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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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Canadian ice hockey players Vic Hadfield (left), Jean Ratelle (center), and Rod Gilbert of the New York Rangers sit together on the bench during a game, 1960s or early 1970s. (Photo by Melchior DiGiacomo/Getty Images)
Canadian ice hockey players Vic Hadfield (left), Jean Ratelle (center), and Rod Gilbert of the New York Rangers sit together on the bench during a game, 1960s or early 1970s. (Photo by Melchior DiGiacomo/Getty Images) /

# 1 -The GAG line

Emile Francis put three players together during the 1968-69 season who had been with the club over parts of the previous six seasons.  Jean Ratelle a tall slender center had played his junior hockey with his childhood friend Rod Gilbert on his right side.  Francis realized that the pair lacked some muscle and put Vic Hadfield on the left side and the trio would stay together for the next six seasons.

What Francis did was create one of the legendary lines in Rangers history, as well as one of the most prolific forward units in National Hockey League history. They were given the name GAG line which stood for goal-a-game and they stayed together through the 1973-74 season during which each member would score 20 or more goals in with the exception of one.   Ratelle and Gilbert were consistently among the top ten in league scoring goals and assists with Ratelle in the top ten in scoring five out of six seasons.

During the 1971-72 season they enjoyed their finest season of all. They combined for 312 points that year.  Ratelle (109 points), Hadfield (106) and Gilbert (97) finished. 3-4-5 in NHL scoring, and likely would have all topped 50 goals had Ratelle not broken his ankle in March with 15 games remaining.   Hadfield became the first Ranger ever to score 50 goals in a season, while Gilbert scored 43 and Ratelle 46 in only 63 games.  All three players were named to the all NHL team with Gilbert first team right winger.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic of the line’s production during their magical season was that 104 of their 139 goals came at even strength.  In addition 17 game winning goals represented 35% of the team’s victories.  Fifteen 20 plus goal seasons and seven seasons of 30 goals or more.  During their six seasons they totaled 545 goals, 774 assists and 1,319 points.  Ratelle and Gilbert are members of the NHL Hall of Fame.  All three players have their jerseys retired and hanging in the rafters at Madison Square Garden.

Of the top five goal scorers in Rangers history, three of them come from the GAG line with the top two being Gilbert (406) and Ratelle (336) and Hadfield No. 5 with 262 goals.  With present day lines not kept together as regularly, the GAG line’s production is  likely to remain the Rangers all-time best.

So there you have the top ten Rangers forward lines.  If you have some suggestions on lines that were missed please mention them in the comments.

Special thanks and acknowledgement:

“Before 94: The Story of the 1978-79 New York Rangers”

by Mark Rosenman & Howie Karpin

“We Did Everything But Win: Former New York Rangers Remember the Emile Francis Era (1964-1976)”

by George Grimm

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