Brilliance on the Blue Line

When the 2023 NHL Awards take place in Nashville on June 26, Adam Fox will be in attendance representing the Rangers. Fox is one of three finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."

Fox is one of the finalists for the award for the second time in his four NHL seasons; in 2020-21, he became the fourth defenseman in Rangers history to win the Norris Trophy and only the second defenseman in NHL history to win the award in one of his first two NHL seasons (along with Bobby Orr).

Should Fox win the Norris Trophy again this year, he would become just the second defenseman in franchise history to win the award twice, joining legendary Ranger Brian Leetch as the only players to accomplish the feat, and he would also join Orr as the only NHL defensemen to win the award multiple times in their first four seasons in the league. Regardless of whether Fox finishes first, second, or third in voting for the Norris Trophy this season, his performance in 2022-23 ranks among the best individual seasons by a Rangers defenseman in the franchise's legendary history.

Here is a look back at the 15 individual seasons that a Rangers defenseman was the winner, the runner-up, or a finalist for the Norris Trophy since the award was first presented in 1953-54.

Bill Gadsby - 1955-56: 70 GP, 9-42-51, 84 PIM

When the Rangers acquired Bill Gadsby from the Chicago Black Hawks in November of 1954, they knew they were getting one of the league's best all-around defensemen. In his first full season with the Rangers in 1955-56, Gadsby showed his prowess in all facets of the game, which enabled him to finish as the runner-up for the Norris Trophy during the season.

Gadsby's 51 points and 42 assists were each the most among NHL defensemen in 1955-56, and they also shattered the Rangers' single-season franchise records for points and assists by a defenseman at the time. Playing with a physical edge to his game, Gadsby's 84 penalty minutes also ranked among the top 10 for NHL defensemen during the season. More importantly, his stellar play helped the Rangers return to the playoffs after a five-year absence.

Muzz Patrick, the Rangers' General Manager at the time, said that, "Bill Gadsby is the only player in the league besides Red Kelly who could be a good defenseman one night and a good left wing the next." After taking some time to adjust to the Rangers in 1954-55, Gadsby was much more comfortable in his role with the Rangers in 1955-56. "It felt strange coming here after more than eight years in Chicago," Gadsby said at the time. "You know, you make a lot of friends in that period in one place. I think that's why I didn't play very well in New York last year after arriving in mid-season. I like it so much now and I never want to leave."

Gadsby, who was also named to the NHL's First All-Star Team in 1955-56, was the first Ranger to make the NHL's First All-Star Team since 1941-42 and the first Rangers defenseman to receive the honor since Earl Seibert in 1934-35.

Bill Gadsby - 1957-58: 65 GP, 14-32-46, 48 PIM

After a season in which his offensive numbers slightly declined and he just missed being a finalist for the Norris Trophy, Gadsby rebounded in 1957-58. His 14 goals and 46 points were each the most among NHL defensemen during the season, while his 32 assists were tied with Doug Harvey for the most by an NHL defenseman. Gadsby's 14 goals were also the most by a Rangers defenseman in one season in franchise history at the time.

The 1957-58 season also showed how valuable Gadsby's offensive contributions were to the team's success. In 65 games Gadsby played that season, the Rangers had a 20-5-7 record in games he had a point, but only a 10-19-4 record in games he didn't have a point.

Gadsby finished the season as the runner-up for the Norris Trophy, but he was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team for the second time in three seasons.

Bill Gadsby - 1958-59: 70 GP, 5-46-51, 56 PIM

Known by now as the "old pro" on the Rangers, Gadsby's 13th NHL season proved to be a prolific one offensively. While Andy Bathgate became the first Ranger to win the Hart Trophy and the first Ranger to score 40 goals in a season in 1958-59, Gadsby set a single-season NHL record for assists by a defenseman with 46.

Ten of Gadsby's 46 assists during the season were on goals scored by Bathgate, as he helped No. 9 have the remarkable season that he did. Both Gadsby and Bathgate were named to the NHL's First All-Star Team, marking the first time that the Rangers had two players make the NHL's First All-Star Team in the same season since 1941-42.

