James Patrick

This is James Patrick. "Jeep" played in nearly 1300 NHL games, 4 world championships, 2 world juniors, 1 Canada Cup and 1 Olympics, but somehow is one of the most underrated defensemen in the history of the game.

Patrick, who suffered from the digestive disease colitis, was an exceptional talent. He was an excellent skater in every way - speed, agility and power. His skating was amplified by his superior puck handling ability, often rushing the puck. He had a great point shot, always kept low for tips and rebounds.

That is how Patrick picked up most of his points, because he was not an elite passer. He was never great at the perfect breakout pass from his own zone. His instinct was always to skate with the puck. Once he reached the neutral zone he would either dump the puck into the offensive zone, or just drive all the way to the net, whether the defenseman should be or not. He was unlikely to utilize the players ahead of him when rushing the puck.

Though his skating and hockey smarts always placed him in strong defensive positioning, he was often criticized for his defensive play. Despite his good size, he was never a physical presence by any stretch of the imagination. It was not in his demeanor, or in his upper body strength. Still, his skating and balance should have allowed him to be a smart take-out defenseman, but too often players would drive through his checks.

James comes a great Canadian athletic family, but not the family you may expect. He is no relation to Frank and Lester Patrick, hockey's most influential family. He is the son of Steve Patrick, a former CFL star quarterback turned Manitoba politician. James' brother Steve Jr. also played in the NHL, including a short time with James on the Rangers.

James was the Rangers 9th overall draft pick in 1981, selected ahead of the likes of Al MacInnis and Chris Chelios. Patrick was named as the Canadian Tier II junior player of the year that year, leading Prince Albert to the Centennial Cup. But the Rangers would have to be patient with Patrick, who was heading to the University of North Dakota to hone his game and study business administration.

Patrick immediately established himself as one of the best players in the NCAA, winning WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1982. That year North Dakota won the NCAA championships, with Patrick being named as the team's MVP. Patrick would be named as a finalist for the Hobey Baker award as the best college player in the country in 1983.

Patrick would leave North Dakota early. In his magical 1982 season he also discovered international hockey, helping Canada earn it's first World Junior gold medal. He enjoyed that experience so much that he jumped at the opportunity to return. He spent the 1983-84 season playing with Dave King's Canadian national team, earning a spot on the Canadian Olympic team. The Canadians finished just out of the medals in 4th place, but Patrick would credit the experience with readying him for the NHL.

Patrick would finish the season with the Rangers, immediately taking a spot on the power play. He would be a regular on the point for the next decade.

Although he had better offensive years, his best year was in 1987-88. He began the year playing with Canada at the Canada Cup, and finished the year being named as the Rangers best defenseman and team MVP.

In late 1993 the Rangers traded Patrick in a complex three way trade to land Steve Larmer. Patrick would play most of the season with Hartford before being traded again to Calgary where the Flames were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. The Rangers, meanwhile, won the Stanley Cup, a reward that would prove to be elusive for Patrick.

Patrick would play in Calgary for six years, battling serious knee, neck and concussion injuries. The Flames would not renew his contract in 1998, and some speculated Patrick's career was done.

The Buffalo Sabres were looking for a veteran presence on their blueline, and signed Patrick up. Neither party probably expected Patrick to play in Buffalo for six seasons, although injuries limited his playing time. Patrick's career highlight came in 1999 when he helped the Sabres reach the Stanley Cup finals. The Sabres would fall to the Dallas Stars in six games.

In 21 NHL seasons Patrick played in 1280 games, scored 149 goals and 639 points. Patrick finally retired in 2004 and took a spot behind the Sabres bench, coaching the defensemen.

For a player with such a great mind for the game, there was never such an obvious transition.

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Ron Greschner

It's hard to believe a kid from tiny Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, population of 200-plus, would become the toast of Manhattan.

That's exactly what Ron Greschner did. The son of a hotelier, the only hotel in the tiny farming community, Greschner not only went to become a popular hero of Manhattan, but married supermodel Carol Alt, owned trendy restaurants, guest-starred on TV shows Ryan's Hope and The Nanny and was a judge at a Miss Universe contest.

