New York Rangers Quarter Century Team (Blueshirt Banter's Version)

Editor's Note: The National Hockey League is honoring the best players of the last 25 years by presenting a Quarter Century Team for each NHL club. The New York Rangers Quarter Century Team is scheduled to be released on Saturday, January 26. This is Blueshirt Banter's version. We've also presented a few other entries in a Rangers Quarter Century Team series, including an All Trade Deadline Team, an All Free Agent Team, and an All Drafted Team.

Coming up with a Quarter Century Team for the New York Rangers is an interesting exercise. Interesting because it cleaves off almost all of the members of the 1994 Stanley Cup championship team that usually dominate these kinds of lists for the Rangers from consideration. While players like Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, and Mike Richter did appear for the Rangers after the turn of the century, none of them make this list. It's the turning of a page for this franchise, a new generation of New York Rangers greats—although it also serves as a reminder of just how long it's been since the Rangers have won a title.

The list represents the collaborative work of everyone on the Blueshirt Banter team. We hope you enjoy it.

Honorable Mentions

The debate Blueshirt Banter's staff had over this list wasn't just over whether the players you'll see should be first or second team. There were some players who got left off the list, and we thought a few of those deserved to be mentioned.

Marián Gáborík – Gáborík made our All Free Agent Team, and you can read about him there. He scored 114 goals and 115 assists for 229 points in 255 games over four injury-punctuated seasons.

Dan Girardi – Girardi also made the All Free Agent Team, and you can also read about him there. His years of solid defense on teams that made deep playoff runs deserved to be remember more than the ignominious end of his ill-considered contract extension.

Brian Leetch – We told you that none of the 1994 Rangers are on this list, and that's technically correct (which is the best kind of correct). Brian Leetch does merit an honorable mention. But what is there to say about Leetch that hasn't been said a million times already? He's probably the best player to ever wear the Rangers sweater. In the years under consideration for this list, he put up 56 goals and 144 assists for 200 points in 272 games. A true Rangers legend. But he didn't play enough in this century before being heartbreakingly traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs to make it on to the Quarter Century Team.

Rick Nash – When the Rangers traded for Rick Nash in the 2012 offseason, many fans thought they'd finally acquired the elite offensive player the team needed to put them over the top. In the end, Nash wasn't quite the goal scorer he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets, though he did post a 42 goal season with the Blueshirts. But Nash did, however, develop into one of the best two-way wingers in the game, was expert on the penalty kill, and played many important defensive matchups in the regular season and the playoffs.

First Team

RW: Jaromir Jagr
C: Mika Zibanejad
LW: Artemi Panarin
D: Ryan McDonagh
D: Adam Fox
G: Henrik Lundqvist

Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr is the only person who saw any action for the Rangers during the pre-lockout season dark ages. And even then, he only played part of the 2003-2004 season on Broadway after being acquired by from the Washington Capitals for Anson Carter—a return that is hard to fathom. As Chris said when he appeared on the All Trade Deadline Team list, Jagr is one of the greatest NHL players of all time. And he's still going in the Czech league at nearly 53-years old!

Jagr is here for two reasons. First, he was an offensive force over four seasons with the Rangers, to the tune of 124 goals and 195 assists for 319 points in 277 games. He also had a monster 2005-2006 season where he posted a club-record 54 goals and added 69 assists for 123 points, was an All Star, won the Lester B. Pearson award, and finished second on voting for the Hart Trophy.

He's also on this list because of how important he was in leading the Rangers out of those pre-lockout dark ages. The Rangers made the playoffs in all three of Jagr's full seasons with the team. And while they didn't go far, Jagr had helped bring the Rangers back from the sad-sack teams that were on the outside looking in come playoff time.

Mika Zibanejad

We know, we know, we know. Mika Zibanejad has been the center of Rangers controversy all season and last, subject to trade rumors even in spite of his full no-movement clause, and a massive portion of the fanbase has already moved on from him in their minds. Hell, Joe and Eric talked through what trying to compel him to waive his NMC would take on the most recent podcast. But for a historical exercise like this, we shouldn't lose perspective on just how good Mika was for so many years with the Rangers.

Zibanejad was acquired along with a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL draft from the Ottawa Senators for Derick Brassard and a seventh round pick in 2018. It was hard to see Big Game Brass go, but it was an actual incident of the Rangers trading a player at the right time to bring in a younger player at the right time. Over nine seasons (and counting; he's signed for five more seasons, as we all know) Mika has scored 239 goals and added 317 assists for 556 points in 615 games. He was having his best year in 2019-2020, netting 41 goals and throwing in 34 assists for 74 points in 57 games before COVID shutdown play, leaving us to wonder what his full season totals might have looked like.