As the "old pro" on the Rangers, Gadsby earned the respect and admiration of his teammates, as well as coaches and management alike. As goaltender Gump Worsley said, "When other defensemen get the puck, they don't know whether to eat it, shoot it out of the rink, or just die. Gads just stops, looks around, and then makes his play. He knows what to do."

A humble man, Gadsby deflected the praise heaped upon him and credited his teammates for the strong season he had in 1958-59, as well as the several great prior seasons he had, with the Rangers. As he said numerous times following the trade with Chicago, "it was the best thing that ever happened to me."

Gadsby finished second in voting for the Norris Trophy in 1958-59.

Doug Harvey - 1961-62: 69 GP, 6-24-30, 42 PIM (Won Norris Trophy)

Prior to the 1961-62 season, the Rangers acquired legendary defenseman Doug Harvey from the Montreal Canadiens, naming him player-coach. Harvey, who had won the Norris Trophy in six of the previous seven seasons before joining the Blueshirts, believed he still had plenty of good hockey left in him and the ability to handle roles as both a player and a coach.

"I intend to play a full schedule as well as coach," Harvey said on the day he became a Ranger. "I believe I played 40 minutes of each game last year except a couple of times when I was hurt and I expect to do as much next season."

Harvey's impact - on the ice and on the bench - in 1961-62 was immediate, and he became the first defenseman in Rangers history to win the Norris Trophy. As player-coach, Harvey also guided the Rangers to the playoffs after the team didn't qualify for postseason play in each of the previous three seasons.

On November 22, 1961, Harvey tallied three assists, was on the ice for all four Rangers' goals, and helped shut down - with his play on the ice and his strategy on the bench - a Red Wings lineup that featured the likes of Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio, as the Rangers defeated Detroit, 4-0, at MSG.

In addition to winning the Norris Trophy, Harvey was also the runner-up to Jacques Plante for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player in 1961-62.

Harry Howell - 1966-67: 70 GP, 12-28-40, 54 PIM (Won Norris Trophy)

The 1966-67 season was Harry Howell's 15th season in the NHL and as a member of the Rangers. But even though he was in the latter stages of his career, Howell had the best statistical season of his career and helped the Rangers play better as team than they had in most of his prior seasons.

All of this helped culminate in Howell winning the Norris Trophy for the first time in his illustrious career.

Statistically, Howell achieved career-highs in goals (12) and points (40); his 40 points were the third-most among NHL defensemen and his 12 goals were the fourth-most among NHL defensemen during the season. But his leadership and strong defensive play - especially in helping the rise of star goaltender Ed Giacomin, who was in his first full season as the Rangers' starting goaltender - helped the Rangers improve in the standings.

On January 21, 1967, Howell played in his 1,000th career NHL game, becoming just the ninth player - and first Ranger - at the time to play in 1,000 career games in the league. Four nights later, the Rangers held "Harry Howell Night" at MSG, marking the first time the organization held a night to honor a player for his career accomplishments.

Upon winning the Norris Trophy, Howell said that he was glad he won it when he did, because he believed that Bobby Orr, who was a rookie in 1966-67, would win the award for years to come. And while Howell's words proved to be prophetic - Orr would win the Norris Trophy for eight consecutive seasons from 1967-68 through 1974-75 - there would be a young Rangers defenseman challenging Orr for the award for several of those years.

Brad Park - 1969-70: 60 GP, 11-26-37, +24, 98 PIM

For Brad Park, his value to the Rangers might have been realized the most when he was out of the lineup rather than any of his exploits when he was in the lineup.

After a rookie season in which he finished third in voting for the Calder Trophy, Park entered his second NHL season in 1969-70 expecting to significantly improve. Throughout the season, he showed that improvement, displaying the ability to impact a game at both ends of the ice and through his physicality. Entering the Rangers' game against Detroit on February 19, 1970, Park had registered 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) and a plus-24 rating in 54 games; he was tied for third among NHL defensemen in points, and the Rangers had the best record in the NHL at 32-11-11.

Unfortunately for Park and the Rangers, during the first period of that game against the Red Wings, he suffered a fractured ankle. During the 16 games that Park missed, the Rangers posted a 3-10-3 record. Ultimately, Park returned for the final five regular season games and helped the Blueshirts clinch a playoff berth in the final game of the season.

