New York Rangers All-Time Ultimate 20-Man Roster

With the NHL in full Stanley Cup Playoffs mode while the New York Rangers hit the links, we construct an all-time 20 man hockey club.

For 54 long years, fans of the New York Rangers heard one year obnoxiously bellowed from the crowd time and again.

“1940.”

All it took was acquiring one of the greatest leaders in sports history, a young defenseman continuing his journey as one of the greatest American born players of all-time, and a goaltender to simply stand on his head all spring, for those chants to finally be belted loudly one last time.

1994 was certainly a landmark season for the Blueshirts. One season that will “last a lifetime.”

From it came legends who’ll forever be remembered in Rangers history, for a Stanley Cup had finally been captured. Previously, only the seasons of 1928, 1933 and, of course, 1940, saw the Rangers etch their names on the Cup.

Considering the Rangers have seen a rebirth in success since the lockout, this organization has experienced an extraordinary strength at the bookends of its history. Players from those eras reign supreme.

Still, there were 54 years of Rangers hockey in between and players from the middle era staked their own unique claim to New York hockey greatness.

However, if you think this is a Top 10 or a greatest Rangers of all-time list, you’ll have been extremely mistaken. Instead, we feel the Rangers fan deserves more. We feel putting together a real 20-man roster consisting of the greatest talents to have ever walked through the doors of Madison Square Garden and onto the ice needs to be displayed.

This is not simply listing the greatest of all-time. This is constructing the best possible lineup consisting of the greatest of all-time.

Here’s the New York Rangers all-time ultimate 20-man roster:

 Begin Slideshow 

Forward Line 1

• LW: Adam Graves, L (1991-2001)
• C: Mark Messier, L (C) (1991-97, 2000-04)
• RW: Andy Bathgate, R (C) (1952-64)

Line No. 1 is not only capable of scoring, it’s downright nasty.

Mark Messer leads the squad. How could he not? He’s the second all-time leading NHL scorer. The captain, who did the impossible in 1994, will center his longtime running mate Adam Graves and the Rangers fourth all-time point scorer in Andy Bathgate.

Are these guys the top three forwards in Rangers history? No, but that’s the point. We’ve constructed this first line with familiarity and balance across all four lines in mind.

Messier ranks fifth in team history with 591 points; Bathgate is fourth with 729; and Graves is third in goals with 280. Oh yeah, Bathgate is fourth in goals with 272.

Messier was Graves’s center in 1994 when the latter broke the Rangers single-season goals record with 52.

We feel pretty comfortable with Messier centering these two snipers.

Forward Line 2

• LW: Vic Hadfield, L (C) (1961-74)
• C: Jean Ratelle, L (1960-76)
• RW: Rod Gilbert, R (1960-78)

Quite honestly, there’s no chance in the world you’d ever take something special and break it up.

That’s why our second line is the GAG (goal a game) line. When you have three guys who enjoyed so much chemistry with each other for so long, you start there and build around it.

During the 1971-72 season, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert finished third, fourth and fifth in the NHL in scoring respectively. Only the Boston Bruins stood between them and the Cup that season. Hadfield’s 50 goals remained a single-season record until Graves broke it in ’94.

Gilbert on the right side could represent the best forward in Rangers history. His 406 goals are the most in team history. Second on that list is Ratelle (336). Hadfield is a measly fifth in Rangers history with 262. Gilbert also holds the team record in points (1,021).

The Rangers ultimate team second-line is one of the best in the history of hockey, literally (as they actually played together).

Forward Line 3

• LW: Steve Vickers, L (1972-82)
• C: Walt Tkaczuk, L (1967-81)
• RW: Jaromir Jagr, L (C) (2003-08)

The man who holds New York’s single-season goal record is on our third-line. His name is Jaromir Jagr.

Back during the 2005-06 season we thought Jagr was old when he tallied an incredible 54 goals for the Rangers. Now, he’s still playing at the age of 44 as he climbs up the NHL’s all time scoring list (currently third with 1,858 points).

While Jagr is the centerpiece to this dangerous third-line, lesser known Steve Vickers and Walt Tkaczuk cannot be slept on. Vickers ranks eighth all-time in points while Tkaczuk ranks sixth (just 13 points behind Messier).

