Does Rod Gilbert belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Rod Gilbert is certainly someone deserving of the title “Mr. Ranger.” Along with Brian Leetch and Henrik Lundqvist, he has a claim to the title of Greatest New York Ranger of All Time (certainly if length of career with the franchise is taken into account).

But he was never one of the best players in the league during the regular season and his playoff numbers are not great.

So the question is, is his importance to the Rangers franchise and his compelling story of overcoming injury enough to put him in the Hall?

Listen to us talk about Rod Gilbert’s Hall of Fame case here:

Rod Gilbert’s Career:

• NHL: 1960-78; 18 seasons, 13 quality
• Totals:
  • 406G (13th All Time at his retirement),
  • 615A (12th All Time at his retirement) for 
  • 1021P (12th All Time at his retirement),
  • +38 in
  • 1065 Games;
  • 94.9 PS;
  • At his retirement, Gilbert was 18th All Time in Offensive Point Shares
• Per Game: At his retirement, Gilbert was
  • T-17th All Time in APG
  • T-18th All Time in PPG
• Era: Of the sixteen skaters to play in at least 984 games between 1960 and 1978, Gilbert is
  • 5th in Goals
  • 5th in GPG
  • 5th in Assists
  • 4th in APG
  • 5th in Points
  • 4th in PPG
  • 10th in Plus/Minus
  • 6th in Offensive Point Shares
  • 11th (7th Forward) in Defensive Point Shares
  • 6th in Point Shares
  • 9th in Games
• 82-game average: 31G, 48A for 79P, +3
• 3-year peak (1973-76): 80-game average of 39G, 55A for 94P, +1
• Playoffs:
  • 34G (t-18th All Time at his retirement),
  • 33A for 
  • 67P,
  • +8 in 
  • 79 Games
  • Per Game: At his retirement, Gilbert was
    • T-14th All Time in playoff GPG
    • 22nd All Time in playoff PPG
  • Era: Of the 170 skaters to play in at least 41 playoff games between 1960 and 1978, Gilbert is
    • 12th in playoff Goals
    • T-10th in playoff GPG
    • 40th in playoff Assists
    • 35th in playoff APG
    • 23rd in playoff Points
    • 19th in playoff PPG
    • 67th in playoff Plus/Minus
    • 59th in playoff Games
• Adjusted for Era:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 396G,
    • 609A for
    • 1005P
    • 82-game-average: 30G, 47A for 77P (-2P per 82 games)
    • Per Game: Not in the Top 25
  • VsX:
    • 470G
    • 781A
    • 1072P
    • Per Game: Not in the Top 25
• Never traded

Rod Gilbert’s Accomplishments:

• Masterton (‘76)
• All Star:
  • 1st Team All Star once
  • 2nd Team All star once
  • All Star Games
• Top Player:
  • Top 10 Player (by PS) once (‘72)
  • Top 10 Offensive Player (by OPS) five times (‘64, ‘65, ‘67, ‘68, ‘72)
• Goals:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Goals once
    • Top 10 five times
  • GPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in GPG once
    • Top 10 three times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 40 Goals once
    • 35 Goals four times (1 of only 18 players ever at his retirement)
    • 30 Goals five times (1 of only 24 players ever at his retirement)
    • 25 Goals eleven times (1 of only 11 players ever at his retirement)
    • 20 Goals twelve times (1 of only 14 players ever at his retirement)
• Assists:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Assists once
    • Top 10 in Assists seven times
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in APG three times
    • Top 10 five times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 60 Assists once
    • 50 Assists four times (1 of only 13 players ever at his retirement)
    • 40 Assists nine times (1 of only 9 players ever at his retirement)
• Points:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Points twice
    • Top 10 five times
  • PPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in PPG once
    • Top 10 six times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 90 Points twice (1 of only 22 players ever at his retirement)
    • 80 Points four times (1 of only 17 players ever at his retirement)
    • 70 Points eight times (1 of only 10 players ever at his retirement)
    • 60 Points eleven times (1 of only 9 players ever at his retirement)
    • 50 Points twelve times (1 of only 13 players ever a his retirement)
• Plus/Minus:
  • Top 10 in Plus/Minus once
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: 90th All Time
    • Assists: 51st All Time
    • Points: 81st All Time
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: 64th All Time
    • Assists: 46th All Time
    • Points: 62nd All Time

Rod Gilbert’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Best Player (by points) on one Final Four (‘67 Rangers)
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘72 Rangers) and two Final Fours (‘62, ‘71 Rangers)
  • Top 6 Forward (by points) on two Final Fours (‘73, ‘74 Rangers)
• Summit Series:
  • Top 9 Forward (by points) on one Champion (‘72 Canada)