It’s NHL Playoff season! The New York Rangers were one of the sixteen teams looking to clench the Stanley Cup title. The Rangers lost their shot at the Stanley Cup to the Pittsburgh Penguins this past Saturday. Don’t get your hopes up New York Rangers fans, here’s a play by play of some your favorite players and some secrets you may have never known before.
1. Henrik Lundqvist
The Swedish dad is known as “the King” of the ice to Rangers fans. Besides being a dad to two daughters, he owns a restaurant, Tiny’s, in the Tribeca section of New York City.
2. Ryan McDonagh
McDonagh was drafted in 2010 and is now captain of the team. What you may not know is that his childhood friend, Derek Stepan, joined the team with him. The two both attended University of Wisconsin and were teammates there before being drafted to the Rangers.
3. Chris Kreider
Hailing from Massachusetts, Kreider attended Boston College where he played on the hockey team. He currently holds a record of the most playoff goals before his first regular season game.
4. Mats Zuccarello
This Norwegian is a fan favorite. Zuccarello was Norway’s first player to make it to the Stanley Cup finals. When asked about his ideal mate in an interview with the NY Post, Zuccarello responded, “Wife material, I like to call it that cooks and cleans but at the same time, not too worried about what other people think, and doesn’t have to be in the spotlight, living a normal, boring life in a house somewhere with kids.”
5. Derick Brassard
Brassard was drafted into the NHL by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2006. As he played for many teams and accrued different injuries, he was named AHL Rookie of the Month with the Syracuse Crunch. Once drafted into the NHL, he soon became NHL Rookie of the Month.
6. Marc Staal
He’s only one of the four brothers who all play in the NHL. His older brother Eric is a new addition to the team as he was drafted this past February. The Staal brothers are now fighting together for the Stanley Cup.
7. Dan Girardi
Girardi has been faithful to the New York Rangers from the very beginning. As an undrafted player, he’s played his entire NHL career of over 10 years with the Rangers.
8. Rick Nash
New York Rangers fan site, WeBleedBlue sells attire for Nash that advertise, “Dirty Filthy Nashty” and “NY Girls Like It Nashty” both with his number, 61. Like many hockey players, Nash is Canadian. Although he may play nashty, his work in the community gained him the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2008-09.
9. Dan Boyle
Boyle’s playing career started in 1998 with the Florida Panthers. He was part of the 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
10. Kevin Hayes
Hayes is only 23-years-old and is one of the youngest on the team. He went to Boston College who is known for their hockey team within his hometown. Hayes comes from a hockey family where his older brother, Jimmy, plays for the Boston Bruins. Hayes and Krieder won a national championship together at Boston College.
