John Buccigross of ESPN manufactured a list of all 32 NHL franchises and their theoretical Mount Rushmores.  Below is his excerpt on the Rangers:

New York Rangers

The team: Ed Giacomin, Brian Leetch, Mark Messier and Mike Richter.The theory: This was another tough one. The Rangers don’t have a long line of hockey legends to choose from. Messier and Leetch were the easy ones. Giacomin is a Hall of Famer with only 266 career wins. He was a beloved Ranger. Goaltenders had so much personality in Giacomin’s era because of the smaller equipment, no masks, then the smaller masks, and because of the robotic goaltending many goalies employ today. Goalies were more artistic in Giacomin’s era. Today, it is more of a science. That is why Tim Thomas is so popular in Boston. He plays more like goalies of the past, more with his heart than his head.

The fourth Ranger was a tough call. I asked a big Rangers fan here at ESPN, and he said Rod Gilbert. I can respect that, but I think Richter also was artistic and so much fun to watch. The save on Pavel Bure’s shot during the Stanley Cup finals was iconic. So was winning the Cup. I like Mike.

Pretty right on if you ask me.  Eddie Giacomin and Mike Richter belong on this list for practically the same reasons.  Eddie was obviously way before my time, but my parents both used to have season tickets for the Rangers during his tenure, and I’ve never heard them speak more highly of a player during that time (especially my mother).  They always tell me the story of when Eddie was traded to Detroit and then the following night he started for the Red Wings on the Garden ice.  My father always told me he never saw a crowd like the one he saw that night.  The fans basically turned on the Rangers and rooted for the Red Wings all night…speaks volumes about how they felt about the guy in the other net.  Mike Richter was equally beloved in New York.  The Rangers all-time leader in wins was never a physically imposing figure between the pipes, but no one matched his athleticism and his heart.  He played the game until he could no longer physically do it, and he played it the right way.  The Rangers do not come close to winning that Stanley Cup in 1994 without the services of Mike Richter.

When you stack him up agains the other greats of his position , Brian Leetch is probably the greatest Ranger of all-time.  A Calder Trophy winner, Two-time Norris Trophy recipient, the first American born Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, a Stanley Cup Champion, and a Two-Time Olympian (including a Silver Medal finish in 2002 and a member of the USA Hockey Hall of Fame), there are few players in hockey history as decorated as #2.  Born and bred a Ranger, Leetch was a great leader, albeit a quiet one.  While known mostly for his offensive skills (includiing a 102-point season in 91-92), many Rangers always stated he was one of the most under-appreciated shutdown defenders during his prime.  The Rangers record holder in almost every major defensive category, Brian Leetch headlines the Rangers Mount Rushmore.

And lastly, the Captain.  While not born and bred a Ranger the way the others were, you cannot undervalue the importance of Messier to this franchise.  I’ll never forget the story when Messier first arrived in New York and an unnamed player on the team threw his jersey on the locker room floor after a practice/game and Messier told him to pick it up; that the jersey was a banner and a symbol of the team, and should never just be thrown around like it was a towel (or something to that degree).  When a player comes in and changes the dynamic of a losing/cursed franchised the way Messier did, its hard to argue giving him this nod.  He also remains only one of two New York sports icons who have guaranteed victory in a big game and actually followed through, along with none other than Broadway Joe himself.

So with that said, what is your Rangers Mount Rushmore?  Is it any different from the one John Buccigross set up?  Post your feedback in the comments section….

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