Worst Rangers trade of all time

[JohnC]

Only redeeming part of Poti is his middle name is Emilio. That's pretty sweet.

 

[FOD]

Rick Middleton for Ken Hodge


Anytime this thread is brought up someone should have a rubber stamp, print this and close the thread.

This really is no contest, even for those who are not old enough to remember it.

This trade did not make any sense on any level. I still don't understand it.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

This trade did not make any sense on any level. I still don't understand it.

From what I understand, the Ken Hodge trade was for Esposito.

 

[alkurtz]

Ahh....for the glory days of the FLY line!

I feel the same way about Poti. During the Dark Ages,I used to go at least 20 or so games a year. The cries of "Hit 'em with your purse, Poti" would fill the arena.

Ah yes, another well-established Ranger tradition that dates back to the 1950s when the same was chanted at Harry Howell. Of course Howell went on to win a Norris and is in the HOF while Poti made some of the worst plays I've ever seen a defenseman make.

I loved the FLY line, on of my favorite Ranger lines ever. For the few months that it was together, and before Lindros suffered a concussion I believe in LA, we saw the real Eric Lindros and it certainly was impressive. He never was quite the same player after he returned. I remember that when he came here, for the first ten games or so he was very tentative and seemed to play afraid of getting hurt. Then, he became more assertive, played with Fleury and York, and actually had the Rangers in first place. There was even talk of Lindros for Hart Trophy. Aside from all his other skills, he had great, soft hands. And then he got another concussion on what seemed like an innocent play, and he, and the Rangers that year, skidded to oblivion. I'll always have a soft spot for that line and Lindros. I know each year there is heated debate as to whether he belongs in the HOF. I say yes, absolutely.

But Poti? Horrible. How soon we forget what a truly bad defenseman was like.

 

[McRanger]

Poti was a pretty good player on a terrible team. He had a significantly better career than York. I heard from the Islanders trainers that York was an epic ****** too, which made me sad because I was such a big fan of him on the Rangers.

Frankly, the people that hated Poti tend to be the same goofs that hated Zubov. And there is still a lot of them in the older-than-40 crowd. Playing with jam and running around hitting people is more important than keeping the puck out of your net or scoring goals. Where does that sound familiar?

 

[Miamipuck]

Poti was a pretty good player on a terrible team. He had a significantly better career than York. I heard from the Islanders trainers that York was an epic ****** too, which made me sad because I was such a big fan of him on the Rangers.

Frankly, the people that hated Poti tend to be the same goofs that hated Zubov. And there is still a lot of them in the older-than-40 crowd. Playing with jam and running around hitting people is more important than keeping the puck out of your net or scoring goals. Where does that sound familiar?

Maybe it's me but everyone I know loved the guy and hated the trade. I didn't hang around ******** that didn't appreciate his skill with the puck.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Maybe it's me but everyone I know loved the guy and hated the trade. I didn't hang around ******** that didn't appreciate his skill with the puck.

The Penguins didn't seem to appreciate it either, and in the early and mid 90s, they were certainly a team that favored high octane offense over strong two-way play. In the long run, Zubov stabilized into a strong PP specialist and top 4 Dman, but I still think there was some personal issue going on behind the scenes since he was flipped twice so quickly even though he was putting points on the board.

 

[Miamipuck]

The Penguins didn't seem to appreciate it either, and in the early and mid 90s, they were certainly a team that favored high octane offense over strong two-way play. In the long run, Zubov stabilized into a strong PP specialist and top 4 Dman, but I still think there was some personal issue going on behind the scenes since he was flipped twice so quickly even though he was putting points on the board.

Hey not every NHL front office has an over abundance of brains, so there's that.

Edit: Around that time there, 88-95/6, there were quite a few Rangers on the roster that liked to party and in general goof off. Nothing criminal or anything like that, just stuff that 20 years later the players pretty much can't afford to do. The players next to them or lower on the roster are on the exercise bike after the game and/or with a nutritionist etc. etc. There's little room for extracurricular stuff. Also in Pitt, Zubov was in a bit of a culture shock, i.e no Brighton Beach, which I have heard he was quite fond of because of the large Russian community. But I don't know 100% if that's fact. Still because Smith and Pitt did it, doesn't make it correct.

