Hockey Hall of Famer Eddie Giacomin passes away at 86

One of the best to ever don the pads on Broadway has passed away.

On Monday, longtime New York Rangers goaltender and Hockey Hall of Famer Ed Giacomin died at the age of 86.

The Rangers released a statement after his passing:

“Eddie Giacomin was an integral member of the New York Rangers for a decade and personified what being a Ranger is all about, both to his teammates and the Blueshirts faithful. You cannot discuss the history of this organization and not immediately think of Eddie. The great Rod Gilbert called him the heart of their team, and we cannot think of a greater honor to bestow on one of the greatest goaltenders to ever play the game. Our thoughts are with Eddie’s family, friends and teammates during this incredibly difficult time.”

Giacomin wasn’t only a fantastic goaltender, but one of the few players in Rangers history to truly embody the spirit of New Yorkers. What made him such a fan favorite was the edge to his game, not being afraid to throw his weight around while maintaining his duties of stopping the puck.

The Sudbury, Ont. native was so beloved by Ranger fans that when he returned to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 2, 1975, just four days after being claimed off waivers by the Detroit Red Wings, the crowd at MSG passionately cheered for him, chanting “Eddie, Eddie” throughout the game.

Giacomin’s path to the NHL wasn’t an easy one. Prior to making the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League, a kitchen accident led to him suffering serious burns, requiring plenty of off-ice work to get him ready for training camp.

Yet, he would make the Reds, and after becoming a star in the minors, Giacomin debuted with the Rangers during the 1965-66 season. After a rough rookie season, he bounced back by leading the NHL in wins three years in a row, finishing second in Hart Trophy voting in 1966-67. In 1970-71, he took home the Vezina Trophy, despite playing in just 45 games.

The following year, Giacomin and the Rangers made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, ultimately losing to the Boston Bruins.

Across 13 NHL seasons, 11 of which were spent with the Rangers, the six-time All-Star posted a career record of 290-209-96, with a 2.82 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage and 54 shutouts. He sits third all-time in wins as a Ranger (267), trailing only Henrik Lundqvist and Mike Richter.