If you are enjoying the Stanley Cup Final, by now it must be apparent that the Panthers and Oilers have HUSTLE written all over them.
Special Kudos to aging vets Corey Perry of Edmonton and Brad Marchand of Florida.
Over the years, the Ranger roster was sprinkled with Marchand-types who never stopped skating. The Maven's All-Time Rangers hustlers appear here in Chronological time:
The Best Rangers Hustlers On The Team Currently
Enough with the talk about the deadwood core. Here's a short list of The Maven's favorite TRY HARD GUYS.
1. PHIL WATSON: It wasn't that "Phiery Phil" set up the 1940 Stanley Cup-winning goal for New York in 1940, but that didn't hurt. Watson's big mouth churned away as fast as his skates. Phil never wore a sign that read: BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED!
2. DEAN PRENTICE: Shamefully, the Hockey Hall of Fame has ignored one of the most consistent left wingers in history. Hall Of Fame right wing Andy Bathgate would have been the first to claim that Dean's hard work led to AB's HOF nomination.
3. ANDY HEBENTON: GM Muzz Patrick's greatest discovery, Hebby was toiling with Tacoma in the Western League when Muzz signed him as a winger for the 1955-56 season. Andy scored a huge OT goal for New York and became an NHL iron man.
4. RED SULLIVAN: Nobody in Sully's time had more go-go in his system than the center who would become captain. Red was a ferret on the spoor of a hot puck and one of his other favorite targets was the Habs goalie; whenever Jacques Plante wandered.
5. LARRY POPEIN: Before Bathgate became a superstar, Andy needed a crafty center to help launch his career. "Pope" was the perfect pivot; as well as a superior skater who "read" Bathgate's moves as well as any.
6. JOHNNY WILSON: Once the dynamo behind Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay on the Dynastic Detroit Red Wings, Wilson – yet another iron man – was a hero on the 1961-62 Ranger club that made the playoffs under player-coach Doug Harvey.
7. NICK MICKOSKI: Groomed with the Rangers Eastern Amateur Hockey League's New York Rovers, "Bashful Nick Ready Top Click" wore his number 11 proudly. The Winnipeger's hustle did not result in any All-Star nominations but the fans – Maven included – loved the guy!