By A whole lot of the New York Rangers’ greatest players are some of the widely known faces in the National Hockey League (NHL). So who are some of the greatest players from the Rangers? It’s difficult to answer as this post is clearly based on our research and opinions. Hence, we have listed below the 7 best New York Rangers players you need to know.
1. Mark Messier
Full name: Mark John Douglas Messier
Born: January 18th, 1961 (age 62)
Position: Centre
Played for: Indianapolis Racers; Cincinnati Stingers; Houston Apollos; Edmonton Oilers; New York Rangers; and Vancouver Canucks
Playing career: 1978–2004
Mark Messier is a Canadian retired pro ice hockey center who spent 25 years in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks. He played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers and also played a brief four-game term in the original Central Hockey League (CHL) with the Houston Apollos in 1979. During his NHL career, he won six Stanley Cups– five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers.
2. Rod Gilbert
Full name: Rodrigue Gabriel Gilbert
Born: July 1st, 1941
Died: August 19th, 2021 (aged 80)
Position: Right wing
Played for: New York Rangers
Playing career: 1960–1978
Rodrigue Gilbert was a Canadian pro ice hockey right winger who spent his whole career in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers. In his career, he never won a Stanley Cup but he was widely known as one the greatest players of his time. In 1982, Gilbert was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
3. Brian Leetch
Full name: Brian Joseph Leetch
Born: March 3rd, 1968 (age 54)
Position: Defense
Played for: New York Rangers; Toronto Maple Leafs; and Boston Bruins
Playing career: 1987–2006
Brian Leetch played 18 seasons as a defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He is widely considered one of the best defensemen in the history of the NHL. Leetch was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
4. Mike Richter
Full name: Michael Thomas Richter
Born: September 22nd, 1966 (age 56)
Position: Goaltender
Played for: New York Rangers
Playing career: 1989–2003
Widely known as Mike Richter is an American retired pro ice hockey goaltender who served his whole career in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers organization from 1989 to 2003. During his career, he won the Stanley Cup in 1994 with the NY Rangers. Richter was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008 and is regarded as one of the finest goaltenders in the history of the NHL.
5. Adam Graves
Full name: Adam Scott Graves
Born: April 12th, 1968 (age 54)
Position: Left Wing
Played for: Detroit Red Wings; Edmonton Oilers; New York Rangers; San Jose Sharks
Playing career: 1987–2003
Adam Scott Graves is a Canadian retired pro hockey left winger who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers. Graves also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and San Jose Sharks. He won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in the 2000–01 season.
6. Andy Bathgate
Full name: Andrew James Bathgate
Born: August 28th, 1932
Died: February 26th, 2016 (aged 83)
Position: Right wing
Played for: New York Rangers; Toronto Maple Leafs; Detroit Red Wings; Pittsburgh Penguins; and Vancouver Blazers
Playing career: 1952–1975
Andrew James Bathgate was a pro ice hockey right winger who served 17 seasons in the NHL for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He was known as one of the greatest players of all time.
7. Camille Henry
Full name: Joseph Wilfred Camille
Born: January 31st, 1933
Died: September 11th, 1997 (aged 64)
Position: Centre
Played for: New York Rangers; Chicago Black Hawks; and St. Louis Blues
Playing career: 1953–1970
Often referred to as “The Eel”, Camille Henry was a pro Canadian ice hockey center who was a part of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, the Chicago Black Hawks, and the St. Louis Blues. He played 21 games with the NY Rangers and was later traded in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Providence Reds.
