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 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 Bryce Lampman, Nigel Dawes, Stu Bickel 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” In this edition, we feature a former prospect who busted hard and a guy who had tough luck with the Rangers.
Evgeny Grachev (aka Yevgeni Igorevitch Grachyov), Center
Time with Rangers: 153 games for Hartford/CT Whale, 8 for New York.
In what feels like a distant era, Evgeny Grachev, or by his legal name, Yevgeni Igorevitch Grachyov, was once heralded as a future star for the Rangers, showcasing his talent with the Brampton Battalion. His impressive performance, amassing 40 goals and 40 assists for a total of 80 points in 60 games with a +48 plus/minus rating, earned him the OHL Rookie of the Year title on April 8, 2009—incidentally, my 16th birthday, a fact acknowledged by no one, ever.
However, the anticipated success story took a turn. Grachev struggled to transition smoothly to the professional game after making the switch. Despite being a 20+ point player for Hartford over two seasons, he couldn’t replicate the flair and skill exhibited during his OHL tenure.
Lackluster showings in training camps aiming for a spot on the Rangers roster further disappointed, and in his eight games with the team, Grachev failed to make any impact on the score sheet. His contributions resembled those of Little League players at the bottom of the lineup—present but unremarkable.
Subsequently, New York traded Grachev to the Blues, where he found some success, scoring his first NHL goal. However, his stint with St. Louis was brief, playing in only 26 games before being demoted to Peoria. After two stints with the Rivermen, Yevgeni Igorevitch Grachyov decided to return to Russia and the KHL, where he continues to play to this day.
Mike Keane, Right Wing
Time with Rangers: 70 games played during the 1997-98 season
In an effort to bolster the team and support Wayne Gretzky, then-General Manager Neil Smith orchestrated the signings of both Brian Skrudland (three years, $5 million) and Mike Keane (four years, $8 million) to long-term deals during the offseason. Unfortunately, the plan didn’t unfold as anticipated, with both Skrudland and Keane experiencing underwhelming seasons in New York.
Keane managed only 18 points before both players were traded to Dallas for Todd Harvey later in the same season.
Keane, expected to assume a veteran leadership role for the Rangers, fell short of expectations. His most memorable moment as a New York Ranger was an accidental collision with teammate Pat LaFontaine, resulting in LaFontaine’s final NHL concussion and the premature end of his career.
In a twist of fate, after being traded to Dallas, Keane went on to win the Stanley Cup against the Buffalo Sabres in 1999, adding an ironic chapter to the Rangers’ attempt to strengthen their lineup.
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