#2, Brian Leetch: Still the No. 1 left defenseman for the Rangers, and still a Norris Trophy candidate. #3, Barry Richter: Playing--sorta--for the Bruins after departing as a free agent last summer. #4, Kevin Lowe: Signed with his old Edmonton Oilers this fall, where he recently played his 1000th game; the veteran leader of a young defense. #5, Mattias Norstrom: Tossed away in the infamous Kurri/McSorley deal, he's getting his chance to develop for the Kings. #6, Doug Lidster: Still the No. 7 defenseman for the Rangers--but he did spend a year in St. Louis. #8, Joby Messier: Quickly becoming a never-was, Joby Mess is languishing in Utah of the Islander organization. #9, Adam Graves: Still surgically attached to Mark Messier's left side. #10, Esa Tikkanen: Reacquired yesterday, three teams later, to once again be an agitator. #11, Mark Messier: Still the Captain. Still revered. Would still have Giuliani quaking in his boots if he decided to run for mayor...OK, that's a stretch, but still the No. 1 center. #12, Eddie Olczyk: Heave, ho, Eddie O's still pulling--now as a veteran leader in Los Angeles. (NOTE: traded to PIT, 3/18/97) #13, Sergei Nemchinov: Traded yesterday to Vancouver, Sarge spent five and a half years in New York. (NOTE: Signed with NYI, summer 1997) #14, Craig MacTavish: Ageless, helmetless wonder still wining draws, now for St. Louis (NOTE: Retired after 1996-97 season) #15, Mike Hudson: In Phoenix with the Roadrunners, an LA farm team. #16, Brian Noonan: Checking winger went, came, and yesterday went again. #17, Greg Gilbert: Coaching the Worcester Icecats of the AHL, and has them in first place. #18, Mike Hartman: In Hershey with the Bears, the Avalanche's top farm team. #19, Nick Kypreos: Injury-plagued for the Maple Leafs, which once was another class organization... #21, Sergei Zubov: In first place. Nice to know ONE of them is... Zubie, of course, is in Dallas. #23, Jeff Beukeboom: Still surgically attached to Brian Leetch's right side. #24, Jay Wells: Injury-plagued in Tampa Bay. #25, Alexander Karpovtsev: Having his breakthrough year with the Rangers. #26, Joey Kocur: Back in the NHL, and back in his old stomping grounds, Detroit, playing pugilist as always. #27, Alexei Kovalev: Everyone's favorite enigma finally proved his worth to doubting Ranger fans...by getting hurt, tearing his ACL. #28, Steve Larmer: Happily retired--VERY happily--in Ontario. VERY happy. HAPPY. #30, Glenn Healy: For now, still the Rangers' backup goaltender. (NOTE: Not anymore. Now with TOR, 7/9/97) #31, Corey Hirsch: The only one of the 29 to cut out before the parade, he's now playing, and playing well enough, for Vancouver. #32, Stephane Matteau! MATTEAU! MATTEAU! Hasn't scored a double overtime goal since his two in four games, but he's doing well enough in St. Louis. #35, Mike Richter: Still carrying the team when necessary. #36, Glenn Anderson: Has bounced around since he was with Toronto before the Rangers. Has been seen hanging around Rye...The upstairs and on-the-bench bunch:
Bob Gutkowski: CEO of The Marquee Group. Ken Munoz: Still Exec. VP and General Counsel. Neil Smith: Extension in tow, still President and General Manager. Larry Pleau: Now VP/Player Personnel, and GM of Binghamton. (NOTE: Now GM of the St. Louis Blues) Mike Keenan: Waiting by the phone after St. Louis didn't work out. Colin Campbell: The under-fire Head Coach of the New York Rangers. Dick Todd: Still an Assistant Coach of the Rangers. Dave Smith: Last known to be Trainer of the Florida Panthers. Joe Murphy: Retired last year?--still living in the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx? And last, but not least: Nathan "DING" LaFayette: Having hit perhaps the most important post in 54 years of Ranger history in the final minutes of Game Seven of the 1994 Finals, LaFayette is in Syracuse, the Canucks' AHL affiliate.[NOTE, 7/5/97--I'll probably do another mini-update at the beginning of next season. Some guys have moved on yet again, and others might yet still.]