBI[/embed] So what makes Trouba an effective captain? “I think I am true to myself I guess and who I am,” Trouba said about his leadership qualities. “I think that’s how people know me. Just build relationships with everybody and stay true to myself.” The Rangers have made the playoffs every season of Trouba’s captaincy and that’s no coincidence. Yes, the Rangers possess a boatload of talent, but in order to be successful, strong leadership is a necessity, which is exactly what Trouba brings to the table. “I think he’s done a fantastic job in that aspect,” Peter Laviolette said. “Our team has been a top team in the league and I do think you need good character, good quality leadership inside of a room and it definitely starts with him. He’s done an excellent job.” Again, only so many players have the distinct honor of being named captain of an NHL team. It’s a responsibility that Trouba certainly does not take for granted and truly cherishes. “It was something that I thought a lot about as a kid,” Trouba said about being one of the few captains in the NHL. “Growing up, leadership has always been something I’ve been interested in, learning more about and watching from other people. It’s definitely an honor. There are only so many around the league and to get the opportunity is pretty special.” Next time you see the C on Trouba’s jersey really stop and think what that means, both the good and bad that comes with the job. No matter what happens in the future, Trouba always can say he was 28th captain of the historic Rangers franchise.
