Over the course of 90 years, the New York Rangers have had several great leaders. Here are the top five.
By Jay Travers
Some of these players were given the “C” for having extraordinary talents for both their leadership and skill. This was a symbol that players look up to and is widely respected, maybe even more so on the Rangers’ historic sweater. But it was not always a player with the “C” on their sweater who was a leader.
It was the player a coach could look to in any and every situation.
For a big goal, a massive hit, a game-changing fight, or a huge save, someone had the responsibility of answering the bell. It was this player that was often seen as a leader for what he did on the ice, and as well as everything he had done off it.
Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at the top five leaders in New York Rangers history:
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5. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist
This choice was not a hard one, at all. If you have been a Rangers fan for the last 10 years, you understand what exactly Henrik Lundqvist means to this team.
A leader is not always the captain of the team, and is not always the one who scores all the goals. Lundqvist is easily a leader for the New York Rangers.
While being drafted in the seventh round probably does not make you feel so well, that is where Lundqvist went, 205th overall. Most seventh rounders never play a professional game, but he has been in 668 of them, all in New York.
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The Rangers found themselves with a goldmine on their hands as Lundqvist won at least 30 games for the first seven seasons with the Blueshirts, and has maintained that record to this date (excluding a lock-out shortened 2012-13 season).
If that stat is not impressive enough, Lundqvist has broken all time New York Rangers records set by goalies like Ed Giacomin and Mike Richter. Records such as most New York Rangers’ wins, shutouts, playoff wins, consecutive Game 7 wins, and is the only NHL goaltender to have at least 30 wins in each of his first seven seasons. You could add a Vezina trophy to the list as well.
If you put Lundqivst’s impressive numbers aside, he also works closely with the Garden of Dreams foundation. Lundqvist makes kid’s dreams come true all the time.
Folks, if Lundqvist does not scream what a leader means, then what does? Hank ranks fifth on our list.
4. Forward Adam Graves
Adam Graves is one of the all-time greatest New York Rangers to have worn the sweater. There was something about his play that made him a guy you loved to have on your team, and hated him because he wasn’t.
He was a second round selection in the 1986 draft, going to Detroit, selected 22nd overall. I bet they really regret that trade to Edmonton in 1989.
The Rangers signed Graves as a free agent on September 3rd, 1991. It was in New York that Graves would be reunited with former teammate Mark Messier during his Edmonton days.
Now, from watching Graves play, it seemed that there was nothing he couldn’t do. He could fight, he could hit, and he could score. That is an NHL coach’s dream player, one who could do a little bit of everything, and do it well. Thankfully, the Blueshirts put him to good work in New York.
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While spending 10 years with the Rangers Graves put up great offensive numbers: 280 goals and 227 assists. He amassed over 800 penalty minutes as well.
But, it was never just about hockey for “Gravey” as they called him. Graves was really all about the kids with the Garden of Dreams foundation. He was always helping them out and giving back to the community, as he still does to this day.
Graves’ No. 9 resides in the rafters at the Garden, as no other player will ever wear that number again.
His actions both on and off the ice are what made Adam Graves one of the all-time great leaders in New York Rangers’ history and places him 4th on our list.
3. Defenseman Brian Leetch
The Connecticut native was called “the greatest Ranger of all time” by Mark Messier. That statement is true.
He was the Rangers’ first round pick in the 1986 NHL draft. Leetch came onto the scene with the Rangers in the 1987-88 season. And from the very beginning there was something special about No. 2.
Whether it was his quick skating ability, or his vision on the ice (probably a mixture of both), Leetch was a deadly weapon.
He saw things that were not there, but appeared because of his quick reaction time. These were the marks of a great offensive defenseman, and Brian Leetch was just that.
He had an excellent shot as well. Leetch quaterbacked the powerplay his entire career in New York, making it was a great one. With players like Messier, Graves, and Kovalev, that man-advantage was dominating.
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His play was so consistent offensively and defensively that the Blueshirts gave Leetch the “A” on his sweater, which he wore during most of his time in New York. There was a time, however, when Leetch was the captain of the Rangers. This was something he never seemed comfortable with, and when Messier came back to the Big Apple, Leetch gave it back.
But it was the person Leetch was that made him a leader. He could get the big goal to win the game, or he could also make a strong defensive play when the time was ticking. His play in the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs earned him the Conn Smythe trophy for MVP and a Stanley Cup ring.
Leetch’s No. 2 rests in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and that absolutely solidifies his role as a leader with the New York Rangers. Leetch ranks 3rd on our list.
2. Defenseman Ron Greschner
Ron Greschner. Where does one begin with him?
With a career that spanned 16 seasons in the NHL, all of which were in New York, Greschner proved himself as a great player.
He scored 179 goals and had 610 points in a 982 game career. At the same time he amassed 1226 penalty minutes.
But that was the normal idea of hockey during the 70’s and 80’s. It was a tough game that had a lot of hitting, guys would fight left and right, and the goals came along. Most of the players did not wear helmets until it was mandated either, another testament to their toughness.
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But what makes No.4 one hell of a leader was everything he would do on the ice. He could put the puck in the back of the net and give a great pass for a goal.
Greschner also wasn’t afraid to take a huge hit and drop the gloves. The fight above shows that, it was a pretty even bout. Both Greschner and Carson clocked in at 6’2”, Carson being the light weight of the two at 195 pounds.
Greschner was that kind of player, one that could do anything the coach would ask. He would also lay everything on the line, this was a quality that is a sure fire mark of a true leader. For this he ranks 2nd on our list.
1. Forward Mark Messier
“The Messiah.” That is all.
Obviously there is a lot more to say to Mark Messier than that, but it’s a great start when talking about The Captain.
When he was traded for in 1991, it was clear who would lead the Blueshirts to victory. Fans and the organization knew that Messier would lead them to a Stanley Cup.
It was not easy at first, not achieving the goal of a championship in his first two seasons, but it would come, cementing the Spring of ’94 as the best season New York Rangers fan may ever have.
No. 11 was the person coaches would look to for everything. A big goal in the dying minutes of a game, a massive hit along the boards to change the dynamic, and even the occasional fight to stir the team up. That was all Messier.
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If these actions aren’t enough to show what the best leader in New York Rangers history is, let us remember this anecdote.
In 1994 Messier’s “Guarantee” was posted all over New York newspapers. As the Rangers were losing the series to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, Messier guaranteed that the Blueshirts would come out on top and force a Game 7.
He scored a hat trick that game.
The motto, “the name on the front of the jersey is a lot more important than the name on the back” describes Messier perfectly. He showed heart in everything he did.
It came as no surprise when the New York Rangers would retire Messier’s No. 11 and hang it in the rafters of Madison Square Garden.
It was his relentless effort that made him a fan-favorite, as well as fans of other teams he played for. Whether it was playing on the ice at Madison Square Garden or having number rise to the rafters, Messier remained loyal to who he was. He was the single greatest leader, and captain, in New York Rangers history.