Andy Bathgate/Harry Howell

Obviously, I wasn’t born when either of these two Ranger greats donned the Ranger sweater. That doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate everything they have accomplished.

To many, Graves’ number shouldn’t have been #9, that Bathgate should have had his number retired long ago. Bathgate, a fan favorite then and now, and a Hall of Famer, ranks 4th all time in Ranger history in the major scoring categories:

Goals – 272 (4th all time)

Assists – 457 (4th all time)

Points – 729 (4th all time)

Although he never won the Cup in NY (not many have), he helped Toronto to a Cup in the 1963-1964 season. He is also a Hart Memorial Trophy winner in the 1958-1959 season.

Perhaps Bathgate’s greatest claim to fame was his feared slapshot. His shot was the driving force behind goalies starting to wear masks (see: Plante, Jacques).

As for Howell, well his #3 being raised is a long time coming. Ranger fans love their bruising, stay at home defensemen now, and it was no different then. Howell, the Ranger leader in games played (1160), and 3rd in PIMs (1147), spent 17 years wearing Ranger blue, one of the longest tenured Rangers ever and was a 7 time All Star.

Howell too never won the Cup as a Ranger. His time finally came in 1990, when he won the Cup as a scout for the Oilers.

Sunday will be another fun night at the Garden, these two Ranger legends will live forever in the rafters, and I must say, it has been a long time coming.

So, There Was A Game Last Night

I got home from work in time to catch the final two minutes of the game. What a shot by Naslund to tie the game, after some great work along the boards by the Rangers. They stole a point from that game, one that they should have lost outright. I’m also with Rick Carpiniello, that I believe the shootout is a terrible way to end a game. Play 4-on-4 for 10 minutes, then some 3-on-3 for another 10 minutes. If no one scores a goal, then abolish both teams to the AHL.

As for the ceremony (I DVRed it and watched it after the game), it was a great ceremony that I think captured Gravy’s personality and what he meant to this team and what he means to the city. I haven’t heard Sergei Nemchinov’s name in a long time, so I was happy to see him there, and Mike Gartner.

Next up: #3 Harry Howell and #9 Andy Bathgate on Feb 22.