Dude! What are you doing in that uniform? Part III

[FerrisRox]

We could have a whole thread about well-known players who went to the Rangers late in their careers, starting to get washed-up, and then retired or almost retired after the NYR stint... "What are you doing in that NYR uniform?":

Some additions, following this theme...

Marty McSorley, who spent 13 games, four of them in the playoffs, with the Blueshirts.

Jari Kurri, who came over in the same trade that landed McSorley, played 14 regular season games and 11 more in the playoffs before leaving as a free agent.

Terry Sawchuk spent the final eight games of his legendary career with the New York Rangers.

The Maple Leafs traded Tim Horton to the Rangers in 1970. He spent the entire 1970-71 season in New York, but I still find it odd seeing him in this uniform.

Ryan Clowe was traded to New York in 2013 and put up eight points in 12 games with the Rangers before exiting as a free agent to New Jersey.

Olli Jokinen joined the Rangers during the 2009-10 season and spent 26 games with them.

Derek Morris' Rangers career spanned 18 regular season and 7 playoff games.

Sandis Ozolinsh played forty games split over two seasons with the Rangers and put up 17 points. He finished up his career the following year in San Jose before heading back overseas.

Though it wasn't near the end of his career, Petr Sykora's 40-game Rangers career is easily forgotten.

Kevin Hatcher's second last season in the NHL was spent with the Rangers.

Russ Courtnall spent 14-regular season games and 15-playoff games with the Rangers before finishing his career with two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.

 

[VanIslander]

Three-time Jack Adams trophy winning all-time great coach....

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Terry Sawchuk

Such a stupid and tragic death...

 

[sr edler]

Selänne looks younger in this photo than he did in his rookie season. Or even in his (in)famous Nintendo advertising shot.

 

[SealsFan]

Oh yeah, the fading stars that wind up on the Rangers, in their "Jets" uniforms no less...

Bill Goldsworthy

Ken Hodge

Dallas Smith

Awrey, as mentioned

Carol Vadnais

 

[FerrisRox]

Carol Vadnais

Carol Vadnais spent more time as a New York Ranger - by far - then he did anywhere else in his career. His inclusion here doesn't make any sense.

He spent seven years with New York, his next longest stay was three and half seasons in Boston.

 

[SealsFan]

Correct, Ferris. Consider my Seals bias when seeing a player in the "wrong" uniform...

 

[FerrisRox]

Correct, Ferris. Consider my Seals bias when seeing a player in the "wrong" uniform...

I suspected that might have been the issue.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Correct, Ferris. Consider my Seals bias when seeing a player in the "wrong" uniform...

And what about my Canadiens bias...

 

[Howie Hodge]

Doug Mohns, perennial Bruin and Blackhawk, finishes up with 29 games with the second-year Atlanta Flames and a full season with the horrific expansion Washington Capitals! That'll age you in a hurry!

Doug Mohns was the first NHL'er to wear a toupe wasn't he?

 

[Howie Hodge]

How about Bobby Hull as a Hartford Whaler?

 

[Howie Hodge]

As a Sabres fan always strange to think of the following players as Sabres:

Dave Maloney

Phil Russell

Clark Gillies

And Wilf Paiment...

 

[The Panther]

Dallas Smith

Wow, I didn't know that Dallas Smith played for the Rangers when he was 76 years old.

 

[Killion]

Wow, I didn't know that Dallas Smith played for the Rangers when he was 76 years old.

... ya no kiddin eh? Most amusing.... When were young, kids, anyone over 30 considered "old" however back in the day, sans helmets, almost ALL of the players in the NHL during the last decade of the 06 era seemed "old". And a lot of them were in fact. Most looking to be into their late 30's, 40's, some looking to be well into their 50's. Dallas Smith a good example. Others like Bob Baun. Johnny McKenzie etc. All of them really. Indeterminate ages. Somewhere between 30 & 60. Fresh faced rookies rare, few & far between.... Today I look at players, a great many barely looking like they shave, in about Grade 10 maybe. And its not just me, that Ive aged & so only naturally see them all for being youthful. Just look at the differences viewing team photos over the decades. Unreal. But thats what the games become. A game of youth. Players on ELC's, here today & gone tomorrow.

 

[Hoser]

And finally, the weirdest of them all: "What are you doing behind that NYR bench?":

Ha, that photo's a three-fer with not only Trottier behind the bench but Eric Lindros and Bobby Holik sitting on it!

 

[SealsFan]

Maloney, Russell, Gillies and Paiement on Buffalo?!... excellent post, HowieHodge!

 

[Hobnobs]

Stephane Richer actually played 58 games with the Penguins.... Surreal

 

[DowntownBooster]

Oh yeah, the fading stars that wind up on the Rangers, in their "Jets" uniforms no less...

Carol Vadnais

SealsFan, we should refer to these as the "Fergie" uniforms as it was John Ferguson that cursed both the Rangers and Jets with this look. I always maintain that if it wasn't for Ferguson, the Jets would have entered the NHL with their WHA look (below) instead.

 

[Howie Hodge]

How about Tracy Pratt and Rene Robert finishing their careers in Toronto?

Tracy Pratt

Rene Robert

 

[Howie Hodge]

And I'm going to break the rules and show an early Johnny "Pie" McKenzie as a Blackhawk.....

(Johnny is 80 now; man I feel old!)

 

[Howie Hodge]

And for FerrisFox and SealsFan;

14 year old Carol Vadnais with The Canadians

And 16 year old Carol Vadnais with The Seals!

 

[Killion]

^^^ Great shots of both Johnny & Carol..... and the former 80 or not, Johnny one of my favorites, had a lot of "cool" going on. Sort of a cross between Paul Newman as Hud & what James Dean mightve been like if he'd lived longer. Johnny just kinda had that dirty nosed swagger to him as well but in a healthier, more wholesome & clean cut way. You look at that guy, that picture, you think Drive-In's, Ducktail haircuts, Levis & t-shirts, actual service at gas stations, pickup's loaded down with hay bales outside the Co-Op, Quonset Hut arenas on the prairies in the 50's... Johnny dancing a jig, the "Choke Dance" in front of the Rangers & their fans...

 

[Howie Hodge]

Johnny and Danny Gare are two of my all time favorite players. Same size as me(in the day) and an ask no quarter - give no quarter style of play.

Of course both were a hella lot more talented than I could have ever dreamed of being!

 

[VanIslander]

 

[Howie Hodge]

Detroit was a farewell destination for a few.....

Darryl Sittler

Borje Salming

Dennis Hull