Of course, that’s a major leap considering we’re talking about a franchise that’s been in business for nearly 100 years. That’s a lot of great hockey players over the decades, from Original Six heroes to those who were part of great runs in the 1970’s and 2010’s, the 1994 Stanley Cup champions and the current run of three consecutive 100-point seasons.

Those great teams had great players, including many of the best to ever play in the NHL. Wayne Gretzky. Rod Gilbert. Mark Messier. Andy Bathgate. Jaromir Jagr.

Panarin is working his way into the conversation. Since signing his massive seven-year, $81.5 million contract ahead of the 2019-20 season, Panarin has produced equally huge numbers in the regular season. He has 92 points or more in four full NHL seasons on Broadway, and had 58 in 42 games during the abridged 2020-21 campaign.

This season, Panarin has raised his play to Hart Trophy level. Panarin’s 43 goals and 102 points are NHL career highs for him. He’s fourth in League scoring and sixth in goals. He’s got eight points (five goals, three assists) in his past three games, aiming to finish strong and keep it rolling into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Let’s examine where Panarin stands among the greatest forwards in Rangers history.

Related: 10 key trades that helped Rangers win 1994 Stanley Cup

Artemi Panarin making case as one of greatest forwards all-time for Rangers

For this exercise, let’s stick to the forward position. Brian Leetch certainly can stake a claim as the greatest player in Rangers history but the stud defenseman and goalie Henrik Lundqvist will be left out of this debate.

In five seasons with the Rangers, Panarin has 443 points (143 goals, 300 assists) in 340 regular-season games. He will soon crack the Blueshirts top-10 in assists, perhaps even this season, since Vic Hadfield sits in 10th place with 310 helpers. Before his contract is up after the 2025-26 season, Panarin should easily be among New York’s top-10 all-time scorers. Teammate Chris Kreider is 10th now with 542 points and will move up the list the next two seasons. But Panarin should catch and pass Hadfield, who’s currently ninth with 572 points.

In fact, should he remain healthy the rest of this season and next two, Panarin should pass Hadfield, Steve Vickers (586) and defenseman Ron Greschner (610) in the top-10.

The 32-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down. His production is at career-best levels this season, and he’s the first Rangers player since Jagr in 2005-06 (123) to score 100 points in a season. In fact, he’s just the sixth forward and seventh skater (Leetch is the only defenseman on the list) with 100 points in a season for the Rangers.

But what is it that truly elevates Panarin among the all-time great Rangers forwards?

Watch: 1-on-1 interview with former Rangers enforcer Colton Orr

Artemi Panarin has highest scoring average in Rangers history

Panarin is averaging 1.30 points per game with the Rangers. That is far and away the best average in franchise history, which speaks to the amazing consistency The Breadman has shown in New York.

Jagr is next on the list with an average of 1.15 points per game. That’s buoyed by his massive 2005-06 season and lowered by his final of three-plus seasons in New York when he had 71 points in 82 games in 2007-08.

Panarin has never averaged less than a point per game in any of his five seasons with the Rangers. His lowest production was last season, when he averaged 1.12 points per game (92 points in 82 games). He’s averaging a whopping 1.42 this season and was 1.38 in his first season with the Rangers.

Like Jagr, Walt Podubny averaged 1.15 points per game with the Blueshirts. However he only played 152 games over two seasons in New York from 1986-88, when he scored 88 and 87 points. Two terrific seasons, just not the length of consistency Panarin has shown.

An excellent argument can be made that Bathgate or Messier be considered the greatest forward in Rangers history since each was a point-per-game player for a decade-plus in New York. Bathgate had 729 points in 719 games with the Rangers from 1952 to 1964. He’s tied for fifth all-time for the Rangers averaging 1.01 points per game.

In two stints on Broadway, Messier had 691 points in 698 games. His average of 0.99 points per game is tied for seventh on the all-time list. Of course, he also led the Rangers to their only Stanley Cup championship in 83 years to this point. So, there’s that.

If Panarin can break through and help the Blueshirts win the Cup, his overall value and how he’s looked at will change. And quite likely, he could be recognized as the greatest forward, if not simply one of the best, in Rangers history.

