A look back at one of the greatest lines in New York Rangers history.
The 1971-72 New York Rangers season will be remembered for many things. First of all, the Blueshirts claimed the
First of all, the Blueshirts claimed the second-best record in the NHL. Second, they won 48 and tied 13 in a 78 game regular season. Yes, ties were still on the books back then. Third, they placed the GAG line in the Top 5 in League scoring. And to top it off, they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
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All in all, it was an amazing season, but one in which fans of my age group (I am 55) believe one misplaced puck cost Captain Vic Hadfield from hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup. That misplaced puck was a slap shot off the stick of defenseman Dale Rolfe. It struck and broke the ankle of Jean Ratelle, which sidelined for the last few weeks of the season and almost the entire playoffs. When he tried to return for the Finals, he was but a shell of his regular season self. He gave it his all, but could not do much against the top-seeded Boston Bruins.
GAG Line Totals 312 Points in ’72 Season
New York Rangers fans were ecstatic during the season, as Ratelle, Hadfield and Gilbert formed the GAG Line and became the highest scoring line in team history. GAG stood for Goal a Game and the trio did just that. They also finished 3-4-5 in League scoring just behind the Bruin duo of Phil Esposito (133) and Bobby Orr (117)
Jean Ratelle led the New York Rangers in scoring during the 1971-72 season despite playing only 63 games before breaking an ankle. He scored 46 goals and dished out 63 assists to finish with 109 points. Not only was he a great player and could score with the best of them, he was also one of the classiest men in NHL history. He was also beloved by Ranger fans everywhere.
Captain Vic: First Blueshirt to Reach 50 Goal Mark
Vic Hadfield’s season was the most magical of his career. A somewhat clumsy skater early in his career who amassed over 100 penalty minutes a few times, gradually made giant strides. Playing all 78 games that season, Hadfield became the first Broadway Blueshirt to hit the magical 50 goal number. Scoring 2 goals in the final game of the season saw the team captain obtain that milestone. He finished with 50 goals and 56 assists for 106 points.
Rod Gilbert was the third member of the GAG line and fell just 3 points of 100 himself. His 43 goals and 54 assists for 97 total points. This in itself is somewhat miraculous considering the severe back injury Gilbert suffered earlier in his career. But through hard work and grit, Rod made it all the way back.
Rangers Lose Cup in Six
But alas, the Rangers fell in six games to the Orr and Esposito led Bruins. Boston was the better team, but one has to wonder. Ratelle’s broken ankle and goaltender Eddie Giacomin’s bad knee. If those two injuries never occurred, and Ratelle’s being the most devastating, because the back-up goalie was Giles Villemure, what could have happened. Rangers fans from my generation like to think that Vic Hadfield would have hoisted the Cup 22 years before Mark Messier did. But the Hockey gods had other ideas.
Losses and Trades Separate GAG Line
The Rangers made it back to the semi-finals the next two season but lost to Montreal in 5 and Philadelphia in 7. It was in that Philly series, that Vic Hadfield was sent to the penalty box to serve a very controversial too many men on the ice call. While in the box, he was being abused by some Flyer fans (what else is new), and he laughed in their faces.
The NY Press saw this and blew it out of proportion. Head Coach and General Manager Emille Francis caught wind of it and the wheels began to spin. That incident, combined with a decline in scoring, added to a $100,000.00 contract (yes, considered huge in the 1970’s) saw Hadfield traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Greg Polis. The GAG Line was officially broken.
The next season saw the highly favored Blueshirts lose in the first round to the expansion NY Islanders. That OT goal by the late J.P. Parise still gives Ranger fans nightmares. This was a stunning blow to the team. A bad start to the 1975-76 season saw
That OT goal by the late J.P. Parise still gives Ranger fans nightmares. This was a stunning blow to the team. A bad start to the 1975-76 season saw Emille Francis unleash a blockbuster trade on the NHL. He was sending Jean Ratelle, Captain Brad Park and Joe Zanussi to Boston for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais. The hockey world was stunned for weeks.
That left Rod Gilbert the only GAG Line member left. He would remain a Ranger until 1978 when he retired do a lot of infighting with General Manager John Ferguson.
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