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To continue from where we left off, today will cover Part 5 of the “Original Six team’s goalies and their masks” series. Today I will be going over the New York Rangers.
As expressed, there are simply too many goalies to write about for each respective team, so there will be some criteria followed for a goalie to make the list. Each goalie included under the “Past Goalies” category must have played at least three seasons with the team, and must have also had an interesting or unique mask.
Enjoy!
Present Goalies
Henrik Lundqvist – 30
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Currently the starting goaltender for the Rangers, Lundqvist was drafted 205th overall by New York in 2000. Lundqvist has been a big reason for any of the past successes of the team since 2005 when he started his first year with the Rangers, and will continue to provide excellent goaltending for another few years yet. To date, Lundqvist has played a total of 468 games over the course of seven seasons for New York, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Martin Biron – 43
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Currently backstopping Lundqvist, Biron was brought in to the Rangers lineup in 2010 via free agency and has played a total of 38 games since. As an experienced netminder, Biron provides the stability needed as backup for a successful team and will surely help in mentoring the next chapter of Rangers’ goaltenders.
Cameron Talbot – 30
ingoalmagazine.netdna-cdn.com
Arguably the most NHL ready prospect for the Rangers, Talbot was signed in 2010 as a free agent by New York and has played 56 games in the AHL so far. Being undrafted, Talbot has experienced a tough road to get to where he is, but to date the young tender has shown some promise and may get his chance to prove his worth with the Rangers in the upcoming seasons.
Scott Stajcer – 96
www.goaliesarchive.com
Next in line for the Rangers goaltending depth chart is their 140th overall selection in 2009, Scott Stajcer. Stajcer has been playing with the Owen Sound of the OHL for the past 5 years and at the age of 21 is looking to start his professional career.
Past Goalies
Stephen Valiquette – 45
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Valiquette was acquired in 2004 from the Edmonton Oilers with Dwight Helminen, Edmonton's compensatory 2nd round choice in the 2004 Entry Draft and future considerations for Jussi Markkanen and Petr Nedved. Valiquette played with the Rangers as a backup for five seasons, tallying 41 games played. Not able to play more than a few games in the NHL, Valiquette would finish his career in Europe.
Johan Holmqvist – 32
www.goaliesarchive.com
Rangers' 157th overall selection in the 1997 Entry Draft, Holmqvist played with New York for three seasons, playing mostly for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. Holmqvist returned to Sweden after his short stint with the Rangers, and continues to play there to this date.
Honorable Mention: Alex Auld – 31
ingoal.ingoalmagazine.netdna-cdn.com
Claimed off re-entry waivers in 2010 from the Dallas Star, Auld played with the Rangers for one season and a total of 3 games. He would go on to sign a one year contract with the Montréal Canadiens the very next season.
Mike Richter – 35
www.tvworthwatching.com
Selected 28th overall by the Rangers in 1985, Richter played as the starting goaltender for 12 of the 14 years with New York. In addition to several personal awards throughout his career, Richter and the Rangers would win a Stanley Cup in 1994. Richter took the Rangers to the playoffs eight times of his 12 years as a starter, three of which went deep. In 2002, Richter’s rights were traded to the Edmonton Oilers for future considerations, and he would be reacquired from the Oilers a month later via free agency. Richter would retire as a member of the Rangers in 2003. Richter's jersey (#35) became the third number retired by the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 4, 2004.
John Vanbiesbrouck – 34
www.gameusedmasks.com
As the Rangers' 72nd overall selection in the 1981 Entry Draft, Vanbiesbrouck would play with New York for 11 seasons and a total of 449 games. Vanbiesbrouck would start playing full time for the Rangers during the 1984 season, only three years after being drafted. Although he would not win any Stanley Cups with the Rangers, Vanbiesbrouck would receive several personal awards and set a few records. In 1990 Mike Richter was called up to backstop Vanbiesbrouck, and would eventually take his place as the starter. He would later be traded to the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations in 1993.
Doug Soetaert – 33
www.hockeygoalies.org
Drafted 30th overall in the 1975 Amateur Draft, Soetaert would play with the Rangers for seven seasons as their backup. Only playing 103 games in seven seasons, he would be traded to the Winnipeg Jets for Winnipeg's 3rd round choice in the 1983 Entry Draft. Soetaert was later reacquired in 1986 from the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent. He would later retire with the Rangers in 1987.
John Davidson – 30
www.bestsportsphotos.com
Acquired from the St.Louis Blues with Bill Collins for Jerry Butler, Ted Irvine and Bert Wilson in 1975, Davidson would play with the Rangers eight years. Davidson would start for the Rangers for the first five years before slowing down and eventually retiring due to injuries. Interesting to note, band Foreigner’s song title “Double Vision” was inspired by Davidson as they were present during a game where he took a shot off his mask and the announcer claimed that Davidson had double vision.
Steve Baker – 33
hockeymasks.com/profiles
Rangers' 44th overall selection in the 1977 Amateur Draft, Baker would play a total of 57 games over four seasons as a backup with the Rangers. Baker would be relied upon to reach the Stanley Cup semi finals in 1981. He would become a free agent after 1983, and his career would end in 1984 without enough interest for the tender league wide.
Honorable Mention: Gilles Gratton – 33
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Signed as a free agent in 1976 from the St Louis Blues, Gratton would play one season with the Rangers for 41 games. Gratton would have a very short career as a goalie, as he retired as the young age of 24 and become a photographer.
Wayne Thomas – 1
www.vintagehockeyphotos.ca
Acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1977 Waiver Draft, Thomas would play a total of 94 games with the Rangers over four seasons as their backup. Thomas would retire after four years with the Rangers in 1981.
30 Gilles Villemure
www.vintagesportsphotos.ca
Scouted and signed by Rangers as a free agent in 1962, Villemure would play with the Rangers for eight years. Villemure would be given more responsibility and games played during the 1970-71 season and would continue to play 30-40 games for the Rangers until he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Doug Jarrett in 1975. As a backup to Esposito the following two years, Villemure would eventually retire after the 1996-97 season.
Thanks for reading!
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