OT: Let's Remember Some Guys

[will1066]

Just randomly thought about Max Kondratiev. He looked like a Russian version of Steve Perry

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Just randomly thought about Max Kondratiev. He looked like a Russian version of Steve Perry

He even got in the Bobby Granger commercials. What was his deal? He had a bomb for a shot and always looked good when he was up with the Rangers. They even brought him back and he was in Hartford.

Him and Immonen both in the Leetch trade looked fine but never got a lengthy stay. Why?

 

[will1066]

He even got in the Bobby Granger commercials. What was his deal? He had a bomb for a shot and always looked good when he was up with the Rangers. They even brought him back and he was in Hartford.

Him and Immonen both in the Leetch trade looked fine but never got a lengthy stay. Why?

No idea. He's I've one of those guys that linger in my mind but have no real recollection. Wasn't physical, didn't stand out in any single area.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

I did not expect this thread to be going six years later, LOL.

Normand Rochefort is a guy I remembered randomly the other day. I had an irrational dislike of the guy because he spelled his name "Normand" with a D at the end, oblivious as a youngster to the concept that a name originating from a culture/language might be spelled differently than the "same" name from my culture/language.

His grandfather played for the Rangers I think. One of the high draft picks from the Nordiques who didn't live up to expectations that Bergeron brought into NY as role players.

I remember really disliking him, Miro Horova, and Jeff Bloemberg. All leftovers who ended up playing for Roger Neilson.

 

[Ratelleitlikeitis]

A name in conversation today reminded me of Wayne Dillon, on the roster in the mid 70s.

 

[cwede]

A name in conversation today reminded me of Wayne Dillon, on the roster in the mid 70s.

he was a rookie C, when Hickey was a rookie W,
they came to NYR together from "the other league"
Dillon had a good start to career but fizzled out

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Mika Zibanejad


I remember when he was good

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

i miss zherdev

 

[will1066]

i miss Lawrence Nycholat

Updated

 

[Ratelleitlikeitis]

he was a rookie C, when Hickey was a rookie W,
they came to NYR together from "the other league"
Dillon had a good start to career but fizzled out

Injuries I believe.

 

[Hodes42]

Always thought Torts shoulda played Stu Bickel more…

 

[eco's bones]

he was a rookie C, when Hickey was a rookie W,
they came to NYR together from "the other league"
Dillon had a good start to career but fizzled out

Having read Gilles Gratton's book. Dillon, Hickey, McEwan and Rod Gilbert were his buddies on the Rangers. Gratton, Dillon and Hickey had all been teammates with the Toronto Toros. Grattton lived off and on with the Dillon family in Toronto during his time with the Toros (which came before the Rangers) but also after he pulled the plug on his career and was in a short-lived band with one of Dillon's brothers. McEwan shared a home with him in his rookie season and Bill Goldsworthy moved in with them at least for a while. Gratton didn't like Phil Esposito......at all.

 

[Ratelleitlikeitis]

Having read Gilles Gratton's book. Dillon, Hickey, McEwan and Rod Gilbert were his buddies on the Rangers. Gratton, Dillon and Hickey had all been teammates with the Toronto Toros. Grattton lived off and on with the Dillon family in Toronto during his time with the Toros (which came before the Rangers) but also after he pulled the plug on his career and was in a short-lived band with one of Dillon's brothers. McEwan shared a home with him in his rookie season and Bill Goldsworthy moved in with them at least for a while. Gratton didn't like Phil Esposito......at all.

Now GG is a dude worth remembering! That mask, guitars and Espophobic…three check marks.

 

[will1066]

Phone at 34%. Aaron Voros

 

[eco's bones]

Now GG is a dude worth remembering! That mask, guitars and Espophobic…three check marks.

He doesn't come off really like a weirdo. He was different and he didn't care all that much about his hockey career. While he was playing with the Toros, then the Blues and then the Rangers he wasn't really liking the game. He liked the lifestyle a lot more. He had run ins with various opponents, teammates, coaches and GM's. The 70's were a whole different vibe though and not all that explainable to a lot of people who didn't grow up then. Some of his stories about other players were pretty interesting. He has the Big M Frank Mahovlich in his last year playing on the Toros getting behind the defense on a breakaway---getting whacked with a stick....then turning around and breaking his own stick (wooden stick in the 70's was a whole different animal to what a hockey stick is today) over the guy's shoulder and then beating the crap out of him. The Frank Mahovlich I remember that's kind of out of character. Gordie Howe watching his son getting knocked woozy by a Russian player in the 1974 WHA/Canada Cup tournament....later on catching up with the same Russian player and probably breaking his arm.

Gratton doesn't say so but I kind of got the impression that both he and his brother Norm (who also played for the Rangers) had untreated concussion issues. Now and again he talks about all the headaches he was experiencing. His brother died fairly young.....a severe alcoholic after he retired.

 

[will1066]

Can really use a big dman like Chris Tamer right now

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

i miss zherdev

I don't get why he went from being like a 60 point player to useless. I know he had off ice issues and was not a good guy. Dubi and friends generally liked him. Did he have some injury that was never mentioned?

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I don't get why he went from being like a 60 point player to useless. I know he had off ice issues and was not a good guy. Dubi and friends generally liked him. Did he have some injury that was never mentioned?

pretty sure he had addiction issues

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

pretty sure he had addiction issues

That's a bummer. I know he didn't treat his wife well in the most PG way of saying it. I hope he's doing okay in Russia now.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Since Micheletti and Boyle have been so critical, let me mention one of my favs: "Bullet" Bob Page from MSG Sportsdesk. The OG in getting canned for criticizing Dolan. He's still very active on Twitter and exactly the same.

 

[markymarc1215]

In 1998, Scott Fraser was strangely signed to be a 2nd line center behind Gretzky. Suffice to say, it did not go well.

 

[Machinehead]

Kaapo Kakko

 

[WojtekWolski86]

I played against Paul Mara in Cape Cod beer league while he was keeping in shape for tryouts. I made a comment to him "Torts is a real asshole" and he had a shit eating grin and said nothing back.

Dude flew around the rink without breaking a sweat.

The other was seeing Thomas Pock in an elevator in MSG while he was getting scratched for the millionth time.