I'm in the minority. I thought the 91-92 team was better than the 93-94 team. If it wasn't for that stupid NHLPA strike over lousy baseball cards,the NYR win that year. They lost all of their momentum. I like this team. The goaltender. The defense. I like the forwards. The 94 team was two different teams. That team didn't have a #2 center. Kovalev was moved to the middle in between Matteau and Larmer. That team didn't have a legit finisher after Gartner and Amonte were traded. Amonte scored 60-70 goals in his 1st 2 years. I like this group of players.
Not a knock on Hank but Richter did win a Cup for a team/organization/city that hadn't won in 54 years. The pressure on him and that team was immense.
With that being said, I give the edge in goal to Hank.
Overall team defense, this year's team is better. The offense, including the defensemen is no contest, the 94 team was much better. Coaching is a push.
Well, I wasn't even born yet, but looking at stats, its pretty obvious the '94 team was far more talented offensively. The good news is that this team, this core group of players, is only in its infantry. We're only getting better.
Leetch and Zubov as a tandem on the point (talking PP) are so far and away above anything the current Rangers have. That alone makes 94 better. Those 2 alone, would be the best defensemen on the current team, obviously I am talking "in their prime', not in their 40's.
The 3rd and 4th liners on 94' are much deeper imo as well. I like the role players better in 94'.
That said 94' wasn't as close when it came to the team concept as 2012. So that would have something to do with closing the talent gap were they to play each other in a what if scenario, well that and Hank.
Well for one the bottom end of 94' were mostly players that were traded for, many within that particular season, the current team all came up together.....................
Short term 94 , long term this team.
I mean don't you guys think this team built for years to come where as 94 alot of mercenaries (built for that ONE CUP,amonte,weight,marchant,gardner,turcotte ALL traded for peices to win the cup )on that team even the messiah was merc and when he left we were like a lost dog , don't get me wrong I mean my first tatt is the rangers crest with 1994 inked on the bottom but this team is home grown , I dont know something about this group of kids makes me all warm and fuzzy.
Questuion for all of you: Would you rather win the cup this year OR make it to the finals 3 out of the next 6 but not knowing the outcome?,,, I'm taking the latter
The game is much different now to what it was then in my opinion.
I couldn't compare the 94 team to any current NHL team and for that matter I just don't think it's possible to compare teams with a large time gap like that.
Good point, the ruination of that team was getting rid of Sergei Zubov...
LO I couldnt of said that any better, We had the best point tandem in the NHL, I mean imagine if zubby and leetch played together for a long time , WOW,, that was messier controlling the team, he wanted zubov out
Well for one the bottom end of 94' were mostly players that were traded for, many within that particular season, the current team all came up together.....................
I don't that necessarily effects team chemistry. I mean, let's face it, most of the guys they traded for all come up together — just not in NY.
As much as I love this team, 94 had Leetch and Messier. No one on the current roster could sniff either of those guys in their prime.
Take a look back at the 94 playoff run.. its hard to comprehend how good Leetch was.
94 playoffs was Leetch's finest hour, he and Zubov were deadly together on the PP, Brian was the best point man I ever saw at keeping the puck in the offensive zone...
I don't that necessarily effects team chemistry. I mean, let's face it, most of the guys they traded for all come up together — just not in NY.
Lol ok, then we can agree to disagree.....You can not tell me a team of hired guns is going to be closer than the current team they have.
I am just going by logic, not too mention there were guys on the team in 94 that didn't particularly get along and there were certain cliques on that team...........
That is easy. Again, I will say that the '94 team that this team reminds me of is the Devils, rather than the Rangers.
I actually think the goalie comparison is closer than some might. Lundqvist so far has been a much more consistent player and, at his best, plays at a higher level. But Richter was a really good big game goalie.
Keenan played 8-9 forwards and 4 D. He had a very short bench.
Messier wanted Zubov out? Soupy Campbell thought Zubov was soft. He disappeared in the finals. He was scared of the VAN forwards like Momesso who wanted to plaster him to the wall. Ranger management was pissed at Zubov because he had wrist surgery in 95. They wanted him to play with the pain but he didn't. They came close to trading him to Quebec for Mike Ricci at the 95 deadline. His shot was never the same after the wrist injury.
He refused to shoot the puck.
Graves hurt his back in game 4 against Jersey. Was never the same player. The light never went on for Koavlev in NY. Larmer retired after the lockout year. Matteau was a side of beef.
Richter was 28. Leetch and Graves were 26. Zubov was 24. Kovelev was 21. Injuries and bad play made the Rangers a one trick pony.
Smith had to swap a #1 pick for Verbeek just to make the playoffs in 95.
