Mike Richter

[Asheville]

What's his New York legacy, be it on/off the ice, among all-time Rangers, among all-time NYC athletes, etc.

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[Thirty One]

What's his New York legacy, be it on/off the ice, among all-time Rangers, among all-time NYC athletes, etc.

Good.

 

[lemonybergamot]

Best looking mask out of all the goalies after him

Fun to watch for his acrobatic saves

Clutch- Bure's breakaway save, multiple shutouts during playoffs, ot playoff wins, etc.

Stanley Cup Champion

That's how I remember him.

 

[nyr2k2]

He was considered a "hero" at the time (in the way we consider athletes as heroes), and that lasted for a while. He has kind of done his own thing since then, however. You don't see him as much as the other guys from the '94 team, so memories of him seem to have faded somewhat. He's not really closely affiliated with the team. He has a lot of private business ventures that are very successful, does a lot of environmental advocacy and sometimes strays into political work as well.

For Rangers fans, he'll always be remembered as a fantastic player. I know a lot of people still consider him a better goalie than Lundqvist, because of the Cup. For the rest of NY, people who were old enough to remember '94 will always remember the guy, but beyond that, his legacy will fade. He was my favorite player for over over decade, so I'll always love him.

 

[SML2]

Mike Richter is one of the all time good guys of New York sports.

 

[cwede]

great goalie, i will always be grateful for the Cup
i just never fell for him as with Eddie, JD, Beezer or Hank

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

I'm sure most will think Lundqvist was better, but some will always have Richter ahead of him given that he brought us a Cup. Richter will always be remembered alongside Messier, Leetch and Graves. I'll always remember him as acrobatic and unorthodox.


I was supposed to go to his last game against Atlanta (when he got hit with that shot), but I backed out last minute because I was sick.

 

[eco's bones]

He was considered a "hero" at the time (in the way we consider athletes as heroes), and that lasted for a while. He has kind of done his own thing since then, however. You don't see him as much as the other guys from the '94 team, so memories of him seem to have faded somewhat. He's not really closely affiliated with the team. He has a lot of private business ventures that are very successful, does a lot of environmental advocacy and sometimes strays into political work as well.

For Rangers fans, he'll always be remembered as a fantastic player. I know a lot of people still consider him a better goalie than Lundqvist, because of the Cup. For the rest of NY, people who were old enough to remember '94 will always remember the guy, but beyond that, his legacy will fade. He was my favorite player for over over decade, so I'll always love him.

He has been involved in Democratic Party politics and for organizations associated with such. He's also made noises now and again that he's thinking about running for congress--so it's not like he's disappeared altogether---he's just on another path.

 

[Unusual Suspect]

As a personality, my favorite Ranger of all time... a bright man with a good heart and always an interesting and witty interview. Also? Stanley Cup.

 

[romba]

Acrobatic, exciting, clutch.....and softies

As a kid he was my hero. I played goalie and refused to adapt to butterfly because of Richter. I'm ok sucking, as long as I think I look good doing it apparently lol

 

[Asheville]

He was considered a "hero" at the time (in the way we consider athletes as heroes), and that lasted for a while. He has kind of done his own thing since then, however. You don't see him as much as the other guys from the '94 team, so memories of him seem to have faded somewhat. He's not really closely affiliated with the team. He has a lot of private business ventures that are very successful, does a lot of environmental advocacy and sometimes strays into political work as well.

For Rangers fans, he'll always be remembered as a fantastic player. I know a lot of people still consider him a better goalie than Lundqvist, because of the Cup. For the rest of NY, people who were old enough to remember '94 will always remember the guy, but beyond that, his legacy will fade. He was my favorite player for over over decade, so I'll always love him.

Interesting take as Google images shows him on a float in the city's Macy's parade just last year

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

He owns a commercial solar company. I work in clean energy market research and invited him to speak on my panel at an event we were hosting, but never heard back.

Apparently he has been at the event as an attendee (not speaker) in the past though.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I think he was a good goalie and Ranger, who had one very outstanding year. Hank still better over the long haul though.

 

[nyr2k2]

He has been involved in Democratic Party politics and for organizations associated with such. He's also made noises now and again that he's thinking about running for congress--so it's not like he's disappeared altogether---he's just on another path.

Right, that's what I meant--not that he disappeared, he just didn't closely associate with the team after retirement like a lot of the other guys have done. You don't see him at as much MSG/Rangers stuff as some of the others. He's doing really good things, both for himself and the country, though. I'll always love the guy.

 

[nyr2k2]

Interesting take as Google images shows him on a float in the city's Macy's parade just last year

Sure, I mean, he's still involved. He'll show up for retirement ceremonies and major PR ops and stuff like that. But he's not around as often (AFAIK) as the other guys. You know, like Leetch and Graves work for the team and were everywhere even before that. Beukeboom is a scout. Mess wanted to come work here and stay affiliated with the franchise. I didn't mean to imply Richter is absentee or anything, just that he has a lot of other important personal things going on and he spends a lot of time doing that.

 

[OverTheCap]

Richter will always be remembered for stopping Bure's penalty shot in the SCF, but his best playoff performance was probably during the ECF run in 1997. He was phenomenal against the Devils, definitely the MVP of that series.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once and he's such a friendly and approachable guy, if he ever runs for office he would be great at schmoozing.

