Blue Line Station
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New York Rangers all-time top forward lines

By Jim Madden

New York Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka in action against the Tampa Bay Lighting. New York Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Lighting 4-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on December 22, 2005. (Photo by Dave Saffran/NHLImages)
New York Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka in action against the Tampa Bay Lighting. New York Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Lighting 4-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on December 22, 2005. (Photo by Dave Saffran/NHLImages) /
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Here are the four sharpshooters of the New York Rangers who are expected to score 100 goals for the season as they paused during a workout at Madison Square Garden today. From left: Andy Bathgate, Dean Prentice, Danny Lewicki, and Wally Hergesheimer. The Rangers show every sign of going to town this year. The won their NHL opener for the first time in eight years at Chicago and licked the Detroit Red Wings for the first time since the 1953-54 season.
Here are the four sharpshooters of the New York Rangers who are expected to score 100 goals for the season as they paused during a workout at Madison Square Garden today. From left: Andy Bathgate, Dean Prentice, Danny Lewicki, and Wally Hergesheimer. The Rangers show every sign of going to town this year. The won their NHL opener for the first time in eight years at Chicago and licked the Detroit Red Wings for the first time since the 1953-54 season. /

Andy Bathgate, Larry Popein and Dean Prentice

The New York Rangers were not a very good hockey club during the late1950’s through the the late 1960’s.  They often missed making the playoffs or went the one round and out route during the decade.  The team had some formidable and beloved talent but their marquee player was perennial all star Andy Bathgate who’s nickname at the time was “Tubby” which was a play off his last name (bathtub).

Bathgate was a sniper deluxe of the league and arguably one of the greatest Rangers of all-time setting team records during his tenure in New York.  He remains the team’s fourth all-time scorer in goals, assists and career points.   The smooth skating right winger stormed opponent’s defenses with his deceptive speed and terrorized NHL goalies around the league with his wicked shot.  Many attribute Bathgate for goaltenders donning face protection after decades of playing without.  He played on the Rangers top line which featured Larry “the Pope” Popein at center with Dean Prentice on the left wing.

Bathgate and Prentice played together on the Guelph Biltmores of the Ontario Junior league while Popein, the stoic, fearless, hard-working center was a product of the western Canada junior leagues.  Prentice, the line’s most underrated player, became a solid two-way standout who excelled at backchecking, killing penalties, and working the corners.  Prentice and Bathgate would garner the lion’s share of points while the unassuming Popein became known as the scoreless pivot.

The line had its most success during the late fifties as Bathgate would break all then Rangers single season and all-time scoring records while winning the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player during the 1958-59 season.  Bathgate remained among the league leaders in scoring for seven consecutive seasons while Prentice also entered the top three in goal scoring as he led the team with 32 goals during the 1959-60 season.  Ironic that the team’s fortunes were not as prolific as the scoring of this line missing the playoffs in four of their five best seasons together.

And now on to the top three.

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