The Rangers perform their postgame victory celebration. Photo by David Perlmutter
LUNDQVIST
2005-PRESENT
To some, it may seem like a stretch to compare a hockey player to his baseball counterpart. But in special cases, exceptions can be made.
Just as the former NY Yankees captain, Derek Jeter, became the idol of New York diamond fans, so too has Henrik Lundqvist blossomed into one of the most popular performers in the Big Apple’s athletic history.
Lundqvist joined the Rangers as the 205th pick in the 7th round of the 2000 NHL Draft. With Kevin Weekes suffering a series of leg injuries, the young Swede seized the number-one job and it became clear he was here to stay.
In 53 appearances as an NHL rookie in 2005-06, he earned 30 wins and a .922 SV%. While he struggled in his first trip to the playoffs, during which he only appeared three times, Lundqvist still earned a nomination for the Vezina Trophy and a place on the NHL All-Rookie team. Despite this splendid first-year display, Lundqvist was still not considered for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
“I know it is hard to excel in this league, and I know how hard it is to be at the top of your game every night,” Lundqvist said. “I try to do my best every time I go out there.”
Henrik’s 30 wins made him the first Rangers rookie since Mike Richter to top the 20-win plateau, and two of his seasonal mile-stone victories came against the Rangers’ closest rivals. His 20th victory came in the form of a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils, and his 30th was a 5-1 victory against the New York Islanders.
With his first North American season under his belt, Lundqvist continued to improve during his sophomore season. His starts climbed to 70, while his wins escalated to 37 en route to his second consecutive Vezina nomination. It was at this time that he earned the nickname “King Henrik,” due to his spectacular ability, refusal to lose, and propensity for including Sweden’s krona (or “crown” in Swedish) on his mask.
HENRIK LUNDQVIST
BORN: Arc, Sweden; March 2, 1982
POSITION: Goaltender
NHL TEAMS: New York Rangers, 2005-Present
AWARDS/HONORS: Vezina Trophy, 2012; NHL First Team All-Star, 2012; NHL All-Star Game, 2009, 2011, 2012; John Halligan Good Guy Award (Rangers), 2008; Victoria Cup (IIHF), 2008; Team MVP, 2007-2013; Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award (Rangers), 2006; NHL All-Rookie Team, 2006; World Championships - Best Goaltender (IIHF), 2004
In the spring of 2007, the newly crowned Lundqvist also became the first Rangers netminder to win a home playoff game since Mike Richter in 1997, and he did it in style by blanking the Thrashers.
Lundqvist’s observers could cite many examples of his sparkling play, but few appearances had more impact than a 7-0 shellacking applied to Atlanta in Game 3 of the 2007 opening playoff round.
Despite an ultimately unsuccessful playoff run, the goalie elicited quite a bit of praise, especially from coach Tom Renney, who did not often rave about his players.
“That was a triple A-plus,” Renney said. “That was All-Star goaltending. That’s MVP goaltending. That’s Stanley Cup goaltending. That’s everything.”
As expectations grew, so too did Lundqvist, making quite a splash and shattering records. In February 2008, he became the first Ranger since Eddie Giacomin, in his 1970 campaign, to record eight shutouts in one season. He earned his 30th win in his next game, making him the only goalie other than Ron Hextall to notch 30 wins in each of his first three NHL seasons. Before the season ended, Lundqvist would record a ninth shutout, which a Blueshirt had not done since Giacomin in 1966. Each season Lundqvist’s play followed a similar blueprint: you could pencil him in for between 30 and 40 wins, and a save percentage around .920 without ever being too far off the mark.
Following the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Lundqvist finally won the Vezina Trophy, behind a stat line of 24 wins, a 2.05 goals against average, and a .926 save percentage.
After another dominant performance in the 2013-14 run to the Stanley Cup, Lundqvist was off and running for the 2014-15 season with Cam Talbot as a competent back-up in goal.
“Nobody will feel right if you don’t talk to each other,” Lundqvist said. “It’s important that you have a good relationship.”
And since pain and progress are inseparable, Lundqvist unequivocally will tell you about his medical migraines.
While the Rangers were climbing the NHL ladder toward first place in the league, Henrik suffered a potentially career-threatening injury.
During a game at the Garden against the Carolina Hurricanes, a flying puck hit the Blueshirts netminder in the throat. At first the injury seemed rudimentary, but upon further medical review, it was deemed serious enough to place Hank on long-term injured reserve.
