NYR TODAY SUNDAY 6/24: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/24

Shane Churla RW (1996-1997) Dave Creighton C (1955-1958) Michael DelZotto D (2009-2014) Marek Malik D (2005-2007) Bernie Nicholls C (1989-1991)

Today in NYR History June 24

1968: The Rangers recall Walt Tkaczuk from Kitchener and sign him to his first NHL contract. 

Few players symbolized the Rangers` transition from the Original Six era to the booming age of NHL expansion like Walter Tkaczuk, a crafty center who spent a remarkable 13 full seasons with the Blueshirts.

Although he actually entered the NHL after the first major expansion in 1967, Tkaczuk was with the Rangers as the league grew from 12 to 21 teams. By the time he retired, due to an eye injury at age 33, he ranked third on the Rangers` career games-played list. His 945 games still put him in the top five.

From the moment he joined the Rangers organization as a 16-year-old junior player, Tkaczuk was viewed as a cornerstone of the team`s future. By 1968 he had made the team as a regular, and he went on to have his two best NHL seasons in his second and third year with the team.

In 1969-70, Tkaczuk was the Rangers` top offensive weapon, setting up 50 goals en route to a career-high 77 points. Winner of the Rangers MVP award that season, Tkaczuk continued his torrid scoring pace in 1970-71, adding 49 assists and 75 points.

At a time when the GAG Line was lighting up the scoresheets for the Rangers, Tkaczuk gave the team another threat in centering the famous Bulldog Line. But Tkaczuk wasn`t just about passing. He could also put the puck in the net — as was evidenced by his five straight 20-goal seasons from 1969-70 to 1973-74 and his remarkable seven-goal performance in 10 playoff games in 1973.

A career Ranger, Tkaczuk ranks second to Rod Gilbert in total games played by a player who never played for another NHL team.

RANGERS DEBUT
Jan. 24, 1968 (Rangers vs. Boston Bruins)

FINAL GAME WITH RANGERS
Feb. 2, 1981 (Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings)

RANGERS CAPTAIN
Dec. 7, 1980 to Feb. 3, 1981

MAJOR NHL AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS WITH RANGERS
NHL All-Star Game — 1970

RANGERS TEAM AWARDS
Rangers MVP — 1969-70
Players` Player Award — 1972-73
Boucher Trophy (Most Popular) — 1969-70

RANGERS RECORDS
Most assists in one game — 5 at Pittsburgh on Feb. 12, 1972 (shares record with three others)
Most assists by a rookie in one game — 4 vs. Chicago on Feb. 26, 1969 (shares record with three others)

RANGERS TEAM LEADER
Most points — 1969-70, 1970-71
Most assists — 1969-70, 1970-71
Most playoff points — 1973 (tie)
Most playoff goals — 1973

RANGERS ORGANIZATION STATISTICS
Minor-league games: 180
Minor-league teams: Kitchener (OHA) 1963-1968; Omaha (CHL) 1967 playoffs; Buffalo (AHL) 1968-69

MISCELLANEOUS
Full Name: Walter Robert Tkaczuk
Uniform Numbers: 18
Retired from NHL: 1981

NYR TODAY SATURDAY 6/23: Alumni Birthdays, Remembering Boogeyman, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/23

Derek Boogaard LW (2010-2011) Hal Loaycoe D (1945-1947) John Ross Roach G (1928-1932) Gaye Stewart LW (1951-1952)


Remembering The "Boogeyman" on his Birthday

(excerpts from "Boy On Ice:  The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard")
Standing 7 feet tall on his skates, Derek Leendert Boogaard looked nothing like a "boy." To his hockey opponents and the fans who wildly cheered him, he was the Boogeyman, an enforcer who could shatter a nose or jaw with a single, powerful punch. At the height of his career, earning millions in the National Hockey League, Boogaard was everyone's favorite "goon," his job not to play but to fight.

Lacking skill, yet eager to be part of the sport any way he could, he accepted the role of brawler, and the dream slowly turned nightmarish. His injuries and concussions put him in constant, debilitating pain, and Boogaard was dead of an accidental drug overdose by the age of 28. 

Boogaard was near the end of his career, playing for the New York Rangers, when he first heard the definition of "concussion." By then, he was in chronic pain and gobbling massive amounts of drugs. In one 16-day stretch, while playing for the Minnesota Wild, he was prescribed 150 pills of oxycodone and 40 of hydrocodone, both highly controlled substances, as well as Ambien and Xanax.