New York Rangers Top 10 all-time points-per-game averages

10. Pierre Larouche 0.96 (243 points in 253 games)

9. Mike Rogers 0.97 (308 points in 316 games)

T7. Ulf Nilsson 0.99 (169 points in 170 games)

T7. Mark Messier 0.99 (691 points in 698 games)

T5. Michael Nylander 1.01 (162 points in 160 games)

T5. Andy Bathgate 1.01 (729 points in 719 games)

4. Wayne Gretzky 1.06 (249 points in 234 games)

T2. Walt Podubny 1.15 (175 points in 152 games)

T2. Jaromir Jagr 1.15 (319 points in 277 games)

1. Artemi Panarin 1.30 (443 points in 340 games)

After sorting 68 years of rosters, we have compiled the list of players who represented the Rangers most often at the All-Star Game. Unsurprisingly, most of the names on this list have their numbers hanging in the rafters at Madison Square Garden, but it is crucial to remember how notable their tenures with the Blueshirts indeed were.

Related: Great NHL All-Star Skills performance by Rangers

New York Rangers All-Star Appearances

Henrik Lundqvist (5)

NHL All-Star Games: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019

Henrik Lundqvist played his entire career in a Rangers uniform, compiling a franchise record 459 wins and entering the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2023. As a five-time participant at the NHL All-Star Game, he earned a 0-1-0 record and a 10.86 goals-against average. Lundqvist is one of just 18 goalies to make at least five appearances at the All-Star Game.

Mark Messier (5)

NHL All-Star Games: 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2004

Mark Messier played 25 years in the NHL, skating in the fifth most All-Star Games with 15, tied with Frank Mahovlich. During his two tenures with the Blueshirts, The Moose played in five games, collecting 10 points, half his 20 career points at the event. Messier remains the fourth-highest scorer in All-Star Games and is one of four skaters to reach 20 points.

Brad Park (6)

NHL All-Star Games: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975

Brad Park played eight seasons on Broadway and played in six All-Star Games. Despite finding more statistical success with the Boston Bruins, he was a Norris Trophy finalist in all but two seasons with the Rangers. As one of the franchise’s best draft picks, seeing his name pop on this list with other franchise legends is unsurprising. While representing the Blueshirts, he collected just two points at the All-Star Game.

Ed Giacomin (6)

NHL All-Star Games: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973

Before Mike Richter and Lundqvist overtook most of his franchise records, it is safe to say that Ed Giacomin was New York’s best statistical netminder of all time. During his 11-year tenure with the team, he played in six All-Star Games, which remains the franchise record for netminders. As only one of 10 goalies to appear in at least six games, he owns a 2-1-1 record and a 3.32 at the event.

Harry Howell (6)

NHL All-Star Games: 1955, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968

Harry Howell patrolled the blueline on Broadway for 17 years and holds the team record for most games played at 1,160. Although he would attend the All-Star Game as a member of the Oakland Seals in 1970, he represented the Rangers at six events, collecting a single point in 1965. The Hall of Famer won the Norris Trophy in 1967 and still ranks in the top 10 regarding goals, assists, and points by a New York defenseman.

Andy Bathgate (7)

NHL All-Star Games: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964

Andy Bathgate won the Hart Trophy with New York and the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, earning enshrinement in the Hall of Fame in 1978. During his 12 seasons with the Rangers, he attended seven All-Star Games, collecting five points. Thanks to his longevity with the Blueshirts, he remains among the team’s top scorers with 457 points.

Rod Gilbert (8)

NHL All-Star Games: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977

Rod Gilbert spent his entire NHL career with the Rangers, becoming known as “Mr. Ranger” for his endless devotion to the franchise. As the team’s long-time scoring leader, Gilbert called Madison Square Garden home for 18 years, appearing in a then-record eight All-Star Games. Despite being the only player to reach 1,000 points in New York, he only netted three points (all assists) in these events, making him one of the lowest-scoring players with at least eight appearances.

Brian Leetch (9)

NHL All-Star Games: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002

Any true Rangers fan knows that Brian Leetch is the greatest player to ever put on the team’s iconic jersey. Even though he didn’t finish his Hall of Fame career with the club, he is one of their most decorated players, winning the Calder Trophy (1989), Conn Smythe Trophy (1994), and two Norris Trophies (1992, 1997), while ranking second on the games played and scoring lists.

