
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 Andrew Yogan, Chris Holt, Al Montoya, 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 two guys who just didn’t really pan out after lofty expectations.
Jozef Balej, Right Wing
Time with Rangers: 13 games during the 2004-04 season
The only thing I can really remember about Jozef Balej is he assisted on Mark Messier’s 694th career goal.
Balej first made waves in junior hockey with the Portland Winter Hawks and was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. Joining the Canadiens organization in 2002, he faced challenges in the AHL during the 2002–03 season, posting modest numbers of five goals and 20 points in 56 games.
Despite showcasing dynamic speed and a powerful shot, Balej struggled to adapt to the more physical professional game. However, he made significant progress in the following season, scoring 25 goals and 58 points in 55 games and earning a brief stint with Montreal.
At the 03-04 Trade Deadline, Balej became a focal point in the trade that brought Alexei Kovalev to the Canadiens. Joining the New York Rangers, he received more playing time, featuring in 13 games and recording his inaugural NHL goal along with four assists.
After the season, he joined the Hartford Wolf Pack for the playoffs, contributing nine goals and 16 points in 16 games. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he continued with Hartford but experienced a dip in performance, tallying 20 goals and 42 points in 69 games.
Subsequently traded to Vancouver for Fedor Fedorov, Balej performed well but suffered a severe injury involving his stick, leading to a crushed kidney and internal bleeding. Although he recovered, the injury left a lasting impact on his game. After his time in Vancouver, Balej ventured overseas, continuing his professional career with various European teams in the Slovak and Czech leagues. He eventually retired from professional hockey in 2020.
Vladimir Vorobiev, Left Wing
Time with Rangers: 31 Games with Rangers from 1996-98
Selected in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers, Vorobiev primarily played for the Binghamton Rangers and the relatively new Hartford Wolf Pack. In his 31 games spanning two seasons with the Rangers, he contributed 14 points but had a less favorable plus/minus rating of -14.
His performance didn’t particularly stand out, leading to a trade to the Edmonton Oilers shortly afterward. He spent two years with the Oilers before returning to Russia, concluding his career in the Russian Super League, which predates the KHL.
Despite his overall tenure, Vorobiev did have a noteworthy moment with New York. An online record captures his impressive four-point performance against the Edmonton Oilers in 1997, including his first NHL goal.
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