NYR TODAY WEDNESDAY 8/1: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 8/1: 

Syl Apps Jr. C (1970-1971) Benoit Dusablon C (2003-2004) Dave Farrish D (1976-1979) Richard Scott RW (2001-02,2003-04) Anton Stralman D (2011-2014)

Today in NYR History 8/1: 

1961: One month after turning 20, future Hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert signs his first NHL contract with the New York Rangers.

The signing comes after Gilbert finishes his fourth season with the Rangers-sponsored Guelph Royals in the Ontario Hockey Association with 103 points (54 goals, 49 assists) in 47 games. He makes his NHL debut with the Rangers on Nov. 27, 1960, earning an assist on Dean Prentice's goal in a 3-3 tie with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Gilbert misses much of the 1961-62 season after back surgery but is available during the Stanley Cup Playoffs when forward Ken Schinkel is injured. He scores twice in Game 3 of the Semifinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, finishes with five points in four games and becomes a full-time NHL player in 1962-63. Gilbert retires in November 1977 and is elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982. He remains the Rangers' all-time leader in goals (406) and points (1,021).

A career Ranger, Gilbert would go on to post 406 goals and 615 assists and was a plus 38 in 1065 regular season games as a Blueshirt.

Seasons with Rangers: 18 (1960-1977)

Regular-Season Games with Rangers: 1065
Playoff Games with Rangers: 79

MAJOR NHL AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS WITH RANGERS
Hockey Hall of Fame — Inducted 1982
Masterton Trophy — 1975-76
Lester Patrick Trophy — 1991
NHL First All-Star Team — 1971-72
NHL Second All-Star Team — 1967-68
NHL All-Star Game — 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977

RANGERS TEAM AWARDS
Rangers MVP — 1967-68, 1974-75, 1975-76
Players` Player Award — 1963-64 (co-winner)
Boucher Trophy (Most Popular) — 1963-64, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77
Rangers Good Guy Award — 1977-78
"Crumb Bum" Award (Community Service) — 1998-99

RANGERS RECORDS
Most career points — 1,021
Most career goals — 406
Most assists in one game — 5 (achieved three times, shares record with three others)
Most shots on goal in one game — 16 at Montreal on Feb. 24, 1968

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS WHILE WITH RANGERS
1972 Summit Series — Canada vs. USSR
1977 World Championships in Austria

RANGERS TEAM LEADER
Most points — 1964-65, 1974-75, 1975-76
Most goals — 1964-65, 1966-67, 1973-74, 1974-75 (tie), 1975-76
Most assists — 1964-65, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1972-73, 1974-75, 1976-77
Most playoff points — 1967, 1968, 1970
Most playoff goals — 1967 (tie), 1968, 1970, 1972 (tie)
Most playoff assists — 1970

RANGERS ORGANIZATION STATISTICS
Minor-league games: 204
Minor-league teams: Guelph (OHA) 1957-1961; Trois-Rivieres (EPHL) 1959-60; Kitchener-Waterloo (EPHL) 1961-62

MISCELLANEOUS
Full Name: Rodrigue Gabriel Gilbert
Uniform Numbers: 16,14, 7
Retired from NHL: 1977

1981: Rangers acquire Normand Rochefort and Jason Lafreniere from the Quebec Nordiques in exchange for Bruce Bell, Jari Gronstrand, Walt Poddubny and the 1989 4th round pick (#76-Eric Dubois).