With greats like Brian Leetch, Mike Ricther, Mark Messier & Adam Graves. The Rangers were able to capture there only cup since the Original 6 Era in 93’-94’ (📸1994 All Star Game at MSG) #classichockey #oldtimehockey pic.twitter.com/0XF4MZp6oz

— Classic Hockey Co. (@ClassicHockeyCo) July 24, 2018

In New York, he skated in nine All-Star Games, becoming one of 35 players to achieve the feat. Despite retiring with 1,028 points, he managed only two assists at the All-Star Game, putting him in a tie with Marcel Pronovost for the least amount of points by a player with at least nine appearances.

Note: Some historical data via NHL Records

Despite some of the game’s greatest players calling Madison Square Garden home, whether it was for one season or a decade, names like Wayne Gretzky, Phil Esposito, Brad Park, Eric Lindros, Sergei Zubov, Pavel Bure, Martin St. Louis, Brendan Shanahan, and Pat LaFontaine are missing from this list. Realistically, when people think of those names, they remember highlights from other teams. Although many of them had heroic moments on Broadway, most people would rarely associate their careers with being prominent players for the Rangers. 

Ultimately, our goal with this list is to determine which inductees have the strongest association with the Blueshirts. So, after crunching the numbers, and separating the players based on merits, here is the list of players in the Hockey Hall of Famer who best represent the Rangers. 

Related: Henrik Lundqvist to be inducted into HHOF

Top 10 New York Rangers in the Hall of Fame

10. Andy Bathgate

Anytime anyone writes a top ten list on any subject, some may question the last entry unless it’s concrete. Although many deserving names could have slid into this spot, we ultimately chose Andy Bathgate, who spent the first 12 seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers. Upon his departure from the team in 1964, he was the franchise’s leading scorer with 729 points, a mark he held for a decade until Jean Ratelle broke it in 1974. 

Coincidently, Bathgate’s jersey #9 is retired, sharing the honor with Adam Graves, who wore the number three decades later in the 1990s. Despite leaving New York 59 years ago, he still ranks fourth in goals, assists, and points. Even though he played in several other cities, and the team waited decades to retire his jersey, there’s no denying his place in Rangers’ history. 

9. Bill Cook

Bill Cook made his NHL debut at 30 after a dominant professional career in Canada, playing in his native Ontario, before venturing west to Saskatchewan (pre-NHL days). Eventually, he came to New York, joining the Rangers upon their inception in 1926. As the first captain in New York history, he also scored the first goal for the franchise on Nov. 16, 1926. 

Interestingly, Cook became one of the first players to surpass 60 points, achieving the feat alongside Frank Boucher in 1929-30. By that time, he had already won a Stanley Cup title (1928) and, within three seasons, would add another ring to his collection. Although he never won awards as a player, he served as Rangers’ head coach from 1951 to 1953, spending his entire NHL career with the Blueshirts. 

8. Ed Giacomin

Long before Mike Richter established a new record for wins by a goalie in 2003, a mark Lundqvist would break later, the winningest netminder for 25 years was franchise icon, Ed Giacomin. As a late bloomer, making his NHL debut at 26, the Canadian netminder would also set a franchise record for wins during the regular season with 38 in 1968-69, a total only surpassed by Richter (42) and Lundqvist (39) decades later.

During his career, Giacomin was a five-time All-Star and won the Vezina Trophy in 1970-71, becoming only the second Rangers goalie (at the time) to win the prestigious award. Although he finished his career with the Detroit Red Wings from 1976 to 1978, New York made him the second player in team history to have his number retired in 1989.

7. Jean Ratelle 

Jean Ratelle was just 20 years old when he put on a Rangers jersey for the first time in 1960-61, going on to forge one of the best statistical careers on Broadway over the next 16 seasons. As the center for the famous GAG line (Goal a Game) with Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield, the trio rewrote the team record book and registered the first 100-point seasons in Rangers’ history.

Interestingly, Ratelle set the record at 109 in 1971-72, which stood for 34 years before Jaromir Jagr broke it with 123 points. Although he left town in the famous Phil Esposito trade in 1976, he remains amongst the top three in goals, assists, and points. Meanwhile, he is one of 11 players with their number retired by the club. 

