Of course, you must understand the circumstances of what happened that night of May 22, 2014, at Madison Square Garden. Stepan not only was leveled by a late, open-ice hit in the first period, one that resulted in a broken jaw. But the hit was delivered by Canadiens forward Brandon Prust, Stepan’s good friend and former Rangers teammate.

Talk about awkward.

The Canadiens contended Stepan wasn’t even really hurt. Doctors said otherwise. X-rays proved the extent of the injury.

Stepan revealed in an interview on the Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast this past week that Prust and former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan still needle him about the controversial hit to this day.

“[Prust] was another one that was at the alum game [recently], him and ‘Cally’ kept pulling up the video and breaking it down. ‘He barely touched you Step. Like, dive a little bit more!’ Stepan shared with a laugh.

Prust was not penalized on the play. However, he was suspended two games by the League. And Stepan missed Game 4 following surgery to repair his jaw. Stepan returned in Game 5 wearing a full face shield and scored two goals in a 7-4 loss to the Canadiens, fueling the fire that he wasn’t hurt as badly as the Rangers contended.

“It was what it was,” Stepan said. “But the best part of it was Cally, he’s just relentless this guy. Every angle of that hit. ‘I think you got hit in the shoulder, Step.'”

It should be noted that Callahan was an outside observer to the controversy. The Rangers traded Callahan a few months earlier to the Tampa Bay Lightning for future Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis. As such, Callahan missed their run to the Stanley Cup Final that spring.

That provides Stepan some ammunition of his own to use against Callahan.

“I’ll be telling stories about that run and then I’ll be like, ‘Oh right. You weren’t there Cally!”

Related: Derek Stepan reveals how J.T. Miller ‘handled taking sh**’ from Rangers veterans as rookie

Derek Stepan knows former Rangers teammate ‘does care about me’ despite jaw-breaking hit

There are plenty of laughs now, but it wasn’t such a funny matter when the incident occurred. The Rangers led the best-of-7 conference final 2-0 after winning the first two games on the road at Bell Centre in Montreal. Prust’s massive hit helped propel the Canadiens to a 3-2 overtime win at MSG in Game 3.

Stepan, not surprisingly, wasn’t thrilled with the hit.

“‘Prusty’ is one of my good buddies. I understand Prusty’s role. Do I feel I needed to be the target of his role? Probably not, and I tell him that all of the time,” Stepan explained. “But I was the target of his role and such is life. I don’t think he thought he was going to break my jaw. I think he thought he was just going to give me a little pop, get a little penalty and stir the pot.”

Obviously it was worse than that.

“To his credit I think his wires crossed and I was in his cross-hairs and he got me and he broke my jaw and I think he felt terrible about it,” Stepan said. “But he also knew this is the way the world works. He also understood I knew that. But he does care about me.”

They were Rangers teammates from 2010-12, Stepan’s first two seasons in the NHL and likely the two best of Prust’s career. The rugged forward signed with the Canadiens before the start of the 2012-13 season.

If Montreal had defeated New York in the 2014 East Final, many north of the border would’ve contended that the series shifted because of that hit. Instead, the Rangers won Game 4 at MSG on St. Louis’ memorable overtime goal. After that wild Game 5 loss, the Rangers finished off the Canadiens with a 1-0 Henrik Lundqvist masterpiece in Game 6.

The Rangers lost the Stanley Cup Final in five games to the Los Angeles Kings that spring. It’s their only appearance in the Final since winning the Stanley Cup in 1994.

But back to the Stepan-Prust relationship. Stepan summed up why Prust remains his good friend a decade after that infamous hit.

“He was the first guy to text me when I woke up from my surgery. He was right on it, right away. ‘Hey buddy, are you OK? Obviously, I didn’t mean to,'” Stepan explained. “And the cool thing about Prusty is that, sure, anyone who cheap-shots a guy can text that guy afterwards. That’s easy to do, right?

“The next year, I broke my leg in the skate test (in training camp), and I got off the ice, the first text I got was from Prusty. ‘Hey, i heard something happened. Are you alright?’

Bygones were bygones. And these two former Rangers — and their captain — can laugh about it all these years later.

“After 13 years in the NHL I’ve decided to retire,” Stepan said in an official statement. “I want to thank my family and friends for always supporting me and allowing me to live my dreams. I want to thank the four organizations I had the privilege of playing for, and to my teammates for allowing me to be part of their family. Finally, I want to thank the fans. It was an honor to play in front of you. I’m forever grateful for this game and I look forward to the next chapter.”