In the 25 years we're covering with this list, Mika Zibenejad has been the best first line center the team has had. And we know we don't need to bother explaining what his best moment was.

Artemi Panarin

The Breadman already appeared on our Quarter Century All Free Agent Team, which makes sense since he's the best free agent signing in the history of the franchise. The Rangers has just blown up their roster following The Letter, and were staring down the prospect of several down seasons where'd they'd likely miss out on the playoffs as they rebuilt. Then on July 1, 2019, Artemi Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5 million deal with the Rangers, spurning a higher dollar offer from the New York Islanders.

In his time on Broadway, he's been a superstar. In 395 games (and counting) over six seasons he's put up 169 goals and 341 assists for 510 points for an astonishing 1.3 points per game pace with the Rangers. Add to that 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 46 career playoff games.

Panarin has one more year left on this contract, and there's wide speculation he might want to come back for more. There might be many more leg-kick celebrations in our future.

Ryan McDonagh

One player who arguably could have made the Quarter Century All Free Agent Team who didn't was Scott Gomez. Gomez is frequently remembered as one of the busts of the free-spending free agent days, even though he put up 128 points in 158 games with the Rangers. But what Scott Gomez will always be primarily remember for by Rangers fans is the deal that sent him, along with Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto, to the Montreal Canadiens for Chris Higgins, Pavel Valentenko, and Doug Janik and a former first round draft pick named Ryan McDonagh.

McDonagh debuted for the Rangers in the 2010-2011 season and swiftly became a fixture on the Rangers blueline. Known mostly for his shutdown defense, McDonagh added solid offense from the back end, as well. In 516 games with the Rangers, he contributed 51 goals and 187 assists for 238 points. He would add another 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 points in 97 playoff games, including the run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.

After then-captain Ryan Callahan was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, McDonagh was named the 27th captain of the New York Rangers, unbeknownst to him immediately marking him to also eventually be traded, also to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That deal would go down in February 2018 when McDonagh and J.T. Miller were sent to the Lightning for Libor Hájek, Brett Howden, Vladislav Namestnikov, a first-round pick in the 2018 Draft, and a conditional second-round pick in the 2019 Draft, in one of the worst trades in Rangers' history. That McDonagh has played another eight solid seasons after being traded will forever be another Rangers what-if.

Adam Fox

There's an argument to be made that Adam Fox is the best Rangers defenseman of all time not named Brian Leetch. He's already fifth all time among Rangers defensemen in points with 348 in 405 games (56 goals and 292 assists), and is on about the same point-per-game pace as Brian Leetch in his Rangers career. In four playoff runs he's kicked in another five goals and 34 assists for 39 points in 46 games.

The hype around Adam Fox started before was even in the organization at all. Fox was taken in the third round, 66th overall, by the Calgary Flames. But the Flames were unable to sign him, and it was widely rumored that the Jericho, New York native wanted to play for his childhood favorite team. The Flames traded Fox's rights to the Carolina Hurricanes, who turned around and sent them to the Rangers for a second-round pick in the 2020 Draft.

Fox has been nothing short of elite in his time on Broadway. He's in the midst of the third year of a seven year contract extension paying him $9.5 million per season, in what with the expected rate of salary cap increase should be one of the best value contracts in the NHL over that time. And did we mention he's still only 26-years old?

Henrik Lundqvist

If Brian Leetch is the greatest Ranger to ever wear the sweater, Henrik Lundqvist is right behind him.

As Roberto noted in his Quarter Century All Drafted Team list, Hank is one of the greatest draft steals of all time. The Rangers took Lundqvist in the 7th round of the 2000 NHL draft, 205th overall. All he'd do is go on to be the Rangers all-time franchise leader in wins (459), shutouts (64), and playoff wins (61).

The best goalie of his generation, Lundqvist was the model of consistency over 15 seasons with the Rangers. He captured his only Vezina Trophy in 2011-2012, posting a record of 39-18-5 along with a 1.97 GAA, .930 save percentage, and eight shutouts. In the playoffs, Lundqvist was a monster. He was 6-2 all-time in playoff game 7s, and 16-11 all-time in elimination games, along with a 2.03 GAA, a .935 save percentage, and three shutouts. He's in the Hockey Hall of Fame, his jersey is retired, and he provided some of the most memorable moments of the last 25 years.

