Rangers Announce 2016-17 Team Award Winners
McDonagh named Team MVP for 2nd time in his career; Fast selected as recipient of Players' Player Award for 2nd straight season
by New York Rangers @NYRangers / New York Rangers
The New York Rangers announced their team award winners for the 2016-17 season today. Ryan McDonagh has been named the Rangers' Most Valuable Player and Jesper Fast has been selected as the recipient of the Players' Player Award.
McDonagh was selected as the team's MVP for the second time in his career. The Rangers captain, who became the 10th defenseman in franchise history to receive the award when he was named the Rangers' MVP in 2013-14, is now one of three Blueshirts defensemen who have been named the team's MVP at least twice, along with Brian Leetch (six times) and Barry Beck (twice). The award was voted on by members of the New York Rangers media and has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1941-42 season.
McDonagh has skated in 76 games this season, registering five goals and 35 assists for 40 points, along with a plus-19 rating and 37 penalty minutes. He has established career-highs in assists and primary assists (21) in 2016-17. McDonagh posted a career-high, eight-game assist/point streak from Oct. 17 vs. San Jose to Nov. 1 vs. St. Louis, and his eight-game assist streak was the longest any NHL defenseman recorded this season. In addition, his eight-game point streak was tied for the longest any NHL defenseman registered this season. McDonagh also represented the Rangers at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles on Jan. 29.
Fast was selected as the recipient of the Players' Player Award for the second consecutive season, becoming the 11th Ranger in franchise history to win the award in at least two consecutive seasons. Among the players who have won the award in back-to-back seasons are Jean Ratelle, John Davidson, Adam Graves, and Brian Leetch. The Players' Player Award has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1958-59 season and recognizes the Ranger who, as selected by his teammates, "best exemplifies what it means to be a team player."
The 25-year-old has registered six goals and 15 assists for 21 points, along with a plus-six rating and 16 penalty minutes in 68 games this season. Fast has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in 53 of the 68 games he has played this season, including a plus-one rating or better in 20 contests. He ranks third among Rangers forwards in hits (99) and ranks fourth among team forwards in blocked shots (44) in 2016-17.
The New York Rangers announced that Mats Zuccarello has been named the winner of the 2016-17 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented by Lenox Hill Hospital.
The Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, "goes above and beyond the call of duty." The award, which has been given annually since the 1987-88 season, bears the name of New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986 and passed away on January 10, 2017. More Rangers fans participated in selecting this year's winner than in any prior year, as over 10,000 votes were made.
In celebration of Detective Steven McDonald and his continuing legacy, the Rangers team honored Steven by wearing custom McDonald 104 jerseys on January 13, 2017 and recently auctioned off these jerseys with all proceeds benefitting the DEA Widows' and Children's Fund. Through the generosity of Rangers fans, the auction raised over $24,000. Rangers fans continue to contribute to our fundraising efforts - through the purchase of commemorative McDonald 104 pins - which to date have totaled an additional $7,000 for the DEA Widows' and Children's Fund, which is a partner of the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
Zuccarello has skated in 79 games this season, registering 15 goals and 44 assists for 59 points, along with a plus-14 rating and 26 penalty minutes. He has established career-highs in several categories this season, including assists, even strength assists (35), even strength points (45), takeaways (69), and shots on goal (188). Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists, points, even strength assists, takeaways, and shootout goals (four), is tied for the team lead in even strength points, ranks second in primary assists (23), and is tied for second in power play points (14) this season.
The Oslo, Norway, native is the first Ranger who has registered 44 assists in one season since Marian Gaborik in 2009-10. In addition, Zuccarello is one of five Rangers who have recorded at least 35 even strength assists in one season over the last 20 seasons (since 1996-97), along with Wayne Gretzky, Brian Leetch, Jaromir Jagr, and Michael Nylander.
Zuccarello, who also received the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2013-14 and 2015-16, is one of three Rangers who have received the award at least three times, along with Adam Graves (five times) and Ryan Callahan (four times). Zuccarello is also one of five Rangers who have won the award in back-to-back years, along with Graves, Callahan, Mark Messier, and Sandy McCarthy.
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