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On August 18 in Rangers history: Poddubny comes to New York

By Steve Paulus

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Walt Poddubny #8 of the New York Rangers skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on February 25, 1987 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Walt Poddubny #8 of the New York Rangers skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on February 25, 1987 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
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What happened on August 18 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 1986 the Rangers made a trade, sending left winger Mike Allison to Toronto for left winger/center  Walt Poddubny.   Allison had a blazing start to his career with the Rangers, but faded after a record setting rookie season.  Hampered by knee injuries, he never came close to the 26 goals he scored as a Ranger rookie in 1980.  It looked like an even swap of underachieving wingers as Poddubny had faded from a 28 goal season in 1982-83 taking three subsequent seasons to match that total.

Ranger fans didn’t know what they were getting in Poddubny.  It turned out that he was a gifted scorer and offensive star, leading the Rangers in scoring for two straight seasons.  In his first year he scored 40 goals and followed that up with 38 goals the next season.  In 152 games as a New York Ranger, Poddubny scored 78 goals and 175 points.

This deal was clearly one of the best during the whirlwind tenure of Phil Esposito as Rangers’ GM.  Ranger fans loved Poddubny and he relished playing in New York.  He teamed up with Tomas Sandstrom to form a dynamic duo and he was a top power play performer on a team loaded with talent including Marcel Dionne, Pierre Larouche, Kelly Kisio and Don Maloney.  In the 1987-88 season, he was on ice for 65 power play goals, a number achieved only by Brian Leetch, Sergei Zubov and Jaromir Jagr in franchise history.

Then, Trader Phil undid all of the good will from his trade for Poddubny by trading him to Quebec for defenseman Normand Rochefort.   Not only did he send Poddubny north, but he also included Bruce Bell, Jari Gronstrand and a fourth round draft pick.  It was an awful deal and Poddubny was never the same after leaving New York.

Poddubny scored 38 goals for the Nordiques, but was then traded to the New Jersey Devils where he suffered through numerous knee injuries.  He was forced to retire at age 32 just four years after his two glorious seasons with the Rangers.

Poddubny  tried his hand at coaching, but had many issues after his playing days and tragically died at age 49.

Ranger fans who remember Walt Poddubny recall a player who came out of nowhere to be an offensive star, but left the team far too early, a victim of Phil Esposito’s mania for making trades.

Today’s birthdays

Only 12 NHL players have been born on August 18 and none of them played for the Rangers.

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