New York Rangers and the Great One

Remember when Wayne Gretzky became part of the New York Rangers?

It’s been over 19 years since the Great One took one final skate on Broadway.

On July 21, 1996, New York welcomed Gretzky to Madison Square Garden by inking him to a two-year contract, worth $10 million.

It was one last chance for he and Mark Messier to replicate their championship success they had with the Edmonton Oilers.

New York Rangers /

New York Rangers

Sean Hartnett of NEWYORK.CBSLOCAL.COM posted an article in 2012, looking back at the Great One’s last years as a Ranger. It is a great read for any fan who missed this historic time.

The only problem was they were not young and spunky. However, Father time may have had his clock wound backwards after watching Gretzky’s farewell performance to the sport of hockey at “The World’s Most Famous Arena”.

1996-1997 Season- The Debut

With his good friend at his side, along with future Hall of Famer Brian Leetch and 1994 Stanley Cup hero Mike Richter on the back end, confidence must have ran high. For Gretzky, it was his first and best season in New York.

While on Broadway, Gretzky would see the post season once. However, his statistics wouldn’t show he gave up hope.

Gretzky saw his offensive numbers creep near the 100 plateau. He had not reached the century mark since the 1993-1994 season with the Los Angeles Kings, where he scored 130 points (38 goals, 92 assists).

He would score 25 goals and 72 assists, carrying a +12 rating, while playing a full 82-game schedule.

In the playoffs, Gretzky led the team in scoring with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) helping the Rangers to an Eastern Conference Final appearance. He would have his 10th playoff hat trick of his career, in the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, the Philadelphia Flyers had the Legion of Doom Line (Eric Lindros, John LeClair, Mikael Renberg) and were too physical for the Rangers to match up against.

After taking the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs beating the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils soundly, they ran into a juggernaut of a team in the Flyers, who brought back the meanness that gave them the earlier nickname, the Broad Street Bullies.

The Rangers would lose in five games, in the best of seven series.

1997-1998 Season- The Beginning of the End

After the disappointment of losing to the Flyers in the ECF, Gretzky would see changes to the Rangers lineup that made it a difficult season and the beginning of a dark period for the Blueshirts.

The man who asked him to come to the Rangers, in the first place, left that offseason. The Captain, Mark Messier, signed with the team he defeated in the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, signed as a free agent Vancouver Canucks.

Despite his team contributions offensively, the Rangers could not climb out of the hole dug by the departure of Messier.

Gretzky would continue producing in New York, offensively. That season, he would lead the team in points with 90, the second closest player was Pat LaFontaine with 62. Also, he would lead the team in assists with 67, with LaFontaine being the closest with 39. And, Gretzky would tie for the team lead in goals with 23, along with LaFontaine and Alex Kovalev.

The season would end with the team missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship. Little did anyone know, but that trend of missing the postseason would bleed over into the next seven seasons.

A highlight to Gretzky’s season was this hat trick against the Canucks on October 11, 1997. It was his 50th and last career hat trick. Fitting to have it done to the team that the Rangers shared history with: the 1994 Final and signing Messier.

1998-1999 Season- The Final Curtain Call

This would prove to be the toughest of his three years, in Rangers blue. Not only was it his final year, but injuries caught up to 99, and his goal scoring was not the same.

He finished the season with nine goals. It was the only time in his career Gretzky did not finish with double digits in goals with one team. His last goal came against the rival New York Islanders.

It was his 894th regular season goal of his career. Also, he passed the great Gordie Howe for all-time in goals scored with 1,072. That includes his time in the WHA and NHL, both regular season and playoffs.

Despite his drop in the goal department, he still was an assist machine. At the end of the regular season, Gretzky had 53. Second on the team was Brian Leetch with 42 assists. Gretzky’s final point and assist came in his final NHL game, setting up the lone goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He would finish his last season with the Rangers as the team’s leading scorer with 62 points in 70 games. It was an end to one of the most accomplished players the sport of hockey has ever seen. And he went out in style that only New York can pull off.

"“My last game in New York was my greatest day in hockey…Everything you enjoy about the sport of hockey as a kid, driving to practice with mom and dad, driving to the game with mom and dad, looking in the stands and seeing your mom and dad and your friends, that all came together in that last game in New York“"

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