New York Rangers: Top 5 Rangers Centers in the Henrik Lundqvist Era
There have been over 25 different center’s that have been in a game for the New York Rangers with Henrik Lundqvist protecting the crease. Over the past 12 seasons, the Rangers have brought in some excellent talent at the center position and some…well, not so excellent talent. This is a list composed of the top 5 center’s during the Henrik Lundqvist era.
Welcome back to the “Top 5 in the Henrik Lundqvist Era” series. After looking at the top Rangers teams, backup goaltenders, and defensemen, we take a look at the center position. Now this is a little more difficult to narrow the list down to a top five. There has been an abundance of center’s to play for the Rangers over the past 12 seasons.
After some research, the list was narrowed down to these five men to be named the top 5 center’s during the Henrik Lundqvist era in no particular order…
5. Michael Nylander –
Michael Nylander might have only played two seasons with the New York Rangers for a total of 160 games but did he ever make the best of his time centering for the New York Rangers. Nylander played center for the Rangers from 2005-2007 at the tail end of his career.
It looked as if Nylander’s career was coming to an end after a mediocre 2003-2004 season. Nylander then signed with the New York Rangers and his career hit a resurgence. Nylander centered the first line and the first power play line and produce his best season ever statistically.
In 160 games playing for the New York Rangers, Nylander produced 49 goals and 113 assists for a total of 162 points. Nylander was averaging over a point a game in his two seasons with the Rangers and helped the Rangers to their first 100 point season since the 1994 season.
4. Brandon Dubinsky –
Drafted by the New York Rangers with the 60th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Level Draft, Brandon Dubinsky was ready to embark on his NHL journey. Brandon Dubinsky played for the Rangers from 2006 to 2012. He played in 393 games for the Rangers over his six years calling Madison Square Garden his home.
Dubinsky totaled 81 goals and 132 assists during his time with the Rangers and was developing himself into a leader in the locker room. He grew and developed in the Rangers organization since the age of 20.
Dubinsky’s run with the Rangers came to an end when he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 23, 2012. Dubinsky was traded to Columbus along with Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a first-round draft pick in the 2013 draft in exchange for Rick Nash and a conditional third-round pick in the same draft.
3. Derick Brassard –
Derick Brassard’s tenure with the New York Rangers started on April 3, 2013 when he was traded along with Derek Dorsett, John Moore, and a sixth-round draft pick for Marian Gaborik. Brassard wasted little time getting his skates wet for the Rangers. After arriving in New York, Brassard tallied 11 points in 13 regular season games.
Brassard signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Rangers in the summer of 2014. Brassard played in 254 games with the Rangers and tallied 69 goals and 105 assists for them during his four years in New York.
Brassard’s time with the Rangers came to an end in July of 2016 when he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a younger and cheaper centerman in Mika Zibanejad.
2. Brad Richards –
Richards stint with the New York Rangers all started when he signed a nine-year, $60 million contract on July 2, 2011. Brad Richards played in 210 games wearing the red, white, and blue of the New York Rangers spanning over three years.
He added 56 goals and 95 assists during his time with the Rangers including some memorable goals. One of the more memorable moments being his game-tying goal with 6.6 seconds left in game five of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
Brad Richards played an important role in the Rangers run to the Stanley Cup finals in 2014. Richards time with the New York Rangers came to an end after the Rangers bought out the remaining years on his contract to free up cap space. Richards went on to play two more seasons in the NHL before announcing his retirement after the 2015-2016 season.
1. Derek Stepan –
Last on the this list but definitely not least is the Hastings, Minnesota native, Derek Stepan. Stepan was drafted in the second-round of the 2008 draft by the New York Rangers and has been a Ranger ever since.
Stepan has played in a career 508 games all with the New York Rangers. He has tallied 124 goals and 230 assists over his seven seasons in New York. Stepan’s most memorable goal would have to be his goal in game seven of the Eastern Conference second round matchup in overtime against the Washington Capitals.
Next: Top 5 Teams in the Henrik Lundqvist era
On July 27, 2015, Derek Stepan and the New York Rangers agreed to a six-year, $39 million contract which will keep Stepan in New York until after the 2020-2021 season.