A City Losing its Stars: Who’s the Face of New York Sports?

Homegrown talent? Check. In the prime of his career? Check. Puts up big numbers? Look no further than his 181 runs-batted-in and 79 home runs over his two full MLB seasons, including a wrist fracture that caused the slugger to miss seven-and-a-half weeks.

Aaron Judge isn’t only known throughout New York, he’s also well-known across Major League Baseball as one of the game’s rising stars, with just two years of experience under his belt despite being 26-years-old. The Linden, CA native has led MLB in jersey sales for two years in a row as he helped bring the Bronx Bombers back to the postseason the past two seasons after the team failed to qualify in 2016.

On a team that also features a past MVP Award winner in Giancarlo Stanton, Judge is the player that first comes to mind when you think of the New York Yankees. To go with his impressive slugging stats, Judge has also been named to two All-Star Games, finished second in American League MVP voting in 2017, was named the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year and took home a Silver Slugger Award that same season.

Fans have grown to love the California State University Fresno product, even going as far to create a section dedicated to the outfielder called “The Judge’s Chambers” in right field at Yankee Stadium, designed like a courthouse and a creative way to show appreciation to the player.

So, now the only question that remains is this: how long will Yankees fans continue to watch Judge smack home runs in Pinstripes? At least the next four seasons, including the one that’s just about to begin, as Judge is under team control through the 2022 seasons, with the next three years being arbitration-eligible. With Bryce Harper and Mike Trout signing record breaking contracts over the last few weeks, Aaron Judge will likely receive a similar one to keep him in the Bronx at some point in the future.

New York Mets: Jacob deGrom

The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, deGrom is worth the price of admission to any game he takes the mound for the Mets, even if the team can’t score.

The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year is entering his sixth season in the big leagues and despite turning 31 in June is showing no signs of slowing down. The DeLand, FL native owned a league-leading 1.71 ERA last season, the main reasoning for his Cy Young victory despite only winning 10 games.

deGrom not only had his incredible 2018 season recognized by Cy Young votes, but the pitcher also finished fifth in voting for the 2018 NL MVP Award, won by Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich.

A two-time All Star, deGrom headlines a strong New York Mets rotation that features Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz. The team and the pitcher continue to work towards a long-term contract that would keep deGrom in Queens, with deGrom’s former agent-turned-GM Brodie Van Waganen heading the negotiations for the team after accepting the job in the offseason.

Here’s Brodie Van Wagenen on Jacob deGrom’s contract deadline. He says it’s not a big deal, but a mutual understanding: pic.twitter.com/2KT0XnfENK

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) February 12, 2019

deGrom has said publicly he will not negotiate a new contract once the regular season begins, with the self-imposed deadline set for Thursday, March 28. deGrom’s current contract with the club runs through the 2019 season, with one more season of team control until he can hit unrestricted free agency following the 2020 season.

New York Jets: Sam Darnold, LeVeon Bell

The Jets are the first team to feature two players that could be a star in the Big Apple, but only one of them has already played a game for the team.

Starting with Darnold, the Jets selected the quarterback third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern California with hopes that he would finally be the team’s answer at the quarterback position.

In his first season with the team, the rookie quarterback showed potential at being a future star. Darnold started 13 games under center for Gang Green, throwing for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 77.6. He missed three games due to a sprained right foot and likely would have eclipsed the 3,000 yard mark, had he stayed healthy.

While those numbers aren’t the most impressive, the 21-year-old showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie campaign as New York’s signal-caller. In 13 games, Darnold had two three-touchdown performances, two games with over 300 passing yards, four games with a quarterback rating of at least 100.0 and five games in which he threw zero interceptions. Streakiness is to be expected for a rookie quarterback, so if Darnold can find some consistency in his game he could be a star for the Jets long-term.

The other member of the Jets making the back pages across New York is one of the team’s newest members, running back LeVeon Bell. Bell took a year off from football last season after failing to agree to a long-term contract with his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Once a free agent, he was always on the Jets’ radar, as the team and player agreed to a four-year, $60.15 million contract with $35 million guaranteed.

