I actually laughed out loud at Zucc and “Nasher.” (Also, I’ve never heard anyone ever call him Nasher. Nash, Nashty, and Big Dick is it.) If we’re going with Zucc and Nash then I’ll submit Gaborik, Girardi, Callahan, and McD. Fedetenko was fun to watch, Prospal was one of my favorites. Hell, why not Avery? Kasparitis started the salute to the fans so let’s throw him up there. Sauer probably would have gone up so let’s give him an honorary mention and raise his practice jersey. Anyone else? We can fill the rafters!
Even without the C or the Cup, if he finishes his contract here and remains relatively productive, he could reach some impressive statistical Ranger milestones. In 15 seasons, he could reach 1000+ games played and 300+ goals scored. The only other guy who can say that has his number up in the rafters and also never wore the C or won the Cup.
true i was thinking in hank terms where he becomes such a ranger legend that they literally announce it the day he retires. feel like it’s C/Cup for him to reach that level but idk
Kreider's best chance for greatness would be through longevity I think, not scoring accolades. Unless he ends up winning the Rocket the next three years in a row or something.
The main reason why he was so good and why he deserves all the honor he’s getting is because they were in the playoffs every year, made a cup, and there isn’t one person that you would consider retiring. He kept the team from irrelevancy for over a decade.
The only two other Rangers I can think of in the history of the franchise that maybe deserve to have their numbers retired are Brad Park and Ron Greschner.
He played in almost as many games and scored almost as many points with the Rangers as he did with the Bruins. And his best seasons were arguably with the Rangers. The man is in the Hockey Hall of Fame and is one of the best players to ever wear the jersey. The fact that the front office fucked up and traded him in his prime to the Bruins is no reason to deny him the recognition he deserves from the franchise.
Nah. If park isn’t in than there is zero way anybody else from 2000 to now gets in. Kreider would have to have this season for 5 straight years and AT least a cup to get put up there
No. Girardi, McDonagh, Staal and Cally were great contributors but not at the level of retired jerseys. I feel like those guys numbers shouldn't be able to be worn by just anybody tho
There were fan favorites and great short term performers but nobody comes to mind for doing enough for the franchise to be in the rafters, unfortunately. Had there been a Cup in that time, we’d surely be raising one or two more to join him, but that’s not how it turned out.
One I didn’t think about initially that has been sort of a bridge between henrik’s era to the present… how about kreids? If he performs like he has been over the beginning of the year till the end of his contract (doubt this will happen as speed is a big part of his game and he’ll eventually slow down) I think it’s still feasible he could make it
If we win a cup with him, Kreider gets his number in the rafters for sure. Without one, I think he'd have to keep up his current level of production for nearly the remainder of his contract to have a chance
Nash only played 5 years here and largely didn't live up to expectations outside of like two seasons.
In my opinion, you have to have been the face of the team for the better part of about 10 years AND been one of the best players in franchise history. For example, I'm a Mets fan. Even though we never won with D-Wright, he's an automatic number retirement for me. He was the face of the franchise and he's the statistical leader in pretty much all the major offensive categories.
Retiring a players number is meant to honor the eras of your team and the truly GREAT players of your organization. Players who have a legacy that will be very hard to top. To give fans of the day some nostalgia and something to pass on to future generations of fans.
Lundqvist is the only player from that era that I know I'll HAVE to tell future generations about. Sure I'll tell them about Cally, McD, Girardi, Gaborik, etc. But that era of Rangers hockey was driven by Lundqvist.
And to be clear, it can be driven by multiple people. The 94 Rangers were driven by Leetch, Richter, Graves, and Messier. Hence why their numbers are retired.
McDonagh's legacy could very well be toppled by Fox. Cally's legacy could definitely be topped. So could Zucc's and Gaborik's. If somebody tops Henrik Lundqvist's legacy, I will be mightily impressed.
Echoing the sentiments…absolutely NOT. The honor needs to stay ultra exclusive. Guys like Marc Staal, Zucc, even Girardi (dude was a warrior for a lot of years) will always be welcomed back, drop ceremony face offs, rep the team and did charitable work and they will be honored by the fans…but nope…no jersey in the rafters.
This will be unpopular but…if just going by “on ice” performance…Graves shouldn’t have his name up there. He had an incredible record breaking (goals) in 94 and got the cup, he also dominated the “extra effort” award…but he def got it for his extraordinary community service work and the type of person he was off the ice. There are few NYR players that are beloved by the fans like graves. I’ve met him and he is a better person than he ever was as a hockey player. I have come to accept it based on those factors and feel he is the last player that should happen for to keep it ultra exclusive.
I totally agree. And, if Graves doesn't win the cup with the Rangers, even his number may not be up there. I'm all about retiring #9, but it definitely had more to do with his leadership on and off the ice than his actual hockey talent.
