It’s finally time for Rangers to honor legendary Brad Park

There were five pillars of Emile Francis’ beloved teams of the late ’60s and early ’70s that laid the foundation for the modern era of Rangers hockey. Five who, with the Cat, elevated the franchise following decades of disrepute.

They are Eddie Giacomin, Brad Park, Vic Hadfield, Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert, and everybody knows it. But just four are memorialized within the World’s Most Famous Arena. The absence of one (or is that 2?) makes the heart grow fonder each and every year.

It not only gets later every year, but it gets later earlier for this generation. I know what I am talking about.
So, following this Thanksgiving weekend, the best way for the Rangers to thank generations of their fans would be to finally do the right thing and announce that No. 2 will be raised to the Garden’s pinwheel ceiling for a second time, and this time in honor of Park.

This is not about sentiment alone. This is about righting a wrong that has festered far too long. This is about recognizing the second-greatest defenseman in the franchise’s 97-season history. This about honoring the only Ranger to make the NHL’s postseason first all-star team three times since the league first expanded in 1967-68.

Why on earth has this taken so long?

There is only one argument against Park and that is that the now 75-year-old played just 465 games wearing the Blueshirt, 36 fewer than he did wearing the hated spoked-B. As if that were his fault. As if Park traded himself to Boston on Nov. 7, 1975, with Ratelle. As if, as he told me a couple of years ago, he did not cry when he heard the news.

He played seven full seasons for the Rangers in which the team advanced to the Cup semis three times and the finals once. He made the first all-star team in 1970, 1972 and 1974 while named to the second team in 1971 and 1973. He was runner-up for the Norris four times, in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974 while placing third in 1973.

I’ve written this before. I know that. I have written this more than once, I know that, too. But right is right. And, for some mysterious reason, the hierarchy continues to be on the wrong side of history here concerning this defenseman who was named one of the NHL’s Greatest 100 Players in 2017.

And yes, his work in Boston was exemplary in featuring another two first-team All-Star designations and a pair of second-place finishes for the Norris. But Park was named as one the Greatest 100 primarily because of his work on Broadway, during which he excelled at both ends of the ice with a blend of power and finesse.

With flair.

The Rangers will celebrate their centennial season in three years….