Best of the best: The New York Rangers’ all-time team
The best New York Rangers, from inception to today
As most New York Rangers fans know all too well, injuries, bad timing, mismanagement, and a cruel amount of rotten luck have conspired to limit the Blueshirts to four Stanley Cup titles since their birth in 1926.
But despite being light in the NHL championships department, the Rangers have boasted plenty of the best players in the game’s history. Some played all or most of their career games on Broadway. Others came during or just after their prime but made a huge impact.
Regardless, there’s no shortage of great players in Rangers’ history, so picking twelve forwards, six defensemen, two goalies and three spares (Black Aces) to construct their all-time team was the relatively easy part.
The difficulty was in measuring the production of players from different eras, especially considering the Rangers rank fourth in NHL longevity (with Chicago and Detroit) behind Montreal, Toronto, and Boston.
In other words, a player who played 44 games per season for 10 years is going to have lower scoring totals than a player of similar caliber who worked 70 or 80 matches per campaign over the same span.
The “play index” on hockey-reference.com was useful in providing “adjusted” totals to account for such disparities.
For example, Hall of Fame center Frank Boucher played for the Rangers from their first season in 1926-27 through the 1943-44 campaign. During that span, he played 533 games, scored 152 times, and assisted on 262 goals for 414 points.
When he began his NHL career, the league had six teams that each played 44 matches per season. By his final year, the schedule was up to 50 contests. Today, of course, the league has an 82-game slate.
Boucher’s adjusted totals are an astounding 273 goals and 864 assists for 1,137 points.
In addition to stats (regular and adjusted), players also received consideration for their length of service, contributions to the franchise, and intangibles such as playing without regard for his own body and coming up big in crucial times.
There almost certainly are players left off this roster that will raise eyebrows.
However, the maximum players an NHL club can have on its active roster is 23. Therefore, the same applies to this Rangers’ all-time team. Otherwise, how credible would any all-time team be if dozens of honorable mentions were included?
Might as well list everybody (yawn).
The intent here is not to slight or diminish the accomplishments of those who consistently played hard and very well while wearing a Rangers’ sweater. Rather, it’s as simple as “can’t take everybody.”
Born on this day in 1920 - Honoured Member Chuck Rayner (pictured centre) #HHOF pic.twitter.com/qojFJsXClJ
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) August 11, 2018
One deserving player who didn’t qualify is goalie Chuck Rayner.
He’s unquestionably one of the best netminders in Rangers’ history. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame and won the Hart Trophy in 1950 despite playing behind lousy Ranger teams in each of his eight seasons on Broadway (1945-46 through 1952-53).
How bad were the Rangers during Rayner’s tenure?
They finished sixth (last) three times, fifth three times and fourth twice (making the playoffs both times). One playoff berth came in 1949-50 when the Rangers were among four postseason clubs despite a 28-31-11 regular season in which they scored a league-low 170 goals.
New York also finished 10 points behind Montreal that season, yet knocked off the Canadiens in five games in the Semifinals before losing to Detroit in seven in the Finals.
The Rangers nearly won the Cup against a first-place Red Wings team that led the league with 229 goals – and despite having to play five games at Detroit’s Olympia Stadium (including the final four matches) and twice at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens because the circus was occupying Madison Square Garden.
Yet still took Detroit two overtimes of Game Seven to win. All thanks to Rayner, who posted a 2.25 goals-against average and one shutout that postseason.
Overall, he posted a 123-179-73 record, 2.98 GAA, and 24 shutouts in 377 games for the Rangers, though his adjusted GAA is 3.20. Exceptional given the teams he played behind, but would you take him over Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Richter, or Eddie Giacomin?
So, here’s my Rangers’ all-time team.
Players are listed with years and regular-season stats as a Blueshirt. The NHL’s 23-man active roster limit applies. Hockey Hall of Fame members noted with HOF. Skinny notes are from hockey-reference.com and the Official Guide to the Players of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
First line
Left Wing – Bun Cook (HOF)
Years: 1926-36
Stats: 433 games, 154 goals, 141 assists, 295 points
Adjusted stats: 282 goals and 490 assists for 772 points.
Skinny: Assisted on the first goal in franchise history, scored by his brother, Bill, with whom he played on “The Bread Line” (along with Frank Boucher).
Center – Mark Messier (HOF)
Years: 1991-97, 2000-04
Stats: 698 games, 250 goals, 441 assists, 691 points
Skinny: Delivered on his “guarantee” and potted the winner in Game Seven of the 1994 Finals to help the Rangers win their fourth Cup in franchise history, ending a 54-year championship drought on Broadway. During that postseason, “The Messiah” had 12 goals, 18 assists, and four game-winners. In his first season in New York (1991-92), he won the Hart Trophy after posting 35 markers and 72 helpers.
Right Wing – Rod Gilbert (HOF)
Years: 1960-78
Stats: 1,065 games, 406 goals, 615 assists, 1,021 points
Skinny: Franchise leader in points and goals, and third in games. Had 67 points (34 goals) in 79 playoff games and was the first number retired by the team (No. 7 in 1979). … Member of the team’s famous Goal-A-Game line with Vic Hadfield and Jean Ratelle. … Slowed some by back troubles most his career, he had spinal fusion surgery in 1961 and 1965.
