Each generation in history has certain things that were popular for a very short moment in time before losing popularity. If you asked someone today for their thoughts about "trolls" you might get an answer about rude internet people or the film series featuring Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake. If you asked someone in the 1990s, you would get another answer, and if you asked a New York Rangers fan who was around for the Stanley Cup run they would probably bring up Alex Kovalev.
Alex Kovalev was an extremely dynamic hockey player who was one of the first Russian born players to win the Stanley Cup, and he did so during the 1993-94 season with the Rangers. He was spectacular during the regular season posting 23 goals and 56 points in 76 games at age 20, and in the postseason he tallied 9 goals and 21 points in 23 games to help capture Lord Stanley's prize.
Kovalev for seven seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he would be reacquired years later before moving on to other organizations. But his time with the Rangers, the team he spent the most games with during his 19 year career, will always be special and memorable because of his lucky charm.
During the 1994 playoffs, the Rangers' youngster kept a lucky troll doll at his locker. These dolls were very popular in the 1990s, and at the time he was one of the youngest players on the time. Most hockey fans know about the cult classic movie Slap Shot and The Hanson Brothers bringing their toys with them when they joined Charlestown Chiefs, so maybe it made sense that the Rangers' youngster had a toy of his own.
In any case, when the Rangers had won the Cup over Vancouver, recently deceased broadcast Al Trautwig did an interview from the locker room with Kovalev, and he of course had his lucky troll doll with him for the big moment.
It is a silly moment to look back on over 30 years later, but for fans of a certain age, they will always associate the troll doll with the Rangers and their drought-busting Stanley Cup victory.