The New and Improved Rangers All-Star Team Of The Last Three Decades

I was critical of an article recently published here regarding the "All Time New York Rangers Squad". One of the voices in my head said "Hey tough-guy, if you think you can do a better job, then why don't you write an article yourself."

After a lengthy argument with myself about the pro's and con's of taking on such a task, I decided to write that article.

So here I am. First article. Ready and raring to go. New York Times here I come!

I started watching the Rangers right around the time of the Phil Esposito trade which would be approximately the beginning of 1976. I was all of eight years old at the time. In the thirty-two plus years since then many childhood memories have faded away including many distinct early Rangers memories, except perhaps ones that included several Boston Bruins pummeling a helpless Rangers fan with his own shoe. Certainly Mike Milbury has a special place in hell waiting for him and it's not just for his poor TV commentary.

But I digress.

My Rangers All-Star Team will feature players from 1980 to the present and will be based upon their performance with the Rangers themselves. (My apologies to all of the Mattias Norstrom fans out there but he didn't make the cut).

Let's start with the net minders and work our way out.

Starting in goal will be Mike Richter. Richter's accomplishments will hopefully be surpassed one day by the likes of King Henrik or some other young upstart who we are unfamiliar with, but you can't argue against a player who holds these Rangers records: NYR Club Record, Games Played, Career: 666. NYR Club Record, Wins, Career: 301. NYR Club Record, Games Played, Single Season: 72 (1997–98).NYR Club Record, Wins, Single Season: 42 (1993–94).NYR Club Record, Save Percentage, Single Season: .917 (1996–97). Richter was a three time All-Star ('92,'94,2000) and team MVP in 2000 and 2002. He had four shutouts in the 1994 Stanley Cup playoff-run.

No knock to Henrik Lundqvist, but as of yet you haven't surpassed Mike Richter. I would put Lundqvist second on this list followed by John Vanbiesbrouck. (Sorry JD).

Now onto our Defensemen.

Brian Leetch. Rangers records: Most career assists — 741. Most career points by a defenseman — 981. Most career goals by a defenseman — 240. Most career playoff points — 89. Most career playoff assists — 61. Most career playoff goals by a defenseman — 28. Most assists in one season — 80 in 1991-92. Most points by a defenseman in one season — 102 in 1991-92. Norris Trophy — 1991-92, 1996-97.
Calder Trophy — 1988-89. Conn Smythe Trophy — 1994. NHL First All-Star Team — 1991-92, 1996-97. NHL Second All-Star Team — 1990-91, 1993-94, 1995-96.
NHL All-Star Game — 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002. Enough said.

My next three D all played together on the Rangers from 1979-1985 and also all captained the Rangers at one point in their career. They are Ron Greschner, Dave Maloney and Barry Beck.

Let's just looks at the 80-81 season for these guys. Greschner: 27G, 41A, Even, 112 pim. Maloney: 11G, 36A, +24 132 pim. Beck: 11G, 23A, +9, 231 pim. Quite a trio there.

Greschner gets plus points for marrying super model Carol Alt and being a life time Ranger. Maloney gets plus points for playing all but the last 52 games of his career with the Rangers and being the team's youngest captain ever. Both players however get minus points for being in those nauseating Sassoon jeans commercials. (What the hell were they thinking?)

Up next we have James Patrick. Patrick played 671 games for the Rangers racking up 467 points. His best season was '91-92 when he played 80 games and had 14 goals along with 57 assists and a plus/minus of +34. A great two way defenseman, James was the Rangers team MVP in the '87-88 season.

As our sixth D man I'm going to have to go with Sergei Zubov. - Oh what could have been. - Zubov only played in 175 games for the Rangers in parts of three seasons but during that time he amassed an impressive total of 30 goals and 126 assists. His '93-94 total of 77 assists ranks second only to Brian leetch for most assists in a season by a Rangers player. In spite of his unfortunate short stay with the Rangers, that stat alone merits his inclusion here.

Jeff Beukeboom and Reijo Ruotsalainen will have to live with being the healthy scratches for the D.

Next up we have the forwards.

I had a harder time coming up with 12 forwards to fill out the team.

After close consideration, Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Adam Graves, Jaromir Jagr and Mike Gartner were the only guys who I though DEFINITELY belonged on the list.

So for starters we have an amazing first line of Jagr, Messier, Graves and the start of another great one (pun intended) with Gartner, Gretzky and whoever.

But who are the 2nd tier forwards?

Let's start with the wingers. Anders Hedberg (regretfully also of the infamous Sassoon ads) was a really good Ranger. As much as you'd like to think different so was Thomas Sandstrom. And Alexi Kovalev. And in spite of me telling someone else here that he was no "all-time player", Don Maloney was a hell of a winger for the "80's through now" Rangers. And if we hadn't traded him away, I'm sure Tony Amonte would be an all-time great. Steve Larmer, Essa Tikkanen, Stephane Matteau and Glen Anderson will always hold a soft spot in my heart for 1994 but are they the best of the last three decades? As far as recent guys go, Martin Straka certainly deserves mention.

It's starting to dawn on me that the Rangers have been a bit thin at the wing in my lifetime.

"What about Pavel Bure?" you might say.

51 games does not an all-star Ranger make - hell it doesn't even make a season. Even IF he did score 31G with 19A in those 51 games.

What about a goon? Certainly we need to have one tough guy at the wing!  Nick Fotiu you say?  George McPhee?  (HA!)  Troy Malette?  Tie Domi? (we're getting close!)  Kris King? Nah.  Sandy McCarthy? Matthew Barnaby? Chris Simon (!) Nope.  Ryan Hollweg? Colton Orr???

The Rangers have obviously had A LOT of tough guys - but in his short but sweet Rangers career, much of the time spen rehabbing and also icing his knuckles in the penalty box - Joe Kocur is the guy that I will pick to throw down the gloves.

As far as 2nd tier centers go Mike Rogers scored 38G, 65A, 103 points in '81-'82 which ranks him 5th all-time for points in a Rangers season. At the time he was only the 3rd Ranger to score 100 points in a season.

Pierre Larouche, Mark Pavelich and Michael Nylander were none too shabby either and certainly deserve to be mentioned if not included.

I'll put Eric Lindros on the Pavel Bure list of great players who never fully had the chance with the Rangers.

So let's make some lines:

1st line: Jagr - Messier - Graves

2nd line: Gartner - Gretzky - Hedberg

3rd line: Sandstrom - Rogers - Straka

4th line: Don Maloney - Nylander - Kocur

D1 - Leetch - Patrick

D2- Greschner - Beck

D3 - Zubov - Dave Maloney

G - Richter

Bench: King Henrik, Beukeboom, Ruotslainen, Kovalev, Pavelich, Larouche

And who is going to coach this team?

I'd love to say it's going to be Mike Keenan for bringing us the holy grail, but come on Mike - we can't have anyone who stayed for all of ONE YEAR before flaking out.

Tom Renney seems like a nice guy but he needs to step up a bit more.Roger Neilson did a really good job with the Rangers but there has to be someone else.

Coli Campbell? John Muckler?? Pass!!!!

Ron Low????? Ted Sator????? Did these guys really coach the Rangers? PHIL ESPOSITO?????? (OOOOH LA LA!!!)

NO!!!!

There is really only one answer.

Herb Brooks. Not only did he coach the USA olympic team to the greatest hockey victory ever, but he's dead. Let's have a little respect people.

So THAT'S THE TEAM.

End of story.