GAG line
Encyclopedia
The GAG line, which as an acronym for Goal-A-Game, was a famous ice hockey
line for the New York Rangers
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as these linemates averaged over 1 goal a game while playing together. It consisted of Jean Ratelle
at center, Rod Gilbert
on right wing and Vic Hadfield
(also the Rangers team captain) on the left side.
' Phil Esposito
in the scoring race, until Ratelle broke his ankle and was sidelined for a month. In the playoffs, they defeated the defending champions Montreal Canadiens
, and last year's finalists Chicago Blackhawks
, to reach the Stanley Cup Finals
where they lost to the Boston Bruins
.
The trio also started the Summit Series
, but Hadfield failed to register a point in his 2 games, and he walked out on Team Canada when the series shifted to Moscow. Three other Canadian players also left the team as well, and the Canadian press at the time considered them "deserters". Hadfield blamed series promoter Alan Eagleson
for not holding a press conference to come to their defense. Otherwise, there was no lasting animosity about the decision to leave, as Hadfield and the others had the full support and respect of the coaches and teammates, and the four are welcomed members at alumni events. Hadfield's LW position was filled by Dennis Hull
of the Chicago Blackhawks
.
for Nick Beverley
.
The following season Jean Ratelle was traded along with defenseman Brad Park
and Joe Zanussi
to the Boston Bruins
in exchange for Carol Vadnais
and Phil Esposito
. At the time, this was considered the biggest blockbuster trade in NHL history.
Ratelle finished his career as a Bruin, winning his second Lady Byng trophy and reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 1977 and 1978.
Gilbert remained with the Rangers for the rest of his career but his last two seasons for Gilbert. Throughout his career,he had been wearing the number '7', but so had Phil Esposito. As a result, a bitter disagreement ensued as to who would retain the number '7'. Gilbert was the winner of the argument, but the two remained in a discord that created many unpleasant moments, on and off the ice. Gilbert's number '7' was subsequently retired by the Rangers.
Hadfield finished his career with the Penguins where he had two more 30 goal seasons.
Presently, Rod Gilbert writes a weekly column for a New York publication and resides in the Hamptons' quaint village of Sag Harbor.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
line for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as these linemates averaged over 1 goal a game while playing together. It consisted of Jean Ratelle
Jean Ratelle
Joseph Gilbert Yvon "Jean" Ratelle is a former Canadian ice hockey player and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. It has often been said of Jean Ratelle that he was so consistently effective at a high level of play day in and day out that he has been overlooked by some as one of the greatest to...
at center, Rod Gilbert
Rod Gilbert
Rodrigue Gabriel Gilbert is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League. He played right wing on the GAG line that also featured Vic Hadfield and Jean Ratelle...
on right wing and Vic Hadfield
Vic Hadfield
Victor Edward Hadfield is a retired professional ice hockey player. One of the most popular players in New York Rangers history, Hadfield had a sixteen-year career in the NHL, tallying 323 goals and 389 assists with 1154 penalty minutes in 1002 career games with the Rangers and the Pittsburgh...
(also the Rangers team captain) on the left side.
1972
In the 1971–72 NHL season, Ratelle, Hadfield, and Gilbert finished third, fourth, and fifth in league scoring, respectively. Ratelle had been leading the Boston BruinsBoston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
' Phil Esposito
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...
in the scoring race, until Ratelle broke his ankle and was sidelined for a month. In the playoffs, they defeated the defending champions Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, and last year's finalists Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, to reach the Stanley Cup Finals
1972 Stanley Cup Finals
-Boston Bruins 1972 Stanley Cup champions:-See also:* List of Stanley Cup champions* 1971–72 Boston Bruins season* 1971–72 NHL season* 1971–72 New York Rangers season-References:...
where they lost to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.
The trio also started the Summit Series
Summit Series
The Summit Series was the first competition between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September 1972...
, but Hadfield failed to register a point in his 2 games, and he walked out on Team Canada when the series shifted to Moscow. Three other Canadian players also left the team as well, and the Canadian press at the time considered them "deserters". Hadfield blamed series promoter Alan Eagleson
Alan Eagleson
Robert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter...
for not holding a press conference to come to their defense. Otherwise, there was no lasting animosity about the decision to leave, as Hadfield and the others had the full support and respect of the coaches and teammates, and the four are welcomed members at alumni events. Hadfield's LW position was filled by Dennis Hull
Dennis Hull
Dennis William Hull is a retired professional ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League...
of the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
.
Breakup
The line was broken up in 1974 when Vic Hadfield was traded to the Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
for Nick Beverley
Nick Beverley
Nicholas Gerald Beverley is a former hockey player in the NHL and former head coach in the NHL and AHL.He played for the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, and Colorado Rockies. His NHL career totals are 18 goals, 94 assists for 112 total points in 501...
.
The following season Jean Ratelle was traded along with defenseman Brad Park
Brad Park
Douglas Bradford Park is a retired ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings...
and Joe Zanussi
Joe Zanussi
Joseph Lawrence Zanussi is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 149 games in the World Hockey Association and 87 games in the National Hockey League...
to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
in exchange for Carol Vadnais
Carol Vadnais
Carol Marcel Vadnais is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1966–67 until 1982–83...
and Phil Esposito
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...
. At the time, this was considered the biggest blockbuster trade in NHL history.
Ratelle finished his career as a Bruin, winning his second Lady Byng trophy and reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 1977 and 1978.
Gilbert remained with the Rangers for the rest of his career but his last two seasons for Gilbert. Throughout his career,he had been wearing the number '7', but so had Phil Esposito. As a result, a bitter disagreement ensued as to who would retain the number '7'. Gilbert was the winner of the argument, but the two remained in a discord that created many unpleasant moments, on and off the ice. Gilbert's number '7' was subsequently retired by the Rangers.
Hadfield finished his career with the Penguins where he had two more 30 goal seasons.
Presently, Rod Gilbert writes a weekly column for a New York publication and resides in the Hamptons' quaint village of Sag Harbor.