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

[seventieslord]

I'm wondering when Ron Greschner played some forward. From what I'm told, it was never for a full season but it was enough that his goals records aren't recognized by the team.

Based on estimated TOI (18 minutes) it looks like 1986 is a slam dunk that he was a forward a lot. But other than that, I'm not sure. 1978, 1980 and 1981 are all possibilities as well (his other 20+ goal seasons); however, his estimated TOI is still high, suggesting he might not have played forward enough to drag his TOI average down to a noticeable level (like 1986).

Another possibility entirely is that he played regular defense minutes but moved up for the PP, which would in theory give him high TOI like a defenseman and higher point totals than he'd expect to get just by playing the point.

Who remembers? Even if vaguely.

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[Machinehead]

Machinehead Sr. says he doesn't remember what year exactly, but says probably earlier in his career.

 

[Boris Zubov]

I believe you're correct that he played F regularly during the 85-86 season. He was a big loss in the 86 playoffs when he broke his hand in Game 5 of the first round. Missed the rest of the playoffs. Could've been a big help vs the Habs.

He moved back to D almost exclusively the following year, but would continue to move up sporadically during his final few seasons. There were times the team dressed 7D & Gresch would center the 4th line. I remember him taking defensive zone draws.

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.

 

[eco's bones]

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.

 

[SML]

I was just looking at his stats. I have never seen anyone have a season where they go from a +3 to a +50 and then to a -11 in 3 seasons. Dramatic swings. Granted, it's not something I normally look for, but it was wierd enough to stand out.

 

[Vickers8]

Greschner almost always played center when he went up front for the Rangers. .

Right he played center

 

[eco's bones]

If I'm remembering right it wasn't the usual thing for the Rangers to have him change position in-game. They tended to stick with him at one position. Sometimes a center or another forward would go down and he'd get moved up front to center for a couple weeks or so and then it was back to D. He was very good at both positions. A very very difficult player to get the puck away from. For his time he was a large player and he used his size and played with some edge. He'd fight now and again and was pretty good at it. He also had a very smart mouth and was known to bait players into taking bad penalties.

I could be wrong but after that back injury I'm pretty much thinking he was mainly at center for the next year or two after his return. I'm almost positive about the ten games at the end of 1982-83.

 

[NickyFotiu]

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.

 

[Dagoon44]

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

 

[nyrage]

I miss seeing Carol Alt in the stands.

 

[Dagoon44]

I miss seeing Carol Alt in the stands.

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

 

[nyrage]

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

I hear you. I sat behind her once. Aside from being super hot, she was really nice. She signed my college report card one time (that's the only paper I had on me that day). The following season she sees me in the street, walks over and asked me how I was doing in school. She was awesome.

 

[NickyFotiu]

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

lol I remember that jeep from seeing him after practice one day upstate.

 

[bubba5]

I believe he was playing forward during that magical 85-86 run that the Rangers had.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I hear you. I sat behind her once. Aside from being super hot, she was really nice. She signed my college report card one time (that's the only paper I had on me that day). The following season she sees me in the street, walks over and asked me how I was doing in school. She was awesome.

That is a great story. I'm glad you posted it.

 

[The Mouth]

Follow him on facebook and you will know why his # will never be retired. He would also play forward when the rangers needed some jump during a game. Deliberate skater, sick smooth hands.

 

[Vinster]

It was the 85 - 86 season he played center. My thoughts are a little blurry as I was too busy looking at his wife Carol Alt who was always at the Garden.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Follow him on facebook and you will know why his # will never be retired.

For those of us who don't do social media, please elaborate.

 

[Badko]

Carol Alt would generally show up at some point during the first period. And you always knew when she arrived because the entire focus of the Garden would shift from the game to Carol walking to her seat several rows up behind the net. The good ole days.

 

[seventieslord]

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

thats really strange that he was part of a good shutdown line considering his reputation as a defenseman was that he was an offensive specialist (like most other defensemen who get brought up to forward for a while).

Then again, Erixon was one of the best defensive wingers of the 80s so maybe he carried the line.

 

[NickyFotiu]

For those of us who don't do social media, please elaborate.

Yes I would like to know as well. Gresch was one of my all time favorites.

 

[Boris Zubov]

thats really strange that he was part of a good shutdown line considering his reputation as a defenseman was that he was an offensive specialist (like most other defensemen who get brought up to forward for a while).

Then again, Erixon was one of the best defensive wingers of the 80s so maybe he carried the line.

That line was fantastic against the Flyers in the '86 playoffs. We would get a lead & Sator would have the team go into a defensive shell, with the three of them leading the way. Brooke & Erixon were also tremendous penalty killers.

 

[Edge]

Then again, Erixon was one of the best defensive wingers of the 80s so maybe he carried the line.

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.

 

[Boris Zubov]

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.

He also chose to leave the NHL shy of his 31st birthday to return to Sweden. Had he stayed in North America, he could've played 10 years longer with the way the league developed.

His main problem, which was mentioned somewhere above, was he could never stay completely healthy. I don't remember him ever playing a full season.

 

[Edge]

He also chose to leave the NHL shy of his 31st birthday to return to Sweden. Had he stayed in North America, he could've played 10 years longer with the way the league developed.

His main problem, which was mentioned somewhere above, was he could never stay completely healthy. I don't remember him ever playing a full season.

I seem to recall that injuries were one of the reasons he chose to leave.

It always amazed how many of those guys who felt like they were around forever weren't a part of the cup victory --- Erixon, Beezer, Patrick.

From October 1992 to March 1994, the Rangers overhauled a lot of their roster.