 

[eco's bones]

Right, that's what I meant--not that he disappeared, he just didn't closely associate with the team after retirement like a lot of the other guys have done. You don't see him at as much MSG/Rangers stuff as some of the others. He's doing really good things, both for himself and the country, though. I'll always love the guy.

I think retiring gave him an opportunity to explore other things he was interested in. Being still kind of young helped too. He started taking courses at Yale U. and did a little bit of coaching. Other guys like Graves and Leetch are still involved with the Rangers but really no one is ever really going to look at them other than 'oh yeah, great hockey player'. That's the thing with Avery though too though he's a bit more erratic than Richter is and personally I think he'd be impossible to be around for any great length of time. I like what Michael has done with his life. Great personality.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Mike Richter is better than Lundqvist as far as winning goes. although you can't compare since one played in the clutch and grab era and one played after the lockout. how would Richter do in today's NHL? we will never know. both are amazing in their own way but I feel Richter is the better goalie.

 

[nyr2k2]

Mike Richter is better than Lundqvist as far as winning goes. although you can't compare since one played in the clutch and grab era and one played after the lockout. how would Richter do in today's NHL? we will never know. both are amazing in their own way but I feel Richter is the better goalie.

For my money, Lundqvist is the most talented goalie that Rangers have had in my lifetime. I try not to use "best" or "better" or "greatest" or any of those superlatives because I think they're subjective. But, that's just my opinion.

Richter was my favorite Ranger before Lundqvist was my favorite Ranger.

 

[Asheville]

Richter was my favorite Ranger before Lundqvist was my favorite Ranger.

I have a difficult time with Hank being a pretty boy (the modeling trash) and yelling at teammates. Always appreciated Mike not doing the latter.

 

[Thirty One]

I have a difficult time with Hank being a pretty boy (the modeling trash) and yelling at teammates. Always appreciated Mike not doing the latter.

Don't care about "the modeling trash", but I think the second point is valid. Michael Del Zotto was on the Jay and Dan podcast over the summer and they asked him for quick reactions about his former teammates. For other guys it was about how they're funny or what they're good at outside of hockey. For Lundqvist, it was how he reacts when his defenseman make a mistake. He's definitely not the first former Ranger to mention it.

He's a far better goalie than Richter was, though.

 

[NCRanger]

Mike Richter is better than Lundqvist as far as winning goes. although you can't compare since one played in the clutch and grab era and one played after the lockout. how would Richter do in today's NHL? we will never know. both are amazing in their own way but I feel Richter is the better goalie.

Disagree completely.

I know this will be taken the wrong way. I believe that Mike Richter is partially responsible for the early years of the Dark Ages. He's never been a goaltender than can win the 2-1 game, which was absolutely necessary in that Dead Puck Era. Richter would always give up a really awful goal, worse than Lundqvist's softies. Back then, that soft goal was the difference in many games. Lundqvist CAN win that 2-1 game and he always had. He did drag mediocre Ranger teams into the playoffs with those performances. Richter never did that. He could win that 4-3 game, but needed that offensive cushion to be comfortable.

This isn't meant to bag on Richter; it's just that he was a different style goaltender, built for a different style game. And when the game was his style, he was dominant.

 

[nyr2k2]

I have a difficult time with Hank being a pretty boy (the modeling trash) and yelling at teammates. Always appreciated Mike not doing the latter.

Hank is a competitor. He gets pissed. I never had a problem with it. Quarterbacks will yell at everyone in football, the star players yell at the rest of the guys in basketball, goalies in soccer dress down half the team, as do the stars, etc. As long as it's not in a disrespectful way--like grabbing a guy by his sweater, or chasing a guy down to get in his face, I think it's fine and often beneficial.

Don't care about "the modeling trash", but I think the second point is valid. Michael Del Zotto was on the Jay and Dan podcast over the summer and they asked him for quick reactions about his former teammates. For other guys it was about how they're funny or what they're good at outside of hockey. For Lundqvist, it was how he reacts when his defenseman make a mistake. He's definitely not the first former Ranger to mention it.

He's a far better goalie than Richter was, though.

Eh, like I said, soccer goalies and a litany of big-time players in other sports will do the same. I don't see the problem as long as it's not over the top. If Del Zotto actually played passable defense, maybe one of the greatest ever to play the position wouldn't have yelled at him so much.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Probably my all time favorite Ranger seeing that I played goalie and tried to replicate everything about the way he played.

Kind of hard comparing him to Lundqvist. It's like comparing players in the 90's to today. The game has changed so much that making a comparison based on stats is incredibly misleading. I will say, despite Lundqvist's stellar track record in game 7's, there isn't a goalie I'd take over a healthy Richter when the game was on the line. The bigger the game, the better he played.

I shed more tears than I'm willing to admit when he announced his retirement. I remember him trying to be his usual self and crack some jokes and he just couldn't hide his emotions. That was so hard to watch.

The NHL can use more players like Richter. So could mankind. He was a gentlemen's gentlemen and a total class act throughout his career.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

I have a difficult time with Hank being a pretty boy (the modeling trash) and yelling at teammates. Always appreciated Mike not doing the latter.

His style never bothered me. He's a good looking cat. I also didn't mind him yelling at teammates at certain times, because they ****ing deserved most of it.

Hank is a competitor. He gets pissed. I never had a problem with it.

Spot on.