Next up, the second line.
Second line
Left Wing – Vic Hadfield
Years: 1961-74
Stats: 841 games, 262 goals, 310 assists, 572 points
Adjusted stats: 261 goals and 317 assists for 578 points.
Skinny: Had 1,041 penalty minutes and 41 playoff points for New York. Led the NHL in games in 1964-65 (70) and finished second in the league in goals (50), and fourth in assists (56) and points (106) in 1972. His 151 PIMs in 1963-64 led the league.
Center – Frank Boucher (HOF)
Years: 1926-1944
Stats: 533 games, 152 goals, 261 assists, 413 points
Adjusted stats: 273 goals and 864 assists for 1,137 points.
Skinny: He won the Lady Byng Trophy so many times (seven) the NHL let him keep the original cup. Got an assist on the franchise’s first goal scored by Bill Cook.
Right Wing – Bill Cook (HOF)
Years: 1926-37
Stats: 475 games, 228 goals, 138 assists, 366 points
Adjusted stats: 422 goals, 450 assists, 872 points
Skinny: Scored the first goal in franchise history on Nov. 16, 1926, in a 1-0 win over the Montreal Maroons. He also potted the Cup-winning goal in 1933 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Next up, the third line.
Third lineLeft Wing – Adam Graves
Years: 1991-2001
Stats: 772 games, 280 goals, 227 assists, 507 points
Skinny: Had 810 PIMs as a Ranger and is one of three players in franchise history to notch at least 50 goals in a season, potting 52 in 1994. … His feistiness on the ice and kindness off it endeared him to many fanbases in addition to New York’s. … Scored a wrap-around goal in overtime of Game Five ended the Conference Semifinals against New Jersey Devils. … Won the King Clancy Award in 1994 for exemplifying leadership on and off the ice, and for making notable humanitarian contributions. … Awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2001 for exhibiting dedication and sportsmanship. … Works for the Rangers in fan development, community relations, hockey development and does a lot for the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
Center – Jean Ratelle (HOF)
Years: 1960-76
Stats: 862 games, 336 goals, 481 assists, 817 points
Skinny: Played with sportsmanship and smoothness, drawing comparisons to Montreal’s great Jean Beliveau. …among all-time Rangers, he ranks third in points and assists, and second in goals.
Right Wing – Andy Bathgate (HOF)
Years: 1952-64
Stats: 719 games, 272 goals, 457 assists, 729 points
Adjusted stats: 314 goals, 540 assists, 854 points
Skinny: The third-best right wing in the NHL during his time behind Montreal’s Maurice “Rocket” Richard and Detroit’s Gordie Howe. He won the Hart Trophy in 1958-59, posting career-bests in goals (40) and points (88).
Next up, the fourth line.
Fourth line
Left Wing – Lynn Patrick (HOF)
Years: 1934-46
Stats: 445 games, 145 goals, 191 assists, 336 points
Adjusted stats: 210 goals, 324 assists, 534 points
Skinny: Son of coach Lester Patrick. Led NHL with 32 goals in 1942. Later coached the Rangers (1948-50).
Center – Walt Tkaczuk
Years: 1967-1981
Stats: 945 games, 227 goals, 451 assists, 678 points
Skinny: Held Boston’s Phil Esposito goal-less in the 1972 Finals, after the Bruins center led the league in goals (66) and points (133).
April 13, 1940 Bryan Hextall scored in OT as the NYR defeated the TML 3-2 in Gm 6 to become Stanley Cup Champions. pic.twitter.com/8KEyNspc57
— Leah Hextall (@leahhextall) April 13, 2016
Right Wing – Bryan Hextall (HOF)
Years: 1936-48
Stats: 449 games, 187 goals, 180 assists, 367 points
Adjusted stats: 252 goals, 250 assists, 502 points
Skinny: Scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime in 1940 against Toronto. Led the NHL in goals in 1940 (24) and 1941 (26), and points in 1942 (56).
Next, the defense pairings.
Defense – First Pair
Brian Leetch (HOF)
Years: 1987-2004
Stats: 1,129 games, 240 goals, 741 assists, 981 points
Skinny: Franchise leader in assists and second in points and games. Leads all Rangers blueliners in career goals, assists, and points. Following the 1994 playoffs, he became the first U.S.-born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, having posted 34 points (23 assists and four game-winning goals) in 23 matches. Leetch ranks eighth in points among all-time NHL defensemen with 1,028 (including 32 for Boston and 15 for Toronto). He’s won two Norris trophies, the Calder Trophy, and was a five-time all-star (including two first-team selections). He’s also one of only five blueliners in league history to record at least 100 points in a season (with Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, and Denis Potvin).
Harry Howell (HOF)
Years: 1952-69
Stats: 1,160 games, 82 goals, 263 assists, 345 points
Adjusted stats: 91 goals, 302 assists, 393 points
Skinny: Won the Norris Trophy in 1967 before Bobby Orr won the next eight. The franchise leader in games and third in penalty minutes (1,147).