While he played for different clubs throughout the course of his career, Stepan’s time with the Rangers was the most significant part of his playing days. Stepan contributed greatly to the legacy of the Rangers from 2010-2017, as he registered 128 goals and 232 assists for 360 points, while adding 49 career playoff points with the Blueshirts.

The Rangers released a statement on their social media platforms, congratulating Stepan and thanking him for his time with the organization:

“For the leadership. For the laughs. For the moments that still give us chills. Thank you, Step. Wishing you all the best.”

Derek Stepan: A Historic Beginning in the Big Apple

Stepan’s tenure with the Rangers got off to an outstanding start after he was selected in the second round (51st overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Who could forget his NHL debut on October 9th, 2010, against the Buffalo Sabres? A young Stepan, only 20 years old, scored a hat trick, becoming the first Ranger in history to score three goals in his first NHL game. Step played in all 82 games that season, scoring 21 goals, proving he belonged in New York.

Serving as a Core Player and Playoff Hero

Stepan would quickly establish himself as a dependable and effective top-six forward for the Rangers over time. His consistency helped the club tremendously, especially in crucial situations. Stepan frequently excelled under pressure, whether it was with his game-tying goals, power-play contributions, and even his defense late in games.

However, Stepan will always be remembered for his heroics in the playoffs. His signature moment as a Ranger came in Game 7 of the 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals, as he scored the game-winning goal in overtime, completing the Rangers comeback from a 3-1 series deficit. Stepan’s ability to perform well under pressure was proven by this goal, as he helped advance the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Derek Stepan has announced his retirement from hockey after 13 seasonspic.twitter.com/ohHfJIbr1z

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 3, 2023

Legacy in the NHL and with the Rangers

Stepan will be remembered as a dedicated and trustworthy two-way forward who made a big impact on the teams he played for. Despite the fact that he might not have been as well known as some other players, his commitment to his profession and his leadership abilities had a long-lasting effect on the organizations he was a member of.

Stepan’s legacy with the Rangers is marked by significant achievements, key moments, and his overall contributions to the team during his tenure. He left the Rangers with a reputation for reliability, leadership, and special moments. While every player goes through highs and lows throughout their career, Stepan’s time with the Rangers is mainly regarded favorably and with respect by the organization and the fan base.

For the leadership. 🙏
For the laughs. 🎙️
For the moments that still give us chills. 🚨

Thank you, Step. Wishing you all the best. pic.twitter.com/wIh4aqC6Qu

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 3, 2023

Article originally published 5/23/14

Last night, it was clear who the best team in this series is. NY simply controlled play and dominated. The Canadiens were simply hanging on for dear life. Had it not been for 2 “lucky” goals and one slip up in coverage, the Blueshirts would be up 3-0 in the series.

Credit the young rookie in the Habs goal on a great performance, as Marty St. Louis alone could’ve had a hat-trick. Now the Rangers know he can perform, so game 4 will see NY come at him even harder and with more traffic in front.

Back to the Canadiens style of play last night. It could be summed up very easily, DIRTY! Cut and dry, Montreal opted to deliver late hits, slashes, head shots and a slew foot. The dirtiest players were Prust and PK Subban. Let’s have a look shall we:

Up first, Subban slew foots Dorsett!

PK Subban took a cheap shot at Dorsett on this play.

Is any of this new? No, the Canadiens have been playing dirty since the third period of game 1. It’s the old scratch and claw your way out mentality and reflective of their coach who once told George Laraque to run a goalie when he coached the Penguins.

While the Canadiens won game 3, they did nothing to address their inability to deal with a much faster and intelligent Rangers team. Lundqvist also had his worst game of this series and it took OT to beat him.

A quick look at the advanced stat shows the Rangers pure dominance in this series.

Even though Subban certainly played his “dirty” little heart out last night, it was former Ranger, Brandon Prust that gave the Blueshirts another cause to rally for. After the game Vigneault and Stepan had something to say about it.

Post Game Comments

Alain Vigneault: “I believe if a penalty would have been called on Prust, it probably wouldn’t have happened (Carcillo incident). But there is nothing we can do about it.”

Derek Stepan: “I personally think it’s late and I think the main contact is my face. It’s playoff hockey, but I still don’t think it’s a very good hit. I would certainly hope the league would look at it.”

Believe it or not, the best thing for the Rangers is Prust doesn’t get suspended. Why? Because it will feel like one more injustice and give NY that “us against the world” mentality Montreal had last night.

The Canadiens won the battle of game 3, thanks to luck, dirty play and late hits. Thanks to Brandon Prust’s Pearl Harbor job hit, the New York Rangers are awake and ready to win the war.

Trading Derek Stepan

The immediate reaction was the Rangers made a huge blunder. Some sites pointed to the fact that Derek Stepan was a #1 center, and others called it a mistake almost a year after the deal.

