Rod Gilbert left his mark in the record book

On Sunday, the NHL lost one of the game’s greatest players, former New York Rangers right winger Rod Gilbert. Gilbert played his  entire18-year career on Broadway (1,065 games), where he remains the team’s highest scorer with 1,021 points (406 goals and 615 assists). The native of Montreal, Quebec, never won the Stanley Cup but was the heart and soul of a team who tried to stay competitive at the end of the Original Six Era and through the early years of Expansion that started in 1967.

Enshrined among the immortals

The Hockey Hall of Fame welcomed Gilbert in 1982, an honor well deserved since he was just the 11th player to score 1,000 points in the NHL. His achievement was even more impressive as he became just the eighth player to reach the milestone with one team. As of 2021, he remains on a shortlist of just 44 players who collected that many points with just one franchise.

Except for the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights, 21 NHL franchises have had a player reach 1,000 points while playing in their city. Five of the Original Six franchises, Boston Bruins (3), Chicago Blackhawks (4), Detroit Red Wings (4), Montreal Canadiens (3), and New York Rangers (1 – Gilbert), all have players in the thousand-point club, with the Toronto Maple Leafs still in the hunt.

Gilbert may have the lowest total (1,026) of the 15 players from the Original Six list, which serves as another example of what he meant to the Rangers franchise. The organization recognized his accomplishments when he became the first player to have his jersey (#7) retired on Oct. 14, 1979.

Gilbert becomes Mr. New York Rangers

Fondly remembered by Rangers fans across several decades, Gilbert was part of the famous G-A-G line, which meant “Goal-a-Game.” He played right wing with Vic Hadfield (left wing) and Jean Ratelle (center). Together the trio dominated the league in the early 1970s, finishing among the league leaders in points during the 1972 season.

Gilbert has been the Rangers’ leading scorer since he last skated on Garden ice in 1978. Only Gordie Howe (Red Wings – 1971) has been a franchise-leading scorer longer than Gilbert. His spot at the top is pretty secured since Chris Kreider is the team’s active leading scorer with just 346 points in 573 games. Additionally, Gilbert holds the team record for most games played by a forward, with Kreider as the only active player within striking distance.

Thanks to 406 career goals, Gilbert remains the only player in the Rangers’ history to score 400. Forty-five players in league history have reached that plateau with one franchise, and he was the 10th player to do so.

Hero until the end

It has been 43 years since Gilbert retired. He was a rare talent (1960-1978) who left as one of the league’s top scorers of all time. At the time of his passing, he ranked 85th in points, 87th in assists, and 95th in goals.

Gilbert was of a few players in league history to play his entire career with one franchise. He took great pride in being a Ranger on and off the ice. Today’s fans may never understand his impact on the franchise because they never got to see him skate up and down the ice. Whether it was as a part of the alumni or helping with local charities, Gilbert left a mark on New York City that may be impossible to replace.