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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) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 13: Derek Stepan
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 13: Derek Stepan /

Derek Stepan

Of the Rangers during the Lundqvist era, no player may have been more underappreciated than center Derek Stepan. So much of Stepan’s time with the Rangers was spent arguing about whether or not he was a number one center that many failed to realize just how talented of a player that the current Arizona Coyote was.

The former second-round pick was a dependable two-way center that could be deployed in any and every situation. The center registered more than 50 points in a season every single year following the lockout-shortened 2013 season. In that time, the Hastings, Minnesota native grew into Alain Vigneault’s most dependable pivot.

Of course, Stepan’s spot on this Mt. Rushmore was secured when the center potted the overtime game-winning goal in game seven of the second round of the 2015 playoffs against the Washington Capitals to bring the Rangers all the way back from a three games to one deficit in the series.

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