Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers: The Mount Rushmore of the Lundqvist era

By Nicholas Zararis

WINNIPEG, MB - FEBRUARY 12: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers plays the puck along the boards during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - FEBRUARY 12: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers plays the puck along the boards during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 12: Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers keeps an eye on the play during third period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 12: Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers keeps an eye on the play during third period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Marc Staal

For those who are relatively new Ranger fans, Marc Staal was always a declining player on a bad contract. Prior to suffering a debilitating concussion at the hands of his brother Eric and a gruesome eye during the 2012 lockout-shortened season, there was a time where the middle Staal was as dependable as they came on the blue line.

At one point, Staal was an above average player in the offensive zone that could skate with the best players in the league. The defenseman broke into the league full time as a 21-year-old during the 2007-2008 season. As the number 12 overall pick in the first draft following the 2004 lockout, Staal provided security on the blue line for more than a decade.

The Ontario native is currently eighth all-time in games played by a Ranger with 819. That’s even with the injury-shortened 2011-2012 and 2013 lockout-shortened seasons. New York was at its best during the Lundqvist era with Staal on the second defensive pair matched up against Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby.

The former 12th overall pick was the perfect shutdown defenseman for the NHL of five years ago. It’s a shame we were robbed of a truly special player due to injury and even so Staal is still amongst the most important players for the Rangers since 2005.

Home/Editorials