The New York Rangers captains have made their mark on the Big Apple’s hockey and sports history altogether. Stanley Cups, James Norris Trophies and franchise records are all proof of this. So, here’s a trip down memory lane – a recap of five historical Broadway Blueshirts captains.
Historical New York Rangers Captains
Mark Messier, Centre
Firstly, we have the obvious one. The legendary man who scored a cup-clincher during Game Seven of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks. This helped bring the big drink to the Big Apple for the first time in 54 years. The Hockey Hall of Famer, and one of the NHLs official greatest players of its first 100 years, had a whopping six seasons with 100 points or more. Five were with his hometown team the Edmonton Oilers. But, he notched 107 points (35 goals & 72 assists) in 79 games in his debut 1991-92 season with the Broadway Blueshirts.
By his first season as a Ranger, the Edmonton native was captain. He wasn’t a stranger to a Stanley Cup, having captained the Oilers to it in 1990. He also won it four times with the Oilers between 1984 and 1988.
“When you’re talking about Mark Messier, you’re talking about a latter-day Gordie Howe,” said hockey historian Stan Fischler in an interview about him.
Messier ranks third-highest in NHL history in overall points – 1,887 in 694 games.
“From a very early age, I was programmed to win. My whole concentration and focus was on winning and doing whatever it took to win,” Messier said in an NHL interview.
Messier had two stints as the Blueshirts captain, one from 1991-92 to 1996-97, and another from 2000-01 to 2003-04.
Jaromir Jagr, Right Wing
Next, we have the Czech scoring legend Jaromir Jagr. In NHL history, the legendary winger is second in overall career points only to the Great One Wayne Gretzky. Jagr notched 1,921 points (766 goals & 1,155 assists) in 1,733 games. Drafted fifth overall in 1990 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jagr would immediately win two Stanley Cups following his first two seasons. He would then go on to win a whopping five Art Ross Trophies (as the league’s scoring champion) in seven seasons.
“There’s no one in the league that I think has ever played that protects the puck better than Jaromir Jagr,” said Washington Capitals Broadcaster Craig Laughlin in an NHL interview.
Jagr was a New York Rangers alternate captain alongside Steve Rucchin and Darius Kasparaitis in 2005-06, Jagrs first full season in New York. This would prove to be his best season offensively with the Blueshirts, and third-best in his NHL career. This year, Jagr scored the second-most goals in a season of his NHL career (54), alongside 69 assists to make 123 points in 82 games. His 54 goals and 123 points that year are both Blueshirts franchise records for scoring in a season. This performance would precede his first campaign as New York Rangers captain in 2006-07. Jagr would hold this position until the following season.
In the time just before his draft in 1990, scouts knew about the then 17-year-old Czech winger. Jagr looked up to the legendary Pittsburgh Penguins centre Mario Lemieux – and the Pens drafted him.
Brian Leetch, Defenceman
The time in between Messier’s two stints as New York Rangers captain, 1997-98 to 1999-2000, saw Texas native blueliner Brian Leetch’s reign. Another ’94 Stanley Cup champ and recipient of many other awards, Leetch was the first American to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, doing so in 1994 as well.
Drafted ninth overall by the Blueshirts in 1986, Leetch ranks eighth in NHL history for points by a defenceman, with 1,028 in 1,205 games. He instantly made a great first impression, with 23 goals and 71 points in 68 games during his first full NHL season in 1988-89. This paid off, since he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie that year.
“He brought some offence from the back end like nobody else could bring,” said former goaltender Martin Brodeur, a four-time Vezina Trophy Winner, in an NHL interview.
Leetch was also an alternate captain from 1992-93 to 1996-97. He held this position again from 2000-01 to 2002-03 under Messier’s second reign as captain. As a Ranger, he won two James Norris Memorial Trophies for best defenceman in 1991-92 and 1996-97.
Ron Greschner, Defenceman
Next, we have another blueliner. Spending his entire 16-season NHL career with the Blueshirts, the Saskatchewan native defenceman was the Rangers captain in 1986-87 and part of 1987-88. Greschner is second, only behind Brian Leetch, in career overall points by a Blueshirts defenceman. He notched 610 points (179 goals & 431 assists) in 981 games. Greschner also holds the second-place record for power play goals by a Rangers defenceman with 51. He sits above James Patrick who scored 50 PPGs and behind only Leetch who scored a whopping 106.
Chris Drury, Centre
Finally, we have the now Blueshirts general manager and president since May 5, 2021. And Drury had an excellent NHL career himself. He was the Blueshirts captain during three consecutive seasons, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. Drafted 72nd overall in 1994 by the then Quebec Nordiques, he began playing for them after they had moved to Colorado. His initial 1998-99 season saw him notch 44 points (20 goals & 24 assists) in 79 games. This would win Drury the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie that season. Drury then went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Avs following the 2001 playoffs.
His first season as the Rangers captain in 2008-09 saw him notch 56 points (22 goals & 34 assists) in 81 regular-season games. Drury also played in three Blueshirts playoffs, including 10 games in 2007-08, with him scoring three goals and three assists in that time.
Main Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
