New York Rangers Retired Numbers

1965-1975 - Retired on March 15, 1989

One of hockey's great goaltenders during his illustrious 13-year career, Eddie Giacomin became the second player to have his number retired by the Rangers on March 15, 1989.

Always a fan favorite in New York, Giacomin spent over 10 seasons with the Rangers, appearing in 539 matches and posting a 267-174-89 mark, along with a 2.73 goals against average and 49 shutouts.

On the Rangers all-time goaltending list, he ranked first overall in career wins (267) and shutouts (49), and second in appearances (539) at the time of his departure in 1975. The legendary goalie also ranked at or near the top of several single season Ranger records, ranking first in wins for a season (37, 1968-69), tied for first in appearances for a season (70, 1968-69 and 1969-70) and tied for fourth in shutouts for a season (9, 1966-67) at the time. Additionally, he is one of only two Ranger goalies in franchise history to reach the 30-win benchmark five times (1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1973-74).

Giacomin played in six NHL All-Star Games (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973), including five straight appearances from 1967 to 1971. The netminder was selected as a First Team All-Star two times (1967, 1971), and was honored as a Second Team All-Star three times (1968, 1969, 1970). In 1971, he was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender, sharing the honor with Gilles Villemure.

In addition to his puckstopping ability, Giacomin made Rangers history on March 19, 1972 when he became the first Blueshirt goalie to register a multiple-point game with two assists vs. Toronto at Madison Square Garden. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.

1987-2004 - Retired on January 24, 2008

Simply the best defenseman to ever wear the Blueshirt, Brian Leetch was drafted by the Rangers as their first-round selection, ninth overall on June 21, 1986.

After a sparkling 18-year career, 17 of which were with the Rangers, Leetch finished with 247 goals and 781 assists for 1,028 points while skating in 1,205 games. 

As a Ranger, Leetch re-wrote every scoring record by a defenseman with 240 goals, 741 assists and 981 points. Additionally, his 741 assists rank first all-time amongst all skaters and only fellow Ranger great, Rod Gilbert, sis ahead of him on the Blueshirts' all-time scoring list.

In 1989, he capped off an impressive rookie season by winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League's top rookie, the first Ranger to win the award since Steve Vickers in 1973. In his playoff career, the defenseman ranks first all-time in assists (61) and points (89) in 82 post-season contests with the Rangers.

During the storied 1993-94 season, Leetch helped the Rangers capture the team's second President's Trophy in three seasons and was honored with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player during the playoffs on his way to leading the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Championship in 54 years.

The Corpus Christi, Texas-native is written into the NHL record books as one of the greatest American-born players to ever lace up the skates, placing second only to Phil Housley on the all-time defenseman scoring list. A two-time Norris Trophy winner as the League's top defenseman and a two-time NHL First Team All-Star ('92, '97), Leetch also enjoyed international success capturing a silver medal with Team USA at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. In June of 1997, he was honored as one of 12 players voted to the All-Time USA Hockey Team.

1952 - 1969 - Retired on February 22, 2009

The benchmark for consistency and longevity, Harry Howell’s NHL career spanned 21 seasons, including an amazing 17 consecutive seasons in a Rangers uniform. Howell skated in 1,411 career games, registering 94 goals and 324 assists for 418 points. 

His franchise record of 1,160 regular season games as a Ranger might never be broken. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979, Howell joined the team as a 19-year-old on October 18, 1952, recording a goal in his first NHL game. Over the next 17 years, he became a fixture on defense for the Blueshirts, missing only 40 out of 1,200 regular-season games. 

Having played in six NHL All-Star Games as a member of the Rangers (’54, ’63 – ’65, ’67, ’68), his finest season came in 1966-67 when he registered 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points to capture the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman and was selected to the NHL First All-Star Team. Howell was the last player to win the Norris Trophy before Bobby Orr won the award in each of the next eight seasons. 

The former team Captain (’55 – ’57) was also honored as Rangers’ MVP in 1964, and is one of only four Rangers – along with Andy Bathgate, Rod Gilbert, and Mark Messier – to have won the Frank Boucher Trophy in three consecutive seasons (’65 – ’67). Howell passed away on March 10, 2019.

1961-1978 - Retired on October 14, 1979

Rod Gilbert, the Rangers all-time scoring leader, spent the entire 16 years of his distinguished career dazzling New York fans with his play.

The NHL Hall of Famer (inducted in 1982) became the first Rangers player to have his number retired on October 14, 1979. Gilbert set and still owns the Rangers career scoring records with 406 goals, 615 assists and 1,021 points.The eight-time NHL All-Star was awarded the Patrick Trophy in 1991 and the Masterton Trophy in 1975-76. He was an NHL First Team All-Star in 1971-72 and a Second Team All-Star in 1967-68.

