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.

The Jericho, Long Island native, has been nothing short of sensational since turning pro and making his Rangers debut in 2019. Surely and admittedly, #23 has a ways to go before entering the conversation dominated by the likes of Victor Hedman, Drew Doughty and John Carlson.

If Fox is some day is able to capture the trophy named after the the longtime owner of the Detroit Red Wings, James E. Norris, He would be the fourth Blueshirt to do so. In today’s piece, we will look back at the previous three Norris Trophy Award winners.

Brian Leetch 1991-92 & 1996-97

Has there ever been a better Ranger who played the bulk of his career on the corner of 7th Avenue and 33rd Street than Brian Leetch? When it comes to capturing individual awards, Leetch certainly has an impressive display on his mantlepiece. Along with being a Stanley Cup Champion and Team USA World Cup winner, Leetch won the Calder for Rookie of the Year. He also captured the Conn Smythe as the Playoff MVP in 1994, and twice won the Norris Trophy becoming the only Blueshirt to win it multiple times.

Leetch’s unparalleled combination of talent, skill, hockey IQ, work ethic and toughness were ubiquitous during his 17 year New York Rangers career. His #2 proudly hangs from the iconic Garden ceiling and will remain there all of eternity.

Harry Howell 1966-67

Ask your parents and grand parents about Howell’s wonderful, but tumultuous career playing for the Rangers. Unfortunately and undeservingly, Howell was nothing short of a warrior but became the target for the frustrated Garden Faithful as the franchise meandered their way through the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Stanley Cups were a pipe dream and when you have a 1 in 6 chance to win your sport’s top prize and you’re not even in the same zip code of the contenders, who can blame the exacerbated fan base for turning on their beloved hockey team.

Howell should not have been singled out as the scapegoat. That’s why his Norris Trophy winning season of 1966-67 is so special. Howell had his #3 jersey retired to the Garden rafters in February of 2009 along with his former teammate Andy Bathgate in a dual ceremony that was decades overdue.

Doug Harvey 1961-62

Doug Harvey was the epitome of true NHL royalty in the Original 6 days. The supremely talented blueliner was an absolute legend playing for his hometown Montreal Canadiens from 1947 through 1961. Harvey was a six time recipient of the Norris Trophy before taking his immense talents to Broadway where he captured his lucky seventh award in 1962. Harvey, a player-coach for the Rangers in the 61-62 season, played two additional seasons in Gotham registering 71 total points in 151 contests

As the Rangers amass young and talented defenseman like the aforementioned Fox, they also have K’Andre Miller scratching the surface of greatness and Nils Lundkvist yet to make his debut. Rangerstown would love to see the list of Norris Trophy winning Blueshirts elongate in the coming years. As for now, Harvey, Howell and Leetch will remain as the only New York Rangers to have the honor of being voted as the National Hockey League’s best defenseman.

Starting in goal, number 1 Eddie Giacomin

Edd-ie Edd-ie Edd-ie!

There are three sure things in life, my friends. Death, taxes and that Pavlovian chant from Rangerstown each time the Sudbury, Ontario native takes the ice or is shown in the Garden Vision scoreboard. Giacomin’s 267 regular season wins and 49 shutouts were Ranger records at the time of his retirement in 1978. The Hall-of-Famer was the 2nd player in franchise history to have his jersey raised to the Garden rafters making Giacomin a perfect fit to tend goal for our Canadian born team

On defense, number 3 Harry Howell

The Norris Trophy winner and eventual Hall-of -Famer spent 17 years patrolling the blue line at both MSG III and MSG IV. Even though it’s been more than 50 years since Howell last donned the red, while and blue colors of your beloved hockey team, the native of Hamilton, Ontario is still the team’s all time leader in games played with 1160. Howell’s jersey was belatedly raised to the Garden rafters in a dual ceremony with Andy Bathgate in February of 2009. The late Howell is true Ranger royalty and very much deserving to make our list.

