The most influential New York Rangers in recent history

Henrik Lundqvist #30 and Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Henrik Lundqvist #30 and Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers is awarded the Steven McDonald Award (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Despite that harsh reality of not hoisting the Stanley Cup, the early to mid-2010s was filled with playoff pushes, emotional moments, and a boatload of fun. None of this could be done if not for five of the most influential New York Rangers in recent history.

Without the likes of the small but mighty Mats Zuccarello, the leadership of Ryan McDonagh, the goal-scoring ability of Rick Nash, the heart and passion of Martin St. Louis and the dominance by “The King” himself, who knows what the New York Rangers success would have been in their years as a contender from the 2011- 2012 season through the 2016-17 campaign.

Note that Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin are exempt from the list as I am analyzing the years from 2011 to 2017, not the extraordinarily bright future that awaits the Broadway Blueshirts.

Mats Zuccarello

What can be said about the 5’8″ undrafted Norwegian winger? There’s a reason the fans at Madison Square Garden chanted ”Zuuuccc” every home game for seven years straight.

Zuccarello’s rise from being this underdog from the Swedish Hockey League–where he did win the league’s MVP honors by the way–to a New York Rangers hero is absolutely unprecedented.

From the 2013-14 to the 2017-18 season, he was undoubtedly one of the most integral pieces of the Blueshirts’ roster, as he led the team in points in four of those five seasons.

During this stretch, the Blueshirts made four playoff appearances highlighted by advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.  But for his head injury in 2015, the Rangers might have made a second straight appearance in the Finals.

Not only was his skill on the ice so important to the team, but his presence off the ice and in the locker room was unmatched which is highlighted by him winning the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award three times.

Seeing “Zuuc” shipped off last season was tough for every player, staffer, and fan, but his dedication to the New York Rangers is such that may never be matched again.

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