Hockey Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate

New York (AP) — Andy Bathgate was just fine without a flashy nickname.

While Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion and Bobby “The Golden Jet” Hull became known for their powerful slap shots and colorful monikers, Bathgate could score with the best of them — and settled for just plain Andy.

Hall of Fame winger Bathgate, one of the most prolific goal scorers of his day, has died. He was 83.

Bathgate’s death was confirmed by the Hockey Hall of Fame and by the New York Rangers on Friday.

A dynamic shooter and playmaker, Bathgate was the NHL’s MVP for the 1958- 59 season when he scored 40 goals and had 88 points. He was the first member of the Rangers to score 40 times in a season.

“Andy set the bar for what it means to be a Ranger,” Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert said in a statement released by the team. “He was a true innovator of the game and my idol. As a young player, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play with him and learn from him. He was class personified, on and off the ice.”

A two-time, first-team AllStar in an era when Gordie Howe was the dominant right wing, Bathgate played in eight All-Star games. He spent just under 12 seasons with the Rangers before being traded to Toronto in 1964, when he won his only Stanley Cup.

One of Bathgate’s most famous shots was on a backhander that crashed into the face of Montreal goaltender Jacques Plante in 1959. Plante then became the first NHL goalie to wear a mask in a game.

Bathgate also played for Detroit and Pittsburgh in the NHL and Vancouver in the WHA during his 18 pro seasons. He scored 349 goals and 973 points in 1,069 NHL games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.