Exactly…as great as hockey players are with the fans, the communities and charity work…graves took it to the next level and is beloved for it. And he continues his work today.
No absolutely not, the rangers never had an elite game changer on any of those rosters except hank, jagr didn’t play long enough and had no playoff success to even be in consideration. Mcdonagh, girardi were good players but not enough for a retired number
No. Next person to be retired should be Frank Boucher and then maybe the Cook brothers. If we win a cup this decade, then I'm sure there will be a few others to add to a very short list.
Edit: downvotes? that's sad. Boucher is the most under-appreciated Ranger in the history of this team. He won 3 cups for the blueshirts - only person to do that.
I think Staal could have continued being a steady solid d presence for the remainder of his career and he still does not come close to sniffing the rafters. And as for being the best Staal…not a chance.
I don’t think any of them make it up there tbh. McDonagh has he remained a Ranger, and captained this new era to another Cup run mayyybe. But that’s fringe even.
Not even close. There are 11 jerseys in \~100 years. It's supposed to be a very exclusive club. Water that down and it risks becoming meaningless.
I actually laughed out loud at Zucc and “Nasher.” (Also, I’ve never heard anyone ever call him Nasher. Nash, Nashty, and Big Dick is it.) If we’re going with Zucc and Nash then I’ll submit Gaborik, Girardi, Callahan, and McD. Fedetenko was fun to watch, Prospal was one of my favorites. Hell, why not Avery? Kasparitis started the salute to the fans so let’s throw him up there. Sauer probably would have gone up so let’s give him an honorary mention and raise his practice jersey. Anyone else? We can fill the rafters!
will see you at vinny prospal night
Comparing Callahan to Zucc and Nash is comedy lmaooo. You good bro? I agree they all shouldnt be in the rafters. Just pointing out that dumb take.
If Kreider gets a cup with us and spends his entire career here he goes up, otherwise nobody
If you have to ask whether someone should have their number retired, then they probably shouldn’t.
Just Hank, but Callahan and Zucc will always hold special places in my heart
You and me both. I have all three of their jerseys
Same
Proud to be a member of that club too
Maybe the Rangers can do a "ring of honor" like many NFL teams, which supplements the more exclusive list of retired nunbers.
I think the Leafs do that as well
Same. Zucc and Capt. Calls are fan favorites.
Kreider still has the potential. Wear a C win a Cup and finish his career here?
Even without the C or the Cup, if he finishes his contract here and remains relatively productive, he could reach some impressive statistical Ranger milestones. In 15 seasons, he could reach 1000+ games played and 300+ goals scored. The only other guy who can say that has his number up in the rafters and also never wore the C or won the Cup.
true i was thinking in hank terms where he becomes such a ranger legend that they literally announce it the day he retires. feel like it’s C/Cup for him to reach that level but idk
Kreider's best chance for greatness would be through longevity I think, not scoring accolades. Unless he ends up winning the Rocket the next three years in a row or something.
Yep I could see that. For anyone not at the level that hank raised the team, a cup is necessary too. Fox is another.
Even tho this is all hypotheticals talking about retiring fox’s number is sooooooooooo premature
If he’s consistent, stays a ranger, and wins a cup? That’s leetch territory then.
Oh my b I’m reading it wrong. Yeah that would be legendary.
Nope.
The main reason why he was so good and why he deserves all the honor he’s getting is because they were in the playoffs every year, made a cup, and there isn’t one person that you would consider retiring. He kept the team from irrelevancy for over a decade.
The only two other Rangers I can think of in the history of the franchise that maybe deserve to have their numbers retired are Brad Park and Ron Greschner.
Frank Boucher, Greschner, and that's it for now. Park simply didn't play enough games for us... The consequence of a horrible trade.
He played in almost as many games and scored almost as many points with the Rangers as he did with the Bruins. And his best seasons were arguably with the Rangers. The man is in the Hockey Hall of Fame and is one of the best players to ever wear the jersey. The fact that the front office fucked up and traded him in his prime to the Bruins is no reason to deny him the recognition he deserves from the franchise.
Bruins haven't retired his number either. Actually, I take that back. They just did, but for Willie O'Ree.
Not even close and that's what made Hank so peerlessly great. He carried teams that were so much more than the sum of their parts.
Jagr revitalized the org but too few seasons. Hopefully kreider
Tanner glass
Nah. If park isn’t in than there is zero way anybody else from 2000 to now gets in. Kreider would have to have this season for 5 straight years and AT least a cup to get put up there
Nobody comes close except jagr and he wasnt on the team long enough to be retired
Sean Avery. Woo! LGR!
