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New York Rangers: An All-Star history

By Steve Paulus

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JANUARY 22: A general view of NHL All-Star signage is seen in front of the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch prior to the start of the All-Star Weekend festivities on January 22, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JANUARY 22: A general view of NHL All-Star signage is seen in front of the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch prior to the start of the All-Star Weekend festivities on January 22, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 29: Marian Gaborik #10 of the New York Rangers and Team Chara poses after being named MVP with NHL’s Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly after the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game between Team Alfredsson and Team Chara at Scotiabank Place on January 29, 2012 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Team Chara defeated Team Alfredsson 12-9. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 29: Marian Gaborik #10 of the New York Rangers and Team Chara poses after being named MVP with NHL’s Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly after the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game between Team Alfredsson and Team Chara at Scotiabank Place on January 29, 2012 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Team Chara defeated Team Alfredsson 12-9. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

MVP’s

For years, the NHL All-Star Game was a game between different configurations of teams, but in 2017 the league adopted the round robin three-on-three format.  Before the change, five New York Rangers won the MVP award. The first was Don Maloney in 1984 who scored the game winning  goal and added two assists for the Prince of Wales Conference team.

Next was Mike Gartner who won the award in 1993.  Talk about a twist of fate, Gartner was named as a replacement for Mark Messier who missed the game with an injury.  Gartner went on to win the MVP Award, becoming the fourth NHL player to score four goals in an all-star competition.  Not only that, Gartner also won the fastest skater competition in the last all-star game played at the Montreal Forum.

1994 was a magical year for the Rangers and the All-Star Game was no different.  They sent Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Richter to the game and Messier scored a goal and added two assists as the Eastern Conference team captain.  Richter went on to win the MVP Award at the game that was held, where else, but at Madison Square Garden.

The most appropriate MVP season was when Wayne Gretzky won as a member of the Rangers. Of course the year was 1999.  This year the format was North America vs the World and Gretzky notched a goal and two assists to lead his team to an 8-6 win.  It was the last of three MVP awards for #99.

The last Ranger to win MVP honors was Marian Gaborik in 2012.  In a bizarre format, there was a team Alfredsson and a team Chara and players voted to the game were drafted by the two teams.  That’s how Gaborik ended up on Team Chara playing against his teammates Dan Girardi and Henrikl Lundqvist.  Gaborik won the MVP award for his hat trick and four points as he led Team Chara to a 12-9 victory.

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