His defense partner, number 4 Ron Greschner

The Goodsoil, Saskatchewan native played all of his 16 seasons and 981 regular season games wearing his familiar #4, that, in all honesty, should be among the retired banners dangling from the iconic Garden roof. “Gresch” could do it all. He was big, strong, skilled and man was he tough! In 1977-78, Gresch scored 24 goals, tallied 72 points and amassed 100 PIM. Gresch may never have won an individual award and he may not be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. However, he is very much qualified of being Harry Howell’s defense partner on our hypothetical Ranger team.

On left wing, number 11 Vic Hadfield

The first player in franchise history to reach the 50-goal plateau and one of just six Blueshirts to top 100 points in a single season, Hadfield was the left wing on the famed Goal-A-Game line. Hadfield also served as Ranger captain from 1971-1974. The native of Oakville, Ontario was a fearless leader who could light the lamp on one shift and beat the tar out of an opponent the next, Hadfield’s number 11 jersey was retired last season joining his legendary GAG line-mates in Ranger lore forever.

At center, number 11 “The Messiah” Mark Messier

The man who engineered his ouster from his home town of Edmonton, Alberta to New York City in October of 1991 on a supreme mission to defeat the daunting, intimidating and seemingly unbeatable 1940 monster.
The man who guaranteed victory in game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals and then scored a now iconic third period hat trick to facilitate the unthinkable.

The man who raised that silver chalice towards the heavens on the unforgettable evening of June 14th, 1994 to, in fact, permanently put to rest that dreaded “1940” chant. On a personal note, Mark Messier is a hero of mine and it is my own belief that every Ranger fan should own his #11 jersey to pay homage to the only player in 80 years to captain a Ranger team to a Stanley Cup Championship.

On right wing, number 7 Rod Gilbert

The unofficial ambassador of the Garden and the New York Rangers, Gilbert is simply put, unequivocal Ranger royalty. The Montreal, PQ native continues to be the franchise’s all time leader in goals with 406 and points with 1021. Gilbert is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame and his #7 was the first jersey to be retired by the only NHL team he had ever played for. Gilbert has become synonymous with Ranger hockey and you’ll never meet a classier individual.

Honorable mention: Jean Ratelle, Adam Graves, Andy Bathgate, Dave Kerr, James Patrick, Walt Tkaczuk, Brad Park, and Mike Gartner.

Before the game, John Gilmour and Vinni Lettieri were recalled from Hartford and were featured in the starting lineup. New York overall didn’t play a terrible game, but the lack of consistency in the defensive zone along with not having a game breaking scorer is ultimately what led to the loss. It seems as if this is the recurring trend for the last few games. Strong efforts but inconsistent is what the Rangers.

Previous to puck drop, the Rangers paid tribute to Harry Howell, who passed away a few days ago. Madison Square Garden viewed a nice video and featured his many accomplishments during his time as a Blueshirt.

The Rangers next game is Saturday, in Toronto as they take on the Maple Leafs. 7PM start. LETS GO RANGERS.

The passing of Rangers great Harry Howell has been felt across the hockey community, by both his former teammates and others involved in the game he loved.

Harry was a first-class individual, as was his whole family,” former Rangers forward Vic Hadfield, Howell’s teammate for eight seasons, said on Sunday. “We were very, very close, the two families. Harry was a very humble guy, the nicest guy, someone who would give you the shirt off his back. Just a wonderful individual.

“When we first went to New York, he took us in and made sure we all had places to live and were able to get to the games. We just watched what he was doing. He wasn’t boisterous, but he was a quiet leader and just a genuine good guy.”

NHL.com

As the hockey world continues to mourn the passing of Detroit Red Wings legend, “Terrible” Ted Lindsay, the New York Rangers have just lost an icon of their own. Hall of Famer and stalwart Blueshirts defenseman Harry Howell has just passed away at the age of 86.