Today in NYR History June 23

1999: The Hockey Hall of Fame waives the usual three-year waiting period and announces that Wayne Gretzky will be part of the Class of 1999. 

2001: Dan Blackburn is selected 10th overall in the 2001 NHL Draft.

NYR TODAY FRIDAY JUNE 22: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/22

Darrol Powe C (2012-2014) Dean Turner D (1978-1979)

Today in NYR History June 22

2012: The Rangers select defenseman Brady Skjei 28th overall in the NHL Draft. 

Currently on the Rangers Roster, Skjei was promoted to the Rangers from Hartford on December 15, 2015 after recording 2 goals and 9 assists in 27 games for the Wolf Pack to start the 2015–16 season.

NYR TODAY THURSDAY JUNE 21: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/21

Lucien Deblois RW (1977-79,1986-89) Alex Gray RW (1927-1928) Howie Morenz C (1935-1936) Buddy O'Connor C (1947-1951) Pascal Rheaume C (2003-2004)

Today in NYR History June 21

1986: The Rangers select Brian Leetch ninth overall.
In 1129 games in a Broadway Blueshirt Brian Leetch would tally 240 goals and 741 assists for 981 career points along with being a plus 24 over the span. Leetch accumulated many individual honors during his 18-year career. He was a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's best defenseman (1992, 1997) and was the first American-born winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for his performance during the Rangers' run to the 1994 Stanley Cup championship. Leetch is one of only five NHL defensemen to score 100 points in a season with his 102-point campaign in 1991–92. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year in 1989 and his 23 goals that season remain an NHL record for rookie defensemen. Leetch's number 2 was retired by the Rangers on January 24, 2008. During the ceremony, longtime teammate Mark Messier referred to Leetch as the single "Greatest Ranger of All Time." Leetch served as Rangers Captain from 1997–2000 after the departure of Mark Messier to the Vancouver Canucks (he would hand back the captaincy to Messier upon his return to the Rangers in 2000). In 1994 Leetch became the first non-Canadian to be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, and remained the only American to win the award until the Boston Bruins' Tim Thomas in 2011. Leetch is only the second player in league history, as well as the only non-Canadian, to win the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year), the Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP) in their career. The only other player to do so was Bobby Orr.

Leetch's Rangers career would come to an end at the 2004 when he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs just prior to the trade deadline for prospects Maxim Kondratiev, Jarkko Immonen, a first-round pick in the 2004 draft, which became Kris Chucko (pick was later traded to the Calgary Flames), and a second-round pick in 2005, which became Michael Sauer. On January 24, 2008, the New York Rangers retired Leetch's number 2 jersey, joining fellow 1994 Stanley Cup Champion teammates Mark Messier and Mike Richter, as well as Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin in the rafters of Madison Square Garden.

2008: The Rangers draft Derek Stepan in the second-round, 51st overall. 
Afterwards Stepan attended the University of Wisconsin, where he played for the Badgers hockey team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association WCHA. On July 1, 2010, he signed his first professional contract with the Rangers, forgoing his junior and senior years at Wisconsin. On October 9, 2010, he became the first player in Rangers history, and the fourth in NHL history, to score a hat-trick in his NHL debut. In 515 games as a Rangers Stepan totaled 128 goals and 232 assists for 360 points and was a plus 109 during a 7 year span.  On June 23, 2017, he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes along with goalie Antti Raanta in exchange for the 7th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and Anthony DeAngelo.

2013: The Rangers name Alain Vigneault the 35th coach in franchise history. 
Vigneault would take the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Final in his first season as head coach only to lose to the Los Angeles Kings in five games. Over a five year span as head coach Vigneault would post a record of 226-147-37 in 410 Regular Season Games until April 7, 2018, when the Rangers fired Vigneault after the team finished at 34-39-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

NYR TODAY WEDNESDAY JUNE 20: Alumni Birthday, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthday 6/20

John Ogrodnick LW (1987-1992)

Today in NYR History June 20

1969: The Rangers acquire Terry Sawchuk and Sandy Snow from Detroit for Larry Jeffrey.

Sawchuk spent his final season with the New York Rangers, where he played sparingly, starting only six games. On February 1, 1970, in only his fourth start of the season, he recorded his 103rd and final shutout of his career by blanking the Pittsburgh Penguins 6–0. This was also his last NHL goaltender win. His last regular season start was on March 14, 1970 in a 7–4 loss to the Chicago Black Hawks. Sawchuk's last playoff start was in a 5–3 playoff quarterfinals loss to the Boston Bruins on April 9, 1970. Sawchuk appeared in his last NHL game on April 14 in the same playoff series. In game 5, after Phil Esposito had scored at 7:59 of the third period to put Boston in the lead, Rangers coach Emile Francis, in an effort to slow down the game, replaced goalie Ed Giacomin with Sawchuk. He was in the net for less than a minute before Giacomin returned and the Rangers lost the game 3–2. Boston went on to win the series 4 games to 2.

