Dream Team, Blueshirt Style

A few days ago, frequent blog visitor Shane suggested to me that I launch Year Two of this site with a description of my "All Time New York Rangers Team" selection. He'd been having similarly deep conversations about the Wings and Leafs with his father (I think) and wanted to put the bug in my ear.

I had already planned to change the template for the blog as the kick-off move for Year Two, and wanted to think about the Rangers question for awhile before answering it anyway. I've now had that chance.

I'm definitely inclined to limit the candidates to the period of time that I've been a Rangers fan, which is essentially the early 1970s to present. Sorry, Andy Bathgate and the rest of the greats from the more distant past! You guys all rocked, especially in 1928, 1933 and 1940!

So here's my half-assed take on a Dream Team from Madison Square Garden... and I ain't talkin' basketball! I'd put these six fellas, in their prime, on the ice any old day of the year!

Goal: Mike Richter (1990s) - I give the nod to Mike, not just because of the whole ending the 54-year drought thing, but also because he was drafted by the Rangers and played his entire career with them. In the modern era, that's a rarity indeed, and it's a delightful thought that his name will only ever be associated with that one team. His play for them, especially during the 1991 - '97 run, was usually nothing short of spectacular. The Rangers won the President's Trophy twice, the Stanley Cup once, and made the playoffs every year but one, over that wonderful stretch. They also made it to at least the second round of the postseason during each of those five trips, which meant that I always had at least something to cheer about each Spring.

Honourable Mention: Ed Giacomin (late 60s through early 70s) - Even though Eddie left the Rangers for Detroit shortly after I started following the boys in blue, his exploits were already legendary at the time (eg. he was on the 1st or 2nd NHL All-Star team several years in a row). I wish I'd gotten to see him play more before he went over to the dark side.

Defense: Brad Park (early 1970s) and Brian Leetch (1990s) - Many people before me have opined that, had Park played at virtually any time in the history of the NHL other than the Orr era, he'd likely be remembered as the premiere defenseman of his generation. Like contemporary Bobby, Brad was absolutely sturdy behind his own blue line and yet still managed to rack up impressive assist totals each year (eg. he tallied 37, 49, 43, 57 and 44 between 1970 and '75, while playing in an average of about 65 games each year). Though he had almost as impressive a career as a Bruin - again, in Orr's shadow - he'll always be among my favourite Rangers. Park was also drafted by the R's, which tends to earn extra points with me.

Brian Leetch was not only the Rookie of the Year in 1988 and the Norris Trophy winner in 1992, but he also won the single most important individual award in modern day Rangers history: the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1994, as the Most Valuable Player when his team won the Stanley Cup. That last achievement would almost grant him his spot here all by itself; when you add in the other contributions (eg. notching 100 points - as a defenseman! - in 1990) he's a no-brainer for the Dream Team.

Honourable Mention: Ron Greschner (mid-70s through 80s) - Though he never put impressive numbers up, Greschner was a solid defenseman over most of his career, and he wore the red, white and blue as his only professional jersey. The closest he ever got to a Stanley Cup was unfortunately a 1-0 series lead in the spring of 1979, against the eventual Cup champion Canadiens, and that's too bad. On the other hand, he got into the playoffs 12 of his 16 seasons, and that's not such a lousy legacy.

Center: Mark Messier (1990s) - This was actually tougher than you might think (see Honourable Mention below) despite the fact that Messier seemed - at times - to have picked up the entire team and carried them on his shoulders to their 1994 Stanley Cup championship. In 1991, when Mark came over from the Oilers, I don't think I would ever have believed that someday he'd be remembered as much for being a Ranger as he would for his time in Edmonton. In fact, that still boggles my mind, what with the five Stanley Cups with the Oilers. On the other hand, he had the Great One with him for all but the last of those championships in Edmonton, and none of those wins had the historical significance of ending a 54 year drought. Thanks to what he accomplished in New York, Messier may just go down in history as the greatest captain the sport has ever seen.

Honourable Mention: Jean Ratelle (60s through mid-70s) - Around the same time that Brad Park was working magic on the defense for the blueshirts, his teammate, gentlemanly Jean Ratelle, was at the center of the GAG line... which stood for Goal-A-Game! He, Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield were quite the powerhouse combination, and Ratelle even averaged almost one and three quarters points per game in one of those seasons (1.73, to be precise). Ironically, both Ratelle and Park departed for Boston in the same trade, bringing Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais back the other way... and breaking at least one 13 year old fan's heart in the process! I'm not sure I've ever recovered, to be honest!

Right Wing: Rod Gilbert (1960s through late-70s) - Showing my age again, but man oh man how can you go wrong with Rod Gilbert? He spent 18 seasons with the Rangers, holds the team career mark in points and goals, and was just a Hell of a player. Of my three favourite players the first year I followed the team, he was the only one not traded to Boston shortly thereafter! Like Mike Richter a couple decades later, Rod spent his entire career in New York. Until Jagr broke it recently, the Frenchman had held the right winger single season point record on the team, at 97. He got to experience their Cup run in 1972 (losing to the Bruins in a six game Finals) and then retired one year before their five game loss to Montreal in 1979. If you're a Rangers fan and don't love Rod Gilbert, there's something wrong with you!

Honourable Mention: Jaromir Jagr (current) - Jagr hasn't completely won me over just yet, but he still has a couple years to do so! He definitely helped rejuvenate the Rangers in 2005/06, after they'd gone seven straight seasons with no playoff appearances. And that accomplishment, as perhaps only my wife can appreciate, was pretty huge in this household!

Left Wing: Adam Graves (1990s) - One of the first things I learned about Adam Graves, after he arrived in Rangers camp in 1991, was what a great guy he was off the ice! There was a segment done on him, within his first season in New York, that I happened to see, and which showed just how much the man gave back to whatever community he was in. That impressed the Hell out of me, and I've never forgotten that aspect of his character. His 17 points in the 1994 playoffs didn't hurt, either! Of course his performance was overshadowed by Leetch and Messier that year, but it didn't go unnoticed around here!

Honourable Mention: Vic Hadfield (1960s through mid-70s) - I can't not mention the first 50 goal scorer in Rangers history! He also gave the New Yorkers 13 solid seasons, enjoying a breakout year in 1971/72, like so many of his teammates. He's perhaps not as well remembered as his teammates during that time, but he's one of the Ranger greats, nevertheless.