Every week, The Maven opens his column for questions about the Blueshirts. The following gem comes via Gilly Birnbaum of Brooklyn.
I just read a story on the Hockey Writers page about 'the five best Rangers defensemen of all-time.' Scott Blair picked them as follows: 5. Sergei Zubov,4. Ron Greschner; 3. Harry Howell; 2. Brad Park AND, 1, Brian Leetch. Do you agree?
No! The Maven absolutely does not agree.
Therefore, the author omitted Hall of Famer Ching Johnson who starred for the 1928 and 1933 Rangers Cup-winners and is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
He also blew it on two other Hall of Famers – Art Coulter and Babe Pratt – both stars on the 1940 Stanley Cup team.
Finally, he got it wrong on Zubov and Greschner – both solid performers – but neither is in the Hall of Fame.
As for Howell, Park and Leetch, I'm good with that trio.
So, Blair got three out of five; not bad and it could have been worse. He might have figured that Matt Rempe would be a Hall of Famer if he ever learned how to play defense!
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