Blue Line Station
Fansided

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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NEW YORK – MARCH 25: Brandon Dubinsky #17, Daniel Girardi #5, Fedor Tyutin #51, and Martin Straka #82 of the New York Rangers celebrate teammate Jaromir Jagr’s #68 goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden March 25, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK – MARCH 25: Brandon Dubinsky #17, Daniel Girardi #5, Fedor Tyutin #51, and Martin Straka #82 of the New York Rangers celebrate teammate Jaromir Jagr’s #68 goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden March 25, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#5 – Two Czechs and a Swede

The New York Rangers emerged from the NHL Lockout having missed the postseason in seven consecutive seasons.  Following the 2003-04 season the Rangers had completed a fire sale of the high-priced veterans that made up the team’s roster, as well as the retirement of long-time captain Mark Messier.  They had acquired all star winger Jaromir Jagr from the Washington Capitals.  Having few other NHL players on their roster many experts had projected the 2005-06 Rangers to be the worst team the NHL.

Jagr played in the KHL during the lockout and came into training camp with a lot to prove.  GM Glen Sather scoured the free agent rolls and came up with a few stop gaps but the Rangers were going to rely upon young players to fill the lineup card.  Among the free agents brought in to play with Jagr on the top line were Swedish veteran center Michael Nylander and Jagr’s fellow countryman from the Czech Republic Martin Straka.  Despite the roster depth challenges, Jagr made the bold prediction that the Rangers would make the playoffs and he would make good on it.

Jagr started strong during the beginning of the season becoming only the fourth player in NHL history to score ten or more goals within the first ten games of a season.  He finished the year breaking the Rangers single season records for goals (54) and points (123).  Jagr regained his dominant form with 24 goals on the power play and 9 game winners as the Rangers amassed 100 points.  Jagr finished second in the NHL in goal scoring and points, and was awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league’s most outstanding player, while finishing as runner up for the Hart, Richard and Art Ross Awards.

The Nylander-Jagr-Straka line would combine for 97 goals which was 39% of the team’s goal production with 17 game winners accounting for nearly 40% of the Ranger victories.  Centerman Nylander had a career best 56 assists and 79 points with Straka chipping in with 22 goals and 76 points.

The trio had a stellar repeat the following season even though Jagr failed to break the century mark with 30 goals and 96 points.  Nylander set new career bests with 14 game winning goals, 57 assists and 83 points.  Straka finished with 29 goals and 70 points as they repeated as the top 1-2-3 in team scoring. They  combined for 29 game winning goals almost half of the team’s victories and led the resurgent Rangers to the conference semifinals.

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