Back in December 2016, I wrote 2 pieces that received considerable flack. Addressing the 800lb Gorilla in the Room and Stepan’s Production is a Concern . The issue some writers and fans had is that Stepan’s analytics were on par with other #1 centers in the league not named Sidney Crosby. Not only was that a terrible assessment based on stats, but his contract was going to have a No Trade Clause kick in that summer. In essence, handcuffing Jeff Gorton to a declining forward’s $6.5M deal.

Trading Brady Skjei

Enter Brady Skjei in 2020. At only 25 years old and with good offensive numbers, you would figure he’d be the perfect piece to this rebuild. Of course. extending Kreider and needing to pay upcoming free agents had something to do with trading his $5.25M cap hit to Carolina for a first round pick, there was something else. You see, just like Stepan the window to trade him without restriction would have ended after next season when his modified no trade clause kicks in. That’s the one big factor in the decision no one is talking enough about. If this was just about money, the Rangers could have picked up that cap space by buying out or trading Lundqvist and possibly Marc Staal.

New York has one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL. That is evident when looking at defensemen who play the left side. Currently on the roster is Ryan Lindgren whose emergence has certainly taken the organization by surprise. Waiting is blue chip prospect K’Andre Miller who should push for a spot next season at camp. Throw in prospects Libor Hajek, Yegor Rykov, Tarmo Reunanen, and Zac Jones and the Rangers are set on the left side for years to come. Given all this, the Rangers couldn’t find themselves stuck with Skjei and possibly having to trade him for less than what he’s worth due to a clause in his contract.

Many will say that the true start of the rebuild began with the controversial trade of Derek Stepan. On June 23rd, 2017 the Rangers traded Stepan and Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes for Tony DeAngelo and the 7th pick of the draft which they used to select Lias Andersson.

Fans In An Uproar

The immediate reaction was the Rangers made a huge blunder. Some blogs pointed to the fact that Derek Stepan was a #1 center, and others called it a mistake almost a year after the deal.

Back in December 2016, I wrote 2 pieces that received considerable flack. Addressing the 800lb Gorilla in the Room and Stepan’s Production is a Concern . The issue some bloggers and fans had is that Stepan’s analytics were on par with other #1 centers in the league not named Sidney Crosby.

Not only was that a terrible assessment based on stats, but his contract was going to have a No Trade Clause kick in that summer. In essence, handcuffing Jeff Gorton to a declining forward’s $6.5M deal.

The right move

Here we are almost 2 years since the trade and from every angle you look at it, the Rangers made the right move. Although he put up a similar statistical season a year after the deal as he did in the past with the Blueshirts, Stepan’s now on pace for his worst year since 2012-2013. He currently has 32 points in 64 games.

For those who continued to repeat the narrative that Stepan is a #1 center, his point production has actually decreased with increased ice time. Sorry, but a center that averages about 50 points a year is barely 2nd line center material.

From a cap standpoint, it should also be noted that the Arizona Coyotes voided his NTC soon after the deal was made. These two issues (contract & production) are exactly why I brought up the reasons to move Stepan while the Rangers could in 2016.

Finally, the play of Alexander Georgiev has adequately replaced the loss of Raanta. As for the Rangers future, it looks brighter with Lias Andersson and Tony DeAngelo going forward. Jeff Gorton has received a lot of unwarranted criticism for his trades, but it’s funny how those critics don’t talk much about this move.

As the current New York Rangers team meanders their way through what is sure to be a second consecutive playoff-less spring, and as our fantastic team of writers profiles potential draft picks for the upcoming NHL entry draft, let’s go back in time a bit. Let’s take a gander in our rear-view mirror at Rangers squads that came oh so close to capturing Lord Stanley’s gleaming silver chalice.

Yes, the grim reality is that only one Rangers team in the last 79 years has achieved hockey immortality. However, if not for some unlucky bounces, egregiously bad officiating and freakish, untimely injuries, it is quite possible, if not probable, that there would be more than just four Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

The Stanley Cup is universally considered to be the most difficult trophy to capture in any of the team sports. The playoff tournament winner has to endure through and come out victorious after four rounds of best-of-seven series. No longer can a hockey team reach the Promised Land on sheer talent alone. The NHL playoffs has evolved into a survival of the fittest/war of attrition that is not for the faint of heart. Having said all of that, we will examine the aspirational Ranger teams in the post-expansion era (since 1968) that came up millimeters short of the proverbial finish line.

