Zubov and the New York Rangers?

[Creativero]

Zubov wasn't really thought of as a top defenseman at that point. He improved alot In his late 20s and 30s. Robitaille was 1 year removed from 8 consecutive 40+ goal seasons.

 

[Creativero]

It's interesting that Pittsburgh had the following:
1993-94 - 4th in scoring, 18.8% power play
1994-95 - 2nd in scoring, 19.0% PP
1995-96 - 1st in scoring, 26.0% PP (with Zubov)
1996-97 - 1st in scoring, 21.8% PP

From 1995-96 to 1996-97:
Lemieux - 31+48 on the power play to 15+22
Jagr - 20+31 on the PP to 11+14
Francis - 12+42 on the PP to 10+24

Ironically I think powerplay was the reason he ended up leaving. Mario didn't like how much he was holding onto the puck.

 

[CharlestownChiefsESC]

The Rangers made a lot of questionable trades back then

Doug Weight to Edmonton for Tikkannen

Tony Amonte for Brian Noonan and Stephane Matteau

Even the Gartner for Anderson trade was kinda odd since Gartner was the superior goal scorer at the time

It's almost as if they were determined to deal away all the players who would've been included in the Lindros trade


It would be interesting to see what their lineup would've looked like had they kept their young assets

I can agree with the Tikkanen deal, I just wish it would have been another player bedsides Weight, If they kept Doug Weight he would have turned into the 2nd line center the team coveted throughout the 90s. Keenan hated Gartner and Amonte so everybody knew both were going. The biggest what if with them is 92, if they dont blow it vs the pens the cup is theirs, and it makes me wonder who they would of held onto and if they would have won again.

 

[billybudd]

It's interesting that Pittsburgh had the following:
1993-94 - 4th in scoring, 18.8% power play
1994-95 - 2nd in scoring, 19.0% PP
1995-96 - 1st in scoring, 26.0% PP (with Zubov)
1996-97 - 1st in scoring, 21.8% PP

From 1995-96 to 1996-97:
Lemieux - 31+48 on the power play to 15+22
Jagr - 20+31 on the PP to 11+14
Francis - 12+42 on the PP to 10+24

Yeah, I grasp that the PP was quite good at converting with Zubov on the team. Doesn't change that the players and the team were aggravated about him passing up open shots. Jagr and Lemieux would yell at him on the ice quite a lot.

 

[gifted88]

The Rangers traded the young established players for older established players. It sounded like locker room trades really.

 

[Big Phil]

The Rangers traded the young established players for older established players. It sounded like locker room trades really.

1994 was just one of those "put your eggs in one basket" type of teams. Honestly, there are times when a team wins the Cup and you wonder if they'll win next year. Or you even anticipate that it can happen. I don't know about the rest of you, but the 1994 Rangers are that one team where I was pretty certain was just a one-off type of thing. They had to win that year or else. They just got rid of so much young talent and replaced it with old Oilers. That helped them win, but again, these ex-Oilers were getting older.