Despite the injury, Park finished as the runner-up for the Norris Trophy and was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team. Park's best individual performance during the season came on January 24, 1970, when he tallied four assists (three of which were primary assists) and set up four different Rangers for a goal (Bob Nevin, Vic Hadfield, Jean Ratelle, and Bill Fairbairn) in an 8-1 win over Bobby Orr and the Bruins at MSG.

Brad Park - 1970-71: 68 GP, 7-37-44, +26, 114 PIM

The Rangers established franchise records in several categories during the 1970-71 season, and Park played a key role in helping establish those records, both in the offensive zone and in the defensive zone.

Park's 44 points from the blue line helped the Rangers score 259 goals, the most they had in one season at the time. In addition, his strong defensive play helped the Rangers allow only 177 goals, the fewest the team had allowed in a season 70 games or longer in franchise history and helped Ed Giacomin and Gilles Villemure win the Vezina Trophy. Overall, the Rangers' 49 wins, 109 points, and .699 points percentage were all single-season franchise records.

Continuing to play a strong, two-way game with a physical component that endeared him to Rangers fans, Park's 44 points were tied for the sixth-most among NHL defensemen. He finished as the runner-up in voting for the Norris Trophy, and he was also named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.

Brad Park - 1971-72: 75 GP, 24-49-73, +63, 130 PIM

The 1971-72 season featured numerous individual achievements by Rangers players, most notably from the 'G-A-G' Line, as Vic Hadfield became the first Ranger to score 50 goals in a season, Jean Ratelle and Hadfield each became the first Rangers to tally at least 100 points in a season, and Ratelle, Hadfield, and Rod Gilbert became the first linemates in NHL history to all score 40 or more goals in the same season.

Overshadowed in all of the individual accomplishments from that memorable season in Rangers history was Park's season. His 24 goals, 49 assists, 73 points, and plus-63 rating were all single-season franchise records for a defenseman at the time, and his plus-63 rating from that season remains the best plus/minus rating by any Rangers player in one season in franchise history.

With 130 penalty minutes, Park also became the first defenseman in NHL history to register 70 or more points and 130 or more penalty minutes in the same season. In an era that combined skill and toughness, Park, at 23 years old, showed that there was no part of the game that he needed to shy away from.

Park was the runner-up in voting for the Norris Trophy, and for the second time in his NHL career, he was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team.

Brad Park - 1972-73: 52 GP, 10-43-53, +30, 51 PIM

Park had one of the best starts in his career offensively during the 1972-73 season, as he tallied 23 points in the first 16 games of the season. However, Park suffered a knee injury during a game in mid-November against the Flyers that kept him out of the lineup until the last week of December, and he then re-injured the knee during a game against the Islanders in mid-February that kept him out of the lineup for a few more weeks.

Despite missing several games and playing others at less than 100% health because of the injury, Park still ranked second among NHL defensemen in assists (43) and third among NHL defensemen in points (53) during the season. The Rangers had a 34-14-4 record in the 52 games that Park played during the 1972-73 season, and he was in the lineup for all 10 games of the Rangers' 10-game winning streak from January 19 through February 10, which tied the record for the longest winning streak in franchise history.

Park finished third in voting for the Norris Trophy and was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.

Brad Park - 1973-74: 78 GP, 25-57-82, +23, 148 PIM

From an individual standpoint, the 1973-74 season was the best statistical season of Park's career. Playing in all 78 regular season games, he established career-highs in goals (25), assists (57), points (82), and penalty minutes (148), and he eclipsed his own single-season franchise records for goals, assists, and points by a defenseman.

Park also led the Rangers in points during the regular season, becoming the first defenseman to lead the team in scoring in a season in franchise history. He was named the Rangers' Most Valuable Player for the 1973-74 season, and he also received the Frank Boucher Trophy (awarded annually to the Ranger who was considered the most popular player on and off the ice, as chosen by members of the Rangers Fan Club) that season.

Park became the first defenseman in NHL history to register 80 or more points and 140 or more penalty minutes in the same season, a combination that has only been matched and eclipsed once since then (Paul Coffey in 1988-89). Park finished as the runner-up in voting for the Norris Trophy, finished in the top-10 in voting for the Hart Trophy, and was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team for the third time in his career.