1978-79: Rangers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens 4-1

When the 1978-79 Rangers are mentioned, it has become obligatory and Pavlovian to start any and all conversations with the super-human playoff goaltending performance of John Davidson. “JD” carried his Rangers team on his 6’4″ frame to series victories over the LA Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and, of course, the shocking upset over the rival and heavily favored NY Islanders in the semi-finals. Once the Rangers got to the final round, they had very little gas left in their collective tanks and were no match for the powerful Canadiens dynasty. We’ll never know how the Rangers would have fared against Montreal with a healthy Ulf Nillson, the player in which Denis Potvin injured that gave birth to the infamous chant. Nillson’s broken leg suffered on February 25th, 1979 certainly falls under the “freakish, untimely injury” category.

2011-12: Rangers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the New Jersey Devils 4-2

If John Davidson is unquestionably synonymous with the 1979 Rangers, then Henrik Lundqvist is equally as identifiable with the 2011-12 bunch. Not only did “The King” capture the Vezina Trophy that season as the league’s best goalie, but Lundqvist also set career bests for wins (39), GAA (1.97) and save percentage (.930%). Throw in eight shutouts and his scintillating performance in that season’s Winter Classic, which included that now legendary penalty shot save on Danny Briere with 20 seconds left in regulation, and it’s no wonder why the Rangers were just two wins shy of reaching the Finals.

Lundqvist was able to drag his tired team to game seven victories over the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals in the early playoff rounds. However, once the Rangers all-time leader in wins started to tire himself, the Devils, after being down 2-1 in the series, would go on to win three straight games and the series culminating with Adam Henrique sticking a dagger through the torsos of each and every member of the Garden Faithful with his game six overtime tally.

2013-14: Rangers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the LA Kings 4-1

The 2014 Rangers playoff run was a true Cinderella story. After finishing the regular season with 96 points and after struggling to beat a very average Flyers team in the first round of the playoffs, the Rangers faced a daunting 3-1 series deficit against the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins in the next round. Then came the sad and unfortunate passing of Marty St. Louis’ mother, France, and all of a sudden, something very strange happened. The Rangers morphed from a sad-sack team making plans for summer vacation into an absolute juggernaut. The Blueshirts stormed back from the seemingly insurmountable deficit to steal the series away from the Steel City inhabitants. Then, the Rangers traveled north of the border to Montreal, where they ran over the Canadiens taking the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2.

Amazingly, the New York Rangers were in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. The Finals were as excruciating a series as anyone could have possibly imagined, especially the three contests played on the west coast. You see, the Rangers lost all three games played in Staples Center in overtime. And the second of those games will forever be known by the Garden Faithful as the egregiously horrific missed goalie interference call in which referee Dan O’Halloran determined that Kings forward Dwight King was in the goalie crease legally and therefore, did not interfere with the exasperated Lundqvist and his ability to play his position.

2014-15: Rangers lost the Eastern Conference Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3

The 2014-15 team was the most likable bunch of Blueshirts since the magical year of 1994. The 2014-15 season was the most exciting since Mark Messier and co. permanently silenced the nauseating 1940 chant. Not only did AV’s squad capture the President’s Trophy that season, but they also set team records for wins (53) and points (113). The Rangers would also sweep the season series that year from the New Jersey Devils which is always a plus. The Rangers that season were fast, deep, talented, driven and a whole lot of fun. Finishing with the most regular-season points meant the Blueshirts would have the home ice advantage in every playoff series.

The first round match-up against the Penguins ended with a game five “Golden Goal” from speedy winger Carl Hagelin. The second round battle with the Capitals ended with a game seven “Golden Goal” from center Derek Stepan. Their third round match-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning ended with an emphatic thud as the Rangers string of game seven magic ended with a sleepy 2-0 loss sending the team from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the finals and the Rangers to answer all of the “what happened” questions. The 2014-15 Rangers loss to Tampa is an anomaly of sorts as it is the only series on this list that does not include a bad bounce, ball call or bad injury. The Rangers simply ran out of gas and lost to a better team.

1971-72: Rangers lost to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals 4-2

The Rangers of the early 1970s are actually considered by some hockey historians as one of the best teams in NHL history to not win the Stanley Cup. After all, this time period was when the GAG line ran roughshod over the rest of the NHL. This was the era of “Ed-die, Ed-die.” This was when defenseman Bard Park finished second to Bobby Orr in the Norris Trophy voting year after year. This was when Madison Square Garden was the most intimidating and menacing arena for road teams in the entire league. The 1972 Rangers entered the playoffs that Spring on a mission. They knocked off the defending Cup champion Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and then swept Bobby Hull, Stan Makita, and the Chicago Blackhawks in the following round. Next up, in the finals, were the aforementioned Orr, Phil Esposito and the rest of the big, bad Boston Bruins. The great Jean Ratelle, who had sustained a broken ankle in March of that year, tried returning for the finals. Unfortunately, #19 was a shell of his former self, registering just one measly assist in the six finals games. Similar to Ulf Nilsson’s injury in 1979, we’ll never know if the Rangers would have beaten Boston in the 1972 Finals if Ratelle was healthy and playing at full strength.

