4 Nations Face-Off Series: All Time NYR Team Canada A-Team Roster
The New York Rangers history is so deep with Canadian players, we're presenting you with an A-Team and a B-Team. First, the A players.
While Team USA has come a long way in the last few decades and may even be going into the championship on Thursday as slight favorites, hockey has historically belonged to the Canadians.
As such, with consideration to the fact that the Rangers are an original six franchise, there is no shortage of hall of famers and other elite names that have dawned a Blueshirt over the last century. Because of that, we'll be presenting an A-Team and a B-Team for the All Time New York Rangers Team Canada lineup.
Because we love it when a plan comes together, we start with the A-Team.
First Line: Mark Messier - Wayne Gretzky - Adam Graves
Mark Messier, the Rangers’ messiah as many have referred to him, is clearly deserving of the top line on the Rangers primary Canadian team. One of the greatest NHLers ever, he delivered on his promise and helped carry the Rangers through the Canyon of Heroes. Also, he's the only player in North American sports to captain two different teams to a championship.
The Rangers may have gotten Wayne Gretzky at the end of his career but it was still a special three years. He helped lead the underdog Rangers through the first two rounds before falling to a superior Philadelphia Flyers squad in the Eastern Conference Final his first year in New York. And for Rangers fans to have a front row seat to the Gretzky goodbye tour was special. The GOAT of pro sports will absolutely center the top line of Canadian-born forwards for the Blueshirts.
Adam Graves is a controversial player in certain crowds. Some folks think he’s over-valued in New York, but the role he played in bringing the Cup to New York is the stuff of legends. Not to mention he held the single season goals record until the legendary Jaromir Jagr came along and his total has only been matched one other time in the thirty-plus seasons that have elapsed since. Regardless of how you viewed his play on the ice as a Ranger, fewer alumni have represented this franchise and city as well as “Gravy” has. One of the best in the business, always with a smile on his face and a willingness to support the team and Garden of Dreams.