As it happened, Lundqvist was sidelined for nearly two months before returning to action late in the regular season. King Henrik was back on his throne in time for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In the first round against the Penguins, Lundqvist only allowed one goal in each of the Rangers wins in the five-game series. In the second round against the Capitals, the netminder led the Rangers back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat Washington in seven games. In the Game Seven clincher, Lundqvist made 35 saves to lead the Rangers to a 2-1 overtime victory.
The King’s 14-3 record in elimination bouts—8-1 in the last two seasons-—was not enough, however, to overcome the last hurdle-—the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Rangers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final in another tight seven-game series.
As the Rangers’ all-time leader in regular season wins, shutouts, and playoff wins, and as the only NHL goalie to win 30 games in each of his first seven seasons—and at least 20 wins in each of his first 10 seasons—his pedigree is certainly the pride of the Blueshirt blue paint.
DAN
GIRARDI
2005-PRESENT
He’s a throwback.
The manner in which Dan Girardi plays defense is virtually identical to battling backliners of years past.
Bygone Rangers such as Bucko McDonald, Harry Howell, and Lou Fontinato come to mind. Their primary focus was to keep their defensive zone clean, yet when opportunity knocked they’d go on the offensive as well.
Call him a horse of a player, indefatigable, dedicated, and fearless—that’s what this Welland, Ontario, native is all about.
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the 6-foot-1, 205-pound defender is that he was never drafted, although all 30 teams could have plucked him in the 2005 Entry Draft.
This was surprising, considering that Girardi had starred for two Major Junior teams—the Barrie Colts and the Guelph Storm.
After being traded to the London Knights, Girardi did one better, leading the club to the Memorial Cup, emblematic of the continent’s Major Junior Championship. It was Girardi who shut down an explosive young scorer named Sidney Crosby. London won its first Memorial Cup with a 4-0 shutout.
While that feat was impressive, Girardi’s true character was revealed after the celebrations concluded. Early in the playoffs, he had complained that his hand was sore after blocking a shot; without seeking medical attention, young Girardi instead chose to play through the pain. Once the season was over, an X-ray was finally taken. Girardi had been playing—and excelling—with a broken hand.
That same brand of perseverance was evident after Dan signed a two-way American Hockey League contract with the Rangers’ affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
He made his Rangers debut in January 2007, and recorded 6 points in his first half-season in Manhattan.
DAN GIRARDI
BORN: Welland, Ontario, Canada; April 29, 1984
POSITION: Defenseman
NHL TEAMS: New York Rangers, 2005-Present
AWARDS/HONORS: NHL All-Star Game, 2012
The blue-collar blueliner excelled under head coach John Tortorella’s conservative defensive system. While the Rangers sat back protecting their own net, Girardi never wilted under pressure. During the 2010-11 season, he led all NHL players in blocked shots, and racked up 31 points, his highest scoring mark since reaching The Show.
During the 2011-12 season, Girardi became one of the club’s alternate captains. He skated nearly 30 minutes per game and was tasked with stifling the other team’s first line and power play unit. The Herculean effort earned him a role in the 2012 All-Star Game.
After Tortorella was replaced by Alain Vigneault, management showed its confidence in him by signing him through the year 2020. Dan repaid the club by leading the team in average time on ice. Partnered with captain Ryan McDonagh, Girardi starred as one half of one of the league’s best shutdown pairs.
Girardi’s big-time play continued into the 2015 playoffs. During the Rangers’ run to the Conference Finals, the blueliner played some of his best hockey against some of the best offensive stars in the game. Tasked with defending against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, then Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, Girardi rose to the challenge, shutting them all down beautifully.
Earning the nickname “Iron Man” for his steel-like bones and superhuman ability to sacrifice his body, Girardi blocked shot after shot—even once with his face. After taking a Chris Kunitz shot to the face in Game One of the first round, Iron Man missed the remainder of the night but was back on the ice for the next tilt. Girardi valiantly remained standing in the line of fire until the Rangers’ eventual demise in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final.
It was later revealed that Iron Man had in fact been playing the last three games of the series with a sprained Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) in his knee. He still managed to finish second on the team in ice time with an average of 21:37 minutes per game—another superhuman effort to cap off the season.
RYAN
MCDONAGH
2010-PRESENT
Sometimes miracles do happen when it comes to hockey trades.
Certainly, lightning struck the Rangers in an exquisite way in June of 2009.
That’s when Rangers’ President-General Manager Glen Sather delivered Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens primarily to shed cap space, and bring Long Island native Chris Higgins closer to home.
