 The following off-season saw the departures of captain Jaromir Jagr to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and alternate captains Martin Straka and Brendan Shanahan, who returned to play in the Czech Republic and with the New Jersey Devils, respectively.Following these departures, Chris Drury was named captain on October 3, 2008.The Rangers were one of four NHL teams to open their 2008–09 season in Europe, being featured in the Victoria Cup final, defeating the European Champions Cup winner Metallurg Magnitogorsk in Bern, Switzerland.