One of great debates for fans of any team is who is the best player to wear that jersey number. As a diehard New York Rangers fan, I ask that question to myself whenever a new player receives their number. This is part two of a ten-part series of who I believe are the greatest all-time New York Rangers by jersey number. Today I discuss numbers 80-89. If you missed Part 1 (#90-99) check out the link below!
Greatest All-Time New York Rangers by Jersey Number (Part 1: 90-99) – Belly Up Sports
Number 89: Pavel Buchnevich
Drafted 75th overall by the Rangers in the 2013 NHL Draft the Russian forward became a fan favorite in New York over his 5 seasons. Teaming up with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, they formed the KZB line. This became the Rangers top line for a couple of seasons. During the covid shortened 2020-21 season Buchnevich finished second on the team with 20 goals, the second time he hit the 20-goal mark in his Rangers career.
Final Rangers stat line: 301 GP 79 G 116 A 195 PTS
Number 88: Eric Lindros
The Hockey Hall of Famer was traded to the Rangers before the 2001-02 season. The legendary Philadelphia Flyer struggled with injuries and concussions at the end of his tenure in Philly, but he had some solid seasons in New York. In his first season he led the Rangers in scoring with 73 points and was named to his final All-Star game. Unfortunately, his concussion problem reoccurred his final season limiting him to just 39 games after two injury free years.
Final Rangers stat line: 192 GP 66 G 92 A 158 PTS
Number 87: Donald Brashear
Brashear was one of the most feared enforcers in NHL history. His 2634 penalty minutes are the 15th most all time in NHL history. The Rangers signed Brashear to a two-year free agent contact before the 2009-10 season. While with the Rangers Brashear played in his 1,000th career NHL game. His Rangers tenure only lasted one season before he was traded to Atlanta.
Final Rangers stat line: 36 GP 0 G 1 A 1 PTS 73 PTS
Number 86: Wojtek Wolski
The Rangers acquired Wolski during the 2010-11 season from the Arizona Coyotes for Michal Rozsival. The former first-round pick couldn’t replicate the same offensive output he had in Colorado or Arizona and was traded midway through his second season with the team.
Final Rangers stat line: 46 GP 6 G 16 A 22 PTS
Number 85: None
There have not been any Rangers players to wear #85 in a regular season or playoff game. For the past two training camps, the Rangers prospect Austin Rueschhoff has worn the number. Could he be the first? Shout out to my friend Steven Voogel for sending over a couple of guys who wore the number in preseasons: Richard Nejezchleb and Matt Maccarone.
Number 84: Corey Locke
Locke is the only Rangers player to wear #84. The Rangers signed Locke as a free agent before the 2009-10 season and had some unbelieve seasons in the AHL. Winning an AHL MVP and was a 6-time All-Star. I sat down with Corey on The Broadway Hat Podcast to talk about his career, so go check that out!
Final Rangers stat line: 3 GP 0 G 0 A 0 PTS
Number 83: None
The Rangers have not had a number 83 yet in a regular season or playoff game. One of the Rangers top prospects Ryder Korczak has won the number the last two training camps. He could be the first one to wear it.
Number 82: Martin Straka
Straka signed as a free agent with the Rangers before the 2005-06 season. Straka had a great run with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he was an all-star before signing with New York. He teamed back up with his Penguins teammate Jaromir Jagr and had three really good seasons with the Rangers. He had two consecutive 70-point seasons before battling some injuries in his final year. Straka retired from the NHL after three seasons with the Rangers returning to the Czech Republic where he continued to play and purchased a team, HC Plzeň, which he still owns.
Final Rangers stat line: 224 GP 65 G 122 A 187 PTS
Number 81: Marcel Hossa
The Rangers acquired Hossa from the Montreal Canadiens just before the 2005-06 season started. Hossa had two consecutive 10-goal seasons with the Rangers but was never able to replicate the high-scoring production he showcased in the WHL which led him to become a first-round pick. Hossa struggled in his third season with the Rangers and was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. He would leave the NHL after the season for the KHL.
Final Rangers stat line: 164 GP 21 G 21 A 42 PTS
Number 80: Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes signed with the Rangers before the 2004 NHL lockout following two very good seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. Weekes was expected to be the starting goalie for the 2005-06 season, but a rookie named Henrik Lundqvist stole the job. Weekes would back up Hank for two seasons before moving over to the New Jersey Devils. Currently, he is one of the top NHL insiders working for ESPN.
Final Rangers stat line: 46 GP 18-20-5 .890 SV% 3.01 GAA
Sound Off
There it is the greatest all-time New York Rangers to wear jersey numbers 80-89. Not too much debate with this set. Unless you are a Nik Antropov or Enver Lisin superfan. The debates should heat up as the numbers lower. To hear more about my decisions on who I selected tune into my weekly Rangers podcast The Broadway Hat. Make sure you are following all of the social media pages below so you can follow along with all ten parts!
Be sure to bookmark our hockey page for hockey coverage and follow Belly Up Hockey on Twitter: @BellyUpHockey. Follow me on Twitter for more takes on the New York Rangers and USA Hockey: @KHallNY. You can also listen to my NY Rangers podcast The Broadway Hat Podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify for Rangers news and interviews with past and current players.