Given his performance in 1973-74, when Vic Hadfield was traded following that season, Park was the easy choice to become the Rangers' next captain. As Emile Francis said at the time, "Brad has proven himself to be a leader on the ice and off. His record over the past six years speaks for itself, and he has displayed all the characteristics of an ideal captain."

Brian Leetch - 1991-92: 80 GP, 22-80-102, +25, 26 PIM (Won Norris Trophy)

As he entered his fourth full NHL season in 1991-92, Brian Leetch had already made his mark on the NHL record book and the Rangers record book. He had won the Calder Trophy in 1988-89 and set an NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman with 23 during the season. In 1990-91, Leetch tallied 72 assists, which established a new single-season Rangers record, and 88 points, which set the mark for the most points by a defenseman in one season in franchise history.

But in 1991-92, Leetch shattered the records he had set the year prior and established franchise records in several categories that still stand today. His record-breaking season culminated with him winning the Norris Trophy for the first time in his illustrious career.

"Winning the Norris Trophy was never something I dreamed of when I was growing up," Leetch said recently. "Playing in the NHL seemed like a far-off dream for most of the time growing up, and it wasn't until I got drafted that the NHL actually became something I started thinking about.

"There was never any award talk until the (1991-92 season) was going well. For me, it was just about playing, being a part of the team, and trying to have success. Everything else was a bonus after that."

The 1991-92 season also included the arrival of Mark Messier in New York. Leetch said that the addition of Messier, who won the Hart Trophy that season as the NHL's Most Valuable Player, had a significant impact on the team, including his individual game, and that it was Messier who was pushing for Leetch to reach the 100-point plateau as the regular season neared its conclusion.

"I played a lot with Mark's line," Leetch said. "They had us together a lot, and obviously with Mark being a top player in the league and seeing the game similar to how I saw it, he put me in a lot of good positions. When I passed to him, he created scoring opportunities, so it allowed for more offensive chances."

Leetch entered the final game of the regular season with 98 points. Messier was in his ear, and his teammates' ears, about getting him at least two more points.

"Mark was the one who was driving it," Leetch recalled. "He was the one who was telling me, 'You have to go for it now, you're already this far. You have to get that.' He mentioned it to other guys. I didn't think about it, but he was the one who was telling me it was a big deal. I didn't think of 100 being any different than 99 or 98, you're having a good year regardless."

Leetch became the fifth defenseman in NHL history to register at least 100 points in a season, finishing the campaign with 102 to join Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey, and Al MacInnis as the only defensemen at the time to reach the 100-point plateau in a season. Prior to this most recent season, Leetch remained the last defenseman to tally 100 or more points in one season.

While Leetch's 102 points are the most any Rangers defenseman has tallied in one season in franchise history, Leetch's 80 assists that season are also the most that any Rangers player (forward or defenseman) has registered in one season in franchise history.

Leetch led all defensemen in assists and points in 1991-92, finishing 16 points and 17 assists ahead of Phil Housley, who ranked second among league defensemen in both categories. Leetch also finished third among all NHL players in assists during the season, trailing only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.

Leetch's record-breaking season was highlighted by a stretch in late November and December of 1991, when he posted a 17-game point streak that also included a 15-game assist streak, both of which remain Rangers franchise records. In addition, his superb play helped the Rangers win the Presidents' Trophy for having the best regular season record in the NHL.

Based on his individual accomplishments, and the impact he made on helping the Rangers achieve their team accomplishments, it came as no surprise that Leetch received 65 out of 69 first-place votes for the Norris Trophy.

"I was just nervous at the Awards ceremony," Leetch said. "I'm not the biggest talker or public speaker, and it was way more nerve-wracking than playing hockey or being with your teammates. I was just relieved when it was all over. Obviously, I was happy when I looked back and that I was able to receive the Norris Trophy and take pictures during the ceremony."

Brian Leetch - 1995-96: 82 GP, 15-70-85, +12, 30 PIM

Leetch was named at least a finalist for the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career in 1995-96. He led all NHL defensemen with 85 points and 70 assists during the season, finishing with three more points and eight more assists than Ray Bourque, who ranked second among NHL defensemen in both categories during the season and was also a finalist for the Norris Trophy.

