Ed Giacomin, Hall of Fame Rangers goalie, dies at 86

Ed (Eddie) Giacomin, the Hall of Fame goaltender who helped turn the New York Rangers into a contender in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has died at 86, the Rangers and the NHL Alumni Association announced Monday. An Alumni spokesperson said the organization learned from a board member of the Detroit Red Wings alumni that Giacomin died at his home Sunday night.

Giacomin spent 11 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Rangers and finished his career with the Detroit Red Wings. He emerged as New York's starting goalie after joining the club from the Providence Reds in 1965 and became one of the defining players of the franchise, posting a 267-172-89 record with the Rangers and finishing his NHL career with 290 wins, a .902 save percentage and a roughly 2.82 goals against average, according to team and league records. He was a six-time All Star and shared the Vezina Trophy with teammate Gilles Villemure in 1971.

The Rangers said in a social media statement that Giacomin "personified what it meant to play for the franchise" and noted that Rod Gilbert called him "the heart of their team." The NHL also released a statement mourning "the passing of a true original" and praised Giacomin as one...