Breakup
The line was broken up in 1974 when Vic Hadfield was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins 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.
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