The 10 best trades in the history of the New York Rangers
By Steve Paulus
#6 Bob Nevin, Rod Seiling, Arnie Brown, Dick Duff and Bill Collins acquired from Toronto for Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney.
February 22, 1964
Andy Bathgate was one of the greatest Rangers ever. Between 1958 and 1963 the right winger won the Hart Trophy and was a first or second team All-Star four times. Clearly the Rangers best player, he was the centerpiece of a massive trade that changed the face of the New York Rangers for years to come.
Midway through the 1964 season, Bathgate was having an off-season with only 16 goals in 56 games. Rangers GM Muzz Patrick had overseen the development of young stars like Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert and pulled the trigger on this blockbuster. The big acquisition here was right wing Bob Nevin, but just as important were Arnie Brown and Rod Seiling, both of which were stalwarts as a defensive tandem for years to come.
Bathgate played five more NHL seasons, only topping the 20 goal mark once, but he did win his only Stanley Cup with Toronto in 1964. Center Don McKenney was a semi-regular for three more NHL seasons.
For New York, Bob Nevin played seven full seasons as a Ranger, averaging 23 goals per year and was the team captain from 1965-71. Arnie Brown played seven seasons as a regular on defense for New York. Rod Seiling spent ten years on the blueline for New York, mostly partnered with Jim “The Chief” Neilson.
This trade was significant for the Rangers, as Patrick traded an aging superstar for three players who were key contributors to the great Ranger teams of the late 60’s and early 70’s.