Player Discussion Older fans - when did Ron Greschner play forward?

[*Bob Richards*]

Not relevant, but I remember during his last game as a pro in the '90 playoffs vs the Caps, he got hit the face with the puck & lost several teeth. That was the last shift of his career. Up until that point, he had never lost a tooth in a game.

That's absolutely amazing. The hockey powers that be will apparently always get their fill.

 

[Boris Zubov]

That's absolutely amazing. The hockey powers that be will apparently always get their fill.

Yep, it was late in the 3rd period of Game 5. At least it was at MSG & the fans got to cheer him a little bit as he skated off. It was very short lived because he made a quick exit to the locker room. There was a lot of blood.

I dunno what made me feel worse, seeing all that blood on the ice & watching Gresch skate off for the final time, or watching the handshake line after we were dismantled by the Caps & $&%*#$* John Druce.

Anybody else remember the heartbreak ending of Game 4 in Landover? Still makes me want to puke.

 

[Synergy27]

Erixon was born a decade too early. In the high flying, high scoring 80s nobody gave him a second thought.

He would've easily fit on many of the successful teams of the 90s --- especially Detroit and NJ.

I have a Jan Erixon card with "The Shadow" emblazoned on it. Different era for sure. The guy got strong recognition for playing defense because he was pretty much the only one doing so back then...

 

[HFBS]

I resent that you call those of us who saw Greschner play "older fans". As for when he played forward.... sorry I must have forgotten....

 

[eco's bones]

Jan Erixon was the best penalty killing forward the Rangers have ever had. He used to take the puck down to the offensive corner and kick it around between his feet and stick for 30-40 seconds at a time. Two--three guys on top of him and they couldn't get it away from him. He'd do it all the time. Mario Lemieux hated him. Then again Mario Lemieux is a jerk.

In Erixon's last years he had some really serious back issues. You'd see him standing on the bench (when he wasn't on the ice) sometimes the entire game to keep his back from stiffening. Back in those days though people were getting hammered with crosschecks all the time and if you wanted to play keep away in a corner you were going to pay the price. I think Erixon ended his NHL career a bit early simply because his body wasn't going to hold up to much more abuse.

 

[The Mouth]

Lemieux lit up Jan Erixon and VBK like a xmas tree. My other post got deleted about Gresch. no wonder this place is going under. PM me if you want the deets, unless the overzealous mods are editing them too.

 

[seventieslord]

Jan Erixon was the best penalty killing forward the Rangers have ever had. He used to take the puck down to the offensive corner and kick it around between his feet and stick for 30-40 seconds at a time. Two--three guys on top of him and they couldn't get it away from him. He'd do it all the time. Mario Lemieux hated him. Then again Mario Lemieux is a jerk.

In Erixon's last years he had some really serious back issues. You'd see him standing on the bench (when he wasn't on the ice) sometimes the entire game to keep his back from stiffening. Back in those days though people were getting hammered with crosschecks all the time and if you wanted to play keep away in a corner you were going to pay the price. I think Erixon ended his NHL career a bit early simply because his body wasn't going to hold up to much more abuse.

I never saw him play, but yes I can tell he was special. here's the bio I did on him 5 years ago.

http://hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=35670215&postcount=145

For a guy who couldn't score if his life depended on it, these scouting reports still lauded his skills - defensive, offensive and possession.

 

[JanErixon20]

Yep, it was late in the 3rd period of Game 5. At least it was at MSG & the fans got to cheer him a little bit as he skated off. It was very short lived because he made a quick exit to the locker room. There was a lot of blood.

I dunno what made me feel worse, seeing all that blood on the ice & watching Gresch skate off for the final time, or watching the handshake line after we were dismantled by the Caps & $&%*#$* John Druce.

Anybody else remember the heartbreak ending of Game 4 in Landover? Still makes me want to puke.

I sure remember. Nicholls ties it up late. Early in the OT, Gartner blocks a Langway shot, it bounces back to Langway, who moves in and scores a somewhat weak goal. If the puck goes 6 inches another way, it's past Langway and Gartner is gone for breakwaway.

Lemieux lit up Jan Erixon and VBK like a xmas tree. My other post got deleted about Gresch. no wonder this place is going under. PM me if you want the deets, unless the overzealous mods are editing them too.

Not true. Erixon would shadow Lemieux and get under his skin like crazy. He just followed him around. Now you can't stop ML totally, he still get his points, but to say he "lit up" Erixon really isn't true. One of the many reasons I hate Lemieux is a game in Pitt, late in the 86/86 season. 4-4 tie where Lemieux gave Erixon a ton of dirty cheapshots behind the play because he was frustrated. The main reason I hate Lemieux, where it started, was the David Shaw incident.

