As time passes, and we avidly follow our favorite sports teams, a multitude of players come and go. While we may recall them during their time with the team, some manage to slip through the crevices of our memory, only to resurface through a nostalgic memory or an old piece of media, causing us to reconnect their faces and names with the iconic Rangers uniform.
Among the hallowed names like Messier, Leetch, Giacomin, Lundqvist, and others, there are those more unknown Rangers, such as Pascal Dupuis and Alexandre Daigle, and others who may have faded from our recollection. As we traverse the regular season, we’ll delve into a few of these “Forgotten Rangers”
First in line of forgotten Rangers is a notable high French-Canadian draft pick whose career took a dramatic nosedive (and no, we’re not referring to Alexis Lafreniere!). Our second feature is a player who became part of a trade that included a player that didn’t sit well with Ranger fans and even drew the ire of Brendan Shanahan at one point.
Alexandre Daigle, Center
Time with Rangers: 58 games in 1999-00
Accumulating 247 points over 119 junior games, Alexandre Daigle appeared destined to be the NHL’s next superstar. His potential was so extraordinary that he secured the most substantial rookie contract ever, a five-year deal worth $12.25 million. It was a deal that truly left everyone astonished.
His value was so remarkable that the Quebec Nordiques were willing to trade Peter Forsberg to acquire Daigle. He delivered an impressive 88 points during his first two seasons, suggesting a path to stardom.
However, following his remarkable start, Daigle seemed more interested in fame than in being a hockey player, which led to accusations of him lacking motivation and dedication. Consequently, his point production dwindled, and Ottawa’s patience in waiting for the potential superstar to emerge ran thin. In the 1997-1998 season, Ottawa decided they had seen enough, and Daigle was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Vaclav Prospal and fellow first-round disappointment Pat Faloon.
Unfortunately, Daigle failed to make a significant impact in Philadelphia, and he was subsequently traded to Edmonton, which then flipped him to Tampa Bay for Alexei Selivanov. After a brief stint of 32 games with Tampa Bay, Daigle found himself with the Rangers, with cash changing hands in the trade.
Daigle’s arrival in New York was seen as a chance at redemption, but he was unable to live up to the hype of his earlier career, tallying only 8 goals and 18 assists in 58 games during the 1999-2000 season. This ultimately resulted in him being placed on waivers at the end of the season.
Here’s a clip of Daigle getting into a “fight” with then Islander Olli Jokinen.
Patrick Rissmiller, Left Wing
Time with Rangers: 2 games during the 2008-09 season.
Recognized as a versatile two-way forward during his time at the College of The Holy Cross, Rissmiller entered the professional hockey scene by signing as an Undrafted Free Agent with the San Jose Sharks. He showcased his skills with strong performances for the AHL’s Cleveland Barons and a brief appearance with the Sharks before earning his second call-up for the 2006-2007 season.
During this stint, Rissmiller contributed significantly to the Sharks, amassing 22 points, which included seven goals and fifteen assists. On April 27, 2006, he achieved a career milestone by netting his first playoff goal against the Nashville Predators, deflecting a shot into the net.
In a new chapter of his career, Rissmiller joined the New York Rangers as a free agent on July 1st, 2008, earning a spot on the opening day roster through a strong preseason. However, an unfortunate injury followed his debut as a Ranger, limiting him to just two games before he was demoted to the AHL. Despite producing respectable numbers (54 points in 64 games) in the minors, Rissmiller was unable to secure a return to the NHL with the Rangers.
Rissmiller’s time with the Rangers concluded when he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers, part of a deal that included Donald Brashear in exchange for center Todd White. Unfortunately, his return to the NHL was short-lived, as he played just one game with the Thrashers before being sent back down to the AHL.
Rissmiller continued his journey, signing minor league contracts with the Avalanche and Sharks, but he never managed to break back into the NHL. Ultimately, after a two-year stint with Ritten-Renon in the Italian Serie A, Rissmiller made the decision to retire from professional hockey.
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