A New York Rangers legend was lost on Monday. Eddie Giacomin, who helped backstop the Blueshirts to the 1972 Stanley Cup Final, passed away at the age of 86. Giacomin, a Hall of Famer, had his number 1 retired by the team in 1989, providing closure to a chapter that began in 1975.
Giacomin, “rescued” from the Providence Reds in 1965 by coach and GM Emile Francis, blossomed into one of the best goalies in the league during his time with New York. He finished second in the Hart Trophy voting in 1966-67 to Stan Mikita of the Chicago Blackhawks, a portend of what the fanbase would see from the netminder. Giacomin went on to play 539 of his 610 career contests for the Rangers, finishing with 290 wins, 54 shutouts, and a .902 save percentage. In his prime, Giacomin was an elite netminder, being named an All-Star five straight times and six overall while also sharing the 1970-71 Vezina Trophy with Gilles Villemure.
Giacomin earned the Vezina via posting a 27-10-7 record that season. He led the league with eight shutouts and recorded a 2.16 goals against average (GAA) and a .922 save percentage. Villemure, the Robin to Giacomin’s Batman, won 22 games with a 2.30 GAA, .919 save percentage, and four shutouts.
The goalie was a major reason why the Blueshirts rebounded from a down period in the organization. His arrival, coupled with the fine work of Francis as GM, adding players, and coaching, pushing the right buttons, led to one of the better runs of the franchise. New York fell in six to Boston in 1972, and to this day, I think if Jean Ratelle had been healthy, the result might have been reversed.
The most famous image of Giacomin is from his return to MSG after he was claimed by Detroit four games into the 1975-76 season. The Red Wings faced the Rangers in New York the game after he joined Detroit. Giacomin was feted through the contest by the adoring and angry fan base, who chanted Ed-die, Ed-die. The emotions of the contest, which he won 6-4, finally got to Giacomin, as the iconic picture is of him with his face in his hands, crying.
Francis was looking to rebuild the team after failing a few straight years in the playoffs, including a loss to the Islanders on an JP Parise goal in Game 3 of the 75 playoffs, and install John Davidson, who was acquired that offseason, in net. Giacomin and the team had gotten off to a slow start, resulting in the move. That season also saw Jean Ratelle and Brad Park traded for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais and signaled the teardown and remaking of the Rangers. Giacomin played 71 games in Hockeytown but would always be viewed as a Ranger.
Giacomin was another link in a long line of brilliant goalies. The lineage flowed from Davey Kerr to Chuck Raynor to Giacomin. Eddie then led to Mike Richter, Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin. As the team gets set to celebrate their Centennial Season with the schedule of events revealed today, the organization lost one of the best players that ever donned the red, white, and blue.
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