6. Harry Howell

It has been 54 years since Harry Howell last wore a Rangers jersey, skating with the club from 1952 to 1969. And even though the league did not play 82 games in a season, he became the franchise’s leader with 1,160 games, a record that still stands today. 

Of course, there have many big names to patrol the blueline at Madison Square Garden, but no one did it longer than Howell, who won a Norris Trophy and was an All-Star in 1966-67. Even though he played eight seasons with other teams in the NHL and WHA, there’s no denying that he’s forever linked to the Rangers as one of their longest-tenured players. 

5. Frank Boucher

Outside of 24 games with the Ottawa Senators in 1921-22, Boucher was the first true “Mr. Ranger,” playing in 533 games over 13 seasons. Additionally, he served as New York’s coach from 1939 to 1949, with another season in 1953-54, compiling a 181-263-83 record behind the bench. Ultimately, he was a part of the Rangers organization in one capacity or another for 1,060 games. 

Statistically, at the time of his retirement in 1944, Boucher ranked as one of the franchise’s top scorers with 424 points. Furthermore, he won two Stanley Cup titles as a player in 1928 and 1933 and served as head coach of the 1940-winning team. As of 2023, he remains the only player in NHL history to win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy seven times, claiming the award from 1928-1931 and 1933-1935. 

4. Mark Messier

There’s no denying that by the time Mark Messier came to New York in 1991, he was already a Hall of Famer. Five Stanley Cup championships during his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers will do that for a player. Additionally, he had already won the Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) and Hart Trophies (league MVP). 

However, Messier will forever be associated with the Rangers for one historical playoff run in 1994, ending a 54-year championship drought. Whether it was guaranteeing a victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final and scoring a hat trick or scoring the Cup-clinching goal a few weeks later, those two iconic moments are the crown jewels of his Hall of Fame career.

Messier ended his career with 1,887 points which ranks third all-time. While many will argue that he should be higher on this list, we took into account the majority of his points and accomplishments were in Edmonton.

3. Rod Gilbert

There’s no denying some highly talented players have skated in a Rangers jersey, but there will be one that always stands out more than any other: Gilbert. Even though his franchise record for games played has fallen since his retirement in 1978, he remains the only player in team history to score 400 goals (406) and collect 1,000 points (1,021). 

The No. 7 is a beloved one around here.

A look behind the very first retired number in #NYR history and the legendary Rod Gilbert. 💙 https://t.co/WZtNPMZoE4 pic.twitter.com/98md4eJttx

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 7, 2023

Known as “Mr. Ranger,” Gilbert spent his 18-year career on Broadway and was very active in the community serving as the Rangers’ alumni association president until he died in 2021. Additionally, he played a significant role in the team’s charity Garden of Dream Foundation, engaging with countless fans who never saw him in action. Ultimately, no one represented the Rangers like he did, leaving behind a legacy that may go unmatched forever.

2. Henrik Lundqvist

Lundqvist is the greatest goalie to play for the Rangers and, without a doubt, only second to Martin Brodeur in accomplishments amongst the three NY/NJ area franchises. Unfortunately, the Swedish netminder never won a Stanley Cup; but instead rewrote the team’s record book and was one of his generation’s best statistical goalies with 459 wins. 

Welcome to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Henrik Lundqvist.#HHOF2023 | #HHOF pic.twitter.com/jeS2Gds8Dw

— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 21, 2023

Although there is an argument that Lundqvist is ranked too high on this list, he spent his entire career in the Big Apple. Ultimately, many Rangers fans will remember his acrobatic saves in those Lady Liberty pads, backstopping his team to another win in the World’s Most Famous Arena.

1. Brian Leetch

Although the Rangers have four Stanley Cup championships, the team has only one Conn Smythe winner, Brian Leetch. As a two-time Norris Trophy winner and Rookie of the Year in 1989, the American-born defenseman played the first 17 years of his career in New York, helping the team to a championship in 1994. 

Statistically, Leetch came just 40 points shy of the franchise record (1,021) and was only 39 games away (1,160) from becoming the all-time leader in appearances in a Rangers jersey. Unfortunately, the team traded away a franchise icon in 2004, who finished his career with brief stops in Toronto and Boston. Moreover, he was the last defenseman to score 100 points in a season, with 102 in 1991-92, until Erik Karlsson scored 101 in 2022-23. 