1991-92: Rangers lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Patrick Division Finals 4-2

Ironically, the year in which I feel, more than any other year, SHOULD HAVE ended with a Rangers parade down the Canyon of Heroes is the only team on this list that did not win at least two playoff rounds. I’ll explain my reasoning momentarily.

If I could describe the 1991-92 Rangers in one word, that word would be “machine.” Head coach Roger Nielson, along with Hart Trophy winner Mark Messier, Norris Trophy winner Brian Leetch, and All-Star goalie Mike Richter, completely dominated the rest of the NHL. The Rangers in 1991-92 were the only team to eclipse the 50 wins and 100 points marks. Their goal differential of plus-75 was tops in the entire league. The Rangers were skilled. The Rangers were tough. The Rangers were deep. The Rangers had moxie. In other words, the Rangers of 1991-92 had all the makings of a true Stanley Cup contender. It is the belief of yours truly, that if not for one atrocious gaffe by their All-Star goalie, the Rangers would have, in fact, ended the Stanley Cup drought and silenced that infuriating 1940 chant two years earlier. If your mobile device is nearby, go ahead and grab it and type in “Infamous Ron Francis Goal 1992 Playoffs” in the search bar. I’ll wait for a minute while you watch the video…

To this day, there is no question in my mind that if Mike Richter made what should have been the most routine of saves, the Rangers would have won that game, the series, and the Stanley Cup. After all, the Penguins, starting with the game in question, game four, did not lose another contest the rest of the way. They would sweep the Bruins in round three and sweep the Blackhawks in the finals. You could chalk up the Francis 70-foot slap shot to a band bounce if you really want to get technical. The puck seemed to dip right as it approached the surprised Ranger goaltender. Be that as it may, this was a save that Mike Richter needed to make. Thankfully for Rangerstown, #35 made up for his error in 1992 by backstopping the Rangers to the Stanley Cup in 1994.

Debates like these tend to be generational, so I look forward to reading your comments as to which was the best Rangers team not to win the Stanley Cup.

Charles Wenzelberg

In what looked to be a promising night turned into massive disappointment for the Rangers, as a 3-0 lead vanished into thin air, as the Coyotes took the tilt in overtime, courtesy of a former blueshirt in Derek Stepan. The Rangers began the game in contro, as the returns of Pavel Buchnevich and Mats Zuccarello helped energize the team, but New York slowly allowed the Coyotes to take control as the game wore on. Here is our recap.

New Game, Same Result: New York was on fire for the first part of this game, as goals from Kevin Hayes, Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich lifted the team ahead 3-0. Slowly but surely. the Coyotes began to chip away at the lead, and finally, Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson sniped a rolling puck with a slapper near the left dot past fellow Swede Henrik Lundqvist. Then, after missing a few chances in OT, former Ranger Derek Stepan won it in overtime, sending the blueshirt faithful home sad and upset.

The main theme from this is the team allowed Arizona to come back after taking a commanding lead. The lack of finishing chances and lackluster defense in their own zone led to this comeback by Arizona. If the Rangers want to continue to succeed, games like this must be placed in the W column, and it all starts on the back end.

Power Play Boost: Although the Rangers did not finish their last four power play opportunities, they were still able to net three goals with the man advantage, beginning with Pavel Buchnevich, Mika Zibanejad, and Kevin Hayes. This is a positive sign as it seems the offense seems to have found a little bit of a spark. If there’s one thing that could potentially bring this team out of it’s funk, it’s a spark plug on the man advantage.

Rangers next game is Sunday afternoon against the Vegas Golden Knights at 1PM. LETS GO RANGERS.

The New York Rangers are an organization seeking excellence in putting together an elite team for the upcoming 2018-19 rebuild season. The entry level draft occurred at the American Airlines Center in Dallas the weekend of June 22-23^rd. Every year, the Rangers organization looks to add new talent to their roster during the NHL Draft hoping to acquire a solid star like Brian Leetch. Over the years, the Rangers have had some of the best draft picks accompanied with some of the worst. Let’s take a look back at the best and worst picks by our adored franchise over the years.

