The Top 10 Most Important People in Rangers' History: No. 4, Mike Richter

For a team to win a Stanley Cup, not only must they have a good offense and defense, but a great goaltender to back them up. When the Rangers made their Cup run in 1994, Richter was the man. Not only was it the first time he had ever been to that level in the playoffs, but it was also the first season he was the unquestioned No. 1 goaltender.

Richter first joined the team in the 1988-89 season, and his first NHL appearance was actually in a playoff game. Although it was a loss, Richter played brilliantly and prompted historian Stan Fischler to say, "As I was watching that game, I just knew the kid would be something special."

He couldn’t have been more right.

No. 35 would go on to develop into the team’s No. 1 and backstop them to their first Stanley Cup win in 1994, 54 years after the previous one. He was one of the many MVPs in that series, but is most remembered for a penalty shot in which he stopped the high-flying superstar Pavel Bure.

Over the years Richter would continue his acrobatic style of play, making brilliant saves and winning games. In 2001 he would pass Eddie Giacomin as No. 1 all-time in franchise wins.

Unfortunately, with all the glory came injuries. It seemed every year there was something that prematurely ended his season. Richter would tear an ACL in 2001 and again in 2002. When he came back in 2003, after recovering from both tears, he was struck on the side of the head with a Doug Weight slap shot.

No one thought anything of it and he finished the game (and won it too), but he felt bad after the game and, upon an X-ray, it was found that he had a hairline fracture in his skull. He retired shortly after.

It was a sad day for the Rangers’ franchise, and no goaltender except Henrik Lundqvist had ever come close to matching his skills.

Richter would end up playing in 666 games, entirely for the Rangers while winning 301 games, losing 258, and tying 73. In 2004 he was given the ultimate Rangers’ honor when his number was retired in the Garden rafters.

Note: This is the seventh in a series of 10 articles detailing the top 10 most important people in Rangers’ history. Stay tuned for more over the coming days.