Second Team

RW: Mats Zuccarello
C: Derek Stepan
LW: Chris Kreider
D: Marc Staal
D: Anton Stralman
G: Igor Shesterkin

Mats Zuccarello

Mats Zuccarello also made our Quarter Century All Free Agent Team. The inclusion of Zuccarello isn't just for his offensive accomplishments for the Rangers. He was also a fan favorite. The echoing "Zuuuuuucccc" that would ensue whenever he'd touch the puck was yet another symbol of the Rangers' faithful, endearing love for the player who playfully became known as "The Hobbit."

Mats André Zuccarello Aasen, as he was first introduced, was first seen by many hockey fans on the international stage playing for Norway at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Norway may not have advanced, but Zuccarello stood out. The Rangers were able to sign him the following summer. He started off playing for the Connecticut Whale, but went back and forth playing a supplemental role a few times for the Rangers. It wasn't until after the lockout, when he returned from the KHL, that his NHL career took off. He became a top-six player for the Rangers, helping them advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, becoming the first-ever Norwegian player to play in the Stanley Cup Final.

The following year, Zuccarello performed admirably and it seemed the Rangers were lining up another serious postseason run. But Zuccarello took a Ryan McDonagh slapshot off the helmet. He was carted off the ice and hospitalized in what was later diagnosed as a brain contusion. There was fear his career would be over, but in true Zucc fashion, he pushed through and returned the following year and led the team in points.

In his time in New York, Zuccarello won several Steven McDonald Extra Effort Awards and was even a Masterton Finalist. But all good things must come to an end, and with The Letter rebuild underway, Zuccarello was one of the major pillars that was traded away. He has since joined the Minnesota Wild and found himself playing with superstar Kirill Kaprizov, and the last three seasons have been the most productive of his career. This is something to think about when you try to justify trading away an aging player for future assets.

Derek Stepan

The center position is one that the New York Rangers haven't had much success with as an organization, but Stepan is a player who doesn't get enough credit for the stability he provided during his tenure, especially considering what was expected of him. The Rangers' second-round selection from the 2008 draft hit the ground running in 2010-11, famously recording a hat trick in his first career game on the road against the Buffalo Sabres.

He ended his rookie campaign with 45 points in 82 games, and slowly but surely gained more trust and responsibility as time went on. He had a breakout during the lockout shortened 2012-13 campaign and finished with 44 points in 48 games. He followed that up with a stretch that saw him tally 57, 55, 53, and 55 points, respectively, while also rating rather nicely in stats like goals above replacement. During that stretch he was worth 33.6 goals above replacement, which placed him just behind Zuccarello, McDonagh, and Kreider among players who were with the Rangers for the entirety of that span.

Although they went on to lose the following series, most will agree that his signature moment scoring the game 7 overtime goal to send the team to the Eastern Conference Final 2015 is one of the more euphoric Ranger moments in recent history.

Chris Kreider

If there is anyone from the last quarter century that deserves a place in the rafters of the World's Most Famous Arena, it's undoubtedly Chris Kreider. From the moment he joined the Rangers in the 2012 playoffs, he established himself as a clutch performer and quickly became an integral part of this franchise. A rare homegrown star talent, the Rangers took Kreider 19th overall in the 2009 Entry Draft. After impressive runs that included championships at the collegiate (2 NCAA titles with Boston College) and international levels (gold and bronze medals at World Juniors), Kreider joined the Rangers and scored five playoff goals before ever playing a regular season game in the NHL.

Kreider spent some time bouncing between the NHL and AHL throughout his first two seasons, but earned his spot with the Rangers in their 2014 run to the Stanley Cup Final. From that season on, he was there and leading the charge through it all. Through the good, the bad, the ugly, few players have embodied what it means to be a New York Ranger like Chris Kreider. With 855 career games, 319 goals, 250 assists and counting, Kreider is not only the longest tenured Ranger, but on pace to be one of the all time greatest.

Currently sitting behind in third place behind Jean Ratelle on the franchise all-time goals list, Kreider is in the conversation for practically every major marker in the franchise's record book. He's in the top-ten for games played, goals, points, plus-minus, power play goals, shorthanded goals, even strength goals, and the list goes on and on. He's three game winning goals away from passing Rod Gilbert as the all time leader in that category, and two goals away from passing Camille Henry for most power play goals in franchise history. He's on pace to pass a number of players on the all time games played list this season and, most notably, is just 17 goals away from passing Jean Ratelle for sole possession of second place on the team's all-time goals list.