Manhattan's Finest

Gresch was a big but mobile defenseman who was playing against senior players aged 20 and over when he was just 12 years old. By 1974 he was an established WHL star out of New Westminster, and was drafted 32nd overall in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. He quickly established himself as a NHL star blessed with size and skating. He would run the Rangers power play in the era between Brad Park and Brian Leetch.

He lacked the polish of those two legends, which holds him back in history's eyes. But those who played with him disagree.

"I mean no disrespect to guys like Brian Leetch and Mike Richter," said Tom Laidlaw, a former defensive partner, "but playing his whole career there, doing the things he did and the points he put up, Greschner belong in the same category as them. He was a quiet leader but definitely proud to be a Ranger."

Lack of team success never helped either. Outside of an unexpected Stanley Cup finals appearance in 1979, the Rangers never really challenged for much in Greschner's days. Had the Rangers been a true top team during Greschner's time, his status may very well have landed him as a Hockey Hall of Famer.

New York loved Ron Greschner, and Ron Greschner loved New York equally in return. "There is no other city. The rest of the world is a suburb," he would say.

The Natural

"He was probably one of the most naturally talented guys we had and also the most likeable guy you would ever want to meet," said long time teammate Pat Hickey.

A hockey natural is a great way to describe him. He was a super stickhandler with a good shot. He was big and aggressive, though not necessarily strong or punishing. He was a smart skater, gifted in his balance and lateral mobility, although he lacked speed. His ice savvy was his biggest asset, able to read plays developing from either end of the ice and to be in the right spot at the right time.

In 982 career games, all with the Rangers, Ron Greschner scored 179 goals, 431 assists and 610 points. In 84 post season contests he added 17 goals and 49 points.

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Mike Richter

When Russ Cohen, John Halligan and Adam Raider listed and ranked the all time great players for the New York Rangers in the 2009 book 100 Rangers Greats, I was really surprised to see Mike Richter ranked so high.

The authors determined he was the third greatest player in Rangers history, ahead of Mark Messier, Bill Cook and Eddie Giacomin. To hockey history fans, of which the three authors clearly are, that takes guts.

After all, Richter had 8 losing seasons out of 14 in his career, never was a league leader in GAA or save percentage or shutouts. His career win totals are small compared to his contemporaries.

For me his high ranking was a welcome surprise, as I never felt Richter ever quite got the recognition he deserved. Statistics never tell the whole story He was spectacular, never more so than in 1994 in the Stanley Cup run or in 1996 at the World Cup. In both instances he almost single-handedly stole victory from the teams I cheer for, the Vancouver Canucks and Team Canada. Though I was devastated by the losses, I was secretly a huge fan of the man in the Statue of Liberty mask.

Yet I often felt like I was the only one. Despite his impressive resume, he never seemed as highly regarded as peers Patrick Roy or Dominik Hasek or Eddie Belfour, and it continues as suggested by his exclusion from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Even fans in New York were at times lukewarm towards him, complaining about lack of consistency during the Rangers lean years later in his career.

To me he was the most exciting goalie I've ever seen. He was a hybrid between the classic stand up goalie but with acrobatic reflexes. When he was on top of his game he was unbeatable. When he was not, I guess he could look bad at times, thus the consistency complaints. Serious injuries, including a fractured skull and serious concussion that forced him into retirement, wore him down too.

But he was a Stanley Cup and World Cup champion. The three time Olympian (2002 silver medalist) has a legendary international record that ranks him as the best American goalie ever.

Mike was also a very interesting person off the ice. While he played at the University of Wisconsin, and took classes at Columbia while still playing, he actually returned to school after retiring, majoring in Ethics, Politics & Economics from Yale. He has show a great interest in politics and has hinted at a run for congress some time in the future.

As a Canucks fan it comes as no surprise that both Richter and Brian Leetch ranked ahead of Mark Messier in the 100 Rangers Greats book, because from our vantage point both were clearly more important to the championship than Mess. You don't have to convince me that Mike Richter should be considered one of the best of his generation.

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Cecil Dillon

Playing in the shadows of the likes of Frank Boucher and Cook brothers, Bill and Bun, it is easy to understand how a player like Cecil Dillon was one of the most underrated players of his day.

But in 10 NHL seasons, 9 with the Rangers, Dillon was the consummate professional, never missing a game with the Rangers.
In 409 consecutive games he scored 160 goals and 281 points.