Top 5 Worst Picks

5. Jamie Lundmark: Round 1, Pick 9^th in 1999

Lundmark was identified as one of the most explosive players in the 1999 NHL Draft when he was headed to the Rangers. Lundmark had skills that would have made him an ideal Center for the Rangers long term. However he had trouble being consistent. Lundmark scored 30 points in 114 games as Blueshirt from 2002 to the 2005-06 season. He experienced the shift in atmospheres from the NHL to AHL for approximately three seasons before being traded to the Coyotes. It’s too bad Lundmark couldn’t have blossomed as an elite player with the Blueshirts given his skills and capabilities since he showed promise before the pressure to perform affected him.

4. Dan Blackburn: Round 1, Pick 10^th overall in 2001

There were many expectations for Blackburn’s potential during his first season with the Rangers in 2001-02 season. He had been briefly compared to Mike Richter early on in his career with the hopes of being the next idolized Rangers goalie. Unfortunately, Blackburn did not satisfy or reach those expectations from his inability to stay sharp for the duration of the game and making mental mistakes. To add, Blackburn was forced to retire early as a result of a shoulder injury which eventually led to more disappointment for this first round pick.

3. Dylan McIlrath: Round 1, Pick 10^th in 2010

McIlrath will be known as the enforcer who was drafted for John Tortorella only to be discarded by Alain Vigneault. He had the drive to compete for the Rangers however, he would fall short of being proactive on the ice without obtaining penalties. He was idolized for his quickness to drop the gloves but highly criticized for his playing style. It was disappointing to not see him develop into a player with promise for the future with the Blueshirts. The reason he is so high on this list is that the Rangers passed over Vlad Tarasenko in order to draft him.

2. Hugh Jessiman: Round 1, Pick 12^th in 2003

Hugh Jessiman only played 2 games in the NHL, and that was for the Panthers in 2011. Jessiman struggled to make a name for himself and to keep up with the pace in the AHL since he was drafted. Jessiman was drafted by the Rangers for being a NY native and for his size.The belief at that time in the NHL was bigger is better. His 6’6″ and 234 lbs frame earned him the nickname, “Huge Specimen” but that’s about all he is known for. This pick was an absolute bust for the Rangers.

1. Pavel Brendl: Round 1, Pick 4th in 1999

The 1999 NHL draft had to be one of the top reasons for GM, Neil Smith’s eventual firing in 2000. New York had an abysmal season and with looking for a quick turnaround as they had 2 picks in the top 10 of the draft (4 and 9). We already discussed Lundmark, but Pavel Brendl never played a game for the Rangers and was selected 4th overall. Brendl represents the only top 5 first round pick for the Rangers since they selected Brad Park 2nd overall in 1966. As for his career, he scored a total of 22 points in 78 games.

Top 5 Best Picks

5. Derek Stepan: Round 2, Pick 21^st (51^stoverall) in 2008

Since his NHL debut in 2010, Derek Stepan made a name for himself on the ice from his regular contribution to the Blueshirts. During the seven seasons as a Blueshirt, he had acquired 360 points out of 515 games. He had a level of consistency needed from his position that is missed from Rangerstown given its overlooked consensus when he was a Ranger.

4. Dominic Moore: Round 3, Pick 30^th (95^thoverall) in 2000

Dominic Moore showed some promise in his rookie appearances for the Rangers in 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons. Within his first two seasons, he acquired 21 points in 87 games. When Moore became a Blueshirt again in 2013, he had a new mission of performing to the utmost standard with making meaningful contribution to the team’s performance during regular season and post season. Throughout his career, Moore has become one of NHL’s most valuable checking forwards to have played for several teams as he perfected his craft since his NHL career start with the Rangers.

3. Chris Kreider: Round 1, Pick 19^th in 2009

Kreider first had the attention of the Rangers from his athleticism and recognition for his contributions to Boston College’s hockey team. He has continued to offer the same perks that made him eye-catching as a powerful forward for the Rangers with his speed and game-breaking skill. Kreider still has the fight that attracted the Rangers in 2009 up to this recent season. I cannot wait to see what else he has in store for the future.

2. Jesper Fast: Round 6, Pick 7^th (157^thoverall) in 2010

Fast has been the most overlooked player on the Rangers roster who has proven his ability to be consistent and has a strong presence on the team. He is a well-rounded player that seeks to contribute as much as possible in any capacity the coach needs of him. Fast is underrated for his abilities but has proven to be an excellent pick made by the Rangers in 2010.

1. Henrik Lundqvist: Round 7, Pick 25^th in 2000

The King of New York! Our beloved goalie is by far one of the greatest picks chosen by the New York Rangers organization. He has been the backbone of the Blueshirts since 2006 and has been the man to make 7 consecutive post season appearances up to last year. Henrik has made history over the last twelve years and will continue to do so until it’s his time to retire. All hail the King!

