Blackburn tried to shoulder the load for the Rangers

Too good to be true

Blackburn arrived on Broadway during one of the darkest periods in Rangers’ history, in which they missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons, from 1997-98 through 2003-04.

Richter couldn’t stay healthy for long, and the defensive corps was bogged down by age and immobility. The offense and power play was at least adequate, if not good. The Rangers finished among top-12 or better in goals three times, while their man-advantage units ranked within the top-10 three times, and another at No. 11.

However, the likes of Ulanov, Malakhov, and Lefebvre were absolutely no match for the Patrik Eliases, Jaromir Jagrs, or Paul Kariyas of the league, who dominated with speed, skill, and strength.

Richter performed well enough — when he could play.

He rebounded from his knee surgery in 2001 to appear in 55 games in 2001-02. He posted a 24-26-4 record, 2.95 GAA, and .906 sv%, but suffered a cracked skull that March from a hard, rising slap shot during a match against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Amazingly, Richter was ready for the start of the 2002-03 season. Unfortunately, he lasted just 13 games, having sustained a concussion during a November match against the Edmonton Oilers after being struck by the knee of ex-Ranger Todd Marchant (who was traded to Edmonton in 1994 for Craig MacTavish).

In September 2003, Richter, the only goalie to win a Stanley Cup for the Rangers in the previous 63 seasons, officially retired.

Two nights after Richter suffered what proved to be a career-ending concussion, Blackburn stopped 26 Calgary Flames’ shots for his only NHL shutout.  The 19-year-old briefly became the team’s starter, posting a 6-7-2 record in his next 15 games, a span in which he allowed three goals or fewer 10 times.

The Rangers, however, weren’t comfortable with having a teenager as their starting goalie so they acquired veteran Mike Dunham early that December. Blackburn finished with a 3.17 GAA and .890 Sv% — respectable numbers for a kid-netminder behind such a porous defensive unit.

The day before training camp opened in September 2003, Blackburn suffered nerve damage in his shoulder while lifting weights. The injury prevented him from closing his glove hand and forced him to miss the entire 2003-04 season.

He attempted to resume playing the following season with the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings but lasted just 12 games.  He made one last attempt to play in the NHL at the Rangers training camp in 2005, but after straining his MCL, he announced his retirement at age 22.  If he hadn’t retired, he would have forfeited a $6 million insurance award.

His career as a Ranger last all of  two seasons and 63 games.  He finished with a 20-32-4 record and a respectable 3.24 GAA and .894 Sv%.   It’s remarkable that he did all of this before he turned 20.

According to Sports Illustrated/The Hockey News, Blackburn didn’t sulk after retiring. He attended Arizona State University and worked for the Goaltending Development Institute.

He played goal for the Rangers in the 2012 Winter Classic Alumni game in Philadelphia.

At last check, he was working in real estate in Dallas.