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The NHL Alumni Association announced Monday that legendary Rangers goalie Eddie Giacomin passed away. He was 86.
Giacomin spent 11 seasons of his 13-year NHL career with the Blueshirts before they put him on waivers four games into the 1975-76 season, when he was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 29, 1975.
Over the 11 years he played in New York, Giacomin posted a 267-172-89 record with a .905 save percentage and a 2.74 goals-against average. The Canadian netminder finished with a career record of 290-209-95 to go along with a .902 save percentage and a 2.82 GAA.
He most famously led the Rangers to the 1972 Stanley Cup final, where the club lost to the Bruins in six games.
“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,” the team said in a statement posted on social media.
“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.”
The Sudbury, Ontario native led the NHL in games played for four straight years from 1967 to 1970, as well as in shutouts in 1967, 1968 and 1971. In addition to appearing in six NHL All-Star Games between 1967 and 1973, Giacomin also shared a Vezina Trophy with teammate Gilles Villemure in 1971.
After retiring in January of 1978, Giacomin spent the following season as a broadcaster for the Islanders. He later served as an assistant coach for the Isles and Red Wings before a couple of stints with the Blueshirts as a goaltending coach.
In 1987, Giacomin was officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Rangers retired his No. 1 jersey number – the second one to be hoisted to the rafters after Rod Gilbert’s No. 7 – on March 15, 1989.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