He placed first on the club in scoring three times, including 97-point efforts in 1971-72 and 1974-75; led the team in goal scoring four times and led the team in assists on six occasions. Gilbert was awarded the West Side Association Trophy as Rangers' MVP three times and the WSA Players' Player Award in 1963-64. He was also voted the an Club's MVP on five occasions. Gilbert anchored the right wing of the famed "GAG" line (Goal A Game) with center Jean Ratelle and left wing Vic Hadfield.

1952-1964 - Retired on February 22, 2009

Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate did it all for the Rangers in a remarkable 12-year span that saw him captain the team, win the NHL's Hart Trophy as League MVP, play in eight NHL All-Star Games and tie for the League scoring lead.

In 1,069 career games, he recorded 349 goals and 624 assists for 973 points in 17 NHL seasons. 

Bathgate joined the organization as a 17-year-old in 1949 and got his first call-up to the Rangers early in the 1952-53 season. The four-time Rangers MVP led the team in scoring eight times, with his finest season coming in 1958-59 when he became the first Rangers player to net 40 goals in a single season and was awarded the Hart Trophy as the League's MVP.

A two-time NHL First Team All-Star and a two-time NHL Second Team All-Star, Bathgate tied for the NHL scoring title during the 1961-62 season, only to lose the Art Ross Trophy to Bobby Hull because he had fewer goals. 

Named the team captain in 1961, Bathgate helped the Rangers snap a four-year playoff drought that season. He remained captain until he left the Rangers on Feb. 22, 1964 as the owner of every major team scoring record. His record-setting stretch of goals in 10 consecutive games during the 1962-63 campaign still stands today, as Bathgate's legacy as one of the greatest Blueshirts of all time lives on.

1991-2001 - Retired on February 3, 2009

One of the most popular figures to ever wear the Blueshirt, Adam Graves spent 10 years with the Rangers, setting a watermark in professional sports for excellence both on and off the ice.

Graves retired as a player in 2003 following a 17-year career, finishing with 329 goals and 287 assists for 616 points. The two-time Rangers' MVP will always be best known for his achievements and contributions to the Rangers magical 1994 Stanley Cup team, helping break a 54-year championship drought.

Graves set the Rangers' single season record for most goals in the 1993-94 season, tallying 52 goals to break Vic Hadfield's 22-year mark of 50. His remarkable achievements during that storied season earned him an appearance in the NHL All-Star Game, and he was named as a NHL Second Team All-Star.

Graves' accomplishments on the ice were matched only by his contributions off the ice, as is evident by his numerous awards and accolades celebrating his work in the community. He was recognized by the NHL with its King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1994, as well as the NHL Player Foundation award in 2000. In 2001, the Professional Hockey Writer's Assocation honored Graves with the Bill Masterton Trophy. 

Outside his numerous League and team awards, Graves has been recognized with honors from countless organizations and publications for his achievements in the community, including USA Weekend's 'Most Caring Athlete' Award. Sports Illustrated for KIds' 'Good Sport' Award and the Sporting News' 'Good Guy' Award. 

Graves returned to the Rangers on July 19, 2005, in a unique dual role that uses his myriad of abilities in both the on-ice and off-ice areas of the organization. In this multi-faceted capacity, Graves is a key element in the development of the team's prospects while continuing to develop and execute the organization's many community outreach initiatives.

1961-62; 1973-74 - Retired on December 2, 2018

Vic Hadfield played parts of 13 seasons with the Rangers (1961-62 - 1973-74), registering 262 goals and 310 assists for 572 points, along with 1,041 penalty minutes in 841 games. He ranks fifth in franchise history in goals, ranks seventh in games played, and ranks ninth in points. At the time of his departure from the Rangers following the 1973-74 season, Hadfield ranked second in franchise history in games played and penalty minutes (trailing only Harry Howell in both categories), and ranked fourth in goals, assists, and points (trailing only Andy Bathgate, Rod Gilbert, and Jean Ratelle in all three categories). One of the premier power forwards of his era, Hadfield is the only player who has recorded at least 200 goals and 1,000 or more penalty minutes as a member of the Rangers in franchise history. He was named the 14th captain in franchise history on June 9, 1971, and he served as the team's captain for three seasons (1971-72 - 1973-74).

Hadfield's best season as a Ranger was his first as the team's captain in 1971-72. He registered 50 goals and 56 assists for 106 points, along with a plus-60 rating and 142 penalty minutes in 78 games during the 1971-72 season, becoming the first Ranger to tally 50 goals in a season in franchise history. Hadfield, along with his linemates on the Goal-A-Game Line (G-A-G Line), center Jean Ratelle and right wing Rod Gilbert, became the first linemates to all register 40 or more goals in the same season in NHL history and helped the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hadfield joins Rod Gilbert (7), Ed Giacomin (1), Mike Richter (35), Mark Messier (11), Brian Leetch (2), Adam Graves (9), Harry Howell (3), Andy Bathgate (9), and Jean Ratelle (19) as the only Rangers whose jersey numbers have been retired by the organization.

