On a big hockey Saturday in February due to the highly anticipated USA versus Canada game tonight at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal, it also gives us time to dig into the past. With Finland taking on Sweden in the appetizer this afternoon at Bell Centre, I wanted to focus on a Rangers legend from the past.

For over a decade, Chris Kreider has made a living in front scoring on the power play. The 33-year-old left wing once shattered Jaromir Jagr’s Rangers single season franchise record with 26 power-play goals in 2021-22 when he posted a career best 52 goals. Since then, he’s been chasing another franchise record that’s still currently held by Rangers’ legend Camille Henry.

Henry starred for the Blueshirts between 1953-54 and 1964-65. Nicknamed The Eel due to his small stature of five-foot seven, 142-pounds and having some slippery moves on the ice that led to nice finishes, the left wing/center became one of the best goal scorers in franchise history.

As a 21-year-old rookie, Henry scored 24 goals and added 15 assists for a total of 39 points to win the Calder Trophy. His 20 power-play goals led the league. In fact, 32 of his 39 points came on the power play. He also led the Rangers with seven game-winning goals. They finished in fifth place and failed to qualify for the postseason.

Following posting five goals (5 PPG) and two helpers in 21 contests, the Rangers traded Henry to Providence for cash and the return of Earl Johnson in 1954-55. After being loaned by Quebec to Providence, he spent most of his time with the Reds in the American Hockey League (AHL) who he helped lead to a Calder Cup in 1955-56. Among the highlights of that season, he led the AHL with 50 goals and scored 10 goals in the postseason to pace all skaters in scoring.

In 1956-57, he split his time between the Reds and Rangers. The following season, Henry set new personal bests in goals (32), assists (24), and points (56) while playing in all 70 games for the Rangers. He was also named to the Second NHL All-Star Team and won the Lady Byng. Similar to his rookie campaign, Henry did most of his damage on the man-advantage by scoring 19 of his 32 goals on the power play. His 19 power-play goals led the league. Over his career, Henry paced the league in power-play goals three times.

Prior to 1964-65, Henry was named the captain of the Rangers. During that season, he was traded in a seven-player deal on Feb. 4, 1965. Henry went to Chicago along with Don Johns, Billy Taylor, and Wally Chevrier for John Brenneman, Wayne Hillman, and Doug Robinson. Rangers coach and general manger Emile Francis said, “We’re building a young hockey club and these three players will give us not only youth but also depth, the lack of which has hurt us all season long.

“We hated to let Cammy go.  He’s one of the great players in the league and he has been a great asset to the Rangers organization for the past 11 years,” Francis added about moving on from Henry who at the time was tied for second with Norm Ullman in goals with 21. In 48 games with the Blueshirts, he had 21 goals and 17 assists before having his heart broken by the shocking trade.

“I just sat there stunned,” Henry said while expressing his disappointment. “Emile said, ‘Well, you didn’t fall off your chair yet.’ But he doesn’t know how close I was.”

“I guess it doesn’t pay to be captain,” Henry added in reference to former captain Andy Bathgate who was traded away to the Maple Leafs the previous year on Feb. 22, 1964. Bathgate then helped the Leafs win a Stanley Cup by scoring five goals and adding four assists.

After putting up 21 goals and 17 assists in 48 games with the Rangers, Henry had five goals and three assists in 22 games with the Blackhawks who thought he could be the missing piece to winning a Stanley Cup. That year, the Blackhawks lost to the Canadiens in seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals.

On Aug. 17, 1967, the Rangers reacquired Henry from the Blackhawks for Paul Shmyr. In 36 games during 1967-68, he had eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points. That included one power-play goal. In his previous stint with the Blueshirts, he scored double digits in power-play goals six times. In fact, of his 256 total goals he put up as a Ranger, a franchise record 116 came on the power play. It’s a record that’s stood for nearly six decades. Even Rangers’ legends Rod Gilbert (108) and Brian Leetch (106) never matched Henry’s record.

That could change very soon. With five power-play goals this season, Kreider’s on the verge of tying Henry. With 115 power-play goals, he needs two more to pass Henry to become the Rangers’ all-time franchise leader.

Following the 1967-68 season, Henry was dealt to the expansion St. Louis Blues on June 13, 1968. The Rangers traded Henry, Robbie Irons, and Bill Plager to the Blues in exchange for Don Caley and Wayne Rivers.

In what was his final full season, Henry put up 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points, which tied him for fourth in Blues scoring in their inaugural season. Henry also ranked fourth in goals and tied for the team lead with Red Berenson with seven power-play goals. During the postseason, under Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman, the Blues reached the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Montreal Canadiens in four games. Henry finished with two goals and five helpers for seven points in the playoffs. At 36, the elder statesman tied for fourth with Terry Crisp in team scoring during that run.

After registering a goal and two assists in four games the following season, Henry retired in 1970. He finished his career with 279 goals and 249 assists for a total of 528 points in 727 games. Of the 279 goals he scored, 127 came on the power play, with the 116 he scored on Broadway still a franchise record for the time being. Six of his seven hat tricks came as a New York Ranger.

A three-time All-Star, The Eel is still fondly remembered by the older generation of Rangers fans. It would be nice to see him recognized when Kreider breaks his record. In what’s the swan song for legendary TV voice Sam Rosen, who will have a special day on March 22 when the Rangers host the Vancouver Canucks, the organization should highlight what Henry did. It would be a nice touch.