F Mario.

 

[JanErixon20]

Jan Erixon was the best penalty killing forward the Rangers have ever had. He used to take the puck down to the offensive corner and kick it around between his feet and stick for 30-40 seconds at a time. Two--three guys on top of him and they couldn't get it away from him. He'd do it all the time. Mario Lemieux hated him. Then again Mario Lemieux is a jerk.

In Erixon's last years he had some really serious back issues. You'd see him standing on the bench (when he wasn't on the ice) sometimes the entire game to keep his back from stiffening. Back in those days though people were getting hammered with crosschecks all the time and if you wanted to play keep away in a corner you were going to pay the price. I think Erixon ended his NHL career a bit early simply because his body wasn't going to hold up to much more abuse.

Erixon retired a year to soon. He deserved to be on that 94 team.

 

[Dagoon44]

Erixon was by far the best defensive forward in the NHL at the time.. Mario was a dirty crybaby that NHL allowed to do anything he wanted

 

[Mac n Gs]

Erixon was by far the best defensive forward in the NHL at the time.. Mario was a dirty crybaby that NHL allowed to do anything he wanted

Seems to be a trend in Pittsburgh

I wish I was able to see guys like Erixon and Greschner play, but it's always fun listening to stories about those 70s-80s Rangers teams

 

[NCRanger]

Greschner played a ton of forward on the power play, pretty much up to 1987.

As for Erixon, I kind of remember him scoring a goal off his nose in some Western Canadian rink, and was then out for 20 something games. Complete defensive shutdown forward, who had some offensive skills, but sacrificed them for the good of the team. He had over 20 assists in his first season and then never got close to that again. He used to piss Maryo off something fierce.

I vaguely remember a game against Pittsburgh at the Garden, probably late 80's, where Maryo was getting "shadowed", tripped himself along the boards and fell into a blade of a stick that was being held legally by a Ranger. Blood was spilled. Ref didn't see exactly what happened, but the Ranger got a major after Maryo whined. I think the Rangers had just killed off another extremely questionable penalty where Maryo whined.

 

[JanErixon20]

Greschner played a ton of forward on the power play, pretty much up to 1987.

As for Erixon, I kind of remember him scoring a goal off his nose in some Western Canadian rink, and was then out for 20 something games. Complete defensive shutdown forward, who had some offensive skills, but sacrificed them for the good of the team. He had over 20 assists in his first season and then never got close to that again. He used to piss Maryo off something fierce.

I vaguely remember a game against Pittsburgh at the Garden, probably late 80's, where Maryo was getting "shadowed", tripped himself along the boards and fell into a blade of a stick that was being held legally by a Ranger. Blood was spilled. Ref didn't see exactly what happened, but the Ranger got a major after Maryo whined. I think the Rangers had just killed off another extremely questionable penalty where Maryo whined.

This link is the Mario/David Shaw scenario. I was livid. Rangers had a big comeback to win this game on a Saturday afternoon at MSG.


Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPTEjPJOSfg

As for Jan Erixon, I recall a penalty shot goal he scored in Philly to ice a big divisional game.

 

[nyrage]

Seems to be a trend in Pittsburgh

I wish I was able to see guys like Erixon and Greschner play, but it's always fun listening to stories about those 70s-80s Rangers teams

Those were fun times. Higher scoring, brawls, and heightened rivalry with the Islanders.

My favorite player was Nicky Fotiu. He would crush Flyers left and right. In the 80s we had a fearless little George McPhee.

 

[JanErixon20]

Those were fun times. Higher scoring, brawls, and heightened rivalry with the Islanders.

My favorite player was Nicky Fotiu. He would crush Flyers left and right. In the 80s we had a fearless little George McPhee.

Leetch will always be my favorite player, but before him it was Mark Pavelich. Before that it was Pat Hickey. I also randomly was a big Bob Brooke fan.

 

[nyrage]

Leetch will always be my favorite player, but before him it was Mark Pavelich. Before that it was Pat Hickey. I also randomly was a big Bob Brooke fan.

I loved Hickey, too.

Man, it was tough watching our smurfs get hammered by the Flyers.

 

[Bluenote13]

Jd, Espo, Duguay, Larouche, Erixon, Ridley, Kisio, Leetch - these were my guys from 79-89.

Erixon was so smart, I studied him as a player when he was on the ice. His acceleration was great, always kept up with even the fastest of forwards in the 80's. Always felt he would have been such a great player on the 94 team, alongside MacT.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Those were fun times. Higher scoring, brawls, and heightened rivalry with the Islanders.

My favorite player was Nicky Fotiu. He would crush Flyers left and right. In the 80s we had a fearless little George McPhee.

