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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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Canadian ice hockey player Lorne ‘Gump’ Worsley (1929 – 2007) (right), goalkeeper for the New York Rangers, makes a save, late 1950s or early 1960s. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
Canadian ice hockey player Lorne ‘Gump’ Worsley (1929 – 2007) (right), goalkeeper for the New York Rangers, makes a save, late 1950s or early 1960s. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

#20-29 The King makes the list

After Jacques Plante at #4, no former Ranger makes the list until  Lorne Chabot at #20.  Henrik Lundqvist appears at #24, ahead of Tom Barrasso (#26) and Carey Price (#27).  The King could still move up as he adds to his win total and builds on his already impressive record.  The question is can he crack the top 20?

#20 – Lorne Chabot – Chabot is a controversial figure in hockey history and was involved in one of the most famous moments in Ranger history.  First, the controversy.  Lorne Chabot is not in the Hall of Fame and that omission is a subject of much discussion among hockey historians. To some he was one of the greatest goalies ever while to others he was merely adequate.  His career stats are better than average, but he wasn’t a perennial all-star and only won one Vezina Trophy.

Chabot will go down in Ranger lore for his role in the 1928 Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Maroons.  In the second game he was struck by a puck above the eye.  Ranger Coach-GM Lester Patrick, who was 44-years old, had to replace him in that game and then journeyman Joe Miller was signed and played the last three games of the Finals as the Rangers won the Stanley Cup.  Fearing permanent eye damage, the Rangers traded Chabot to Toronto, where he starred.

There’s one more bit of trivia about Chabot’s time with the Rangers.  In 1926, their first season, the team wanted to promote the game to Jewish fans s so they actually called him Leopold Chabotzky in home games though he was French Canadian and not Jewish.  Only in New York.

#22 – Johnny Bower -Bower played parts of three seasons with the Rangers with little success.  Although he beat Gump Worsley for the starting job as a 29-year old rookie in 1953-54, he lost out to Worsley the following season and was traded to an AHL team a year later. He went on to star for the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning four Stanley Cups and two Vezina Trophies.

#24 – Henrik Lundqvist – It is really not necessary to recount the many career totals for Henrik Lundqvist.  Already the greatest Swedish goalie, barring injury he should pass both Sawchuk and Plante into 6th place on the wins list. He leads the Rangers in every career category and is arguably the greatest Ranger of all time. An Olympic goal medalist and world champion, the only honor that has eluded him is the Stanley Cup.

#25 – Gump Worsley – Lorne John “Gump” Worsley had the misfortune of playing for really bad Ranger teams for a decade.  He won the Calder Trophy in his rookie season.  In ten years as a Ranger he made the playoffs four times and the team never got out of the first round.  Worsley was traded to Montreal when he became involved in the players union and he went on to win four Stanley Cups and two Vezina Trophies with the Canadiens.  Gump had a quick wit.  During his Ranger career, when asked which team gave him the most trouble his answer was “the New York Rangers.”

#28 – Harry Lumley – Lumley played all of 20 minutes in one game with the New York Rangers, when he was loaned to the team by the Detroit Red Wings.  That one game did bring Lumley and the Rangers a distinction. He set a record that still stands as the youngest goaltender to ever play in the NHL . He was only 17 years old.

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