1991-1997; 2000-2004 - Retired on January 12, 2006

Known simply as 'The Captain,' Messier's leadership skills and intangible qualities are as known and documented as his incredible list of on-ice accomplishments.

He left the game ranking second on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 1,887 points. In addition, Messier places seventh all-time in goals with 694, third in assists with 1,193 and second in games played with 1,756.

The 16-time NHL All-Star joined the Rangers on Oct. 4, 1991, and in his first season with the club guided the team to the President's Trophy. He led the team in scoring that season with 107 points and captured his second Hart Trophy. He also set a Rangers record for most assists by a center with 72, while becoming just the fifth player in franchise history to reach the 100-point plateau.

In 1993-94, Messier led the Rangers to the team's second President's Trophy in three seasons and carried the Rangers to its first Stanley Cup in 54 years. 

He ranks second on the Rangers' all-time playoff scoring list with 80 points, second in goals and assists. 

A four-time NHL First Team All-Star and two-time winner of the Lester B. Pearson Award as the League MVP as voted by the players, Messier ranks fifth on the Rangers' all-time scoring list with 691 points. Named the club's MVP in 1992, 1995 and 1996, he places eighth all-time in goals with 250 and seventh in assists with 441. Messier, a two-time recipient of the Hart Trophy as the Leagu'es most valuable player, has appeared in the second-most playoff contests in NHL history with 236 and ranks second in goals with 109, assists with 186 and points with 295.

The winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1984 as the MVP of the playoffs, Messier is a six-time Stanley Cup Champion, captaining wht 1990 Edmonton Oilers and the 1994 New York Rangers, becoming the first player to have served as captain on two different Stanley Cup winners.

1960-61; 1975-76 - Retired on February 25, 2018

Jean Ratelle played parts of 16 seasons with the Rangers (1960-61 - 1975-76), registering 336 goals and 481 assists for 817 points in 861 games. He ranks second on the Rangers' all-time goals list, ranks third on the franchise's all-time assists list and all-time points list, and ranks sixth in career games played with the Blueshirts. Ratelle and Rod Gilbert are the only players who rank third or higher on the Rangers' all-time lists for goals, assists, and points. In addition, Ratelle is one of only five players in franchise history who played in parts of 16 or more seasons with the Rangers (along with Gilbert, Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, and Ron Greschner).

During his tenure with the Rangers, Ratelle was the recipient of the team's Most Valuable Player Award twice (1971-72 and 1972-73), the Players' Player Award five times (1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1974-75), and the Frank Boucher Trophy as the team's most popular player on and off the ice (as selected by the Rangers Fan Club) twice (1971-72 and 1972-73). He ranked 10th or higher in the NHL in goals three times (1967-68, 1971-72, 1972-73), assists three times (1967-68, 1969-70, 1971-72), and points five times (1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72, 1972-73) during his Rangers tenure. He also registered 30 or more goals in more seasons than any other player in franchise history (six). Ratelle recorded the final goal at the 'Old Garden' (MSG III) in a 3-3 tie against Detroit on Feb. 11, 1968, and he took the first faceoff for the Rangers at the current MSG (MSG IV) on Feb. 18, 1968 against Philadelphia.

Ratelle was the center on the Rangers' famous Goal-A-Game Line (G-A-G Line) with left wing Vic Hadfield and right wing Rod Gilbert. During the 1971-72 season, Ratelle, Hadfield, and Gilbert ranked third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, in the NHL in points during the regular season. Ratelle tallied 109 points (46 goals, 63 assists) and posted a plus-61 rating in 63 games during the 1971-72 season, becoming the first Ranger to tally 100 points in a season (along with Hadfield) and establishing a single-season franchise record for points. Ratelle received the Lester B. Pearson Award (since renamed the Ted Lindsay Award) as the NHL's Most Outstanding Player as selected by the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) in 1971-72, as well as the Lady Byng Trophy for being the player "adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

Ratelle played in parts of 21 NHL seasons with the Rangers and Bruins, registering 491 goals and 776 assists for 1,267 points, along with a plus-236 rating in 1,280 games. A five-time NHL All-Star, Ratelle was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985, and in 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in league history. Ratelle is the only player in NHL history who tallied at least 1,200 career points while amassing fewer than 300 career penalty minutes. Ratelle received the Lady Byng Trophy twice in his NHL career (1971-72 and 1975-76), and he also received the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey", in 1970-71.