When the dust had cleared on the trading front, Sather also had obtained a little-mentioned defenseman named Ryan McDonagh. Surely, the name should have been shouted to the hills based on eventual performances. McDonagh became a five-star captain of the Blueshirts, and one of the league’s best two-way backliners. On the other hand, Gomez was a bust in Montreal, Florida, and San Jose.
Based on Ryan’s past performance, perhaps nobody should be astonished at what developed.
After all, the Broadway-bound pick, had been selected 12th overall in the 2007 Draft (which also featured Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk, and Jakub Voracek). The University of Wisconsin product showed his mettle long before he reached the NHL. In his first year with the Badgers, McDonagh was named to the WCHA All-Rookie team, finishing 12th among freshman with 12 points. Then, in his junior season, he earned All-WCHA Second Team honors.
Clearly, this was a very special hockey player—a fact that somehow eluded the Canadiens’ brain trust. Once he donned a Rangers jersey, McDonagh’s excellence became apparent.
He ranked sixth among New York rookies in plus-minus, and netted his first career NHL goal against Hudson River rival New Jersey Devils, on April 9, 2011.
The following season, McDonagh continued to impress the Garden faithful by scoring seven goals and recording 25 assists, leading the Rangers to an Atlantic Division title and the top seed in the playoffs. That spring, he anchored the Rangers defensive corps that lifted the club to the Eastern Conference Finals, their first trip to the Conference Final since 1997.
RYAN MCDONAGH
BORN: St. Paul, Minnesota; June 13, 1989
POSITION: Defenseman
NHL TEAMS: New York Rangers, 2010-Present
AWARDS/HONORS: Player's Player Award (Rangers), 2014; Team MVP (Rangers), 2014; All-Rookie Team (WCHA), 2008
Opening the 2013-14 season under new head coach Alain Vigneault, McDonagh improved his offensive game without compromising his defensive prowess. He recorded career highs in goals (14), assists (29), and points (43), en route to the Rangers’ first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years. In the playoffs, McDonagh scored four goals and recorded 13 assists for 17 points, before the Rangers ultimately fell to Los Angeles, 4-1 in the series.
McDonagh was named team captain in 2014 for a very good reason.
“He embodies the core values that we feel a captain has to have,” Vigneault said. “Probably the most important thing is the respect he has in our dressing room from all the coaches and from management.”
The captain’s efforts guided the Rangers back to the Conference Final in the 2014-15 season. Leading by example with not just his impressive two-way play but his resilience, it was later revealed that the Blueshirt chief played the final few games of the Conference Final with a broken foot.
McDonagh’s ability to shut down the league’s offensive juggernauts, such as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Steven Stamkos, propelled his rise to NHL stardom. With defensive partner Dan Girardi in tow since the beginning, McDonagh helped to form one of the league’s most formidable defensive tandems.
KEVIN
KLEIN
2014-PRESENT
When Edward Heyman (song) and Johnny Green (music) wrote their classic tune called “You Came To Me From Out of Nowhere” in 1931, there was no Kevin Klein around, but their theme still holds up on the ice more than eight decades later.
As far as Rangers defensemen are concerned, few have ever surfaced from out of nowhere more emphatically than Kevin Klein has (that is, if you consider the good city of Nashville “Nowhere”).
Still, the manner in which Klein became a Ranger seemed to have eluded everyone but general manager Glen Sather, who swung this almost inconspicuous trade in 2014.
Sather made the move that sent Michael Del Zotto packing in exchange for Kevin Klein, a rugged stay-at-home defenseman of which the Rangers were in need. Additionally, Klein was a smart crease-clearing veteran who knew his way around the backend; plus he could score—and score—and score.
The 6-foot-1, 200 pounder added an element that was missing with Del Zotto, and that is gritty play in front of his net, not to mention the ability to be in the right place at the right time. Klein further established his presence during the Rangers’ four-series expedition to the Stanley Cup Final in June 2014. He appeared in 25 postseason games, scoring a goal along with three assists. Better still, his plus/minus record was a commendable +7.
Anyone who thought that his opening season in New York was a fluke had another thing coming during the 2014-15 campaign.
Exhibit A: October 21, 2014 saw the Rangers trailing the Devils 3-1 in New Jersey. After a late Rangers comeback in the final 12 minutes, Klein put the icing on the cake in overtime and beat Corey Schneider with a helpful set-up from Chris Kreider.
Exhibit B: December 8, 2014, when Kevin netted his third overtime winner of the season against the Penguins—after earlier in the night, a high stick from Zach Sill had forced Klein off the ice with a partially torn ear. After 13 stitches and a blown lead by the Rangers, Klein returned to the game and unleashed a slapshot that blew past Marc-Andre Fleury to win the game in overtime.
