Milan Hnilicka G (1999-2000) Ken Hodge RW (1976-1978) Joe Paterson LW (1999-2001)
Today in NYR History 6/25
1993: The Hockey Hall of Fame announces its newest members including center Edgar Laprade, a member of the New York Rangers for 10 seasons in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Rangers won the Stanley Cup championship in 1940, but went into eclipse during World War II, then made the playoffs only twice in a six-team league during Laprade’s time with them.
But there were a couple of Rangers back then who brought hope to the old Madison Square Garden: Laprade, their small (he stood 5 feet 8 and weighed 160 pounds) but speedy center, and goalie Chuck Rayner, also a future Hall of Famer.
Playing all 10 of his N.H.L. seasons with the Rangers, Laprade was a superb puck handler and penalty killer, and he seemed to glide effortlessly along the ice.
2000: The Rangers select goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in the seventh-round, 205th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft.
Before joining the Rangers, Lundqvist played for Frölunda HC in Swedish Elitserien. During his years in Sweden, he developed into the league's finest goaltender, winning the Honken Trophy three consecutive seasons; 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, he also won two of the most prestigious awards in Swedish ice hockey, the Golden Puck and the Golden Helmet.
The current Rangers netminder currently holds all team records including wins (431), Saves (21169), Save Percenatge (.919), Games Played (805) and Shutouts (63) surpassing both Eddie Giacomin and Mike Richter since his rookie season in 2005. He is also the first NHL Goaltender to establish 11, 30 plus win seasons in his first 12 seasons in the league.
Before winning the Vezina Trophy in 2012, he was nominated in each of his first three seasons, and is the only goaltender in NHL history to record eleven 30 win seasons in his first 12 seasons. He currently holds the record for most wins by a European-born goaltender in the NHL (405). His dominating play during his rookie season resulted in the New York media and Rangers fans giving him the nickname "King Henrik". During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, he led the Swedish men's team to their second Olympic gold medal.
Lundqvist currently sits in 8th place on the NHL's All Time Wins List just 6 wins behind former Rangers & NHL Goaltending Legend Jacques Plate for 7th place with 437.
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