Howell, who spent 17 years of his 21-year NHL career wearing the red, white and blue, had his number 3 jersey retired in a dual ceremony with fellow Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate in February of 2009. A discussion could be had as to why it took the Rangers organization so long to retire the jerseys of two of their all-time great players and ambassadors. That discussion will not take place now. Instead, we will reflect on the great but troubling Ranger career of the classy, distinguished and talented Mr. Howell.

Howell, the all-time Rangers leader in games played with 1160, made his Garden debut in the 1952-53 season. Howell’s 17-year run on Broadway was very successful from an individualistic standpoint. Howell was a perennial all-star and took home the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 1967. Unfortunately for #3, the time period in which he was starring for the Rangers was during the era in which the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs made sure that the Stanley Cup stayed north of the border as often as possible. From 1956 through 1969, the year that Howell’s Ranger career ended, either the Leafs or the Habs captured Lord Stanley’s chalice each and every year with the exception of 1961 when the Chicago Blackhawks won hockey’s holy grail.

To put it in perspective, and this is a doozy of a nugget, the Rangers did not win a single playoff series from 1951 all the way through 1971. That means a Harry Howell led Ranger team failed to advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Also, the Blueshirts failed to even qualify for the post-season an astounding ten times during Howell’s Rangers tenure. Even though the Hamilton, Ontario native was one of the few consistent bright spots during a very dark period in Ranger history, the Garden Faithful would routinely direct their collective frustration, venom, and vitriol towards the Rangers All-Star. Not dissimilar to what is occurring today with certain sects of Rangerstown spewing undeserved hate towards goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, Howell, like Lundqvist, was viewed by passionate Ranger fans as being part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Year after futile year, with increasingly resentful and disenchanting screams from the balcony of the old Garden of, “Hit ’em with your purse Mary”, Howell was unfairly blamed for the continuous ineptitude of the hockey team that played its regular season home games on the corner of 8th Avenue and 50th street in Manhattan.

Thankfully, as the decades went on, and as hostility from die-hard Ranger fans started to wilt, Howell, finally, started to get the respect and adulation that he richly deserved culminating with his long-awaited jersey retirement ceremony back in 2009. Simply put, and stated with zeal and fervor, Harry Howell is one of the greatest Rangers players in their entire 90-plus year history. His passing is sad and upsetting. Howell may not have had the league-wide impact that Lindsay had. However, for a franchise like the Rangers that has so few indigenous all-time greats, Howell was a very special person and player and his #3 jersey hanging from the Garden rafters will forever symbolize his relevance and importance to Rangerstown.

Editor’s Note: To read more about Mr. Howell, click here.

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 a franchise that has been part of the Big Apple sporting landscape since 1926. The Rangers are a New York City institution preceded by only the Yankees and the Football Giants. Their history is 92 years long and in those nine plus decades of competition, the Rangers have had their share of good hockey players, fan favorites and all-time greats.

If I could start my own version of my beloved hockey team and I could choose the best players by each position, these would be my choices. In the spirit of transparency, I won’t go as far back to the pre World War II years as none of us were alive when the likes of Frank Boucher, Ching Johnson and Bill Cook starred on Broadway. I’ll keep my list as close to contemporary as possible.

Let’s start out with the most important position in hockey and arguably, the most important position in all of sports:

GOALTENDING:

The Rangers have been blessed with a plethora of quality goalies during the last 60 years. Eddie Giacomin, Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck, and Gump Worsley are all considered royalty in Rangerstown. However, when it comes to royalty and when it comes to the rich tradition of outstanding Ranger goalies, one much esteemed net-minder stands out above the rest and that is “The King” Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist has re-written the goalie chapter in the team’s media guide. Lundqvist holds every important Ranger goalie record there is. Lundqvist has backstopped some bad teams to the playoffs, mediocre teams to the second round and average teams all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. Yes, I know. I know. He has never won it all and for that reason, some will always hold Mike Richter above the man known as “Hank” in stature and success. I look at the Richter VS Lundqvist argument from this perspective…if Hank was the goalie on those great Ranger team from the 1990s, would they have still won the cup in 1994? The answer is an emphatic, yes! And, with that collection of leadership and talent, one could state with confidence that, with Lundqvist in net, those 1990s teams could have been a full-fledged dynasty. Let’s leave it right there because this piece isn’t about the much drawn out and rhetorical Lundqvist versus Richter debate.