KEVIN KLEIN
BORN: Kitchner, Ontario, Canada; December 13, 1984
POSITION: Defenseman
NHL TEAMS: Nashville Predators, 2004-2014; New York Rangers, 2014-Present
Klein showed his heroics again in a contest against the Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum. With the Blueshirts trailing 5-3 early in the third period, the visitors made a furious comeback in front of the passionate Long Island fans. With the score tied at 5-5, Klein received a pass from Martin St. Louis and streaked down the right side, beating Jaroslav Halak with a quick wrist shot. This proved to be the game-winner and helped the Rangers, who had been trailing in the standings, pass the Islanders and eventually annex first place in the Metropolitan Division.
“By far he has the best shot on the team, no question,” attested Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who knows all about hard shots. “He always gets it through. It’s hard. It’s not a great thing in practice—it hurts—but I appreciate it in games.”
Klein’s perseverance and grim determination made him a strong addition to a defensive unit that’s already one of the deepest in the league.
RICK
NASH
2012-PRESENT
“Your reach should exceed your grasp, or what’s a heaven for,” said poet Robert Browning.
The dark side of show business is “the build-up to a letdown.” The same usually holds true for young prospects who are drafted high.
Rick Nash was one such highly anticipated prospect. In the 2002 NHL Entry Draft held in Toronto, the Columbus Blue Jackets plucked Nash first overall. For a prospective NHL player, that was the highest possible compliment one could receive.
Next came achieving the major goals that lay ahead. Act One in the Rick Nash melodrama was all about continuing the prodigious scoring that he produced in the Ontario Hockey League, with his Major Junior team, the London Knights.
During his first season in London, Rick was named the Rookie of the Year on the strength of 66 points. In the following season, he upped his total to 72 points.
Upon entering the National Hockey League, pundits anxiously awaited Rick’s debut to determine how well he could make the adjustment to major league hockey. The answer would be in the affirmative.
The Ontario native played admirably over nine seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, as both a scorer and a leader.
Not surprisingly, in March 2008, Nash received the C following the departure of Adam Foote. He led by example with 40 goals and 39 assists, leading Columbus to its first playoff appearance in franchise history against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. Although Columbus was prematurely knocked out of the race, after being swept 4-0 in the series, Nash had passed his first test of leadership.
But all was not peaches and cream in Columbus. Nash developed a sour taste as his club launched the 2009-10 season with an abysmal 2-12-1 record. From that point on, rumors circulated that he would be expendable. Finally, on July 23, 2013, the rumors turned into reality. In a blockbuster deal involving New York and Columbus, the Rangers delivered a package that included Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, and Tim Erixon. In return, the Rangers received Nash, who was expected to build on the Blueshirts’ offensive arsenal.
Whether it was because he was making a traumatic adjustment, or because 2012-13 was a lockout-shortened season, Nash was less than the scoring machine that had been advertised in 2013-14. While he produced 42 points in 44 regular season games, he virtually disappeared in the playoffs with just one tally in a dozen contests.
His second season on Seventh Avenue started well enough, as Rick recorded three assists in his first two games. But then adversity hit, and hit hard. In an early-October visit to San Jose, the Rangers’ pricey winger suffered a concussion. Although he eventually returned to the lineup, it was patently clear that Rick was suffering post-concussion symptoms.
Among other things, he appeared hesitant to leave the perimeter of the offensive zone, and finished the season with—for him—a paltry 39 points, the lowest total since his rookie year.
By playoff time, Nash had an opportunity to redeem himself over a period of two months, as the Rangers paraded through four playoff rounds to the Stanley Cup Final. Throughout the glorious run, Nash’s performances were under a continuous critical X-ray. The verdict was bittersweet. On the one hand, he collected a mere 10 points in 25 playoff contests, yet on the other hand, he was regularly lauded for his defensive excellence. The problem there was that the citizens of Rangerville wanted more red lights, rather than raves about Rick’s backchecking.
Without a doubt, the onus was on Nash to prove his worth to the demanding Gotham crowd in 2014-15, and from the get-go the goals came—in droves. Slimmer and supremely motivated, Rick looked like—and played like—a new man, even better than the previous-known Nash at his best.
