from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

The celebration of Jean Ratelle first became a celebration of his era that is remembered so fondly by those of us who grew up in the Blue Seats with Emile and Eddie and Brad and Jean and Rod and Vic, and Stemmer, Wee Bruce and Walter and To the Boards, Billy Fairbairn, To the Boards.

And then, because he is Jean Ratelle, the night on which his No. 19 was gloriously, albeit belatedly, raised to the Garden’s famous spoked ceiling became about even more than that. Because just in the way this elegant center shared the puck, he would share the glory.

Ratelle passed the microphone to his right wing, Rod Gilbert, “for a very special announcement,” toward the end of a classy ceremony preceding Sunday’s match against the Red Wings. Gilbert then revealed the Blueshirts next season will retire the No. 11 in honor of left wing Vic Hadfield to join No. 19 and his own No. 7.

continued

Watch highlights of the celebration below...