This is not a grind-you-out type third-line. It’s a high-powered talented group that will out-skill you. We felt this was the way to go considering how physical the first line is with Messier, Graves and Bathgate.

Tkaczuk is the one guy on the line who maintains a solid two-way game. His incredible +/- mark of 185 is second all-time for New York.

Forward Line 4

• LW: Bill Cook, R (C) (1926-37)
• C: Frank Boucher, L (1926-44)
• RW: Ryan Callahan, R (C) (2006-14)

Let the controversy begin.

Yes, that photo you see above is that of current Tampa Bay Lightning assistant captain Ryan Callahan. Hate it all you want. Cally is simply the best choice in contrast to the rest of this lineup.

Put your Martin St. Louis 2014 giddiness aside for a moment. Cally played almost eight seasons for the Rangers while captaining almost three of them. He’s the perfect fourth-line wing for this roster. He’s a grinder, an agitator, and can score from time to time when least expected. The defensive qualities he’ll bring to the team will be desperately needed with the immense amount of star quality.

His running mates are two of the Rangers greats from the 1928 and ’33 Stanley Cup teams.

By all accounts, Frank Boucher was a tremendous two-way player. Despite only playing in 533 games for New York – thanks to much shorter seasons – Boucher ranks 15 on the all-time scoring list.

Bill Cook was the Rangers most dangerous scorer during those days. His 229 goals is good enough for 10th all time in team history. His 0.48 goals per game is fifth in Rangers history.

It’s a perfect fourth-line who’ll grind, forecheck, play nagging defense, and still put the puck in the net from time to time.

Defensive Pairing 1

• LD: Brian Leetch, L (C) (1987-2004)
• RD: Jeff Beukeboom, R (1991-99)

One guy is widely considered the best player in Rangers history while the other just barely made the roster.

Brian Leetch is the greatest Ranger of them all. Despite playing the position of defense his 981 points are good enough for second in team history. His 741 assists crushes the competition (Gilbert, 615). He leads the way for our defensive grouping without any hesitation.

Jeff Beukeboom, on the other hand, was a struggle to choose over some of the other choices.

There’s no question Beuke played long enough for the franchise. His career +63 with the team is also a top notch mark. Why he received the nod is thanks in part to his familiarity in playing with Leetch, his toughness, and the simple fact that he’s a righty.

Most of the great defenseman in Rangers history are lefties. This makes it challenging to pair everybody up. While Beukeboom was a fringe guy, his toughness and willingness to fight (1,157 penalty minutes which ranks second in team history), along with being a righty, got him the nod.

He also allowed us to not feel forced to take a goon up front and stick him on the fourth-line.

Defensive Pairing 2

• LD: Harry Howell, L (C) (1952-69)
• RD: James Patrick, R (1983-94)

Now we’re just getting silly. Harry Howell is one of the best defenseman in hockey history. He was that good.

Most don’t realize it because he actually played “defense.” Howell wasn’t a great scorer (as very few defenseman during his era were). Still, he captained the Rangers and played fierce enough defense to have his jersey retired. Howell also played the most games in Rangers history (1,160).

In contrast, James Patrick was an offensive defenseman. Patrick ranks a pretty impressive 13th in Rangers history with 467 points. In 1991-92, Patrick tallied 71 points. While this was a far cry from Leetch’s 102 points during that Norris Trophy campaign, Patrick is no slouch.

Much like the first pairing – who is extremely familiar in playing with each other – we love the overall balance of this second pairing.

Defensive Pairing 3

• LD: Brad Park, L (C) (1968-76)
• RD: Ron Greschner, L (C) (1974-90)

Again, the word we use for our defensive pairings is “balance.” We see it once again with our third pairing.

Brad Park was offensive machine along the blueline. Ron Greschner was as tough as they came.

While Park never became New York’s equivalent to Bobby Orr – as many hoped he would – his 378 points in 465 games is nothing to sneeze at. Rangers fans were extremely disappointed when he was shipped off to Boston.

Greschner is the Rangers all-time leader in penalty minutes with 1,226. The only issue comes when realizing one of these guys will have to slide over and play the right side as a lefty.

Still, we love the toughness, grit and leadership Greschner brings. Oh yeah, he can also do a little in the opponent’s zone too: 610 career points (seventh all-time).