RICK NASH
BORN: Brampton, Ontario, Canada; June 16, 1984
POSITION: Forward (Left/Right Wing)
NHL TEAMS: Columbus Blue Jackets, 2002-2012 (minus the 2004-05 lockout); New York Rangers, 2012-Present
AWARDS/HONORS: Player’s Player Award (Rangers), 2015; Team MVP (Rangers), 2015; NHL Foundation Player Award, 2009; NHL All-Star Game, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015; Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, 2004; NHL All-Rookie Team, 2003 Olympic Gold Medal, 2010, 2014; World Championships Gold Medal, 2007; World Championships Silver Medal, 2005, 2008
One episode, which came early in the season, symbolizes Nash’s massive turnaround. The Rangers had scored a goal and from the next faceoff at center ice, Nash leaped after the loose puck as if he was shot from a catapult. Seizing the six-ounce hunk of vulcanized rubber, he broke through the enemy defenses and scored another remarkable goal. This is what Ranger fans were longing for and finally got.
That display of excellence was merely a portent of bountiful things to come. On December 23, 2014, Nash notched his first Rangers hat trick, as he lit the lamp three times against the Washington Capitals. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2015, Ranger fans felt the love from Rick as he scored early in the third period to give the Rangers the lead for good en route to 5-1 victory. This win also happened to be the 500th in Coach Alain Vigneault’s career. On March 10, 2015, Nash scored the game-winning goal against the Islanders in a game that helped the Blueshirts eventually surpass their Long Island rival in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Nash’s two-way play also continued to excel. With the goals finally coming in bunches, many onlookers tended to overlook his defensive contributions, including continuous excellence on the penalty kill. Those attributes marked him as one of the best two-way forwards in the league. With his reliable play as a constant presence on the Rangers’ top line, the Blueshirts found themselves near the top of the Eastern Conference standings throughout the entire season.
Nash’s 2014-15 season was his best with the Blueshirts. The left winger scored a career-high 42 goals and added 27 assists to help the Rangers finish with the best regular season record in the NHL.
The 30-year-old’s playoff performance was a tad shy of his regular season feats, but when it comes to timely clutch goals, Nash shone.
New York’s 2015 playoff run may have been shorter than anticipated but rather exciting. By the end of three series—two of which extended into Game Seven decisions—the team had collected 13 one-goal games and repeatedly bounced back from the brink of elimination.
When one goal can be the difference between finishing the playoffs on the ice and spending it on the greens, Nash proved his worth.
His most momentous tally of the postseason came 54 seconds into the final frame in Game Six against the Capitals, after a rough second period that saw the Blueshirts trailing 18-4 in shots. Although the club had managed to skate off the ice, leading 2-1 after the middle set, Nash’s third period goal to extend the lead to 3-1 was monumental in shattering Washington’s momentum.
Capitalizing on the fallout, teammate Dan Boyle added another for a seemingly safe 4-1 lead.
However, the Rangers know better than anyone—nothing and no one’s safe in the playoffs. The Capitals came back furiously to add two more to the board, to give the Rangers an unnerving 4-3 victory to keep the season alive and force a Game Seven.
TALBOT
2010-PRESENT
If this didn’t actually happen, one might have thought that a Hollywood scriptwriter had created a novel about a fictional hockey player.
Chapter one would zero in on a boy from Caledonia, Ontario.
Instead of going the traditional route via Major Junior hockey, Cam Talbot opted for the most unlikely state in which to hone his goaltending skills—Alabama.
After enrolling in the program at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, he easily smoothed into action with the varsity squad, for an unlikely start to a spectacular career.
“For a Canadian kid like me,” says Talbot, “playing in the Deep South gave me a culture shock, but I got over it. And the best thing was that the college didn’t have a junior or senior goaltender and I got to play right away.
“Danton Cole, who had played in the NHL, was my head coach at Huntsville,” Talbot recalled. “Cole was there for the three years I was. And when I arrived, he saw that I was out of shape and pushed me. I needed that. He was generous with my games played and really helped with my development.”
While playing hockey, Talbot worked on a Corporate Finance degree and still has three courses left in order to earn his diploma. Meanwhile, a number of hockey agents contacted him, realizing he had professional potential.
Nevertheless, Talbot remained undrafted, although the Rangers signed him as a free agent on March 30, 2010. By that time, he had altered his style and had become more methodical and less of a reactionary goalie.
“What happened,” Talbot explains, “is that I used to rely on desperation saves. But unless your name is Jonathan Quick, you can only rely on reactionary goals for so long. What followed is that I started playing a smarter game—more methodical.”
Former NHL assistant Kurt Kleinendorst had coached at Huntsville and explained that Talbot’s improvement was linked to the excessive number of shots he faced in every game.
“I definitely thrive on that,” says Cam. “I’d rather have 40 shots because it keeps my head in the game as opposed to only 20 shots. When I have so few shots, I have to stay focused and I get cold once in a while, if I’m not getting at least a shot every five minutes.”