Sawchuk struggled with untreated depression, a condition that often affected his conduct. After the 1969–1970 season ended, Sawchuk and Rangers teammate Ron Stewart, both of whom had been drinking, fought over expenses for the house they rented together on Long Island, New York. Sawchuk suffered severe internal injuries during the scuffle from falling on top of Stewart's bent knee. At Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Sawchuk's gallbladder was removed and he had a second operation on his damaged and bleeding liver. The press described the incident as "horseplay," and Sawchuk told the police that he accepted full responsibility for the events.

At New York Hospital in Manhattan, another operation was performed on Sawchuk's bleeding liver. He never recovered and died shortly thereafter from a pulmonary embolism on May 31, 1970 at the age of 40.

2012: Henrik Lundqvist wins the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender. Lundqvist went 39-18-5 during the 2011-12 season with a 1.97 goals against average and a .930 save percentage with eight shutouts.

NYR TODAY TUESDAY JUNE 19: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/19

Alex Frolov LW (2010-2011) Laurie Scott LW (1927-1928)

Today in NYR History June 19

1956: Rangers acquire George "Red" Sullivan from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Wally Hergesheimer.

"Red" Sullivan would play five years for the Rangers tallying 59 goals and 150 assists for 209 points in 322 games played before retiring after the 1960-1961 season. Sullivan was nearly killed when Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens speared him in the stomach and ruptured his spleen. A Catholic priest was even called to deliver his last rites yet he survived and resumed his duties with the New York Rangers. Sullivan became coach of the Rangers during the 1962–63 season when fans began to demand that Muzz Patrick resign. He coached a rather bad team until December 1965 when Emile Francis decided that he would take over as coach.

NYR TODAY Monday 6/18: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthday 6/18

Martin St. Louis RW (2013-2014), Derek Stepan C (2010-2017)

Today in NYR History June 18

1975: The Rangers acquire goaltender John Davidson and Bill Collins from St. Louis for Ted Irvine, Bert Wilson and Jerry Butler.

Davidson who played 8 seasons for the Rangers from 1975 until retiring in 1983 backstopped New York to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1979. During his career as a Blueshirt he put up a record of 93-90-25 in 222 games, playing in only 3 games during the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons. Davidson was the first, and one of only two, NHL players to wear the number 00; after Martin Biron briefly wore the number in 1995, the league banned the use of the number. From 1986-2006 "JD" manned the color position in the MSG Broadcasting booth alongside Sam Rosen, In 2009 Davidson was honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his contributions to broadcasting.

1987: The New York Rangers trade their first-round pick in the 1988 NHL Draft to the Quebec Nordiques for coach Michel Bergeron. However, the trade doesn't help either team. Bergeron lasts less than two seasons in New York before being fired; he returns to Quebec as coach for the 1989-90 season. The pick the Nordiques receive from the Rangers ends up as the No. 5 selection in 1988. Quebec selects defenseman Daniel Dore, whose NHL career consists of 17 games.

NYR TODAY Sunday 6/17: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/17

Larry Kwong RW (1947-1948) Trent Whitfield C (2001-2002)

Today in NYR History June 17

1994: The Rangers became the first -- and only -- hockey team ever honored with a parade through New York's Canyon of Heroes.

The Rangers celebrate their Stanley Cup championship with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes in New York City. Over 1 million people lined the streets in the Canyon of Heroes all the way to City Hall. It was a hot, hot Friday on June 17, 1994, as the temperature reached 89 degrees before the official start of summer the following week. Rangers fans, who had waited for generations to see their favorite sports team celebrated in this unique New York tradition, sweated through their jerseys rather than take them off amid chants of "We Own the Cup, We Own the Cup." 

The parade through lower Broadway and the Financial District featured a shower of shredded 1990s-style computer paper. It culminated with a visit to City Hall, where first-year Mayor Rudy Giuliani presented Leetch with the key to the city and congratulated all of the Rangers for breaking the 54-year "Curse".

NYR TODAY Saturday 6/16: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/16

Kelly Burnett C (1952-1953) Alexandre Giroux LW (2005-2006) Steve Larmer RW (1993-1995) Chris McAllister D (2003-2004), Rick Nash LW (2012-2018), Derek Sanderson C (1974-1975)

Today in NYR History June 16

1990: The Rangers acquire a fifth-round pick in the 1990 NHL Draft from the Quebec Nordiques as compensation for Guy Lafleur signing with Quebec. 

The Blueshirts use the pick to select defenseman Sergei Zubov. Zubov, considered one of the best offensive defensemen during his career posted 30 goals and 126 assists for 156 points in 165 games over a three year span for the Rangers before being traded on August 31, 1995 to the Pittsburgh Penguins with Petr Nedved for Ulf Samuelsson and Luc Robitaille. 

In 1994 Zubov became one of the first four Russian-trained players to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup alongside fellow countrymen Alexander Karpovtsev, Alexei Kovalev and Sergei Nemchinov.

NYR TODAY Friday 6/15: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/15

Jean-Francois Labbe G (1999-2000) Sandy McCarthy RW (2000-03,2004) Warren Miller RW (1979-1980) Leo Quenneville RW (1929-1930), Mackenzie Skapski G (2014-2015)

Today in NYR History June 15

1985: The Rangers select goaltender Mike Richter in the second-round, 28th overall, of the NHL Draft. In 1994 Richter became the first Rangers goaltender to hoist the Stanley Cup since Dave Kerr in 1940. During his Rangers career "Rickey" played in 666 career games posting a record of 301-258-73 from 1989 to 2003 when he retired from concussion symptoms. 

NYR TODAY Thursday 6/14: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/14

Bing Jones LW (1947-48,1949-50) Jack Lancien D (1946-47,1948 Playoffs, !949-50) Parker MacDonald LW (1956-58,1959-60) James Patrick D (1983-1993) Johnny Wilson LW (1960-1962)

Today in NYR History June 14

1961: The Rangers claim Vic Hadfield from Chicago in the Intraleague Draft. By the 1963–64 season, Hadfield had secured a place in the Rangers' lineup as an enforcer. Over time he concentrated more on scoring than on fighting, especially with feared enforcer Reggie Fleming on the team. He joined teammates Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert to form the famous GAG line (which stood for "goal a game"). From the 1967–68 season on Hadfield always scored at least 20 goals in any full season.

Hadfield's best season was 1971–72. Named the team's captain after the trade of longtime captain Bob Nevin, he became the first Ranger - and only the sixth NHL player - to score 50 goals in a season, nearly doubling his previous best marks; with his linemates Ratelle and Gilbert, the GAG Line totalled 139 goals and 325 points en route to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Rangers signed Hadfield to a controversial and lucrative contract the following summer to deter him from defecting to the newly created World Hockey Association. He scored fewer points thereafter and was traded after the 1973–74 season to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Nick Beverley.

1994: The NHL's longest championship drought ends at 54 years when the New York Rangers hold off the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Rangers get the packed house at Madison Square Garden revved up when Brian Leetch and Adam Graves score to give them a 2-0 lead after one period. Trevor Linden scores a shorthanded goal for the Canucks early in the second period, but Mark Messier's power-play goal at 13:29 makes it 3-1 entering the third.

Linden scores a power-play goal at 4:50 of the third period to make it a one-goal game again, but goalie Mike Richter excels and the Rangers hold on until Craig MacTavish, one of seven former Edmonton Oilers brought in by general manager Neil Smith to instill a winning atmosphere, wins a final faceoff to trigger one of the biggest celebrations in New York sports history. It's the fourth Stanley Cup championship for the Rangers, but their first since 1940. It's also the first time since entering the NHL in 1926 that they've won it at the Garden.

"We had played so much hockey and had so much emotion -- the semifinals and Final both went seven games -- that the biggest thing I felt after the game was relief," says Leetch, who becomes the first American to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. "I went home that night and went to bed feeling tired, but when I got up the next day, I began to feel the excitement. We spent the next few days celebrating."

NYR TODAY Wednesday 6/13: Alumni Birthdays

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/13

Randy Gilhen C (1991-1993), Ryan McDonagh D (2012-2018) Captain (2014-2018)

NYR TODAY Tuesday 6/12: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/12

Bob Decourcy G (1947-1948) Wade Redden D (2008-2010) Paul Ronty C (1951-1955) Matthew Schneider D (1998-2000)

Today in NYR History June 12

1968: Rangers acquire Dave Balon from the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for Wayne Hillman, Joe Johnson and Dave Seguin. Balon played in 8 seasons for the Rangers scoring 99 goals and 113 assists for 212 points in 362 games. The trade was Balon's second stint as a Ranger having started his career in New York in 1959 before dealt prior to the 1963–64 season to the Montreal Canadiens in 7-player trade involving Hall of Fame goalies Jacques Plante and Gump Worsley. Balon's first year back in New York was sub-par by his standards, as he finished with 10 goals and 31 points. However, he would establish himself as an elite player in 1969–70, as he finished 7th in the league in goals with 33 and 10th in overall scoring with 70 points. He followed that up with another stellar season in 1970–71, as he bettered his career high with 36 goals (again top-10 in the league), and was voted the 'Most Popular Ranger' on a team with 5 future Hall-of-Famers. His offensive accomplishments were even more impressive in that he was also one of the team's top defensive forwards often assigned to check opposition stars.

NYR TODAY Monday 6/11: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/11

Herb Dickenson LW (1951-1952) Fedor Fedorov LW (2005-2006) Jim Mikol LW (1964-1965)

Today in NYR History June 11

1988: New York selects forward Tony Amonte in the fourth-round, 68th overall in the 1988 NHL Draft. Amonte played three seasons with the Rangers, scoring 84 goals, before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks with seven games to go in the 1993–94 season with the rights to Matt Oates for Stephane Matteau and Brian Noonan. 
In 234 games in New York, along with the 84 goals Tony picked up 99 assists for a total 183 points and was a plus 17.

2014: The Rangers beat the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1, in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, marking the first Stanley Cup Final win since 1994. Henrik Lundqvist makes 40 saves to help the New York Rangers avoid being swept in the Final with a 2-1 victory against the Kings in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. Lundqvist stops the final 26 shots he faces after Dustin Brown scores at 8:46 of the second period. Benoit Pouliot and Martin St. Louis score for the Rangers, who stay alive despite being out shot 41-19.

NYR TODAY Saturday 6/10: Alumni Birthdays, Today in NYR History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/10

Lionel Bouyvrette G (1942-1943) Tommy Dewar D (1943-1944) Chad Johnson G (2009-2011) Ian MacIntosh RW (1952-1953)

Today in NYR History June 10

1981: The Rangers select James Patrick ninth overall. Patrick signed his first professional contract on March 5, 1984 with the New York Rangers, and made his NHL debut two days later in Minnesota. Patrick scored his first NHL goal on March 17, 1984, in Philadelphia. Patrick enjoyed ten productive seasons in New York before being traded to the Hartford Whalers. In 671 games as a Blueshirt, "Jeep" tallied 104 goals and 363 assits for 467 points, was a plus 66 with 541 penalty minutes.

1981: The Rangers select John Vanbiesbrouck 72nd overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. Vanbiesbrouck began playing full-time with the Rangers in the 1984–85 season. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender and was named a First Team NHL All-Star the following season. After playing in parts of 11 seasons with the Rangers, he was selected in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft by the Florida Panthers. "Beezer" is only one of five Rangers goaltenders to have 200 plus wins as a Blueshirt, going 200-177-47 in 11 years in New York.

NYR TODAY Friday 6/8: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/8

Phil Bourque LW (1992-1994) Bryan McCabe D (2010-2011) Jima Pavese D (1987-1988)

Today in NYR History June 8 

1965: Rangers acquire Cesare Maniago and Gary Peters from the Canadiens in exhcange for Earl Ingarfield, Gord Laboissere, Dave McComb, Noel Price and cash.

NYR TODAY Thursday 6/7: Rangers & Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Birthday: 

Matt Beleskey #39 Left Wing
Born: June 7, 1988
Birthplace: Windsor, ON, CAN
Shoots: Left
Draft: 2006 ANA, 4th rd, 19th pk (112th overall)

Acquired by the Rangers on 2/25/2018 along with Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, a first-round pick in 2018 and a seventh-round pick in 2019 from the Boston Bruins for Rick Nash.

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/7 

Giles Marotte D (1973-1976) Leo Reise Jr. D (1952-1954)

Today in NYR History June 7

1994: SAVE BY RICHTER: Mike Richter denies Pavel Bure on a penalty shot in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Rangers would win Game 4, 4-2, to take a 3-1 series lead.

NYR TODAY Wednesday June 6:NYR Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/6

  
Anson Carter RW (2003-2004) Eddie Giacomin G (1965-1975) Aldo Guidolin RW (1952-1956) Niklas Sundstrom RW (1995-1999) Emerson Etem RW (2015-2016)

Today in NYR History June 6

1989: Rangers Defenseman Brian Leetch wins the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year. The 20-year-old recorded 23 goals and 71 points during the 1988-89 campaign.