NHL Draft Feels

This recent NHL Draft had a mixed of emotions with the new additions of players whom are greatly expected to provide value to our organization in the near future. I look forward to seeing what the new kids on the block have to offer to our team and the successes they’ll bring. Which picks were favorable or unfavorable in your book, past or present?

(*) Statistics used were from the Hockey Reference Website and NHL Player Profiles.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

It is that time of year again. The time of year where every Red, White, and Blue blooded American gets together with family, friends, and neighbors and celebrates the Independence of the United States of America by drinking beer, watching baseball, swimming, and shooting off fireworks. While hockey may not be the first thing you associate America with, there is no doubt that some of the greatest moments in American sports history have come from hockey. In celebration of Independence Day, here are my Top Five goals by American Hockey Players, with only a slight bias towards the Rangers.

STEPAN IN OVERTIME

In 2015, the Rangers headed into the playoffs at the top of the league. Fresh off of a President’s Trophy and a first-round victory over the Penguins, the Rangers faced a second-round matchup against the Washington Capitals. However, the Rangers learned quickly that the Capitals would not go easily. The Blueshirts went down 3-1 in the series and trailed 1-0 in the waning moments of game five until a group of Americans led by Chris Kreider decided the Rangers were not going to go down without a fight.  Kreider scored to tie the game, and then provided a lunar eclipse in front of Braden Holtby as Ryan McDonagh (American), off an assist from Derek Stepan (American), blasted a shot home to keep the Rangers alive. 

In game six, the Rangers came out strong with Kreider scoring two first-period goals to give the Rangers a lead they would not give up. In game seven, the Rangers and Capitals went to double overtime tied at one on a goal by Kevin Hayes from JT Miller and Ryan McDonagh, all Americans. In the overtime period, Derek Stepan scored one of, if not the greatest, goals in recent Rangers history.

ZUBOV FEEDS LEETCH, LEETCH SCORES!

In 1994, the New York Rangers won the President’s Trophy and steamrolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs before beating the Devils in an epic seven-game series highlighted by “The Guarantee” and “Matteau, Matteau, Matteau!” The Rangers seemed poised to end their 54-year Stanley Cup drought and took a 3-1 series lead before the Canucks would force a game seven at the Garden. Rangers fans were extremely nervous and for good reason. Year after year the Rangers fell short of the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup. After seeing the Canucks force a game seven, it seemed like the curse was about to strike again. But early in the first period, Brian Leetch, the eventual Conn Smythe winner, scored the opening goal and the Garden exploded as the Rangers went up 1-0 and did not trail the rest of the way en-route to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

BRETT HULL WINS STANLEY CUP FOR DALLAS

Sorry Sabres’ fans. I’m sure this one will sting until Eichel, Dahlin, and company lead you back to the promised land. In 1999, the Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabres met in the Stanley Cup Finals. In a series that featured many future Hall of Famers, two Americans teamed up for one of the most memorable goals in Stanley Cup history. With the Stars leading the series 3-2, game six went to overtime with both teams knotted at one. With 5:10 left in the first overtime period, the Stars cycled the puck around the Sabres zone and threw the puck on net where Mike Modano knocked the puck off of Dominik Hasek and Brett Hull slammed home the rebound to give the Dallas Stars their first Stanley Cup Championship. And although the goal was controversial, there is no arguing the fact that the goal was one of the greatest goals ever scored by an American hockey player.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRoN0-dFetk

LAMOUREUX-DAVIDSON DEKES FOR GOLD

Just this past year, the United States Women’s Hockey Team took home the Gold Medal in the Olympics for the first time in 20 years. While the US women have won on other international stages during those twenty years, the Canadians owned the Olympics, including the 2014 Sochi Olympics where the Canadians beat the Americans in overtime. However, in 2018, the script was flipped. Late in the first period, the Americans opened the scoring on a snipe from the top of the left circle. However, Canada came back quickly and tied it just two minutes into the second period. Five minutes later, Canada took a 2-1 lead and held that lead until late in the third period. With just over six minutes left in regulation, Monique Lamoureux, Jocelyn’s twin sister, scored on a breakaway to tie the game at two. The game stayed tied through overtime and five rounds of the deciding shootout. In round six, Jocelyn Lamoureaux scored one of the nastiest shootout goals you will ever see to give the US the game-winning goal and the gold.

https://youtu.be/dRmZUNO4Y5s?t=1m37s

MIKE ERUZIONE

Was there any doubt this goal would make the list? I don’t believe that there will ever be a greater American hockey goal. Take away all the politics, theatrics, and build up, and you still get one of the greatest underdog stories of all time. Add in the Cold War and the political climate of the time, the 10-3 loss at MSG just before Lake Placid, twenty years of Soviet domination on the ice and Eruzione’s celebration and you get the greatest American hockey goal of all time. There is no debate. 