A right winger with a left handed shot, Dillon made a name for himself early playing on a line with Butch Keeling and Murray Murdoch. The trio were instrumental in the Rangers' 1933 Stanley Cup championship, especially Dillon. In 8 games he scored 8 goals and 10 points in 8 games, leading all NHLers in scoring. Had there been a playoff MVP award back then, Cecil Dillon was sure to have won it that spring.

From 1936 through 1938 he led the Rangers in scoring three consecutive years, joining an exclusive club of Boucher, Bill Cook, Andy Bathgate, Phil Esposito and Wayne Gretzky as the only players to do so.

Dillon, who was known to love Frank Boucher's stories, most of them completely fabricated, about his days in the RCMP, was sold to the Detroit Red Wings for the 1939-40 season, Dillon's last season in the NHL. That year the Rangers won another Stanley Cup, as Dillon prepared to say good bye.

Dillon was one of the very few American born players in the early days of the NHL. Dillon was born in Toledo, Ohio on April 26th, 1908 although he actually grew up in Thornbury, Ontario.

Dillon returned to Thornbury after hockey and worked for the local phone company. He died at the age of 61 in 1969.

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Art Coulter

Arthur Edmund Coulter was born in Winnipeg on May 31, 1909.

Art entered the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks where he was teamed up with Taffy Abel. Art helped the Blackhawks through the 1933-1934 season ending with the honor of winning the Stanley Cup. In 1935 Art was chosen to be a member of the esteemed Second All Star Team.

Although Art was an obvious asset to Chicago on January 15, 1936 it was decided that he was to be traded to the New York Rangers for Earl Seibert. Skeptical about the trade at first, it became evident that this trade would become beneficial to both teams.

Art succeeded Bill Cook as the Rangers' captain in 1935-1936 season. Art's great defensive play helped to earn him a spot on the Second All Start Team three more years - 1938, 1939 and 1940. He led the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup in 1940.

After two more years of play, Art traded in his hockey skates and stick for the honor of defending his country by enlisting into the Canadian Armed Forces during the second World War. This courageous and honorable act ended his pro hockey career.

Art was recognized in the hockey world as a "team player." He believed in teamwork and knew early on that teamwork was the crucial ingredient to winning games and having fun...and ultimately earning the team the right to hold the Stanley Cup.

Art's physical strength and endurance was the key to his defense. He was a punishing hitter, and was not afraid to drop the gloves.

In the 465 games he played he managed to chalk up 112 points and 543 penalty minutes. Deservedly, Art Coulter was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.

Unfortunately, Coulter soured on the game of hockey in retirement. An outspoken and stubborn type, Coulter vowed never to step into Madison Square Gardens again after he was not invited by the Rangers for a special evening. He lived in Georgia and Alabama, where it was easy to not follow hockey. In fact, when he was contacted by a writer in the 1990s and asked his opinion about Wayne Gretzky, Coulter had never heard of him. He said he did not watch modern hockey because "that's not real hockey. They're not as tough as we were."

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Ott Heller

This is Ott Heller. For 15 seasons he patrolled the blueline for the New York Rangers, winning the Stanley Cup in 1933 and in 1940, the only player to play on both championship teams.

Though the red-haired Heller was said to be a very personable character off the ice, on the ice he was a quiet, steady defenseman who excelled at keeping opposition forwards outside of the slot and towards the perimeter. He was said to have incredible upper body strength, allowing him to quickly pin his opponent and by doing so avoiding many penalties. He was tough too, often training with local boxers at a local gym.

Heller was a great skater, and not afraid to join or even lead the rush from time to time. His most famous goal came in a playoff game against Montreal very early in his career. He dashed from one end of the rink to the other to score the game's only goal.

In those 15 years Heller played with many of the Rangers' greats on defense. He started out partnering with Ching Johnson. In the 1933 championship season he teamed with Babe Siebert. Over the next several years he partnered with the likes of Doug Brennan, Art Coulter, Joe Cooper, Babe Pratt and Muzz Patrick.

Heller, who captained the Rangers in his final three seasons, played in 646 career games, once a team record. He scored 55 goals and 231 points in an era when defensemen really were there for defense only. He added 6 goals and 14 points in 61 Stanley Cup playoff games.

