Only a tenacious Blueshirts historian such as Long Island-based Sean McCaffrey could have pulled off a production like this.

Oh, you're wondering what the "This" in this is all about. It's a 400-page book called "Villains Of New York Rangers History."

While The Maven considers it a monumental work, that's not my point. What I'm getting at is whether – true, Rangers fans – can guess who McCaffrey – after considerable research and study – picked as the second and third worst "Villains."

I'm assuming that everyone knows that DENIS POTVIN is the first "worst." So – if you haven't guessed by now – here's an abridged version of the runners-up:

SECOND WORST VILLAINS: THE BROAD STREET BULLIES – BOBBY CLARKE, DAVE SCHULTZ, REGGIE LEACH, GARY DORNHOEFER, BERNIE PARENT, ED SNIDER, FRED SHERO & MORE.

I'll sum up this must-read chapter with what ex-Ranger Peter Stemkowski said about the Bullies: "If we had to play 78 games a year against the Flyers, then we'd all retire after one season, because we'd all be worn out."

THIRD WORST VILLAIN: SIDNEY CROSBY: Suffice to say, McCaffrey does not mince words when he calls the Penguins skating legend, "One of the most detested Rangers of all-time!"

You should get the exquisite detail in McCaffrey's superior, illustrated, book via Amazon.com.

(Guarantee from The Maven, you won't be sorry.)