At the end of the day, these lists are subjective as to ranking, but it’s hard to argue with the place these names hold in New York Rangers history.

Since you were kind enough to come here let me just give them to you.

They would be Buddy O’Connor, Chuck Rayner, Andy Bathgate and Mark Messier. Each had been voted as the National Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player.

On a side note, it was an absolute travesty that Jaromir Jagr was denied the Hart Trophy in 2006 when he shattered the franchise’s single season scoring records, and carried the franchise to the playoffs for the first time in eight season. #68 should have easily become the fifth member of the elusive and exclusive aforementioned club.

Buddy O’Connor 1948

O’Connor will forever go down in NHL history as the first Blueshirt to capture the league’s most valuable player award. O’Connor’s 1947-48 season, his first on Broadway after six seasons playing in Montreal for the Canadians, was a bright spot for a team that finished 4th in the Original 6 standings and lost in the premier round of the playoffs to the Detroit Red Wings. O’Connor tallied 60 points in 60 games, leading his squad in scoring.

Chuck Rayner 1950

One of just seven net-minders (and the only New York Ranger goalie) to capture the Hart Trophy. Rayner nearly single handedly carried his upstart squad of Blueshirts to the Promised Land in 1950. Sadly they lost in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals in double overtime to the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings. Rayner’s historic 1949-50 campaign will forever go down in Ranger lore as one of the greatest single season accomplishments in franchise history.

Andy Bathgate 1959

Bathgate was the face of the franchise through the down years of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The talented centerman from Winnipeg, MAN was the epitome of class, skill and consistency throughout his entire twelve year stint on Broadway. #9’s 1958-59 season saw him light the lamp 40 times and dish out 48 helpers. His 88 points were good enough for third in the NHL in scoring and his splendid all round play earned him accolades from the powers-that-be who determine the winner of the MVP award.

Mark Messier 1992

Let’s be honest, awarding a most valuable player award in a team oriented sport like hockey is a bit of an oxymoron. However, if there was ever a case to be made about a particular player being MOST valuable to a certain team, it assuredly was Mark Messier and the 1991-92 New York Rangers.

Acquired from Edmonton in October of 1991, Messier took his talented, but young crew of Blueshirts and hoisted them on to his gilded shoulders. Messier, his five Stanley Cup rings and his 107 points in the 91-92 season, led his Ranger team to their first ever President’s Trophy is history. You don’t have to be a Ranger fan or even a hockey fan or even a sports fan to understand the true impact Messier had on this organization upon his arrival in New York in the fall of 1991.

A future Rangers MVP?

Stanley Cups and individual awards are certainly a rarity in Rangerstown. You can count on one hand the amount of championships the Rangers have captured since their inception in 1926. You can also count in the other the total amount of league MVP’s this franchise has produced in over 90 years of play.

The Garden Faithful is hoping their decades of allegiance, devotion and loyalty will pay off with the current aspirational group of talented players. Do that Blueshirts currently have a player on their roster who may some day be presented with the coveted citation donated to the NHL in 1923 by a gentleman named Dr. David Hart?

As this young team continues to improve and gel and find teamwide chemistry, we’ll see if, one day soon, the Rangers have a player worthy of taking home the Hart trophy. In my view, Alexis Lafrenière, Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin (who was a finalist last season) could have their name announced at the annual NHL awards show extravaganza as the winner of the National Hockey League most valuable player award.

Thanks to the team’s struggles and inconsistency in this Covid shortened 2021 season, it is highly unlikely that any Blueshirt will be a candidate for any induvial award. Who will be the first New York Ranger since Mark Messier in 1992 to be selected by the Hockey Writer’s Associated as the league’s most valuable player? The answer this that query remains to be seen. It could be one of the five mentioned in this piece, or it could be a dark horse candidate that no one would expect.

As team president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton contort themselves trying to now figure out a way to get their hockey team under the NHL’s salary cap, let’s divert ourselves away from that mountain of arithmetic and mind-numbing scenarios to talk about which members, over the 90+ year history of our beloved Blueshirts, deserve to be on the hypothetical Ranger Mount Rushmore.