CAM TALBOT
BORN: Caledonia, Ontario, Canada; July 5, 1987
POSITION: Goaltender
NHL TEAMS: New York Rangers, 2010-Present
AWARDS/HONORS: Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award (Rangers), 2015
After signing with the Rangers, he was sent to their American Hockey League team in Hartford. But it wasn’t till the 2013-14 season that it became clear that there might be a more permanent place for Talbot in the NHL. Starting the season with Hartford, the goalie posted a 4-0-1 record, with a 2.49 GAA and a .924 SV%. Five games was enough of a trial for the Rangers brass to make the call to bring the 25-year-old up to replace an injured Henrik Lundqvist. An October 24, 2013 matchup at Philadelphia marked both Talbot’s first NHL appearance and loss. Despite a solid performance by the netkeeper, who stopped 25 of 27 shots, the Rangers dropped the game 2-1, losing their sixth in eight games to start the season.
Nevertheless, Cam rebounded two nights later, stopping 32 of 34 Detroit shots. He would eventually get his first NHL shutout in Montreal. It turned out to be the Blueshirts’ first shutout on the road against the Canadiens since Feb 25, 1967, the year before the first NHL expansion after World War II.
He finished the 2013-14 regular season leading all first-year goalies with a 1.64 Goals Against Average and .941 Save Percentage. And in his first NHL playoff appearance, on April 29, 2014, he stopped all five shots he faced in Game Six of the Metropolitan Division Semifinals at Philadelphia.
“Cam gave us a chance to win every game,” said Coach Alain Vigneault. “He did what a goaltender is supposed to do.”
Despite Talbot’s instant success, skeptics wondered whether he could continue to succeed over the long haul. Some argued that he was a flash in the pan.
Talbot began his sophomore season with three straight losses but soon rebounded with four wins, including three shutouts, in his next five starts.
Not once did Cam complain about being the understudy to the all-popular Henrik Lundqvist. His philosophy was quite simple—it relied on appreciating the opportunity he was given.
Sure enough, opportunity knocked even louder shortly after the All-Star Game in January of 2015, when Lundqvist was sidelined with a rare injury against the Carolina Hurricanes. The King was struck in the neck under his protective guard, causing a serious vascular injury.
When it seemed Lundqvist would be sidelined for a long period of time, a black cloud of uncertainty hovered over Rangerville. And the most prominent questions was this: could Talbot hold down the fort till the main man returned?
Over a period of 25 games, Cam answered that emphatically affirmative, compiling a record of 18-4-3, despite a first-start loss to the Nashville Predators.
Cam then earned points in all of his next nine starts (7-0-2), becoming the first Rangers netminder to accomplish the feat, since the 1996-97 season when Mike Richter went 14-0-2.
Considering this remarkable goaltending melodrama, it was hardly surprising that by the end of the 2014-15 season, the media was touting Talbot as perhaps being a number-one goalie for another NHL team, rather than serving as an understudy to The King.
After all, it would seem the Prince saved more than just pucks for the Rangers—he saved them the season.
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Unsung: adj. 1.not acclaimed or honoured – Collins English Dictionary
There are heroes who inspire banner headlines, and there are others who slip between the journalistic cracks.
The fact that the latter often outwork the former happens to be a simple fact of hockey life.
A trio who fit into this category includes Carl Hagelin, Kevin Hayes, and Mats Zuccarello.
Each has contributed significantly to the Rangers renaissance and figure to impact the Blueshirts for seasons to come.
CARL HAGELIN—THE SWEDISH SWIFTY
Born and raised in Södertälje, Sweden, Carl Hagelin didn’t have to look far to get involved in hockey. Beginning his career in the Swedish juniors in 2005-06, Hagelin played for two seasons for Södertälje SK, his hometown team in the J20 SuperElit league. In his second season with Södertälje SK, he was named team captain, while also tying for the team lead in scoring.
During his two-year run in Södertälje, Hagelin netted 44 goals and 51 assists, good for fifth all-time in points and goals in his team’s history.
Despite Hagelin’s strong numbers in Sweden, the 5’11” winger was seen by some as too small for the NHL game. However, his speed and ability were enough to get the Rangers to come calling, as they made Hagelin the 168th overall pick, in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Before beginning a professional career, though, Hagelin had another option available, as the University of Michigan offered him a scholarship, making him the first Swedish-born player to suit up for the Wolverines.