The McPhee/Tocchet fight will always be one of my favorite old school hockey videos to go back and watch.

 

[nyrage]

The McPhee/Tocchet fight will always be one of my favorite old school hockey videos to go back and watch.

I watched both today. Tocchet had such a huge size advantage (as did most guys against McPhee), but McPhee had heart and could fight.

 

[bernmeister]

Greschner almost always played center when he went up front for the Rangers. He was never fast but he was tricky on his skates and he had superb hand skills. He used to split defenses all the time.

The Rangers experimented with him off and on at center throughout his career. In 1981-82 he plays about thirty games. As I remember he broke something in his back and he was out of action for over a season and a half--coming back at the tail end of 1982-83. He played center all those games and primarily as a center the season after.

Looking at his numbers I'd guess he was up front a lot between 1979-81 and 1984-86.

It was not in the 70 or early 80s if my memory is correct. He was a great dman back then with some awesome end to end rushes. He once went 3 straight games with a end to end rush for a goal while playing defense in the late 70s. He played forward when Bob Brook was on the team. It was around 85 or 86 I think.

mid 80's with Brooke and Erixson as a shut down line.. The guy was amazing and the line was standout as a shut down unit. The problem was none of them could stay healthy

I second these which are my memories.

I miss seeing Carol Alt in the stands.

now you're talking

when i was a kid Gresh mom surprised him and came to a game.. He had a jeep that had a sick lift kit on it and i helped him get his mom in it.. The next game he handed me tickets and said thanks.. I walked to my seats and bam there is Carl in a short tiny dress sitting next to me at 16 i couldnt stand up the entire game

tell it like is..........

Dagoon is pushing RB for most informative poster!

Jan Erixon was the best penalty killing forward the Rangers have ever had. He used to take the puck down to the offensive corner and kick it around between his feet and stick for 30-40 seconds at a time. Two--three guys on top of him and they couldn't get it away from him. He'd do it all the time. Mario Lemieux hated him. Then again Mario Lemieux is a jerk.

In Erixon's last years he had some really serious back issues. You'd see him standing on the bench (when he wasn't on the ice) sometimes the entire game to keep his back from stiffening. Back in those days though people were getting hammered with crosschecks all the time and if you wanted to play keep away in a corner you were going to pay the price. I think Erixon ended his NHL career a bit early simply because his body wasn't going to hold up to much more abuse.

EB's got it right.

 

[JanErixon20]

I loved Hickey, too.

Man, it was tough watching our smurfs get hammered by the Flyers.

I do recall them beating the Flyers a couple of times, though. I remember a 3 game sweep. Killed them in game 3 at MSG like 9-3. Rob McClanahan had a big game. Also a Saturday afternoon game, someone scored late in the third in Philly to win it. George McPhee maybe.

 

[RonGreschner]

Erixon was born a decade too early. In the high flying, high scoring 80s nobody gave him a second thought.

He would've easily fit on many of the successful teams of the 90s --- especially Detroit and NJ.

Two of my all time favorite Rangers as for Greschner's Facebook page he tells it like it is, God bless him! Yes the season was 85-86 when Roy and Lemieux came out of no where and won the Cup!


#4 should be in the rafters next to 2 and 3. Its a shame they gave his # out to Lowe and Del Zotto!

 

[RonGreschner]

I watched both today. Tocchet had such a huge size advantage (as did most guys against McPhee), but McPhee had heart and could fight.

Pound for Pound the toughest Ranger every to put on the Ranger jersey!

 

[Boris Zubov]

This link is the Mario/David Shaw scenario. I was livid. Rangers had a big comeback to win this game on a Saturday afternoon at MSG.


Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPTEjPJOSfg

I think you may have your games mixed up. The Shaw incident happened on a Sunday night, I was at the game in the Blues. The Rangers were up 6-0 by the end of the first, which included a Granato hat trick. He scored with less than 10 seconds left in the first for the Hat. Until we played the Devils in game 7 in '92, I had NEVER heard the Garden louder than that. Granato finished with 4 goals. I think the final was 9-3.

It was as an insane of a regular season game as I've ever seen. The entire 3rd period was one huge brawl. I think Chris Nilan had 3 fights that night. Lemieux of course instigated the incident; because of course the league let him get away anything; then he acted like he was shot when Shaw hacked him back. So lame. Shaw got 10 games when it was all said & done.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Seems to be a trend in Pittsburgh

I wish I was able to see guys like Erixon and Greschner play, but it's always fun listening to stories about those 70s-80s Rangers teams

Believe me, the stories make it seem quite nostalgic, but those teams were mostly a mess. They were reasonably entertaining, but realistically they never had a chance to be serious contenders.