WFAN talk show legend Mike Francesa started this trend a few years ago. In referring to Mount Rushmore, the national landmark in South Dakota that has the faces of four of the most important and influential American Presidents, the “Sports Pope” gave his opinions about which four New York Yankees player’s likeness should be enshrined on the side of the proverbial mountain.

As it pertains to the Rangers, there are certainly several worthy candidates that deserve eternal recognition. Narrowing the field down to four was not an easy task. However, with my hammer and chisel by my side, I will begin the hyperbolic carving of these four Ranger greats that rise above all others and should be recognized as the Godfathers of the Broadway Blueshirts.

Lester Patrick

Lester Patrick is the patriarch of the New York Rangers. The “Silver Fox” is as important to the birth, rise, and success of New York’s second professional hockey team as George Halas was to the Chicago Bears and Curly Lambeau was to the Green Bay Packers. Without Patrick’s leadership, team-building skills and coaching acumen, the Rangers may not have survived the Great Depression era, in which several NHL teams went bankrupt, including the hockey team that preceded the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the New York Americans.

Patrick’s contributions are not limited to the Rangers, as his many innovations and rule changes helped form what the modern-day NHL has become. Patrick’s singular shining moment for the Blueshirts came not behind the bench, but on the ice in the 1928 Stanley Cup Finals when the 44-year-old head coach decided to don the goalie equipment of injured netminder Lorne Chabot and backstopped his team to a 2-1 overtime victory.

The other three faces on our Rangers Mount Rushmore can be debated and discussed. However, Mr. Patrick, the patriarch, is undoubtedly the first man deserving of enshrinement.

Rod Gilbert

Rod Gilbert, the man who has become the unofficial ambassador of the Rangers and Madison Square Garden. Even though Gilbert retired from the NHL over 40 years ago, his 406 career goals and 1021 points remain the most of any Ranger player. His number 7 jersey was the first Rangers sweater to ever be retired. The eight-time All-Star is best remembered for being the right-wing on the famed GAG Line of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Gilbert is the only member of my Mount Rushmore team to not have sipped champagne from Lord Stanley’s Cup. However, the Montreal native played every single one of his 1065 career NHL games wearing the Rangers uniform and the 78-year-old continues to be an integral part of the organization to this day.

Brian Leetch

Brian Leetch is, simply put, the greatest player this franchise has ever produced. Leetch did it all. He won the Calder Trophy. He won the Norris Trophy twice. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy. And, most importantly, he won the Stanley Cup. Leetch dazzled the Garden Faithful for parts of 17 seasons. Number 2 dropped more jaws inside the hallowed walls of MSG than boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Like Gilbert, Leetch handled himself with class and dignity each and every time he took the ice as a member of the Blueshirts. Leetch’s greatness, both on and off the ice, remain examples for future players to follow and emulate.

Mark Messier

My final facial carving was the most difficult decision. I chose Messier over Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Richter, Andy Bathgate, and all other deserving candidates because of one very important factor and that is, Messier, “The Messiah” stared down the 1940 monster and accomplished a feat not done by any other Rangers captain in 80 years and that is leading his team to the Promised Land. If Leetch is the greatest Ranger of all time, Messier is the most important. Messier’s arrogance, and ultimately his greed, surely turned off scores of Ranger fans. His hissy fit and subsequent bolting for Vancouver after the 1997 playoffs left a bad taste in the mouths of many people – some of which still haven’t forgiven number 11 for his presumed disloyalty. Be that as it may, Messier orchestrated his exodus from Edmonton to the Big Apple for the express purpose of ending “1940” once and for all. Messier talked the talk and walked the walk. The rest of us mere mortals can only hope to, one day, guarantee greatness and deliver in spades as Messier did in the spring of 1994.

Well, there it is folks. Perhaps someone out there in Forever Blueshirts land who is tech-savvy can create a computerized New York Rangers Mount Rushmore? I am curious to see which members of the Ranger organization makes all of your respective carvings.

On December 2nd, 2018, prior to their contest with the Winnipeg Jets, the New York Rangers will honor their former captain Vic Hadfield by retiring his number 11 and raising his jersey to the Garden rafters.

Hadfield will join his former linemates, Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle, as all three members of the Goal-A-Game line will have their legacies conjoined and cemented in Rangers history. Hadfield is the least recognized of that feared threesome. Even though he was the first Rangers player to score 50 goals in a single season, his overall career accomplishments were not as noteworthy as Gilbert and Ratelle, both of whom are members of the Hockey Hall-of-Fame.