Hagelin made an immediate impact, scoring in his first ever game as a collegiate and helping lead Michigan to the NCAA Frozen Four in his freshman year. By his junior season, he had developed a reputation as a two-way winger. The lefty netted collegiate career-bests in goals (19) and points (50) during his third year at Michigan and helped lead his squad to another NCAA tournament appearance. As a senior, Hagelin won the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Best Defensive Forward Award and was also named All-CCHA first team. He notched 49 points in 44 games that season, as the Wolverines reached the NCAA National Championship before his collegiate career came to an end.
After his time at Michigan, the Rangers, still owning Hagelin’s rights, signed the left winger to a professional contract. The 2011-12 season marked his first as a pro, beginning with the Rangers’ affiliate in the American Hockey League, the Connecticut Whale. Aided by his time spent in the NCAA, Hagelin quickly adapted to the professional game. The winger notched 13 points in only 17 games before getting the call to join the big club.
On November 25, 2011, just over seven months after his NCAA career came to an end, Hagelin laced up his skates for the first time as a member of the Rangers. Continuing his trend of fitting in quickly, Hagelin notched an assist in his first NHL game before scoring his first goal the next night against the Philadelphia Flyers. Hagelin totaled 14 goals and 24 assists in his first season as a Blueshirt. This was enough to get him invited to the 2012 NHL All-Star weekend, where he competed in the Rookie Showcase. Hagelin demonstrated the burst of energy that has become his trademark, as he won the fastest skater challenge.
Hagelin has become a good fit in Head Coach Alain Vigneault’s system, which emphasizes team speed and strong two-way play. He became a fixture on the Rangers’ penalty-killing team while also providing a reliable scoring touch. More importantly, the team has made the playoffs in each season since Hagelin first donned a Rangers jersey.
Still, Hagelin commands few headlines but is valued by management as one of the Blueshirts’ unsung heroes.
KEVIN HAYES—THE FLYING GOLDEN EAGLE
The odd part of Kevin Hayes’s Rangers experience is that he was never supposed to be a Blueshirt in the first place.
Although the Chicago Blackhawks had drafted him, the Windy City sextet failed to lock him up to a contract. As a result he wound up in Gotham as an unrestricted free agent without ever having played a game in The Show. The big-bodied center made an instant impact on the Garden Faithful.
Hockey has always played a large role in Hayes’s life. As a child, he had the unique experience of having two family members that played professionally, as his cousins Keith Tkachuk and Tom Fitzgerald were NHL mainstays throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. Hayes played locally in Dedham, Massachusetts, where his skills began to flourish. Playing for his hometown Noble and Greenough School, Hayes earned Prep Player of the Year and All-New England East honors in 2009-10.
Hayes’s local dominance earned him some serious hype within the American hockey landscape. While considering his collegiate hockey options, Chicago made him the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Hayes almost immediately joined the Blackhawks to participate in their development camp, but continued forward with plans to play NCAA hockey in order to better develop his game.
When deciding where to play college hockey, Hayes didn’t have to look far. Boston College was a powerhouse in the NCAA and undoubtedly the most consistent title contender on the East Coast. Even better, his brother Jimmy was already an established star for the Eagles, and Kevin jumped at the chance to play for a local team with his brother. The two played alongside one another during Kevin’s freshman and Jimmy’s junior campaign.
Success was not easily attainable for Kevin at first, however. Jimmy was clearly the more experienced player and left BC after his junior season in order to sign a professional contract with the Blackhawks. Meanwhile, Kevin struggled with injuries in both his freshman and junior seasons, missing several games in each campaign. Hayes put together a strong sophomore season however, as he appeared in all 44 games for the Eagles. While his scoring output wasn’t substantial (7 goals, 21 assists), many of his points were timely, as he notched three game-winning goals throughout the year. More importantly, Hayes helped lead his squad to a National Championship that season, as he was featured on a team with several future NHL-ers, including soon-to-be Rangers teammate Chris Kreider.
By his senior season, Hayes had championship experience on his resume, but had yet to take the big step most were expecting from him. That all changed in his final collegiate season however, as he spent the year on the Eagles top line, alongside Hobey Baker Award winner Johnny Gaudreau. Hayes broke out by scoring 28 goals and 39 assists in 40 games played—nearly tripling his point total from his junior season. While the Hobey Baker trophy went to his linemate, Hayes himself was named a Top 10 Finalist for the award given to collegiate hockey’s best player. In total, he notched at least one point in 31 out of 40 contests, and was second in the country in scoring.