LEFT WING:

When I think of the talented Rangers to play the left wing position, two very similar players immediately come to mind. They are Vic Hadfield and Adam Graves. Hadfield and Graves are virtual carbon copies of one another. Both were as talented as they were tough. Both were great leaders and invaluable teammates. Neither would hesitate to drop the gloves and step in to protect a line-mate who was under duress. Also, these two bulls-in-a-china-shop were the first Rangers to ever score 50 goals. Having to choose between these great Rangers is like choosing between a perfectly cooked steak and a big bowl of pasta smothered in the best tomato sauce in the world with the right amount of Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. I am giving the slightest of all edges to Adam Graves.

While it’s true that the man known as “Gravey” is my personal all time favorite Ranger, my selection is not solely based on popularity. I am basing my decision on the fact that Graves came to New York as an obscure fourth line player in Edmonton whom Neil Smith signed to a modest restricted free agent contract with the rugged Troy Mallette going back to Edmonton as compensation. Graves worked his way up from a fringe NHL player to being Mark Messier’s running mate on the team’s number one line for many many years. Graves became a 50 goal scorer, an all star and an vital cog of the Ranger team that won the Stanley Cup in 1994.

CENTER:

As was the case with the left wing position, when I think of Rangers centerman, two great players immediately come to mind. Jean Ratelle and Mark Messier. If I were basing my selection simply on statistics, Ratelle would get the nod hands down. Ratelle has more games played, goals, assists and points in a Rangers uniform than Messier. Ratelle’s stat line in the 1971-72 campaign still stands as one of the greatest offensive seasons in team history. He scored 43 goals and tallied 63 assists totaling 109 points in just 63 games. Folks, that’s an average of 1.73 points-per-game. If he hadn’t suffered a broken ankle in March of 1972 abruptly ending his regular season, his point total for 1972 could have been upwards of 140 (if he stayed on the same trajectory).

With all due respect to the player who had his number 19 finally raised to the Garden rafters last season, I have to give the nod to Mark Messier. When Messier refused to join his Oiler team for the 1991-92 season and demanded a trade, he insisted to his GM Glen Sather that he wanted to be traded to the Rangers. He knew all too well about the 1940 curse and he wanted to be the player to defeat the monster. How many players, in any sport, have we seen come to New York only to wilt in the pressure and crumble in the spotlight? Messier wanted, desperately, to come to the Rangers and he demanded that Sather trade him only to New York. The rest as they say is history.

RIGHT WING:

There is no debating on this one. Mike Gartner, Andy Bathgate, Jaromir Jagr and everyone else takes a back seat to the man who has become synonymous with New York Rangers hockey and that is Rod Gilbert. Gilbert is the team’s all time leader in goals and points. Gilbert played every one of his 1,065 NHL games wearing his familiar #7 in the red, white and blue uniform. Gilbert has remained in the Rangers family acting as a liaison and an ambassador for his beloved franchise. Simply put, Rod Gilbert is the greatest Ranger forward of them all. Every conversation regarding the Rangers begins and ends with the Montreal native.

