Blue Line Station
Fansided

Your guide to New York Ranger nicknames, part two

By Steve Paulus

Canadian professional hockey player Wayne Gretzky, forward of the New York Rangers, on skates up the ice during a game against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, 1999. (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images)
Canadian professional hockey player Wayne Gretzky, forward of the New York Rangers, on skates up the ice during a game against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, 1999. (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images) /
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2000 Season: Luc Robitaille slides into Ken Wregett and pucks slides left of the net. (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images)
2000 Season: Luc Robitaille slides into Ken Wregett and pucks slides left of the net. (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images) /

The Scorers

Snipers tend to attract monikers and they usually have something to do with their ability to score goals.

Luc “Lucky Luc” Robitaille – Luc Robitaille was a big goal scorer in Los Angeles and as was typical, he lost his scoring touch as soon as he came to New York.   He was also one of two Ranger snipers to own the “Lucky” nickname.  Since both from Quebec, it must be a French Canadian thing.

Pierre “Lucky Pierre” Larouche –  The second victim of the Quebecois “Lucky” nickname syndrome, Larouche was a prolific goal scorer.  He was the first player to score 50 goals in a season with two different teams (Pittsburgh & Montreal) and just missed making it three when he scored 48 with the Rangers in 1984. As it is, he is the only NHL player to score 45 goals or more with three different teams.

Pavel “The Russian Rocket” Bure – Bure’s best days were behind him when he joined the Rangers, but he still showed glimpses of his “rocket” speed.  He’s best known by Ranger fans for missing a penalty shot against Mike Richter in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

Don “Murder” Murdoch – We recently wrote about Don Murdoch’s feat of scoring five goals in a game as a rookie.  He got the nickname when he scored eight goals in his first four NHL games since he was considered murder on goaltenders.

Bernie “Broadway Bernie” Nicholls – A former 76 goal scorer, Bernie Nicholls was looking forward to a long career in the Big Apple when traded from the Kings.  The tabloids immediately christened him “Broadway Bernie.”  One game into his third season in New York, he found himself dealt for Mark Messier.  Needless to say, the “Broadway Bernie” nickname was shortlived.

Anthony “The Duke” Duclair – When Anthony Duclair made the major league roster at age 19 after a fabulous training camp, he was immediately nicknamed “the Duke.”   The Duke became more of the Bust as he scored only one goal in 18 games and was sent packing to Arizona in the trade for Keith Yandle.  Now with his fourth team in five years, he is trying to resurrect his career.

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