Though Heller was demoted to the minor leagues after 15 NHL seasons, he continued on, playing an amazing 11 more seasons in the minor pros. He just loved the game.

"Ott was a hockey player, simple as that," recalled Emile Francis, in the book 100 Rangers Greats. "He was as tough as nails, and not an ounce of fat on him. What an athlete. It seemed like the guy played forever, and at such a high level. He was amazing."

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Edgar Laprade

Born in Mine Centre, Ontario on October 10, 1919, Edgar Laprade moved to Port Arthur, Ontario as a four year old with his family. It was in Port Arthur where Laprade established himself as an amateur hockey legend before moving on to the National Hockey League.

After being a junior standout in Port Arthur, Edgar joined the local senior team named the Bearcats from 1938 until 1943. Edgar helped the Bearcats win the Allan Cup championship in 1939, something that Edgar considered one of the greatest moments of his life. The Allan Cup was given to the best senior team in all of Canad and at one time was nearly as highly regarded as the Stanley Cup. Laprade was also a two time MVP and two time leading scorer in the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League.

Laprade joined the Canadian Army Ordinance Corps on October 20, 1943. Despite serving for his country he still managed to find time for his passion. He played in one game with the Ottawa Commandos of the Quebec Senior Hockey League before being transferred to Winnipeg and played for Army in the Winnipeg Services Hockey League until it was disbanded in January 1944. The following year, Laprade was stationed in Kingston and played with the Barriefield Bears in the Kingston Hockey League senior league.

After the war ended, Laprade was finally lured into the world of professional hockey. The Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers, who had put him on their negotiation list as a junior in 1938 were the two most interested parties. The Rangers won that bidding war when they gave him a $5000 bonus for his mortgage on a house in Port Arthur. He joined the Rangers in 1945-46 and played with them until he retired 1954-55.

A two time team MVP, Edgar captured the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie in 1946 and the Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL's Most Gentlemanly Player in 1950. He was selected to play in four consecutive NHL All Star Games from 1947 through 1950.

While Edgar was able to display his true hockey talents in his first few years in the NHL, a serious ankle injury in 1952 really humbled the effortless skater. He actually retired after the 1951-52 season only to return the following year. He played until 1955 but numerous injuries limited Laprade's effectiveness.

Known as "Beaver" because of his hustle and work ethic on the ice, Laprade was known as a aggressive but very clean player. Twice he went the entire season without recording a single penalty minute, and only had 42 PIM in in his 500 NHL game career. He was also known as a play making center with great speed and athleticism. He was a tremendous defensive player as well, making him one of the greatest two way centers in NHL history. A strong back checker and prolific penalty killer, Laprade perfected the "poke check" as an effective strategy.

He was a small man in stature, standing just 5'10" and weighing in at 160lbs. But he was the biggest member of his "Three Little Shaefers" line, with wingers Tony Leswick (5'7" 160lbs) and Knobby Warwick (5'5" 155lbs).

Laprade scored 108 goals and 172 assists for 280 points in 500 regular season games, all with the Rangers. While he never hoisted the Stanley Cup, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the veteran's category in 1993.

Edgar retired from hockey to return to Ontario. He opened a sporting goods store and was involved in local politics.

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Dutch Hiller

This is Wilbert Hiller, universally known as "Dutch" Hiller thanks to the strong Dutch population in his hometown of Kitchener, Ontario, even though he was not Dutch at all.

He was also universally hailed as the fastest man on skates.

"Nobody could keep up with Dutch. Nobody," proclaimed Frank Boucher, Hiller's coach with the Rangers.

Hiller was best known as a New York Ranger, playing on a line with Alf Pike and Snuffy Smith when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1940. In his nine year career he also played with Boston, Detroit and twice with Montreal, winning another Stanley Cup in 1946

Hiller scored 91 goals and 113 assists in 383 regular-season games in the NHL. He was primarily a defensive player, though his production increased to around the 20 goal mark during the World War II.

After finishing his hockey career in 1947 with a season with AHL Pittsburgh, Hiller eventually relocated to Los Angeles where he was the Kings' long time goal judge.

Dutch Hiller died at the age of 90 on November 12th, 2005, just days after the Hockey Hall of Fame arranged for a special surprise for him - a visit from the Stanley Cup.

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