Goaltenders

1. Mike Richter, R (1988-2003)
2. Henrik Lundqvist, R (2005-Active)

If younger Blueshirt fans didn’t like the selection of Callahan to the fourth-line, they’ll shutter to think who was omitted from a goaltender point of view.

Well, not omitted from the roster, just as the starter.

It is not Henrik Lundqvist who starts in net for the Rangers ultimate 20-man roster. Rather, it’s Mike Richter.

Lundqvist ranks first in Rangers history in certain categories like save percentage (.920), saves (17,805), and shutouts (59). He doesn’t lead in Stanley Cup Championships.

For that reason alone, Mike Richter gets the nod.

He was there every step of the way in 1994. It didn’t come easy and the competition was rough. Nobody could ever get on Hank for his team’s shortcomings against the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, but still, the Cup winner always gets the nod.

Power Play 1

• LF: Andy Bathgate
• C: Mark Messier
• RF: Adam Graves
• LP: Jaromir Jagr
• RP: Brian Leetch

How dangerous is this group?

For the first power-play unit, we take line one and sprinkle in Jagr. While Jagr is more familiar in playing a wing or along the goalline on the power-play, he’ll play the point with Leetch quarterbacking things. He has done it before and can easily do it again, especially with this talented group.

Graves will serve as the garbage man and screener in the front while Messier and Bathgate will do it all.

Power Play 2

• LF: Rod Gilbert
• C: Jean Ratelle
• RF: Vic Hadfield
• LP: James Patrick
• RP: Brad Park

Again, why break up the GAG line? You’d have to be insane to do such a thing.

Our second PP unit features the GAG line with the righty Patrick at the left point and the lefty Park at the right point.

Penalty Kill 1

• F: Adam Graves
• C: Mark Messier
• LD: Brian Leetch
• RD: Jeff Beukeboom

One aspect to the 1994 Cup winning team that was so unique was that their big boys, the first line, could do it all.

Messier and Graves not only thrived at even strength together, but they also accounted as two members of the first power-play and penalty-kill unit. Both guys are two-way, hard nosed players all the way.

Of course Leetch and Buekeboom will stick with their ’94 teammates in this scenario.

Penalty Kill 2

• F: Ryan Callahan
• C: Walt Tkaczuk
• LD: Harry Howell
• RD: Ron Greschner

Here’s where Callahan truly comes in handy.

Under the direction of John Tortorella, Callahan became one of the best penalty-killers in the NHL. His no fear attitude in blocking shots will spread across the rest of the lineup and into the soul of some of the old-timers (who don’t know what a shot block is).

Walt Tkaczuk, while I never saw him play, is considered to be a solid two-way guy.

Howell and Greschner make up a ferocious second defensive unit while a man down.

Guys like Frank Boucher, Bill Cook, and Andy Bathgate would serve as the extra forwards on the penalty kill (especially considering today’s game uses three PK units).

Leadership, Coaches & Front Office

Leadership:

• Captain: Mark Messier
• Alternate 1: Brian Leetch
• Alternate 2: Ron Greschner
• Alternate 3: Adam Graves
• Alternate 4: Vic Hadfield

Coaches:

• Head Coach: Lester Patrick
• Assistant Coach: Mike Keenan
• Assistant Coach: Emile Francis
• Goalie Coach: Benoit Allaire
• Head Trainer: Jim Ramsay

Front Office:

• General Manager: Lester Patrick
• Assistant GM: Neil Smith
• Head Scout: Glen Sather

There is simply no other choice as the captain. It’s Messier all the way. The alternate captains are also pretty guessable.

As far as head coach was concerned, it had to be the only guy in franchise history to lead the Rangers to two Stanley Cups. Not only did Lester Patrick do that, but he was general manager too.

