New York Rangers: Five unsung players to be thankful for
Every year around this time we take a second to reflect on what we are thankful for. As New York Rangers fans, these are some players that deserve more thanks than they have ever been given.
Here at Blue Line Station we are celebrating Thanksgiving week with some topical articles about what we are thankful for regarding the New York Rangers. Come back Thursday for an article on what we are thankful for from this year’s team.
The New York Rangers are among the most storied franchises in the NHL. Players come and go, and often times only the elite are remembered, for better or worse. Sometimes, in order to fully embrace the mystique of such a fantastic club, we must dive deeper to appreciate those we have in front of us.
Today, we take a look at players past and present. These players are forgotten or under appreciated. However, their contributions to the New York Rangers organization should be praised.
Take a few minutes to enjoy and give thanks for these five players who were unsung heroes from the John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault eras.
Michael Del Zotto
It’s almost saddening to think back on the sour end to Michael Del Zotto’s tenure in New York. He was a promising, young star who stumbled along his way. Those struggles are what eventually ended his tenure with the Rangers.
Nonetheless, some of Del Zotto’s best days were played under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. Del Zotto burst onto the scene in his rookie season with 37 points, including nine goals. He was among the most electric young defenders in the league. Very few were able to match the offensive upside he possessed, well before the NHL’s transition to such a finesse league.
If it weren’t for John Tortorella, and some unfortunately timed injuries, Del Zotto could still be a force on the Rangers blue line. Those days have passed, but his prime days as an offensive dynamo should not be forgotten. Now, we must be thankful for the exciting player that he was from afar.
Brian Boyle
Imagine where this year’s team would be if Brian Boyle was still anchoring the bottom-six. For years the hulking center was under-appreciated. His job was clear, win face-offs and supply strong penalty killing.
However, there is much more to Brian Boyle than is always perceived. The former first-round pick was always a team player and a strong locker room presence. His ability to pick up his teammates on and off the ice was something to be desired in any hockey teammate.
The blood, sweat, and tears that he leaves on the ice are what made him beloved in this league. Boyle also had a knack for big goals and big fights. Whether or not he meant to find them on purpose is still up for debate.
It’s not every day you stumble upon a player and man as good as Brian Boyle. His contributions to the Rangers give fans plenty to be thankful for, and those moments should never be forgotten.
Anton Stralman
It’s amazing how you never know what you have until it’s gone. This is the way that many Rangers fans felt after the departure of Anton Stralman. His calm presence on the back-end was something that the Rangers were in search for years after he signed with the Bolts.
Stralman was everything you needed in a middle-four defenseman. However, in some eyes he wasn’t everything that you wanted. His game wasn’t flashy, and he didn’t always find a way to make contributions on the scoresheet.
Where he did shine was giving his team, and his partner, a stabilizing force. Stralman‘s best attribute was his ability to hide mistakes made on the ice. Similarly, when the defense was jumping up in the play during crunch-time, he was always there to supply a solid back-check.
Since moving to Tampa Bay, there has been plenty of nostalgia in the Rangers universe surrounding Stralman. Rangers management made several attempts to replace him with players like Kevin Klein and Nick Holden. However, his presence is still deeply missed.
Stralman, for all Rangers fans past and present, we thank you.
Ruslan Fedotenko
Alas, here is a player that has been anonymous throughout his entire career. Consistently playing in a secondary role, Ruslan Fedotenko thrived on several competitive teams. However, he was always a strong contributor when called upon.
Fedotenko’s tenure in a Rangers uniform was short lived. However, during his two years in New York, Fedotenko made a strong impression on an otherwise young roster. Unsurprisingly, his veteran presence and playoff experience helped fuel some of the best years of the John Tortorella era.
Fedotenko’s offensive upside was fading during his time with the team. Instead, he was able to make his mark as one of the Rangers’ best two-way forwards. Most importantly, he became a strong source of secondary scoring and consistent penalty killing.
Now, as his career has ended we reflect on a player that always gave his all. Fedotenko became a shell of his former self, but his contributions to the Rangers franchise remain meaningful.
Kevin Hayes
The judgment passed on Kevin Hayes throughout his career is downright unfair. Ever since choosing the Rangers as a college free agent he has been under immense scrutiny. Consequently, Hayes dealt with the pressure of being a prize prospect. However, his results have done more than enough to meet or exceed expectations.
In his first year with the New York Rangers Hayes dealt with the wrath of John Tortorella. His hard-nosed coaching style did not fare well for a young forward accustomed to overpowering his opponents with ease.
Then came the Alain Vigneault era. Those two began their player-coach relationship with turbulence, as is typical of the veteran-favoring head coach. More recently, Vigneault has misused the star center in a primarily defensive role.
Next: Rangers need to ease Henrik Lundqvist’s workload
Through all of the mishandling, Hayes has embraced his role. Even better, he has always found a way to thrive. His on-ice product has shown that he has the capability of being a contributor for the Rangers for the foreseeable future. Most of all, Kevin Hayes has made Rangers fans proud since day one.