DEFENSE:

One defense choice was easy. One was difficult. The simple choice, as I am sure you’ll agree with, is Brian Leetch. From the time Leetch was drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 1986 draft, he was pegged for greatness, stardom and glory. There were Bobby Orr-like comparisons for Leetch on each level that he played at. High school, college, USA Olympic team-everywhere Leetch went, the Orr similarities followed him. Leetch did not disappoint. From the moment he made his NHL debut in 1988, Leetch skated his way into Rangers lore and the hearts of Ranger fans. Leetch won the Calder Trophy, Norris Trophy (twice), Conn Smythe Trophy and of course, the Stanley Cup. He was the perfect combination of talent, skill, hard work, desire and toughness. If Rod Gilbert is the greatest forward of all time, Leetch is certainly the best defenseman in team history. Period.

As for the other defeseman, let’s see, let’s see. There certainly are several qualified candidates to choose from. Ron Greschner, James Patrick, Brad Park, Rod Seiling, and Dan Girardi are worthy enough to be in this discussion. All had long stints patrolling the Ranger blue-line. All had respectable careers. All have solidified their place in team history. But my choice is a player a bit before most of our times. He is the Rangers all time leader in games played with 1,160. He won the Norris Trophy in 1966-67. He had his number 3 jersey retired in 2009. My defense partner for Brian Leetch in none other than the great Harry Howell.

Based on everything I’ve read about the hockey hall-of-famer, Howell was the best player on some really bad Ranger teams throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Unfortunately, Howell was traded to the California Golden Seals in 1969 right before the Rangers became a legitimate cup contender. So, he never got to experience winning here in New York. Be that as it may, Harry Howell is, in my view, the second best defenseman in team history and the perfect compliment to the offensive juggernaut and stalwart Brian Leetch.

COACH:

Who will be the bench boss for my all time Rangers team? The obvious choice is the patriarch of the franchise, Lester Patrick. However, I said I would keep this as recent as possible, so I will pick a coach more fresh in people’s minds. The candidates are Mike Keenan, Emile “The Cat” Francis, Fred Shero, Alain Vigneault and Roger Nielson.

Keenan, Shero, Vigneault and Francis all took a Ranger team to the Stanley Cup Finals. Even though Roger Nielson only went as far as the second round with his teams, he will be my pick to guide my theoretical Rangers team. Nielson was a coach light years ahead of his time. Nielson was a great technician, a master motivator and a wonderful bench boss. If that infamous Ron Francis goal from the 1992 playoffs didn’t happen, I truly believe the Rangers would have won that game and the series against Pittsburgh and would have went on to win the Stanley Cup. We can hardly blame the coach for Mike Richter’s lowest point of his NHL career.

My team: LW-Adam Graves. C Mark Messier. RW Rod Gilbert

D-Brian Leetch. Harry Howell

Goal-Henrik Lundqvist.

Coach-Roger Nielson.

The fun part about these articles is the subjectivity. I would love to hear other Ranger fans choices, feedback and comments

The number three has some symmetry. Three strikes and you’re out. In fairy tales, a genie grants three wishes. Of course, in hockey, there’s three periods and three goals is a hat trick. So when it comes to the players who have worn the blue, white & red for the Rangers, which three have worn three the best?
Well, let’s start with the players who have worn Uniform # 3:

*courtesy newyorkrangers.com
Of the 15 players who have worn this number, all but one was a defenseman. Fern Perreault is the only non-defenseman in the bunch. Some of these players are well known in hockey circles. Tim Horton these days is probably better known for his coffee and doughnut shops than as an NHL’er. Fred Shero won two Stanley Cups as head coach of the Broad Street Bullies during the Philadelphia Flyers heyday in the mid 70’s and led the Rangers to the Final in 1979. Harry Howell is one of the all-time greats of the NHL and has his number retired in the Garden rafters. With the retirement of Howell’s jersey in February 2009, the number 3 will never be worn again in Rangers history.
So with some of that in mind here are my own top 3 uniform number 3:

1) Harry Howell (1952-1969)
When compiling these lists, I usually shy away from players that were before my time as comparing them to players I did see would not be an equal comparison. However, with Howell, I made an exception. Howell appeared in more games than anyone in Rangers history with 1160 games played. He registered 345 points on 82 goals and 263 assists. During the playoffs, he appeared in 34 games and had 3 goals and 2 assists. He served as Rangers Captain from 1955-1957. He was an All Star in 1953, 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1968. He won the Norris Trophy in 1967 and was the last player to do so before Boston’s Bobby Orr went on his remarkable streak of 8 straight Norris Trophies.