Ratelle joins Rod Gilbert (7), Ed Giacomin (1), Mike Richter (35), Mark Messier (11), Brian Leetch (2), Adam Graves (9), Andy Bathgate (9), and Harry Howell (3) as the only Rangers whose jersey numbers have been retired by the organization. Gilbert was the first Ranger to have his number retired on Oct. 14, 1979, and was joined by Giacomin's No. 1 on Mar. 15, 1989, Richter's No. 35 on Feb. 4, 2004, Messier's No. 11 on Jan. 12, 2006, Leetch's No. 2 on Jan. 24, 2008, Graves' No. 9 on Feb. 3, 2009, and most recently, Bathgate's No. 9 and Howell's No. 3 on Feb. 22, 2009.

2005-06 - 2019-20 - Retired on January 28, 2022

Lundqvist played for the Blueshirts for 15 seasons (2005-06 - 2019-20), appearing in 887 games and accumulating a 459-310-96 record, along with a 2.43 GAA, a .918 SV%, and 64 shutouts. The Åre, Sweden native left the Rangers holding over 50 team records, including wins, appearances by a goaltender, shutouts, save percentage (min. 75 appearances), playoff appearances (by either a skater or goaltender - 130), playoff wins (61), playoff shutouts (10), and playoff save percentage (min. 10 appearances - .921).

In 2011-12, Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's Best Goaltender and was named an NHL All-Star five times (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019).

From his rookie season in 2005-06 to 2016-17, Lundqvist led the Rangers to an incredible 11 playoff appearances in a 12-year span. With him in net, the Blueshirts made a run to a Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14, advanced to the Eastern Conference Final three times in a four-year span (2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15), and won 11 different playoff series. Along the way, Lundqvist earned six Game 7 wins, tied for the most in NHL history, and he is the only goaltender in NHL history to win six consecutive Game 7s.

Lundqvist earned numerous team awards during his 15 seasons with the Rangers. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player in nine different seasons, including seven consecutive seasons from 2006-07 - 2012-13; his nine Rangers MVP awards and seven consecutive Rangers MVP Awards are both the most in franchise history. Lundqvist was twice named the winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award (2005-06 and 2017-18), which is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, "goes above and beyond the call of duty." Lundqvist also received the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as the Rangers' Best Rookie in Training Camp (2005), the John Halligan Good Guy Award for cooperation with the media (2007-08), the Rangers Fan Club Frank Boucher Trophy as the team's Most Popular Player on and off the ice (2006-07 and 2009-10), the Rangers Fan Club Rookie of the Year (2005-06), and the Rangers Fan Club Ceil Saidel Memorial Award for dedication to the organization on and off the ice (2005-06 and 2008-09) during his tenure with the Rangers. Lundqvist was also named a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in both 2018-19 and 2019-20; the King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."

Off the ice, Lundqvist made just as much of an impact on his adopted home. In April of 2014, Henrik and his wife, Therese, founded the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation (HLF). Through its fundraising efforts and community outreach, HLF strives to create positive change in the lives of children and adults throughout the world through education and health services. Since its inception, $3.8 million has been raised to benefit HLF community partners and HLF's own program, the HLF Young Ambassador Program. In addition, HLF has directly given grants and made commitments of over $1.8 million supporting children's health and education. Lundqvist also became the official spokesperson for the Garden of Dreams Foundation (GDF) in January of 2009. In 2012, he received the Garden of Dreams Hero Award, which annually honors a person or organization who embodies the spirit and commitment of the Foundation, with active, on-going dedication to children facing obstacles. Over his final six seasons with the Rangers, Lundqvist hosted approximately 1,450 children from various Garden of Dreams partner organizations and their families in "Henrik's Crease" for a Rangers game experience at MSG, courtesy of donations from HLF.

1989-2003 - Retired on February 4, 2004

Drafted by the Rangers on June 15, 1985 as their second-round selection, 28th overall, Richter spent his entire NHL career with the Blueshirts, fashioning a place in history as the finest goaltender the franchise has ever known.

In 666 career appearances, he posted a record of 301-258-73, along with a 2.89 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. His 666 appearances are a team record, while his 301 wins rank second and his 24 shutouts are tied for fourth.

A three-time NHL All-Star (1992, 1994, 2000), Richter was named the Most Valuable Player at the 1994 game at Madison Square Garden.

Later that season, he would help provide Rangers fans with their greatest triumph, backstopping the club to the 1994 Stanley Cup championship. During the championship run, he would establish franchise records for most playoff wins in one season (16) and most minutes played in one post-season (1,477). He also tied a team record with four playoff shutouts during that magical spring.

The brilliance of Richter was not confined to the NHL, as he stepped onto the national stage with Team USA. A three-time United States Olympian (1988, 1998, 2002), Richter helped Team USA capture a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He also led the U.S. to the 1996 World Cup of Hockey championship and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. 

Richter captured the 2009 Lester Patrick Award for contributions to hockey in the United States.