After winning the Olympic Gold in 1960, the Americans did not win another gold until the Miracle on Ice. In addition, the Soviets won four straight gold medals and had not lost an Olympic hockey game since 1968. The Americans were not supposed to be competitive entering the tournament, and the 10-3 loss at the hands of the Soviets just a few weeks prior confirmed that sentiment. However, Herb Brooks’ college kids did not back down and engineered one of the greatest sports moments in American history. Tied at three in the third period, Mike Eruzione gathered a loose puck at the top of the zone, walked into the high slot and wristed a shot past Vladimir Myshkin giving the Americans a 4-3 lead. As we well know, the Americans closed out the Soviets and went on to beat Finland in the gold medal game, securing their first gold medal in twenty years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX5hiem8YBU]

While hockey may never be as popular as the other three major sports in America, there is no doubt that American hockey has given us some of the greatest sporting moments in our history.

Throughout the course of the Rangers rebuild, General Manager Jeff Gorton and his crew have made it a point to load up on defensemen in the hope of creating a potentially rock-solid unit. The Rangers acquired multiple exciting prospects from their trade deadline sale, in addition to over the course of the past year.

Of all the prospects in the system, there’s a set few who will not make the team. Nils Lundkvist, who the Rangers selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, will likely be returning to Sweden to continue his growth. He will not be part of the Rangers defensive corps going into October. Six picks prior to Lundkvist, the Rangers selected K’Andre Miller. Miller is an extremely intriguing prospect for the Rangers and has the potential to be a top-four defenseman. But with that said, he has already committed to play next year for the University of Wisconsin. Rangers fans will have to wait because he’s not joining the team just yet.

Acquired from the Devils in exchange for Michael Grabner, next on the list is Yegor Rykov. Rykov is a talented player who may compete for a spot at some point, but with the number of prospects higher on the list, it’s reasonable to conclude that he most likely won’t make the opening night roster. Lastly, acquired from Boston around the trade deadline was Rob O’Gara. O’Gara is a big-bodied defenseman who plays a lock-down style. But given the amount of talent in the Rangers system, he will probably get booted out of the mix. He saw a fair amount of playing time last year when Kevin Shattenkirk and Steven Kampfer were injured, but the other young guys have a step on him.

Neal Pionk

Neal Pionk was one of the top performers for the Rangers during their epic collapse in the second half of the season. He was called into action following the trade deadline and performed well above expectations. Despite not being known for his offense, he put up 14 points in 28 games played. At that rate, he would’ve notched 41 points over 82 games, impressive numbers for such an inexperienced prospect. Pionk making the opening night roster, barring any injuries, is just about set in stone.

John Gilmour

Gilmour was another young defenseman who arrived with Pionk to fill the newly punched holes in the Rangers defense. Gilmour is a gifted skater who can overpower just about anyone with his speed. He didn’t produce offensively like Pionk but was very quick to enter offensive plays and create scoring opportunities. He made some solid defensive plays throughout the spring, but there were multiple indications that he needs to work a little more on that side of his game. A seventh-round pick by the Flames in 2013, the question is how high his ceiling is; and that could be what pushes him out of the starting lineup.

Tony DeAngelo

DeAngelo was brought over from Arizona, along with the pick that eventually landed Lias Andersson, in exchange for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta. He has had behavior issues in the past but is a tremendous skater with a high level of offensive ability. He showed flashes of his skating and offensive prowess last season but didn’t break out. DeAngelo has a chance to be a great offensive-defenseman, which could land him on the opening night roster.

Libor Hajek

Libor Hajek is one of the most exciting of the Rangers defensive prospects. He was one of the main pieces to come over from Tampa at the trade deadline. He is an extremely solid two-way defender with potentially the most upside out of any defensemen in the system. Once he acclimates to the NHL, he will be a top-four defenseman and maybe even see time on a top pairing.

Ryan Lindgren

Lastly, we have Ryan Lindgren, who the Rangers acquired from Boston in exchange for Rick Nash. Lindgren has very high upside and was a top performer in the NCAA. He has a tremendous amount of determination to make the team, but he may not be ready for the pros just yet. Lindgren will have to put up quite the fight to make it to opening night, but he has the ability.

Frederik Claesson

Claesson was just signed on Sunday at the start of the free agency period. Claesson was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and was a solid piece of their defensive corps. At only 25, he still has some developing to undergo, but he is a great young defenseman to play alongside the Rangers inexperienced group. He has a very good chance of making the opening night lineup.

Prediction: