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Last member of '94 team retires

Bluenote13 said:
I talk about it often, but Kovalev made one of the most unreal passes I've ever seen in hockey, anywhere. AHL 1993, Baltimore, the last season the Portland Pirates were the Baltimore Skipjacks. Kovalev was sent down to Binghamton during that horrendous '93 season. The Bing team had the best record in Pro hockey, team was stacked with AHL all stars and a future HOF'er in Zubov.

I was one of a few dozen in the stands, sitting two rows away from Neil Smith and Larry Pleau. Bing goes on the PP and Kovalev gets the puck on the right side boards, before anyone can blink Kovalev freezes the whole arena with a cross ice diagonal pass right on the tape to Craig Duncanson who's sitting on the doorstep and taps in a one timer. Even Duncanson looked up in amazement as to what just happened. I looked up at Smith and Pleau and we all just shook our heads and smiled, I gave Smith the thumbs up and he nodded back. Classic moment.
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I was only 14 during that season and wasn't as knowledgeable about hockey at the time, but I'll always remember seeing Kovalev playing in Binghamton and instantly recognizing that he was just on another level compared to everyone else he was playing with. He became my favorite player, I still remember having his "Calder Candidate" hockey card and being sad when he got traded away. I've always wished I could get my hands on a Kovalev Binghamton Rangers jersey.
 
jcman said:
[Post actually about Kovalev retiring]

I wasn't born until a month after winning the cup so I obviously didn't get to truly experience his contribution. But from everything I've seen from that year, he was a hell of a player. Congrats on a great run
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He was never as good as he could have been. Easily one of the best pure talents I've ever seen.
 
His best years were in Pittsburgh. That 2001 Penguins team was stacked after Lemieux came back.
 
My Ranger memories go back to 1958.

Season ticket holder in the blueseats from 1969-1976.

I've raised two hardcore Ranger fans, one who is a regular poster here.

Met my wife going to a playoff game in 1970.

Still as fanatic a fan as ever, the Rangers have been one of the great passions of my life. Aside from personal events, 1994 is one of the highlights of my life and I will never, ever tire of it. Each time I see Matteau's goal, Richter's save, the last faceoff, Mess with the cup, it brings a smile to my face. Always will.

In 1991 we were camping in Newfoundland, met a family from there, and of course talked hockey. I recall telling them that when I was in my 20s, I used to joke that I would likely go through my whole
life without seeing the Rangers win the cup, but now that I was in my 40s, it wasn't a joke anymore.

So 94 is a big deal. I will never forget how ecstatic I was. Just watch a replay of Sam and JD as the game ended and after, watch the crowd and you will understand.

Kovy was one of my favorite players. What an incredible talent. His speed in game 6 against the Devs was just as important as Messier's goals. Yes he underachieved but if you just look at his stats, he is a borderline hall of famer. Another player with those stats and what he did in his career just might get in. But of course he won't and shouldn't. But what a transcendent, exuberant talent. Love the guy, thinking of him makes me smile even if he could have been so much more.

Now, if we could only win another!
 
alkurtz said:
My Ranger memories go back to 1958.

Season ticket holder in the blueseats from 1969-1976.

I've raised two hardcore Ranger fans, one who is a regular poster here.

Met my wife going to a playoff game in 1970.

Still as fanatic a fan as ever, the Rangers have been one of the great passions of my life. Aside from personal events, 1994 is one of the highlights of my life and I will never, ever tire of it. Each time I see Matteau's goal, Richter's save, the last faceoff, Mess with the cup, it brings a smile to my face. Always will.

In 1991 we were camping in Newfoundland, met a family from there, and of course talked hockey. I recall telling them that when I was in my 20s, I used to joke that I would likely go through my whole
life without seeing the Rangers win the cup, but now that I was in my 40s, it wasn't a joke anymore.

So 94 is a big deal. I will never forget how ecstatic I was. Just watch a replay of Sam and JD as the game ended and after, watch the crowd and you will understand.

Kovy was one of my favorite players. What an incredible talent. His speed in game 6 against the Devs was just as important as Messier's goals. Yes he underachieved but if you just look at his stats, he is a borderline hall of famer. Another player with those stats and what he did in his career just might get in. But of course he won't and shouldn't. But what a transcendent, exuberant talent. Love the guy, thinking of him makes me smile even if he could have been so much more.

Now, if we could only win another!
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Well said. I think the people who really complain about '94 are the ones that are too young to have lived through it - and its frustration they havent seen one of their own.

This team has won 1 cup in the last 73 years. Why shouldnt 1994 be cherished by its fans?

What MSG ownership has done to that great run is a different matter entirely.
 
Bleed Ranger Blue said:
What MSG ownership has done to that great run is a different matter entirely.
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That's why it gets a bad rap sometimes.

But hey, what else are they gonna replay a thousand times and still get alot of people to watch? The '86 playoff run? I would love that, but the younger kids have no patience for 'old' things that didn't produce a Championship.
 
Bluenote13 said:
That's why it gets a bad rap sometimes.

But hey, what else are they gonna replay a thousand times and still get alot of people to watch? The '86 playoff run? I would love that, but the younger kids have no patience for 'old' things that didn't produce a Championship.
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94 is fast becoming and "old thing".
 
Well said Sir.You go back further than me with the team..I got really hooked when we brought over Andres Hedberg and Ulf Nilson.Loved them and the line of Hickey,Hedberg,Nilson.Do I remember correctly,were we the first team to bring over Swedes to play in the NHL? Or was Borje Salming here first?





alkurtz said:
My Ranger memories go back to 1958.

Season ticket holder in the blueseats from 1969-1976.

I've raised two hardcore Ranger fans, one who is a regular poster here.

Met my wife going to a playoff game in 1970.

Still as fanatic a fan as ever, the Rangers have been one of the great passions of my life. Aside from personal events, 1994 is one of the highlights of my life and I will never, ever tire of it. Each time I see Matteau's goal, Richter's save, the last faceoff, Mess with the cup, it brings a smile to my face. Always will.

In 1991 we were camping in Newfoundland, met a family from there, and of course talked hockey. I recall telling them that when I was in my 20s, I used to joke that I would likely go through my whole
life without seeing the Rangers win the cup, but now that I was in my 40s, it wasn't a joke anymore.

So 94 is a big deal. I will never forget how ecstatic I was. Just watch a replay of Sam and JD as the game ended and after, watch the crowd and you will understand.

Kovy was one of my favorite players. What an incredible talent. His speed in game 6 against the Devs was just as important as Messier's goals. Yes he underachieved but if you just look at his stats, he is a borderline hall of famer. Another player with those stats and what he did in his career just might get in. But of course he won't and shouldn't. But what a transcendent, exuberant talent. Love the guy, thinking of him makes me smile even if he could have been so much more.

Now, if we could only win another!
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I was an ever salty two days old when we last won.

Juuuuuuuust made it.
 
Bleed Ranger Blue said:
What MSG ownership has done to that great run is a different matter entirely.
Click to expand...

That's my beef. Yes this organization has had one championship in the past 70 odd years but there is so much wonderful and interesting history that's not being retold, and instead for the umpteenth time I get to see Summer of 94 on MSG Network.

I'd love to hear about and see more of those 70's teams that made the finals twice. There's no shame in losing to those Bruins and Canadiens teams. And it would incredibly interesting to revisit given the names involved: Orr, Espo, Hodge on the Bruins and Gainey, LaFleur, Robinson, Dryden and Savard on the Canadiens.
 
Crease said:
That's my beef. Yes this organization has had one championship in the past 70 odd years but there is so much wonderful and interesting history that's not being retold, and instead for the umpteenth time I get to see Summer of 94 on MSG Network.

I'd love to hear about and see more of those 70's teams that made the finals twice. There's no shame in losing to those Bruins and Canadiens teams. And it would incredibly interesting to revisit given the names involved: Orr, Espo, Hodge on the Bruins and Gainey, LaFleur, Robinson, Dryden and Savard on the Canadiens.
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Interesting, yes. Wonderful? No.

The reason MSG is doing what it's doing is because the team has been around too long to have so little to show for its tenure.
 
Mine of back to the mid 60s, the GAG line etl.

Thx for sharing your memories.

The pain that was endured by being a ranger fan on the island during the 4 cup run, and the 1940 chants, was such a low thatThe 94 win was incredibly cathartic. I think that's why we won't let it go.


alkurtz said:
My Ranger memories go back to 1958.

Season ticket holder in the blueseats from 1969-1976.

I've raised two hardcore Ranger fans, one who is a regular poster here.

Met my wife going to a playoff game in 1970.

Still as fanatic a fan as ever, the Rangers have been one of the great passions of my life. Aside from personal events, 1994 is one of the highlights of my life and I will never, ever tire of it. Each time I see Matteau's goal, Richter's save, the last faceoff, Mess with the cup, it brings a smile to my face. Always will.

In 1991 we were camping in Newfoundland, met a family from there, and of course talked hockey. I recall telling them that when I was in my 20s, I used to joke that I would likely go through my whole
life without seeing the Rangers win the cup, but now that I was in my 40s, it wasn't a joke anymore.

So 94 is a big deal. I will never forget how ecstatic I was. Just watch a replay of Sam and JD as the game ended and after, watch the crowd and you will understand.

Kovy was one of my favorite players. What an incredible talent. His speed in game 6 against the Devs was just as important as Messier's goals. Yes he underachieved but if you just look at his stats, he is a borderline hall of famer. Another player with those stats and what he did in his career just might get in. But of course he won't and shouldn't. But what a transcendent, exuberant talent. Love the guy, thinking of him makes me smile even if he could have been so much more.

Now, if we could only win another!
Click to expand...
 
surf said:
Well said Sir.You go back further than me with the team..I got really hooked when we brought over Andres Hedberg and Ulf Nilson.Loved them and the line of Hickey,Hedberg,Nilson.Do I remember correctly,were we the first team to bring over Swedes to play in the NHL? Or was Borje Salming here first?
Click to expand...

Loved Hedberg and Nilson (plus Pat Hickey)...also some of my favorite guys.

Believe the first Swede was brought over by the Rangers circa 1964 and his name was Ulf Sterner. Remember listening on the radio (think Marv Albert was the announcer) when he scored a goal that was disallowed because I believe Bob Nevin was offside. Never scored another goal or played very long.

Have some memory of him going back to Sweden where he got into some kind of legal trouble because he played a more physical Canadian style...but I could be wrong about that.

But yeah...Hederg, Nilson, and Hickey: what a fast line that was.
 
Im with the old timers on this board. although im 30 now and 12 when we won the cup it was one of my favorite sports memories. I remember my parents letting me stay up late to watch all the games and bouncing off the walls when they won it. My dad(who hated hockey) took me to the parade because i was such a fan.

I am also a redskin fan and the 2 franchises have been nearly identical for yrs. The redskins dwell on there history and their glory days as do all other professional franchises. The Steelers live on the 6 titles, then Yankees on 27, hell the browns have been so putrid for years that they only relive the bad moment like the fumble or the drive. Just be glad we have this moment in the recent history. This is our history and as someone once said our history is not as rich as other O6 teams and this is one of the moments that needs to be remembered.

I can argue that at least 2 of the franchise bests played on that team. Do we forget about them aswell?
 
Messier gets all the credit for game 6 vs the Debbies but Kovalev started it all with the first goal of the game and assisting on every one of the Mess goals. Without Kovalev we don't have that 94 cup and for that I will always be a Kovalev fan.

Congrats on a great career:

1st Russian selected 1st round
1st Russian to win the cup
Olympic gold and bronze
Multiple All-Star and one time MVP
Over 1,000 career points

I think he gets HOF consideration.
 
Radek27 said:
Messier gets all the credit for game 6 vs the Debbies but Kovalev started it all with the first goal of the game and assisting on every one of the Mess goals. Without Kovalev we don't have that 94 cup and for that I will always be a Kovalev fan.

Congrats on a great career:

1st Russian selected 1st round
1st Russian to win the cup
Olympic gold and bronze
Multiple All-Star and one time MVP
Over 1,000 career points

I think he gets HOF consideration.
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Hey. Don't forget the others! :rant:;)

My Dad brings up Kovalev constantly whenever Messier's Game 6 is mentioned vs. the Devils.
 
Nothing like your favorite childhood player retiring to make you feel old...

Knock him all you want, he probably deserves it, but this man was an electric talent and not only was a major factor in me becoming a die hard fan, he was also a major influence in me becoming a player. Hockey can be a beautiful game, and this man showed that regularly. He also had fun when playing, and off the ice, and that made him fun to watch. Best of luck to #27, I already miss you and the game as it was when you played it.
 
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