Artemi Panarin doesn’t want to be named New York Rangers captain, 29-year-old forward told “Hockey in the Know” on Instagram.

“I think we now have more deserving candidates for this role,” Panarin said on Friday. “Would I like to? I’d rather say no, actually.

“It’s not just about putting a letter on the shirt and walking around taking pictures. It’s a lot of hard work in the locker room. And it’s not just about playing good hockey. You also have to give your energy between periods, motivate the guys, give interviews, be the face of the franchise. Overall, it’s a lot of work off the rink.

Panarin is entering season three of a seven-year contract he signed with Rangers on July 1, 2019 and was assistant captain with center Mika zibanejad, cheeky Chris Kreider and defender Jacob Trouba last season. He scored 153 points (49 goals, 104 assists) in 111 games for New York and was a Hart Trophy finalist, named NHL MVP in 2019-2020 (won by Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl). Panarin’s 1.38 points per game are third in the NHL over the past two seasons behind Oilers center Connor McDavid (1.68) and Draisaitl (1.53).

“I think I’m more efficient at hockey,” said Panarin. “And I’m afraid I’m not an effective captain. I don’t even speak English. How can I motivate? I can only influence with my own game. And they will listen to me without any letters.”

Rangers general manager Chris Drury said it was a “priority” to name a captain this season and wanted coach Gerard Gallant to have time to assess before a decision was made. New York hasn’t had one since the defender Ryan mcdonagh was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 26, 2018.

“It’s hard to say we need it,” Rangers defenseman Adam fox told the “NHL @TheRink” podcast Sept. 15. guys to have a voice in that direction. “

Kreider is the Rangers’ longest-serving player. The 30-year-old forward played 573 regular season and 80 Stanley Cup playoff games in nine seasons, all with New York, which finished fifth in the eight-team MassMutual East Division (27-23-6 ) last season and hasn’t won an NHL playoff game since 2017. Gallant replaced David Quinn, who was fired on May 12 after three seasons.

Forward Brian Boyle, Kreider’s former teammate with the Rangers who signed a professional tryout contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 3, said Kreider is an ideal candidate.

“He’s doing everything right,” Boyle said at the Smashfest Charity Ping-Pong Challenge on August 5.

“I mean, I saw him come in like a little Boston College puppy dog ​​(during the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2012). I remember being that kid myself. The effect he had had right away was obvious and he was a bullet in the arm for us. He’s been through everything in this team and now he’s the old guard, even though he’s not old. He still has wheels, that ‘ is a person of character, an intelligent individual and knows what it takes to win.

“I’ve been friends with him for a long time, so I’d love to see that.”