Leetch reached both the 70-assist plateau and 80-point plateau for the third time in his NHL career in 1995-96 (no other Ranger has registered 70 or more assists in a season more than once, and Sergei Zubov is the only other defenseman in franchise history who has tallied at least 70 assists in a season, and Brad Park and Zubov are the only other defenseman who have had an 80-point season in franchise history).

Leetch represented the Rangers in the 1996 NHL All-Star Game. His best stretches of the season were an eight-game assist/point streak from November 29 through December 11 and a nine-game assist/point streak from January 3 through January 31. Perhaps Leetch's greatest individual play during the season came in a game on February 24 against the Florida Panthers, when he took the puck away from Panthers captain Brian Skrudland in the Rangers' zone, knocked the puck down the ice, outskated two other Panthers players to pick up the puck first inside Florida's zone, and then beat Panthers goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick with a wrist shot on a breakaway (as he was being tripped on the play).

Leetch was one of two defensemen who played in each of the Rangers' 82 regular season games in 1995-96; the other defenseman to do so was Jeff Beukeboom, who was Leetch's defense partner for the majority of the eight seasons that they were teammates from 1991-92 through 1998-99. As is the case with any defense pair, one can't be successful without the support of the other, and Leetch said that Beukeboom played a huge role in his success throughout the seasons in which they played together.

"It was certainly a different game back then," Leetch said. "There was more fighting, hooking, holding, and body contact. You needed to have size and lots of toughness in your lineup. For me to have a partner that was as big as Beuk, who played as tough and mean as he did and played well in big games, was a big help for me.

"I could force a guy to the middle of the ice and Beuk would come across, and the guy would panic because he saw Beuk coming through the middle. A lot of times, Beuk would separate the guy from the puck, and I'd swoop in behind, grab the puck, and start the transition the other direction. And, certainly, if the games got physical and rough, I had someone riding shotgun that was out there with me all the time."

On March 9, 1996, Leetch tallied his 432nd career assist with the Rangers, passing Ron Greschner to become the Rangers' all-time leader in assists by a defenseman.

Brian Leetch - 1996-97: 82 GP, 20-58-78, +31, 40 PIM (Won Norris Trophy)

Leetch's 1996-97 season began prior to the Rangers' regular season opener, when he was the captain of Team USA and helped them win the 1996 World Cup of Hockey in September. His strong play from that tournament carried over into the regular season and never stopped, as Leetch would win the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career.

As was the case when Leetch won the Norris Trophy in 1991-92 and played in the Canada Cup prior to the start of the season, Leetch said playing in such an intense international tournament prior to the start of the regular season helped him hit the ground running for the NHL season.

"You're playing other countries with top players two and a half weeks after you first got on the ice," Leetch said about the tournament. "It was definitely a big help. I remember I was trying to work as hard as I could just to keep up in those practices. When we came back to New York and have the first couple of practices at NHL Training Camp, and you'd say 'wow, this is pretty slow.' And you're already in shape skating-wise, passing-wise, and thinking-wise going into the NHL season."

Leetch, who received 42 out of 54 first-place votes for the Norris Trophy in 1996-97, led NHL defensemen with 78 points and 58 assists during the season, while his 20 goals were the second-most among NHL defensemen and his plus-31 rating was tied for the third-best among NHL defensemen.

As was the case in the previous years that Leetch was up for the award, the statistics and streaks only tell part of the story. Yes, his 14-game point streak from the Rangers' last game in October through their first game in December had a significant impact. Yes, a four-assist game with a plus-six rating (something that hadn't been done by a Ranger since 1983 and hasn't been done since) was a major accomplishment, as was posting six multi-point games in a seven-game span coming out of the All-Star Break that resulted in 16 points.

But it was the dominant performance at both ends of the ice and highlight-reel plays - such as the end-to-end rushes, precision passing, and brilliant defensive reads to thwart chances for the opponent - that made him a threat every time he was on the ice.

Leetch was named the Rangers' Most Valuable Player and received the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 1996-97. On December 27, 1996, Leetch tallied his 611th career point as a Ranger, passing Ron Greschner to become the franchise's all-time leader in points by a defenseman.

