These Rangers could’ve been considered for ESPN Top 100 Athletes of 21st century list
Who is the greatest New York Rangers player of the 21st century? Most would say goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023. But let’s not forget Jaromir Jagr, another surefire Hall of Famer when he does officially end his pro career. Or even Artemi Panarin, who has been one of the greatest skaters in franchise history during his five years with New York.
It’s a great debate, and one ESPN did little to help answer.
Last week, ESPN ranked the top 100 professional athletes since 2000, throwing the entire world of professional sports into one gigantic pool and producing a massive list. The New York Rangers did not have a player on the list, joining the New York Islanders and New York Giants (NFL) as the only New York teams in the Big Four to be absent.
The New York Yankees led the city with four players featured while the New York Mets (3), New York Jets (3), Brooklyn Nets (3), and New York Knicks (1) all had ties to at least one player.
Not surprisingly, all-time greats like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Alex Rodriguez appeared for the Bombers, alongside Ichiro Suzuki, one of the best hitters of the century who enjoyed a two-year stint in New York.
The Mets saw a trio of pitchers — one Hall of Famer in Pedro Martinez and two sure-to-be Hall of Famers in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. While none pitched in Queens during their prime, all spent at least one season there.
Darrelle Revis, arguably the greatest cornerback in the NFL during his prime, represented the Jets alongside Ed Reed and Aaron Rodgers, who each joined New York at the tail-end of Hall of Fame careers.
The Brooklyn Nets, meanwhile, had 66 percent of their “Big 3” from a few years ago in Kevin Durant and James Harden, as well as Jason Kidd from their New Jersey days, who they share with the Knicks.
Despite 100 slots and 24 years to work with, the Rangers and Islanders couldn’t even sneak in on a loose brief connection to a player, like the Knicks with Kidd.
Granted, the list was very light on hockey. Only three NHL players made the top 100: Sidney Crosby (22), Alex Ovechkin (54), and Connor McDavid (98).
That’s a minuscule number compared to the other sports in the Big Four. The MLB had 18 players featured on the list with the NBA close behind at 16 and the NFL trailing with 12. I’d venture to say it’s a tough look for the company that broadcasts the NHL’s national games and hosts the Stanley Cup on TV once every two years — but perhaps that’s better saved for a different article.
It’s impossible to argue for any Ranger over Crosby or Ovechkin, and considering McDavid has been the greatest player in the League seemingly since his debut, I won’t bark up that tree either.
However, the Blueshirts have boasted some of the game’s best players, even if only for a short while, who may have had a chance to make the list had it been more evenly distributed. Let’s take a look at some of the best candidates.
Related: 2 Rangers stars included in SNY Top 10 New York athletes right now
Potential Rangers candidates for ESPN Top 100 Athletes List
Patrick Kane
The ESPN writers clearly valued championships, dominance, and influence on the sport. No other former Ranger checks all those boxes quite like Patrick Kane does.
A three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, “Showtime” was one of the game’s best wingers this century, dazzling with his silky smooth hands. His 1,284 points rank fifth-most in the NHL since 2000, which leads all American-born players since the start of the century, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest US-born players in the sport.
He spent half a season with the Rangers in 2022-23, playing 26 games between the regular season and postseason. It’s a rather forgettable blip in his Hall of Fame career, but it’s likely the best chance of Rangers representation on the list.
Henrik Lundqvist
There are no goalies on the list at all so it would’ve been tough for Lunqvist to make it, but he does have a case as the greatest goalie in the 21st century.
The all-time NHL wins leader, Martin Brodeur, who won all four of Vezina trophies after 2000, will likely have something to say about that. Still, Brodeur played eight of his 22 NHL seasons in the 20th century and Lundqvist played all 15 after 2000.
Even if he’s not leaping Brodeur, Lundqvist is an all-time great, ranking sixth in career wins (459) and retiring with a .918 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average. He never won a Stanley Cup and only appeared in the Final once, but “The King” was brilliant in the postseason, posting a .921 save percentage and 2.30 GAA in 130 career games.
Jaromir Jagr
Had Jaromir Jagr played his entire career in the 21st century, he’s a lock to be on this list, even with the lack of hockey representation. Unfortunately, his first 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins came in the 1990s, leading the League in points four times and winning the Hart Trophy once.
Jagr still has an impressive resume in the 2000s, surpassing the 120-point mark twice and playing till the age of 45. Had he not gone overseas to play in Russia for a few years, he might be on this list, even with the bulk of his career happening in the ’90s.
The Rangers’ single-season skater records are still held by the future Hall of Famer, who scored 54 goals and 123 points in 2005-06 en route to being named the Most Oustanding Player of the Year by the NHLPA.
A legend of the game, no “Top 100” list with Jagr on it is a bad one.
Martin St. Louis
A model of consistency, the undrafted Martin St. Louis became one of the best players of the 21st century thanks to his hard work and elite skill. At 5-foot-8, he was often the smallest player on the ice, but was a brilliant skater and a magnificent 200-foot player.
St. Louis led the League in points and assists in 2003-04, taking home the Hart Trophy and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning hoist the Stanley Cup that season. He finished his career with 1,033 points, 1,031 of which came post-2000, which ranks 20th in that span.
He spent the last year and a half of his NHL career with the Rangers, and though he’s likely a tier below the Kane’s and Jagr’s of the world in the grand scope of hockey history, anyone good enough to make the Hall of Fame deserves some consideration.
Jonathan Quick
In a similar vein, Jonathan Quick will likely be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame so he, at the very least, deserves a brief mention. Leaping Ryan Miller this past season for the most wins by a US-born goalie, Quick is currently 15th-all-time with 393.
Quick was never a Vezina Trophy winner, losing to Lundqvist in his strongest season in 2011-12, but he led the Los Angeles Kings to two Stanley Cup championships as one of the best goalies in the League and earned a third as a backup with the Vegas Golden Knights.
No matter how you slice it, he’s one of the best goalies since 2000 and he’s got the strong resume to prove it.
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