Every week, The Maven opens his column for questions about the Blueshirts. The question comes from Noam Kogen of Manhattan
NAME THE SIX ALL-TIME BEST RANGERS AT EACH POSITION?
That's a good – and tough – question. My criteria includes Stanley Cup-winners and award-winners above all. Those winners – dating back to the Rangers inception, 1926-27 – get top priority. (The Original Blueshirt Cup-winners deserve as much credit as a Mike Richter or Mark Messier.) Here we go:
GOALIES: 1. Lorne Chabot, Stanley Cup-winner, 1928; 2. Davey Kerr, Stanley Cup-winner, 1940; 3. Mike Richter, Stanley Cup-winner, 1994; 4. Andy Aitkenhead, Stanley Cup-winner, 1933; 5. Henrik Lundqvist, Hall of Famer; 6. Ed Giacomin, Hall of Famer.
DEFENSE: 1. Ching Johnson, Stanley Cup-winner, 1928 and 1933; 2. Art Coulter, Stanley Cup-winner, 1940. 3. Brian Leetch, Stanley Cup-winner, 1994; 4. Brad Park, Hall of Famer; 5. Harry Howell, Hall of Famer; 6. Ron Greschner, very underrated and very good.
CENTER: 1. Frank Boucher, Stanley Cup, 1928, 1933; 2. Neil Colville, Stanley Cup, 1940; 3. Phil Watson, Stanley Cup, 1940; 4. Mark Messier, Stanley Cup, 1994; 5. Don Raleigh, OT hero 1950 Cup Final; 6. Buddy O'Connor, Hart and Lady Byng Trophies, 1950 Cup Finalist.
LEFT WING: 1. Bun Cook, Cup-winner, 1928 and 1933; 2. Lynn Patrick, Cup-winner, 1940. 3. Adam Graves, Cup-winner, 1994. 4. Alex Shibicky, Cup-winner, 1940; 5. Murray Murdoch, Cup-winner, 1928 and 1933, Original Rangers Iron Man; 6. Dean Prentice, belongs in the Hall of Fame.
RIGHT WING: 1. Bill Cook, Stanley Cups, 1928, 1933; 2. Bryan Hextall, Stanley Cup, 1940; 3. Andy Bathgate, Hall of Famer; 4. Mac Colville, Stanley Cup, 1940; 5. Rod Gilbert, Hall of Famer; 6. Glenn Anderson, 1994 Cup-winner
HONORABLE MENTION: Goal, Sugar Jim Henry; John Vanbiesbrouck; Chuck Rayner; Defense, Sergei Zubov; Taffy Abel, Allan Stanley; Center, Jean Ratelle, Alexei Kovalev; Left Wing, Vic Hadfield; Right Wing, Bob Nevin, Andy Hebenton.
P.S. Disagreements are welcome. Send 'em in!