We did it.@LeVeonBell is a member of the New York Jets. #TakeFlight🛫

📰 https://t.co/s6ZRUAPX4X pic.twitter.com/VyjJ0CfMPH

— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 14, 2019

The hope is that Bell can be a top weapon for Sam Darnold, a dual-threat in the backfield like he had been for five years prior with the Steelers. In 2017, his final year in Pittsburgh, Bell was named to his third Pro Bowl, named a first-team All-Pro, as he rushed for 1,291 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. The question that is still to be determined, however, is if Bell can still play at that same level after taking a year off from football.

Bell will be with the Jets through the 2022 season, while Darnold’s rookie contract expires in 2021, with a fifth-year team-option for the 2022 season (which the team will likely pick up when the time comes).

New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, Eli Manning

After trading star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Big Blue is searching for a new face of the franchise – and they might have one in second-year running back Saquon Barkley.

The Giants selected Barkley with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft – one spot ahead of Sam Darnold – and the running back out of Penn State put on a show his rookie season, en route to 2018 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Barkley started all 16 games in the Giants backfield, rushing for 1,307 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns to go with an additional 721 receiving yards, topping the 2,000 yards from scrimmage mark in just his first year in the league.

The expectation was that Barkley and Beckham would be an offensive duo for years to come in New York, along with a future franchise quarterback to succeed longtime starter Eli Manning, who turned 38 in January. But with Beckham gone after signing a five-year contract extension, the offensive responsibility will fall on Barkley for the foreseeable future.

Barkley’s contract status is the same as the player selected one pick after him in last year’s draft – Sam Darnold – being a four-year rookie contract with a fifth-year option for the team, which, again, will almost certainly be picked up when the time comes if Barkley continues to perform at this pace.

Meanwhile, the previously mentioned Manning is still in New York, despite fans continuing to beg for a successor to the quarterback. The Giants and its fans will always appreciate Manning for his time in New York, which includes two Super Bowl victories and two Super Bowl MVPs, but at 38-years-old, it’s hard to argue Eli’s case to be the face of a city. Also, Manning is entering the final year of his contract, meaning it’s unlikely he will be around much longer.

New York Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist

“The King” as Rangers fans address him as, is still standing strong between the pipes at Madison Square Garden, but that doesn’t mean the team is still putting up wins as Lundqvist competes in his 14th year in the NHL.

At age 36, Lundqvist has still started the majority of his team’s games, with 49 starts as of March 20. In those 49 starts, the Swedish netminder has posted a .909 save percentage, a 2.99 goals against average and has a 18-20-10 record with zero shutouts. Not exactly the best numbers of his likely Hall-of-Fame-worthy career, but it’s hard to expect the 36-year-old to carry a rebuilding Rangers team to wins like he used to.

However, Lundqvist’s accomplishments over the last decade-and-a-half should not be ignored when it comes to finding a face for this city. The 2012 Vezina Award winner, given to the league’s most outstanding goalie for that season, ranks second among active goalies – and sixth all-time – in wins, 16th all-time in shutouts, 10th all-time in save percentage and has made five All-Star Game appearances.

Despite his age, Lundqvist isn’t going anywhere for the time being. The goalie still has another two years left on his contract after this season, a full no-movement clause, and has an $8.5 million cap hit, so it’s unlikely anyone would be interested in trading for him, anyway.

New York Islanders: Mathew Barzal

“The Kid who won the Calder” is the new face of the franchise for the New York Islanders following John Tavares’ departure for Toronto last July. And with the added responsibility under a new regime, Barzal has still produced, although not at the same pace as last year.

Barzal took the NHL by storm in his first full season with the Islanders after getting a two-game sample in October, 2016. The British Columbia native played in all 82 games during his rookie season, recording multiple five-point games on his way to an 85-point season, scoring 22 times and adding 63 assists.

Many wondered how the 21-year-old would handle the added pressure after Tavares left and Barzal responded just fine; with 17 goals and 41 assists totaling 58 points in 73 games as of March 20 while playing with a rotation of wingers. Barzal’s elusive speed and playmaking abilities make him a human highlight reel whenever he touches the ice and his 58 points have him leading the Islanders in scoring for a second season in a row.