The Worker

Hadfield may not have been as flashy as Gilbert and he may not have been as offensively gifted as Ratelle, but Hadfield was as tough and as hardworking as they came. And, as was another New York Ranger who had his number 11 retired, Hadfield could be really really mean. Opposing players would pay the price if they got out of line with Hadfield or either of his skilled linemates. Hadfield made his Rangers debut in the 1961-62 season. He struggled early on in his NHL career scoring just three goals in 44 games in his rookie campaign and notching just five goals in his next 36 games.

When Rangers head coach, Emile “The Cat” Francis” decided to put the rugged Hadfield on the left wing with the two skilled French Canadians in the late 1960s, the line that would forever be known as the GAG line took the NHL by storm. Each of the three stalwart Rangers was perfectly suited for their respective roles. Ratelle was the slick skating, playmaking center. Gilbert was the marksman of the group who was a danger to score in any area of the ice. Hadfield was the bull-in-the-china-shop who would drive to the net, create space for his linemates and score those important “dirty” goals from in and around the goalie’s crease.

For those of you who joined Rangerstown well after Hadfield was traded to Pittsburgh in 1974 and never saw him play, well, the two more recent Rangers players that we could compare Hadfield to are Adam Graves and Ryan Callahan. Grit, toughness, scoring ability and unconditionally having their teammates backs are qualities that will forever epitomize these three Rangers fan-favorites.

GAG LINE

It was the 1971-72 season in which those all time great Rangers earned that well-deserved moniker. Hadfield led the team in goals with 50. Ratelle finished second on the team with 46 goals. Gilbert was third with 43 goals. My friends, that adds up to 139 goals scored by just one line of players. The NHL season was 78 games long back in the early 1970s. Math was certainly not my best subject in high school, but even I can see why the media nicknamed Hadfield, Ratelle, and Gilbert the Goal-A-Game line. Can you imagine three different Rangers scoring 40+ goals on the same line on the same team today? To put this in perspective, the Rangers have had only three different 40 goal scorers over the last 22 years (Jaromir Jagr, Rick Nash, and Marian Gaborik). Talk about a sobering statistic…

Since 2004, when Mike Richter has his number 35 retired, this will be the seventh banner-raising ceremony honoring a Rangers legend. Following Richter were Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, the joint ceremony for Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell, Jean Ratelle and now Hadfield. It’s safe to say that the next Rangers number to be retired will be Henrik Lundqvist’s number 30.

Gilbert had his number 7 retired back in 1979. Why it took almost 40 years for his linemates to join him in that rarefied air is a question for another day. Right now, let’s give Vic Hadfield the applause and adulation that he deserves. Let’s make sure Madison Square Garden is sold out. Let’s make sure Hadfield and the greatest line in Ranger history are shown respect and appreciation. We haven’t seen a line like theirs on Broadway since they tore through NHL defenses some 46 years ago. And, judging by the lack of goal scoring around the entire league, we may never see that again.

The New York Rangers are an original six team and have therefore seen some changes to their jersey since 1926. Below I will describe the transition of the jersey throughout history, and how it kept pace with a rapidly evolving NHL. Much of the information that I was able to gather came from nhluniforms.com

1926-1927

The Rangers first season they sported a navy blue jersey with the team name “Rangers” displayed diagonally from the shoulder to the hip. On the arm, were three bands, which were white on either side of red.

This pattern was repeated at the bottom of the jersey.

1927-1928

The Rangers changed the letters on the uniform from white to red.

1928-1929

The following season the Rangers add a white outline around the red letters. This made the team name and jersey number jump out.

Red Rangers Pants with white stripe. (Image provided by ebaystatic.com)

1929-1934

The Rangers change the color of the pants to red with a white stripe.

1934-1935

The white stripe seen on the side of the pant leg is removed.

1935-1937

The Pants begin to feature a blue stripe down the sides of the legs as well as a blue stripe around the edge of the pant legs.

1937-1941

The pants undergo yet another change as now the blue stripe added just the season before is outlined in white.

1941-1942

The font of the word Rangers is changed slightly. Instead of long letters the word Rangers is printed out in smaller more defined letters. These letters begin to resemble the Rangers more modern jerseys.