Roster At A Glance

Forwards:

1. Adam Graves – Mark Messier – Andy Bathgate
2. Vic Hadfield – Jean Ratelle – Rod Gilbert
3. Steve Vickers – Walt Tkaczuk – Jaromir Jagr
4. Bill Cook – Frank Boucher – Ryan Callahan

Defense:

1. Brian Leetch – Jeff Beukeboom
2. Harry Howell – James Patrick
3. Brad Park – Ron Greschner

Goalies:

1. Mike Richter
2. Henrik Lundqvist

PP:

1. Andy Bathgate – Mark Messier – Adam Graves – Jaromir Jagr – Brian Leetch
2. Rod Gilbert – Jean Ratelle – Vic Hadfield – James Patrick – Brad Park

PK:

1. Adam Graves – Mark Messier – Brian Leetch – Jeff Beukeboom
2. Ryan Callahan – Walt Tkaczuk – Harry Howell – Ron Greschner

Leadership:

• Captain: Mark Messier
• Alternate 1: Brian Leetch
• Alternate 2: Ron Greschner
• Alternate 3: Adam Graves
• Alternate 4: Vic Hadfield

Coaches:

• Head Coach: Lester Patrick
• Assistant Coach: Mike Keenan
• Assistant Coach: Emile Francis
• Goalie Coach: Benoit Allaire
• Head Trainer: Jim Ramsay

Front Office:

• General Manager: Lester Patrick
• Assistant GM: Neil Smith
• Head Scout: Glen Sather

Top Snubs:

Forwards:

1. Don Maloney, LW-L (1978-89)
2. Phil Esposito, C-L (C) (1975-81)
3. Bun Cook, LW-L (1926-36)
4. Alex Kovalev, RW-L (1992-99)
5. Wayne Gretzky, C-L (1996-99)
6. Anders Hedberg, RW-L (1978-85)
7. Dean Prentice, LW-L (1952-63)
8. Tomas Sandstrom, RW-L (1984-90)
9. Mike Gartner, RW-R (1989-94)
10. Camille Henry, C-L (C) (1953-65, 67-68)
11. Bryan Hextall, RW-L (1936-48)
12. Derek Stepan, C-R (2010-Active)
13. Esa Tikkanen, LW-L (1992-94, 96-97, 98-99)
14. Rick Nash, RW-L (2012-Active)
15. Carl Hagelin, LW-L (2011-2015)
16. Ron Duguay, C/RW-R (1977-83, 86-88)
17. Pete Stemkowski, C-L (1970-77)
18. Nick Fotiu, L (1976-79, 80-85)

Frank Boucher, Bill Cook and brother Bun Cook formed what was called the “Bread Line” during the New York Rangers first golden era (winning Stanley Cups in 1928 and ’33). Only Bun was left off the club.

The toughest snubs of them all were the other brothers: Don and Dave Maloney. Don was probably the better player, but Dave served as captain.

Without a shadow of a doubt both guys deserved to be on the roster somewhere. What hurt Dave’s chances is that he’s a lefty, and trying to fit him in with all of the other lefty d-men was rough. This is why Beukeboom received the nod.

Don was just the 13th forward. Bill Cook came from an era that saw two cups and Callahan provided the lineup with the best grinding, defensive attributes it needed.

We were very close in taking Nick Fotiu and plugging him along the fourth-line as a goon up front. However, in having the toughness of Greschner and Buekeboom along the back-line, Fotiu was passed over.

Another guy that tempted us was Esa Tikkanen. The guy is such a winning player and serves so many purposes on the ice. In the end, he just didn’t play long enough in New York. The same can be said for Alex Kovalev and Phil Esposito purely from an offensive point of view.

Defense:

1. Dave Maloney, L (C) (1974-85)
2. Ryan McDonagh, L (C) (2010-Active)
3. Ching Johnson, L (1926-37)
4. Sergei Zubov, R (1992-95)
5. Dan Girardi, R (2006-Active)
6. Jim Neilson, L (1962-74)
7. Marc Staal, L (2007-Active)
8. Lou Fontinato, L (1954-61)

Like mentioned above, Dave Maloney was a tough snub. Ryan McDonagh had virtually no chance will all of the lefty defensemen ahead of him.

Ching Johnson, who was one of the more legendary fighters in team history, and Sergei Zubov, whose offensive brilliance is second to none, were both tempting.

Goalies:

1. Eddie Giacomin, R (1965-76)
2. Dave Kerr, L (1931-41)
3. Gump Worsley, L (1952-63)
4. John Davidson, R (1975-83)
5. John Vanbiesbrouck, R (1981-93)

Next to the Maloney brothers in the snub category is Eddie Giacomin, a guy who Rangers fans adored in a “next level” fashion.

Prior to Richter and Lundqvist, he was by far the best goalie in franchise history.

NEXT: New York Rangers Coaching Report Cards For 2015-16