Unfortunately he did not win a Stanley Cup while with the Blueshirts. In the summer of 1969, his rights were sold to the Oakland Seals (who later became the California Golden Seals) for which he played for two seasons before going on to the Los Angeles Kings for three seasons. The WHA beckoned and Howell bounced around first suiting up for the New York Golden Blades/Jersey Generals (1973-74), then the San Diego Mariners (1974-75) and finally the Calgary Cowboys (1975-76). He would be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 and would receive the ultimate team honor by having his Rangers jersey retired in 2009.

2) James Patrick (1983-1993)
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was a consummate professional during his career with the Blueshirts. Patrick joined the Rangers and bridged the gap form Ron Greschner to Brian Leetch. During his time with the Blueshirts, Patrick provided the Rangers with a steady influence on the backline. While not noted for his physical play, Patrick made up for that on the offensive side of the puck. In 671 games he recorded 467 points on 104 goals and 363 assists. In 63 playoff games, he recorded 31 points by netting 5 goals and 26 assists.

He was a leader on the team and served as assistant captain at various times during his stint in Blue. Patrick had a very effortless fluid skating style which would enable him to join or lead the rush, yet get back into defensive position. He did not possess the jaw dropping artistry of Leetch but Patrick was a very steadying influence.

However, during his time on Broadway he was under appreciated for his talents. The 1991-92 season was Patrick’s finest moment on Broadway. In 80 games he had career highs in points (71), goals (14) and assists (57) and was a perfect number 2 compliment to Leetch’s number one. With the addition of Mark Messier, the Rangers would win the President’s Trophy as the top team in the regular season. 1992-93 was a disaster for the Rangers and Patrick’s production also declined.

Head Coach Roger Neilson and Interim Head Coach Ron Smith were fired and Mike Keenan was hired for the 1993-94 season. Off the bat, it was apparent that Patrick wasn’t the type of player that fit into Keenan’s plans and 6 games into the season GM Neil Smith shipped Patrick and Darren Turcotte to Hartford for Steve Larmer, Nick Kypreos, Barry Richter (no relation to Mike) and a 6th round pick. Needless to say, that move proved instrumental in the Rangers winning The Cup later that spring.
He would go on to enjoy several more seasons with Hartford, the Calgary Flames and the Buffalo Sabres before retiring in 2005. In 2006, he joined the Sabres as an assistant coach and was there through 2013. After Head Coach Lindy Ruff was fired, Patrick joined him again in Dallas where he again is presently assistant coach.

3) Ivan “Ching” Johnson (1926-1937)
Like Howell’s submission on this list I usually shy away from players I never saw play. However, our next entrant’s career cannot be overlooked. Ivan “Ching” Johnson spent 11 season in the red, white and blue of the Rangers, covering a span of 405 regular season games and 55 playoff games. He was an instrumental part of the 1928 Stanley Cup run. He was a rough and tumble player and is considered to be the Rangers first true enforcer. He also helped the Rangers to the Stanley Cup again in 1933. He was a First Team All Star in 1931-32 & 1932-33 and a Second Team All Star in 1930-31 & 1933-34. He played in the 1934 All Star Game. He received the ultimate individual honor when he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958, 20 years after he played his last NHL game.

So there you have it. Rangers Numerology 3 is in the books. We did strongly consider Tom Poti for the third spot but we are a serious publication and it just wouldn’t be right now, would it? But I digress. Those are my three choices, what are yours? Agree or disagree. Sound off we want to hear!