Hayes arrived in New York with a reputation of being a solid two-way player, with a heavy right-handed shot that can be particularly helpful on the power play. In his rookie year in 2014-15, he had posted 17 goals and 45 points through 79 games. Despite this, he remained considerably less publicized than many of his more prominent teammates.
MATS ZUCCARELLO—FROM NORWAY TO BROADWAY
While Carl Hagelin and Kevin Hayes came to the Rangers from hockey hotbeds—Sweden and New England, respectively—Mats Zuccarello’s path to Seventh Avenue was paved down a much more unlikely track. Zuccarello was born in 1987 in Oslo, Norway, a place where hockey and other winter sports thrive, but NHL talent isn’t abundant. He began skating by age three and was learning the basics of the sport less than two years later. Zuccarello joined his first team when skating for Valerenga, a local children’s club team.
In order to continue his development, Mats enrolled into the Norwegian College of Elite Sports (NTG), in 2004. After graduating NTG in 2006, Zuccarello became a regular starter for Frisk Asker in the GET-ligaen, Norway’s premier league. He continued to excel, and by his second full season in the league, he was named Most Valuable Player after posting 64 points (24 goals, 40 assists) in 33 games. Mats’ leadership skills also became evident, as he helped Frisk Asker win its first championship in 30 years.
After three seasons in GET-ligaen, Zuccarello attracted attention from top European teams. In 2008, he signed with Modo Hockey of the Elitserien, Sweden’s premier league. He recorded a league-leading 64 points in his second season and was voted the league’s MVP by his fellow Elitserien players.
Despite Zuccarello’s European success, he was unable to generate enough interest to get noticed in the NHL Draft. Following his MVP season for Modo in 2009-10 however, one team finally found a diamond in the rough. Zuccarello was signed as an undrafted free agent to a two-year, entry-level contract by the Rangers in the summer of 2010.
After a stint with the Connecticut Whale, the Rangers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Zuccy made his NHL debut on December 23, 2010. This was no small feat, as he became only the seventh Norwegian to play in the NHL, and the second that entered the league as an undrafted free agent.
Mats didn’t wait long to make an impact on Seventh Avenue. He assisted on a goal during his second NHL game, and lit the lamp for the first time a week later. His first NHL goal was a dramatic one, as he corralled a rebound and beat Carolina’s Cam Ward from a near-impossible angle to propel the Rangers to an overtime victory.
Zuccarello went on to appear in 42 games that season, notching 23 points along the way. However, Lady Luck was not smiling on him for the next two years, as he spent the majority of this time in the AHL.
This negative experience inspired him to return to Europe, as Zuccarello spent a year playing in the Kontinental Hockey League. Zuccarello’s NHL departure wasn’t a long one, as he returned to New York following the lockout that began the 2012-13 season.
Mats played well enough to be signed to another one-year deal with the Rangers for the 2013-14 season. It was clear that Zuccy’s career would soar once Alain Vigneault became Rangers head coach and began using him in a variety of roles. Despite being one of the league’s smallest players, Mats proved totally fearless, taking on some of the biggest, toughest opponents in the league. His assets to the team were apparent over the course of 77 games, as he registered career-highs in goals (19), assists (40), and points (59). Not only did Mats become the first Norwegian to ever play in the Cup Final, but he was also the only NHL player to represent his country in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Zuccarello earned another one-year contract with the Rangers for 2014-15, but also found himself at a career crossroads. He was seeking more long-term security than he was getting on his year-to-year deals. As the trade deadline neared and contract negotiations stalled, the winger was subject to trade rumors brought on by his pending free agency. Just prior to the deadline however, the two sides reached an agreement and Zuccarello signed a four-year, $18 million extension, beginning with the 2015-16 season.
The winger’s second season under AV was another success, as he recorded 59 points playing on the Rangers’ first line with Rick Nash and Derick Brassard for the majority of the year.
Although he was one of the key players in the Rangers’ regular season success, his playoff campaign ended frighteningly at the end of the first round.
In Game Five against Pittsburgh, Mats was struck in the head by a shot from teammate Ryan McDonagh (although the injury was initially deemed vaguely as an “upper body injury”).
Weeks later, after the Rangers were prematurely knocked out of the playoff race by the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final, Zuccarello addressed the media during break-up day. It was revealed that the injury was more terrifying than anticipated.
The shot he took had caused a skull fracture and a brain contusion. It had caused enough damage that he had temporarily lost the ability to speak and move his arm for four days. Even during his address, he struggled through his words and divulged that there was still a bit of speech therapy and rehab in his future.
As tough as hockey players come, Zuccarello answered the next few questions regarding his return with a confirmation that he would be back on the ice for the start of the next season.
