Glen Miller’s Favorite New York Rangers: 10-5

We’re through 17 of my all-time favorite Rangers and now we’re into the top-10. Who made it and who didn’t? Let’s get right to it.

10. John Scott – The behemoth that is John Scott really didn’t make my list. I was merely testing you to see if you were really reading. Do, seriously now……

10. Jaromir Jagr – The future first ballot hall-of-famer teamed with Henrik Lundqvist to catapult a Rangers club that had been a huge mess pre-lockout into the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Jagr, in the opinion of many, should have won the Hart Trophy for his efforts during the 2005-2006 season. Jagr easily could have ranked higher given the role he played to make Ranger hockey relevant again. However Jagr drops on my list because when he returned to the league last year he did so as a member of the hated Flyers.

Here’s a little compilation video of some of Jagr’s Ranger highlights. Incidentally, the OT goal he scored in a game at Anaheim at about the 1:13 mark, I was at that game with my woman and the kids. What a great finish that was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1MqfsSQzVw

9. Shea Weber – Oh, he won’t be a member of the Rangers? Damn, I was so sure it was going to happen that I included him on my list. Now what? Hell, it’s bad enough he won’t be a Ranger but now you’re telling me he signed with the Flyers OVER the Rangers. Dios mio. Mr. Howson, a Glen Sather is on the phone for you; he says he’s “ready to play ball on your terms.”

Okay, no worries, I already have a replacement in mind.

9. Jeff Beukeboom – The Rangers generally are good about treating their alumni well post-playing days. The recent example of Beuk’s hiring as an assistant coach with Connecticut, replacing the departed J.J. Daigneault, is a perfect example of former Rangers staying in or returning to the organization.

The Rangers have lacked a big, physical, crease clearing defenseman since Beuk was forced to retire. In 2010 the Rangers used the draft to address that by selecting Dylan McIlrath. Beukeboom will have the opportunity to pass on his knowledge and experience to McIlrath since it’s expected the youngster will be in Connecticut this year. Ranger fans couldn’t ask for a better teacher.

I’ve got a nice little melee here involving Beukeboom. In fact, all five Rangers on the ice during the confrontation made my list. Let’s see if you can pick them out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1MqfsSQzVw

8 (Tie). Mike Richter – To me it wouldn’t have mattered had Richter only played one season with the Rangers as long as that season was 1993-1994. If not for Richter’s play in the playoffs and in particular the SCF, the Rangers Cup drought might be at 72 years instead of 18. Fortunately for us Richter actually played his entire career in NYC.

Richter won over 300 games in his NHL career and finished with a 0.904 save percentage. It’s hard to believe that as good as Richter was his single-season high in save percentage was 0.917. That number would qualify as a “disappointing” season by Henrik Lundqvist’s standards in today’s game.

Caution, it’s a cool video but mute it if you’re not a fan of rap or hip-hop or whatever music was playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSJVmyeDoYg

8 (Tie). Ryan Callahan – There is a good chance by the end of his playing career Captain Cally will rank higher on this list. He epitomizes “The Right Way,” that the Rangers organization wants to ingrain into the minds of their players. Callahan may not be as vocal as other team captains but he leads by example and what better example of how you want your team to play than the one Callahan sets night-in-and-night-out.

Cally isn’t just a blood and guts, grit player either. He likely would have bested the 30-goal threshold last year had he not missed a half-dozen contests. He’s especially effective on the PP where he’s led the Blue Shirts in PP goals in each of the last two seasons.

One of Callahan’s finest games is in the video linked here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otmGeeiEacM

7. Adam Graves – You had to know Gravey would be on this list. It still amazes me we basically stole him from the Oilers as a restricted free agent. Humorously the Oilers were awarded the legendary Troy Mallette as compensation. Graves would score 280 goals in 772 regular season games as a Ranger while Mallette would net one for the Oilers before they flipped him to New Jersey in exchange for Dave Maley. The signing of Graves sure worked out for the Rangers.

By the way, if you watched the Beukeboom video you would have noticed Graves on the ice. Of course Graves more than deserves his own video so here you go. In fact he was so cool he deserves more than one so enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw3JoXvA0Qg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNxzTuctN5c

6. Ryan McDonagh – Yes, I like McDonagh this much. In fact, I truly believe by the end of his Ranger career he may well be the second best all-around defenseman I have seen behind only Brian Leetch. He’s already a terrific shutdown defender but many feel he has a lot of untapped offensive potential. This video would seem to support that argument.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubJvXDzrwxU

What a terrific little move and one usually associated with snipers however I was afraid that cute little trick might have ended with a blown knee given the way he fell to the ice.

Then there’s this beauty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1tz8lVoX7U

McDonagh showed great awareness realizing as the clock was running down that he could cheat in and was there for the rebound with less than three seconds remaining.

Only one post left, just five more players who made my list. Before we get there though I must confess something; my original list, the one I composed before creating any of these posts, was missing a player who should have been a no-brainer for me to include. I have since rectified my mistake. Let’s see if you guys can guess which one of the players I left off my original notes. Obviously he’s been listed already and didn’t crack the top-five but is undoubtedly deserving of being on the list.

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