 

[McRanger]

Maybe it's me but everyone I know loved the guy and hated the trade. I didn't hang around ******** that didn't appreciate his skill with the puck.

A lot old timers and blue seaters I knew disliked him because he was a cream puff. Sure he could score and defend but he was Russian, and not a good Russian like Nemchinov, and didn't use his body enough.

One of them told me a long winded story (I think this was around the time of the '12 playoffs) where he saw a guy in a #21 Jersey and it wasn't a Stepan jersey. "Can you guess who he had on his Jersey?!?!". He was completely incredulous that someone would wear a Zubov jersey. Its not like he ever did anything for the Rangers, after all.

 

[Miamipuck]

A lot old timers and blue seaters I knew disliked him because he was a cream puff. Sure he could score and defend but he was Russian, and not a good Russian like Nemchinov, and didn't use his body enough.

One of them told me a long winded story (I think this was around the time of the '12 playoffs) where he saw a guy in a #21 Jersey and it wasn't a Stepan jersey. "Can you guess who he had on his Jersey?!?!". He was completely incredulous that someone would wear a Zubov jersey. Its not like he ever did anything for the Rangers, after all.

Some of the fanbase of the teams (Jets/Rangers) I root for really make my head explode, like from the movie Scanners.

 

[alkurtz]

Poti was a pretty good player on a terrible team. He had a significantly better career than York. I heard from the Islanders trainers that York was an epic ****** too, which made me sad because I was such a big fan of him on the Rangers.

Frankly, the people that hated Poti tend to be the same goofs that hated Zubov. And there is still a lot of them in the older-than-40 crowd. Playing with jam and running around hitting people is more important than keeping the puck out of your net or scoring goals. Where does that sound familiar?

I loved Zubov put thought Poti was terrible.

 

[McRanger]

Some of the fanbase of the teams (Jets/Rangers) I root for really make my head explode, like from the movie Scanners.

I have it bad being the youngest of 400 angry Irishmen (in my enormous extended family) who all watched the Rangers in the 70's and 80's and would rather watch a team that punched people in the face every night even if that meant losing every game.

I had the most bizarre conversation recently about Denis Potvin. One of my buffoon relatives insisted he would not, if given the opportunity, go back and put Potvin on the Rangers. Even, as I explained to him several time, if this meant that maybe the Rangers win the cup in '79 and maybe the Islanders never win any cups. Still he declined to change history. He wouldn't even trade for him to never let him play.

"F that guy! He can never be a Ranger" was the response.

 

[McRanger]

I loved Zubov put thought Poti was terrible.

I dont see how anyone can, without bias, say that Poti was terrible for the Rangers... but good for you for loving Zubov. I loved Zubov. Everyone should be required to love Zubov.

 

[Miamipuck]

I have it bad being the youngest of 400 angry Irishmen (in my enormous extended family) who all watched the Rangers in the 70's and 80's and would rather watch a team that punched people in the face every night even if that meant losing every game.

I had the most bizarre conversation recently about Denis Potvin. One of my buffoon relatives insisted he would not, if given the opportunity, go back and put Potvin on the Rangers. Even, as I explained to him several time, if this meant that maybe the Rangers win the cup in '79 and maybe the Islanders never win any cups. Still he declined to change history. He wouldn't even trade for him to never let him play.

"F that guy! He can never be a Ranger" was the response.

Hahahaha........I have had first hand experience with Potvin and as a person, they're not wrong, not talking about the player.

However, hockey wise, yeah you would have to have your head examined if you didn't want one of the true candidates for top 5-10 defensman of all time on your team, completely nutso. That's coming from a person that hates everything about the dude.

 

[alkurtz]

Maybe it was because of one particular play: I know there were likely extenuating circumstances, but I can see it like it were yesterday and still shake my head over it.

The other team (Chicago?) was on the PP. The puck goes out to the left point, and Poti, for some reason is at the point instead of in front. As the puck gets to the point, Poti scrambles back to the front of the net, leaving the shooter completely alone. He then walks right in and slaps the puck in for a goal.

It was one of those plays where you ask yourself "Did I really see what I just saw?"

I know it was just one play in one game out of a whole season but after that I was never able to look at Poti without thinking of it. And we know what happens when you are convinced that a player is bad....you only see the bad plays and downplay the good ones.

Is it possible to go back and measure Poti using today's metrics?

