By MARK EVERSON

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Last updated: 8:09 am
August 22, 2008
Posted: 3:04 am
August 22, 2008

The Rangers will retire the No. 9s of Adam Graves and Andy Bathgate, and Harry Howell's No. 3 this season.

Graves will become the final member of the 1994 Stanley Cup winners to have his sweater hoisted to the Garden rafters, the team said, before the Rangers play host to the Thrashers Feb. 3.

Howell's No. 3 and Bathgate's No. 9 will join the No. 7 of Rod Gilbert, No. 1 of Ed Giacomin, No. 11 of Mark Messier, No. 2 of Brian Leetch and Graves' No. 9 on Feb. 22, when the Maple Leafs visit.

Graves helped the Rangers end their 54-year Cup drought, becoming the team's second 50-goal (52) scorer that season. He played 17 seasons with Detroit, Edmonton, the Rangers and Sharks, 329-287-616 in 1,152 games, winning two Cups (1990 Oilers) and the 2001 Masterton Trophy.

Bathgate was the first Ranger 40-goal scorer in 1958-59, winning the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, and served as captain from 1961-64. Defenseman Howell, captain from 1955-57, holds the franchise record of 1,160 games played among his 1,411 in the NHL. He won the Norris Trophy in 1967. Bathgate and Howell were called up simultaneously in October, 1952, and played 12 seasons together.

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Another former Ranger captain, Vic Hadfield, the team's first 50-goal scorer, heads the list of Ranger, NHL and sports figures set for the 11th annual golf tournament for Diamond Blackfan Anemia, Oct. 6, at Edgewood CC in Rivervale, NJ. Tickets are through 201-590-8916.