General manager Lou Lamoriello will likely be busy this summer finding top six forwards to help his young star center as the Islanders begin to build the team around Barzal. As for his contract, Barzal has one more year left on his three-year, entry-level contract until he hits restricted free agency in July, 2020. Unless an offer sheet he can’t refuses comes along next summer, Barzal will likely be with the Isles for the long-term, including the team’s expected move into Belmont Park in 2021.

New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier, Taylor Hall

Another team with two candidates, the team from across the Hudson River hasn’t had the same success it did a year ago, making a surprise trip to the postseason riding on Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall’s career-best season.

Last year, Hall scored 39 goals to go with 54 assists for a career-high 93 points in 76 games, only the second time he has eclipsed the 75 game mark throughout his now nine year career. The problem for Hall has always been staying healthy, as the Canadian forward has only played all 82 games one time since being drafted by Edmonton first overall back in 2010. This season, Hall has only played in 33 games, yet is tied for fourth in scoring on the Devils, who rank last among eight Metropolitan division teams.

If Hall could find consistency when it comes to staying on the ice, he would likely be the best hockey player among the three New York area teams, but the fact he can’t stay on the ice simply takes him out of the conversation.

As for Hischier, the Devils selected the Swiss center with the first overall pick in 2017 after winning the draft lottery. In his first year in Newark, Hischier scored a respectable 52 points, finding the back of the net 20 times during his rookie season.

This year, the 20-year-old is second in scoring on the depleted Devils, with 44 points in 62 games, which would equal about 60 points over an 82-game pace. Not a bad season by any means, especially considering the lineup the Devils have been putting out each game and the amount of injuries the team has suffered, but definitely not enough for a player selected at the top of his draft class.

As for both players’ contract situations, Hall will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020 and will likely command a large raise from his current $6 million annual salary if he can have a successful contract year, while Hischier has one more season after this one on his entry-level contract before he hits restricted free agency – just like Barzal.

Brooklyn Nets: D’Angelo Russell

It’s taken some time and a move from Los Angeles to Brooklyn, but D’Angelo Russell is finally showing why he was taken second overall back in 2015 by the Lakers.

The Ohio State product is having a career year with the Nets, averaging over 20 points-per-game for the first time in his career, along with a career-high 6.9 assists-per-game. He was named to his first career All-Star Game last month and has been the main reason why the surprising Nets sit in a playoff spot.

The 23-year-old point guard has proven to be a star in a city that needs one in his sport after seeing players such as Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis leave the cross-town Knicks. He’s become a leader for the Nets, most recently helping the team overcome a 28 point second-half deficit against the Sacramento Kings, scoring 27 points in the fourth quarter alone en route to a career-high 44 point night.

Russell will be a restricted free agent this summer, but the team will be granted the ability to match any contract offer Russell is presented to retain his services.

New York Knicks: TBD

The Knicks are currently the only team of the nine major pro sport teams in New York to not have a single player that could be considered the face of New York – yet.

Rumors have been swirling about the team’s future and a big free agent or two, such as Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, could possibly land in the Big Apple. But until either of those two stars – or any other players – are listed on the Knicks roster, the team doesn’t have one worthy enough to be New York’s brightest star.

Despite the lack of success basketball has had in New York, it will always be considered the “Mecca of Basketball,” even as the Knicks have only 14 wins through 71 games. The team still averages 18,923 fans at its home games, good for 95.5 percent capacity and more fans on average playoff-bound teams, such as the Indiana Pacers or the crosstown Nets.

Even if the Knicks don’t land one of the big fish this summer, GM Scott Perry and president Steve Mills still have a high draft pick to look forward to, and could end up with the biggest prize of them all come June – Duke’s Zion Williamson. If you want someone to take over the headlines in a sports-crazed city, he’s the man for the job. Any star that ends up with the Knicks and can turn the team into a contender will likely be considered a hero among a fan base that has witnessed so much failure in the past.

What’s the Verdict?

Nine teams in the New York area all have the opportunity to get noticed and all they need is a star ready for the publicity. While Tavares, Porzingis and Beckham will likely find success with their respective new teams, there is no shortage of stars in New York ready to take over the scene for years to come.

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