 

[McRanger]

Maybe it was because of one particular play: I know there were likely extenuating circumstances, but I can see it like it were yesterday and still shake my head over it.

The other team (Chicago?) was on the PP. The puck goes out to the left point, and Poti, for some reason is at the point instead of in front. As the puck gets to the point, Poti scrambles back to the front of the net, leaving the shooter completely alone. He then walks right in and slaps the puck in for a goal.

It was one of those plays where you ask yourself "Did I really see what I just saw?"

I know it was just one play in one game out of a whole season but after that I was never able to look at Poti without thinking of it. And we know what happens when you are convinced that a player is bad....you only see the bad plays and downplay the good ones.

That doesn't surprise me at all; Poti was one of those players who was prone to infuriating plays that stick in your memory. But for the most part he was a solid defenseman, at least in my opinion, which is saying something considering how bad the team was.

My biggest issue with Poti was how much I loved York. I hated to see him go. I think the vitriol towards Poti on this board and with people I knew made me a bit of a supporter. Or at least someone who tried to look at his game as honestly as I could. The Rangers were such a disaster then it was hard to see many positives.

Is it possible to go back and measure Poti using today's metrics?

Good question. But not one I can answer. We'll have to wait until a stats poster wanders into the thread.

 

[McRanger]

Hahahaha........I have had first hand experience with Potvin and as a person, they're not wrong, not talking about the player.

However, hockey wise, yeah you would have to have your head examined if you didn't want one of the true candidates for top 5-10 defensman of all time on your team, completely nutso. That's coming from a person that hates everything about the dude.

Yeah I wouldn't piss on Potvin if he was on fire, but I definitely would have taken him just to screw the Isles.

Can you imagine that franchise if they didn't have their dynasty? I doubt they would even still exist.

 

[Raspewtin]

Poti was a pretty good player on a terrible team. He had a significantly better career than York. I heard from the Islanders trainers that York was an epic ****** too, which made me sad because I was such a big fan of him on the Rangers.

Frankly, the people that hated Poti tend to be the same goofs that hated Zubov. And there is still a lot of them in the older-than-40 crowd. Playing with jam and running around hitting people is more important than keeping the puck out of your net or scoring goals. Where does that sound familiar?

What the hell is with this fanbase and loving useless grinders and hating skilled players?

Good question. But not one I can answer. We'll have to wait until a stats poster wanders into the thread.

Corsi wasn't tracked until 2005-2006 because the NHL didn't track blocked or missed shots. So nope

 

[Tawnos]

Poti would fit better in the league today. In the Dead Puck Era, he was atrociously bad.

 

[True Blue]

I had the most bizarre conversation recently about Denis Potvin. One of my buffoon relatives insisted he would not, if given the opportunity, go back and put Potvin on the Rangers. Even, as I explained to him several time, if this meant that maybe the Rangers win the cup in '79 and maybe the Islanders never win any cups. Still he declined to change history. He wouldn't even trade for him to never let him play.

"F that guy! He can never be a Ranger" was the response.

Silly assertion. That is like saying that Schultz could never be a Rangers. Or Gillies.

 

[True Blue]

I dont see how anyone can, without bias, say that Poti was terrible for the Rangers... but good for you for loving Zubov. I loved Zubov. Everyone should be required to love Zubov.

For the record, I loved Zubie.

 

[E-Train]

I don't recall any fans I knew that hated Zubov at all. Poti was a different story and during the time of this board. The toughness over skill wasn't the case with Zubie IMO.

 

[True Blue]

I don't recall any fans I knew that hated Zubov at all. Poti was a different story and during the time of this board. The toughness over skill wasn't the case with Zubie IMO.

Maybe I am wrong, but some of the detestation of Poti came from the fact that he personified the cup cake play that was endemic of the Rangers back then.

 

[E-Train]

Maybe I am wrong, but some of the detestation of Poti came from the fact that he personified the cup cake play that was endemic of the Rangers back then.

You're exactly right on Poti. I don't ever remember anyone hating Zubov because he was a PMD. Those two should never be in the same conversation.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I liked Eric Lindros. I think some Rangers fans forget he was top 4 in goals per game in his first season here and a top 9 point per game scorer that year.

His 37 goals and 36 assists for 73 points in 72 games was a solid season.