Second Pair
Ron Greschner
Years: 1974-90
Stats: 981, 179 goals, 431 assists, 610 points
Skinny: Franchise leader in PIMS (1,226) and ranks second among team blueliners in career goals, assists, and points. One of the most beloved Rangers of all-time. Also deserves credit for snaring Carol Alt.
Brad Park (HOF)
Years: 1968-76
Stats: 465 games, 95 goals, 283 assists, 378 points
Skinny: Led the team with 82 points in 1974 and was the first blueliner in franchise history to notch a hat trick (Dec. 12, 1971, in a 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins). … Finished as runner-up in Norris Trophy voting to Bobby Orr six times. It wasn’t his fault the Rangers were stupid enough to trade him to Boston.
Third Pair
Bill Gadsby (HOF)
Years: 1954-61
Stats: 457 games, 58 goals, 212 assists, 270 points
Adjusted stats: 68 goals, 258 assists, 326 points
Skinny: Played more games with the Chicago Blackhawks but made four of his seven all-star appearances as a Ranger (including three first-team selections). He also finished as runner-up in Norris Trophy voting three times as a Blueshirt.
Dan Girardi
Years: 2006-17
Stats: 788 games, 46 goals, 184 assists, 230 points
Skinny: According to NHL.com, Girardi ranks second in career blocked shots (1,954) since Real Time stats were introduced in 2005-06. He also recorded 2,082 hits, most of any Rangers’ blueliner since 2005-06. … Played 330 consecutive games before an injury forced him out in January 2011. In 2012, he was an all-star and finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting, having recorded 29 points, 185 blocks, and 211 hits. In 2015, he logged 30 minutes of ice time in three games (Nov. 1-5), becoming the first Rangers player to do so since Brian Leetch in 2001. Later that season, Girardi became the first Ranger to block 10 shots in one match.
Next up, the goalies
Goalies
Henrik Lundqvist
Years: 2005-present
Stats: 887 games, 2.43 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, 459 wins, 64 shutouts
Skinny: Holds the franchise records for wins, shutouts, saves (23,509), games played, minutes (51,818), and appearances in a season (73). Led the Rangers to their first conference title in 20 years in 2014 before falling in five games to the Los Angeles Kings in the Finals. Won the Vezina Trophy in 2012, having recorded a 1.97 GAA, .930 SP, and career-best 39 wins. He finished among the top five in Vezina voting six other times and placed third among vote-getters for the Hart in 2012.
Mike Richter
Years: 1990-2003
Stats: 666 games, 2.89 goals-against average, .904 save percentage, 301 wins, 24 shutouts
Skinny: In 1994, he led the Rangers to their fourth Stanley Cup title (and first since 1940), setting franchise marks in wins (42) and victories including playoffs (58). His stop on the league’s leading goalscorer, Pavel Bure, on a penalty shot in the Finals is among the most iconic moments in team history and known as “The Save.” … Ranks second among team goalies in wins, saves (17,379), minutes (38,183), and appearances in a season (tied with Lundqvist at 72). … Made 59 saves in a 3-3 tie at Vancouver in January 1991, the most by any Rangers goalie in a single match.
Our next and final stop, the spares.
Spares
Eddie Giacomin (HOF)
Position: Goalie
Years: 1965-1975
Stats: 539 games, 2.74 GAA, .905 SP, 267 wins, 49 shutouts
Skinny: “Ed-die, Ed-die, Ed-die!” led the NHL in wins three times, in minutes four times, shutouts three times, and saves twice. He won the Vezina Trophy in 1971 (with teammate Gilles Villemure) and was among the top ten in the league in GAA (seven times) and SP (six). Among all-time Rangers, he ranks second in shutouts and third in wins.
Neil Colville (HOF)
Positions: Center and Defense
Years: 1935-1949
Stats: 465 games, 100 goals, 166 assists, 266 points
Adjusted stats: 151 goals, 283 assists, 434 points
Skinny: Missed nearly three seasons to serve in World War II. Before leaving the Rangers, he was an all-star forward. When he returned, he switched to defense and became an all-star at the position. He’s one of only six HHOF members to be selected an NHL all-star at two positions (including Messier, who was an all-star at center and left wing).
Mika Zibanejad
Position: Center
Years: 2016-present
Stats: 267 games, 112 goals, 121 assists, 233 points
Skinny: This pick is based on his talent, leadership (on and off the ice), great attitude, and potential. … In each of his four seasons since joining the Rangers (in 2016-17), his goal and point totals have increased (goals: 14, 27, 30, 41; points: 37, 47, 74, 75). Injuries limited him to just 57 of the team’s 70 games in 2019-20, however, he established career-bests in goals, points, power-play tallies (12, tied with his output in 82 tilts in 2018-19), and short-handed markers (two). He won 49 percent of his draws and played over 21 minutes per match, more than two minutes above his average with the Rangers. … Uses his 6-foot-2, 213-pound frame to protect the puck and has perhaps the deadliest forehand-to-backhand snipe in the league.
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