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New York Rangers: Where do Ranger goalies rank in the top 100?

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Henrik Lundqvist (30) of the New York Rangers makes a stunning glove save during a game between the New York Rangers and the San Jose Sharks on October 11, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Henrik Lundqvist (30) of the New York Rangers makes a stunning glove save during a game between the New York Rangers and the San Jose Sharks on October 11, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 11: Henrik Lundqvist (30) of the New York Rangers makes a stunning glove save during a game between the New York Rangers and the San Jose Sharks on October 11, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 11: Henrik Lundqvist (30) of the New York Rangers makes a stunning glove save during a game between the New York Rangers and the San Jose Sharks on October 11, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Hockey News has a special edition out featuring the top 100 goaltenders in NHL history.  How many Ranger goalies are on the list and where is Henrik Lundqvist ranked?

18 of the greatest goalies of all-time played for the Rangers including two in the top ten and 14 in the top 50.  Current Ranger and future Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist makes the list at #24 and if he could add a Stanley Cup to his resume he would easily crack the top 20.   You’ll recognize some of these players from their long careers on Broadway while some others only had a cup of coffee in the Ranger jersey.  Here goes:

The top ten

#1 – Terry Sawchuk – The greatest goalie of all time played just eight games as a Ranger, but his tenure in New York ended in tragedy when he died after a brawl with his teammate Ron Stewart.  After the season ended both players had been drinking at a pub near the Long Beach, NY house that they shared. After, they got into an argument about a debt and it turned into a shoving match on their lawn.  Sawchuk fell and injured his liver and gallbladder.  He underwent several surgeries, but died of a blood clot a month later. The 39 year old was traded to the Rangers in June, 1969 for forward Larry Jeffrey to serve as back-up to Eddie Giacomin.  He played in eight games, winning three with one shutout and finished his Ranger career with a 3-1-2 record and a 2.91 GAA.

Sawchuk is the greatest goalie because of his 14 years in Detroit.  He won four Vezina Trophies and was an 11-time all star.  The last shutout of his storied career came as a Ranger when he blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins in March, 1970.

#4 – Jacques Plante – Plante is the first goalie to wear a mask and won a record five Vezina Trophies in a row with Montreal. Again, he is an all-time great who ended up in New York at the tail end of his career.  The 35-year old was traded to the Rangers in 1963 for Gump Worsley.  Hampered by injuries, his Ranger career with a bad team was undistinguished and in his second year he was demoted to the AHL.  That demotion and a bad knee forced his retirement. Ironically, he came back when drafted by St. Louis in the 1967 expansion  and won a seventh Vezina Trophy in 1969.

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