His future may be up in the air as the Rangers begin to navigate the next core of this team but there's no debating Kreider's legacy with this franchise. Chris wrote more in depth about what he's meant to the team over the years in a previous piece following him passing Adam Graves on the all-time goals list last season. You truly can't say enough but his impact to the team as he absolutely deserves his spot on the Quarter Century team.

While the disappointment of the Easter Conference Final loss to the Florida Panthers is still too much for many to bear, Kreider's third period natural hat trick in game 6 against the Carolina Hurricanes will live on as one of the most incredible individual efforts in Rangers playoff history.

Marc Staal

You'll also find Marc Staal in our Rangers Quarter Century All Drafted Team. Much as was discussed with Dan Girardi in our Quarter Century All Free Agent Team, sentiments about Marc Staal's tenture with the Rangers are dominated by the ignominious end to his time here. But over-focusing on that ignores just how good, and how important, he was on the Rangers blueline over 13 seasons.

The Rangers drafted Staal with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft and, as Roberto noted in the All Drafted Team list, he came with a brand name, his older brother Eric and younger Jordan having both already made their NHL debuts. Staal will always have a lot of "what if" attached to his Rangers career. His issues with concussions and the freak eye injury he sustained in 2013 cost him extended playing time, and also seemed to diminish his play. He was arguably never the same player again after returning from the eye injury.

But none of that is to say Marc Staal wasn't a great Ranger. He was. In 892 games over 13 seasons, Staal posted 43 goals and 145 assists for 188 points, adding another 20 points in 107 playoff games—numbers that don't jump off the page at anyone. But it was his shutdown defensive play, especially through several extended playoff runs, that earn him a spot on this list.

Anton Stralman

Anton Stralman also featured on our Rangers Quarter Century All Free Agent Team. Stralman was both a steal for the Rangers, who signed him to a one-year deal in 2011 after we washed out of a try-out in the New Jersey Devils training camp. While Stralman would only play three seasons with the Rangers, his impact was undeniable, as a solid two-way defender who went under-appreciated by many in the NHL until he proved what he was capable of as a Ranger. He played a pivotal role as an unflappable defender in the Rangers' run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2012 and to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.

Here enters another "what if" part of the conversation. Following the Rangers loss to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, Stralman left as a free agent, signing a five-year, $22 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was a cap casualty in New York, as the Rangers had opted to prioritize extending Marc Staal and Dan Girardi over the less prominent, but arguably better, or at least more consistent and reliable, Stralman. With the poor ends to both the Staal and Girardi contracts now know, Ranger fans are left to wonder what might have been different if they'd opted for Stralman over either one of those two.

Igor Shesterkin

We sing the praises of Henrik Lundqvist and everything he's meant to the Rangers organization, and for good reason. But there's every reason to do the same for Igor Shesterkin. He just signed a record-breaking contract to make him the highest paid goaltender in NHL history, a deal in which he, frankly, gave the Rangers a huge discount over what he could fetch on the open market, and he has the potential to finish with numbers that are better than Lundqvist's.

Shesterkin has appeared in 247 games in his NHL career and skated 12,008 minutes. Since entering the league, Shesterkin ranks second in goalie goals above replacement at 153.1, where he only trails Connor Hellebuyck, who has posted a goalie GAR of 207.4 in 331 games. If you looked at those numbers on a rate basis, Hellebuyck comes in at 0.641, and Shesterkin is at 0.639, which is pretty damn impressive. In terms of goals saved above average, Shesterkin ranks second with 101.59 goals saved, and he also comes in second for goals saved above expected at 120.81. Hellebuyck has posted marks of 123.49 and 155.48 respectively, again doing so with significantly more minutes played.

In addition to that, Shesterkin has a Vezina Trophy and third place Hart Trophy finish to his name, and he's been the backbone of the team during each of their playoff runs posting a record of 23-20 with a .928 save percentage and a 2.41 goals against average. There's no telling what the future holds, but the Rangers have another special player in goal, and the hope is that previous failings will guide the organization to do everything they can to make sure this level of excellence isn't squandered.

There it is, the New York Rangers Quarter Century Team (Blueshirt Banter's Version). The NHL's version of this list will come out tomorrow, Saturday, January 25, so you can compare where we differ from that list, assuming we do.

Did we get it right? Did we get something wrong? Let us know in the comments.