No. 4 – Rod Gilbert
Rod Gilbert played 1065 regular season games for the Rangers in the ’60s and ’70s, tallying 406 goals, 615 assists and 1,021 points. He subsequently added 34 goals and 67 points in 79 playoff games.Gilbert is the Rangers All-Time leader in goals, points, power-play goals, regular strength goals and game-winning goals. As a result, he is near the top of every greatest Ranger list.
Gilbert was the right-wing on one of the greatest forward lines in NHL history. The GAG – ‘Goal A Game’ — line of Gilbert, Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield resurrected the struggling Rangers franchise in the early ’70s, leading them to multiple playoff runs.
Unfortunately, Gilbert played during the Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito era as the Bruins regularly ended the Rangers’ seasons prematurely.
The Rangers raised Gilbert’s #7 to the rafters in 1979, making it the first time that honor had been bestowed on a Ranger.
In 1982, Gilbert was the elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, solidifying his position as one of the greatest athletes in NY sports history. But despite never hoisting the Stanley Cup, Gilbert was a World Champion as a member of Team Canada when they defeated the Russians 4-3-1 in the 1972 Summit Series.