1942-1945

In 42 the Rangers put a white drop in behind the letters and numbers. This added some depth and dimension to the jersey and helped it jump out on TV (still black and white) and to fans in the stands.

1945-1946

The Rangers remove the white drop shadow behind the letters and numbers.

1946-1947

The Rangers begin to televise home games and change their jerseys to feature the word “Rangers” arched across the chest with the player number under it. This style died after one season.

1947-1948

The Ranger jersey changes back to it’s iconic style including the white shadow behind the letters and numbers.

1949-1951

The Rangers make another change to the letters on the front of the jersey letting the letters stand upright rather than tilted.

1951

The Rangers add an away jersey that is similar to the home version aside from white being the base color of the jersey. This meant that the letters of the jersey were blue with a red shadow behind them. One of the new features on the jersey was a neck yoke striping pattern.

1957

Rangers Gloves (Image provided by Ty-Co Memorabilia)

The Rangers become the first team in NHL history to wear colored gloves. The red, white, and blue mitts matched the team attire and gave birth to a new style in the NHL. Shortly after the Rangers transition the Maple Leafs were right behind them in 1958-1959.

Andy Bathgate taping his stick and showing off his number 9 (Image provided by blog.thecanadianencyclopedia.com)

1963

The team adds numbers to the sleeves of the jerseys. This is part of making the players easier to spot on the ice.

1970 Rangers jersey with a newly added name plate. (Images provided by classicauctions.net)

1970

The Rangers add the players last names to the jerseys. This was used to make the players more recognizable to the fans. This was key as hockey is a fast paced game and it could be hard to see a players face. The Rangers were among the first teams to incorporate this style.

1976-1978

The Rangers change their jersey to include a New York Rangers shield rather than the word “Rangers” spelled out across the front of the jersey. The jerseys were a darker shade of blue and the pants even changed from red to the same dark blue. This jersey was not accepted by the Rangers community and was changed shortly after.

1978-1987

The Rangers put “New York” where it once said Rangers, the red pants return.

1979-Current

The NHL makes helmets mandatory in the NHL recognizing that the game is becoming more dangerous. Players were shooting higher and harder and getting faster on their feet as well.

1990-1996

The names on the back of the jersey are arched.

Brian Leetch sporting the Rangers third jersey. (Image provided by nhlalumniproam.com)

1996-1997

The Rangers add a third jersey to their inventory. This jersey is a darker shade of blue and portrays the Statue of Liberty in the Rangers crest with the letters NYR just under her head.

This jersey is used only occasionally and is somewhat popular.

1997-1998

The Rangers blue jerseys begin to feature a tie able collar. This is a shout out to old time hockey jerseys when the sweater used to have to be tied.

 1998-1999

The Rangers change the third liberty jersey to white and use it for the season. The arms have a dark blue diagonal stripe and a white based around the same logo.

1999-2007

The white liberty jersey is changed back to its original dark blue. The white jerseys now have a tie able collar as well.

2007-2010

The Reebok Edge Jerseys become the new template in the NHL. The jerseys were a different fabric and fit more snugly. The changes make the jerseys lighter, and don’t have the fight strap to keep jerseys from coming up while fighting. It was thought that this may reduce fighting as it became harder to grapple.

2010-Current

The Rangers present a new heritage jersey. The jersey features a darker blue, a toned down red and reads “New York” across the front where it would typically read Rangers.

These jerseys say “established 1926” inside the collar and have the numbers of all players retired by the Rangers on the bottom of the inside of the jersey.

Winter Classic

The Winter Classic jersey was a cream colored jersey that followed the theme of the heritage jerseys. they kept the dark blue and faded red look. The Rangers only wore the jerseys once. The jerseys were in this “old time hockey” style to maintain the theme of the game returning outdoors.

Stadium Series

The Stadium Series Jerseys had a more modern look. All the teams involved incorporated a chrome look for the event. They had a Hartford Wolf Pack style but used “New York” instead of a shield or the word “Rangers”.

We have seen jerseys evolve throughout the years, even though some of the changes were slight they all contributed to building the brand that the Rangers know today. It is unlikely that the Rangers will make any changes to their jerseys in the foreseeable future, and that is because trial and error led them to this iconic look.

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