The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden in the borough of Manhattan, an arena they share with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are one of three NHL teams located in the New York metropolitan area; the others being the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders.
Why is New York called the Rangers?
Founded in 1926 by Tex Rickard, the Rangers are one of the Original Six teams that competed in the NHL before its 1967 expansion, along with the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. The team attained success early on under the guidance of Lester Patrick, who coached a team containing Frank Boucher, Murray Murdoch, and Bun and Bill Cook to Stanley Cup glory in 1928, making them the first NHL franchise in the United States to win the trophy. The team would then go onto win two additional Stanley Cups in 1933 and 1940.
Who is the best New York Rangers player of all time?
Rod Gilbert is probably the most successful Ranger to never win a Stanley Cup with the team. If you need more proof, Gilbert was the first man in NY Rangers history to have his number retired.
Gilbert holds the two biggest offensive records in team history: most goals and most points. He called New York home for 15 seasons, en route to a place in the hockey Hall of Fame.
Gilbert made the team in 1962 and never looked back. Over his 15 seasons, he appeared in nine All-Star Games, also a team record. In 12 of 15 seasons, he scored 20 goals. He also had five seasons of 30-plus, and in 1971-72, he registered a career high 43. In that same year as a member of the GAG line, he put up a career best 97 points.
Two seasons later, Gilbert reached the 97 point mark again, which was a Rangers record for most points by a right winger until Jaromir Jagr broke it in 2005-06.
Two years after his retiredment in 1977, Gilbert’s #7 was retired to the Garden rafters. Gilbert still holds the record for most goals as a Ranger with 406, and most points with 1065.
Why are the New York Rangers called Blueshirts?
The team’s early success led to players becoming minor celebrities and fixtures in New York City’s Roaring Twenties nightlife. During this time, playing at the Garden on 49th Street, blocks away from Times Square, that the Rangers obtained their nickname “The Broadway Blueshirts”. On December 13, 1929, the Rangers became the first team in the NHL to travel by plane when they hired the Curtiss-Wright Corporation to fly them to Toronto for a game against the Maple Leafs, which they lost 7–6.
In only the Rangers’ second season, they won the 1928 Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Maroons three games to two. One of the most memorable stories that emerged from the finals involved Patrick playing in goal at the age of 44. At the time, teams were not required to dress a backup goaltender. When the Rangers‘ starting goaltender, Lorne Chabot, left a game with an eye injury, Maroons head coach Eddie Gerard vetoed Patrick’s original choice for an emergency replacement, Alex Connell of the Ottawa Senators, who was in attendance. An angry Patrick lined up between the pipes for two periods in Game 2 of the finals, allowing one goal to Maroons center Nels Stewart. Frank Boucher scored the game-winning goal in overtime for New York.
Who scored the most goals for the New York Rangers?
Brian Leetch
The greatest defenseman in Rangers history was not only the best passer the Rangers ever had, he could shoot the puck as well, making him a dual threat on the offensive side of the ice.
Currently, he holds the franchise record for most goals ever by a defenseman with 240 (ninth best in franchise history), most power play goals by a defenseman in a single season with 23, most goals by a defenseman in one year with 11 in 1993-94 and most goals by a defenseman in a career with 38. Pretty impressive resume by arguably one of the greatest Rangers of all time.
Jean Ratelle
For three straight seasons, Jean Ratelle posted 32 goals. That is only 96 of his 336 total during his tenure with the New York Rangers.
Much like Hadfield, Ratelle benefited by being a part of the GAG line, which makes him the second-best scorer the Rangers ever had during their 86-year history. However, he falls 70 goals short of his linemate and the No. 1 all time in Rangers franchise history.
Rod Gilbert
Playing right wing on the GAG line, Rod Gilbert played in over 1,000 games and also was the first player in New York Rangers history to have his number retired.
Gilbert had 406 goals, having 12 seasons of 20 or more goals, including his career-high of 43 during the 1971-72 season. Will his record ever be broken? Time will tell, but until then, he will hold the title as the best scorer in New York Rangers history.
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