Adam Fox - 2020-21: 55 GP, 5-42-47, +19, 14 PIM (Won Norris Trophy)

After Fox's superb rookie season in 2019-20, many wondered what he would do for an encore in 2020-21. The outcome: he became the second defenseman in NHL history to win the Norris Trophy in one of his first two seasons in the league.

Fox led NHL defensemen in assists (42) and ranked second among NHL defensemen in points (47) during the season, and he also ranked third among NHL defensemen in takeaways (38). No other NHL player logged at least 200:00 of power play ice time and at least 140:00 of shorthanded ice time like Fox did during the season.

Fox's season was highlighted by an offensive stretch that ranks among the best any Rangers defenseman has had in franchise history. Over a 23-game stretch from March 17 through April 27, he registered 32 points (three goals, 29 assists) and a plus-21 rating.

Fox had several terrific individual performances throughout the season. Three of his most memorable performances came in the span of a week, with two of them occurring in consecutive games against the Flyers in March that showed his tremendous abilities at both ends of the ice. On March 25, he recorded five assists and five points in a win against the Flyers; the five assists tied a single-game franchise record for assists, while the five points tied a single-game franchise record for points by a defenseman. On March 27, Fox blocked two shots in the final minute of a game with the Rangers' net empty, showcasing his great hand-eye coordination in the process. Then, on March 30 against the Capitals at MSG, he scored the eventual game-winning goal in the third period with an outstanding backhand shot that went just underneath the crossbar.

"His thinking impresses me the most," Leetch said of Fox. "The way he sees the game and his patience with the puck, he actually reminds me of Brad Park from the highlights I saw of Brad. It's kind of amazing that someone can play that style at such a high level in the NHL in today's game. You wonder why other guys can't do it or play like that, and it's because nobody can see the game like that and can have the patience and have the subtle body moves to do that."

In addition to winning the Norris Trophy in 2020-21, Fox was also named the Rangers' Most Valuable Player and received the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. Fittingly, Leetch announced that Fox was the winner of the Norris Trophy during the NHL Awards show.

"It was nice that I knew Adam personally, and the fact that he was a Ranger and that I was able to do that for him was great," Leetch said.

Adam Fox - 2022-23: 82 GP, 12-60-72, +28, 34 PIM (2023 NHL Awards will be held on June 26)

Fox's performance during the 2022-23 season showcased the many reasons why he is one of the best (if not the best) all-around defensemen in the NHL today.

No NHL defenseman other than Fox recorded 70 or more points as well as a plus-25 rating or better during the season. In playing all 82 games and averaging 24:23 of ice time per game, Fox just missed logging 2,000 minutes of total ice time for the season (he finished with 1,998:58, which ranked seventh in the NHL).

Fox was also one of only four players in the NHL to average at least 3:30 of power play ice time per game and 2:00 of shorthanded ice time per game during the season. And while his 60 assists and 72 points each ranked among the top 10 among defensemen in the NHL during the season, his 88 takeaways were tied for the most by a defenseman. Fox was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the second consecutive year, and after missing the game in 2022, he played in his first career NHL All-Star Game in 2023.

Perhaps no individual play or sequence of plays demonstrated Fox's prowess on both ends of the ice during the 2022-23 season more than a 10-second stretch during a game in October at MSG against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche, when he knocked Nathan MacKinnon down with a hit in the Rangers' zone to take the puck away, led the team on an odd-man rush into the offensive zone, and ultimately scored a goal to tie the game.

"For Adam to be able to be as effective at both ends of the ice and really control play for the majority of games when he's out there is really impressive," Leetch said. "It's fun for me to watch. I watch most of the Rangers games, and there are still times when I'll shake my head and say 'wow, that's a great play, I wonder if I would have made that play.' You try to put yourself in his spot. I haven't played in 16 years now, and you start to think to yourself, 'would I have done that?' You can see the game kind of similar, and I really enjoy watching him out there."

With Fox - who at the age of 25 has been at least a finalist for the Norris Trophy twice in his four NHL seasons - on the Rangers' blue line for the foreseeable future, Rangers fans have the special opportunity to enjoy watching him for years to come.