As time passes, and we avidly follow our favorite sports teams, many 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 Pascal Dupuis and Ilkka Heikkinen, Enver Lisin, 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 defensemen who could have been more than what they were for NY.
Sandis Ozolinsh, Defenseman
Time with Rangers: 2 seasons as a Ranger
Recognized for his offensive capabilities as a defenseman, Sandis Ozolinsh was brought to the Rangers in exchange for Villie Nieminen from the Ducks. Having previously won a cup with Colorado, Ozolinsh was expected to be a key contributor to offensive plays from the defensive end.
During the 2005-06 season, Ozolinsh played in 19 games, contributing 14 points and aiding the Rangers in reaching the playoffs, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since 1997. However, following a 6–1 defeat to New Jersey in December of the next season, the Rangers placed Ozolinsh on waivers, signaling the end of the experiment.
Subsequently assigned to Hartford and placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury, the intended plan for Ozolinsh in New York did not unfold as anticipated.
Following his time with the Rangers, Ozolinsh moved on to San Jose. After a stint out west, he ventured to the KHL, where he continued to play for a few more seasons before retiring. Ozolinsh briefly emerged from retirement to represent Team Latvia in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where the team finished in 8th place.
Alexei Semenov, Defenseman
Time with Rangers: A few preseason games, not enough for his wife.
I liked what I saw of Alexei Semenov. I admired his performance during the Rangers’ training camp ahead of the 2009-10 season. His large physique seemed like a valuable asset for a team that was on the smaller side. I was genuinely looking forward to seeing him thrive in a role that could significantly benefit the team, anticipating a solid season as a physical presence on the bottom defensive pair.
Unexpectedly, he vanished without a trace. It was puzzling. What happened?
Various conflicting stories emerged, adding to the mystery. One account suggested that Semenov had agreed to a contract following his tryout, only for the deal to be vetoed by his wife. Yes, you read that right—his wife supposedly played a role in canceling the agreement.
“He agreed, his agent agreed, but his wife didn’t,” Sather said. “He couldn’t talk his family into it. In all my years of dealing with players, I’ve never had that happen before. He was crying.”
Before Sather’s comments, Semenov, whose wife lives in Russia, told Newsday he “would love to be here, but I don’t think it’s going to work out.” Asked if he might play in Russia’s KHL, he said, “Maybe, we’ll see.” Steve Zipay/Newsday
Following the initial report, a different account emerged nine days later, challenging the notion that Semenov’s wife influenced his decision. According to this version, Semenov apparently believed that the offered contract fell short in financial terms. It seems like, in this case, his perspective on the deal mattered more than his wife’s opinion. I won’t contest that!
Regardless of the reason, his stint with us was brief. Looking back, it’s clear he could have been a valuable addition, but, as they say, when the wife has a say, there’s not much room for debate! Semenov retired from professional hockey after the 2020-21 season.
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