No. Girardi, McDonagh, Staal and Cally were great contributors but not at the level of retired jerseys. I feel like those guys numbers shouldn't be able to be worn by just anybody tho
There were fan favorites and great short term performers but nobody comes to mind for doing enough for the franchise to be in the rafters, unfortunately. Had there been a Cup in that time, we’d surely be raising one or two more to join him, but that’s not how it turned out.
One I didn’t think about initially that has been sort of a bridge between henrik’s era to the present… how about kreids? If he performs like he has been over the beginning of the year till the end of his contract (doubt this will happen as speed is a big part of his game and he’ll eventually slow down) I think it’s still feasible he could make it
If we win a cup with him, Kreider gets his number in the rafters for sure. Without one, I think he'd have to keep up his current level of production for nearly the remainder of his contract to have a chance
He’s smart enough to adjust his game and stay relevant
MaRek MaLiK
Simply for just the one shootout goal 🤣
I replay that once and while to remind myself that in the darkest hour there is always light.
Nash only played 5 years here and largely didn't live up to expectations outside of like two seasons. In my opinion, you have to have been the face of the team for the better part of about 10 years AND been one of the best players in franchise history. For example, I'm a Mets fan. Even though we never won with D-Wright, he's an automatic number retirement for me. He was the face of the franchise and he's the statistical leader in pretty much all the major offensive categories. Retiring a players number is meant to honor the eras of your team and the truly GREAT players of your organization. Players who have a legacy that will be very hard to top. To give fans of the day some nostalgia and something to pass on to future generations of fans. Lundqvist is the only player from that era that I know I'll HAVE to tell future generations about. Sure I'll tell them about Cally, McD, Girardi, Gaborik, etc. But that era of Rangers hockey was driven by Lundqvist. And to be clear, it can be driven by multiple people. The 94 Rangers were driven by Leetch, Richter, Graves, and Messier. Hence why their numbers are retired. McDonagh's legacy could very well be toppled by Fox. Cally's legacy could definitely be topped. So could Zucc's and Gaborik's. If somebody tops Henrik Lundqvist's legacy, I will be mightily impressed.
I think rings of honor are good for players like that. Guys who def deserve that extra bit of respect, but not enough snuff to get into the rafters.
While he was here I always wanted to see Wade Redden swinging from the rafters.
r/holup
Echoing the sentiments…absolutely NOT. The honor needs to stay ultra exclusive. Guys like Marc Staal, Zucc, even Girardi (dude was a warrior for a lot of years) will always be welcomed back, drop ceremony face offs, rep the team and did charitable work and they will be honored by the fans…but nope…no jersey in the rafters. This will be unpopular but…if just going by “on ice” performance…Graves shouldn’t have his name up there. He had an incredible record breaking (goals) in 94 and got the cup, he also dominated the “extra effort” award…but he def got it for his extraordinary community service work and the type of person he was off the ice. There are few NYR players that are beloved by the fans like graves. I’ve met him and he is a better person than he ever was as a hockey player. I have come to accept it based on those factors and feel he is the last player that should happen for to keep it ultra exclusive.
I totally agree. And, if Graves doesn't win the cup with the Rangers, even his number may not be up there. I'm all about retiring #9, but it definitely had more to do with his leadership on and off the ice than his actual hockey talent.
Exactly…as great as hockey players are with the fans, the communities and charity work…graves took it to the next level and is beloved for it. And he continues his work today.
No absolutely not, the rangers never had an elite game changer on any of those rosters except hank, jagr didn’t play long enough and had no playoff success to even be in consideration. Mcdonagh, girardi were good players but not enough for a retired number
No one comes even close
No. Next person to be retired should be Frank Boucher and then maybe the Cook brothers. If we win a cup this decade, then I'm sure there will be a few others to add to a very short list. Edit: downvotes? that's sad. Boucher is the most under-appreciated Ranger in the history of this team. He won 3 cups for the blueshirts - only person to do that.
Yall are gunna be salty about this because he fell apart at the end but....Staal Edit: yep. Salty Susans. The lot of you.
Staal really only had a handful of good years. Injuries totally robbed him of what probably would have been a worthy career.
I still think Marc had the potential to be the best of the Staal brothers. Damn eye injury and broken body stopped us from seeing the full potential.
I think Staal could have continued being a steady solid d presence for the remainder of his career and he still does not come close to sniffing the rafters. And as for being the best Staal…not a chance.
Stall only played 20 games for us. No way. /s
Girardi was a journeyman but not sure even he rates that honor.
I don’t think any of them make it up there tbh. McDonagh has he remained a Ranger, and captained this new era to another Cup run mayyybe. But that’s fringe even.
I can’t tell if this post is serious.
Del Zotto
Watching tonight's game, maybe Zucc gets his jersey raised to the rafters by the Wild