New York Rangers: Top 30 Draft Picks of All-Time
BOSTON, MA – 1970’s: Brad Park #2 of the New York Rangers awaits the face off during the game against the Boston Bruins circa 1970’s at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/credit Rant Sports)
Brad Park – 1st round (2nd overall), 1966
Though his career was split down the middle by his time in New York and Boston, there is little question about just how great the career of Brad Park was.
Selected behind Barry Gibbs (who was taken by Boston), Park would make his NHL debut in 1968-69 and began to showcase his talents almost immediately. After a couple of solid seasons in his early 20s, Park burst into the national spotlight with a 24-goal, 73-point effort as a 23-year-old in 1971-72.
Lauded for his offensive ability, Park was rivaled only by Bobby Orr, Boston’s offensive dynamo of a defenseman. The two were considered the best in the game, “revolutionary” defensemen who changed the way the game was played by the position.
Park would amass an impressive 378 points in 465 for the Rangers, but he began to fall out of public favor. The press had felt that the 27-year-old Park was overweight and overpaid, leading to an Earth-shattering trade on November 7, 1975. Park, center Jean Ratelle and defenseman Joe Zanussi were dealt to the Boston Bruins for superstar center Phil Esposito and defenseman Carol Vadnais.
During his eight seasons in New York, there were few better than Park. He and Orr indeed changed the way the game was played by defensemen, with dynamic scorers being able to play the position like never before.
Next: #2 Henrik Lundqvist