Ah yes, the art of scoring in Hockey. Being able to register a point in the National Hockey League is one of the greatest skills in all of sports. A lot of great scorers have come through the New York area, playing for either the Islanders or Rangers. Ten guys have scored 500 or more points in an Islanders sweater, while the Rangers have had 11 players reach the 500 point mark. There are the superstars sure, but there are also low key guys who made a big impact on the local hockey market. That's what were going to get into here.
Each team had its big scoring lines. You had the GAG line on Broadway, and La Trio Grande out on Long Island. Brian Leetch put up big numbers on Broadway, while Denis Potvin did the same out on the Island. For every GAG, Graves and Messier, you had a Ron Greschner. For every Trio Grande and John Tavares, you had a Derek King.
So here we go, with the five underrated scorers in New York Hockey.
New York Rangers
Steve Vickers (1972-1982: 698 games played 586 points)
First four years in the league saw him pot at least 30 a season. He was known for his all around play until his skills dropped off in the final year of his career. He was a good two way player who had his scoring punch at the start of his career He was a skilled forward who shadowed behind the GAG line. Vickers had no problem being able to produce.
Anders Hedberg (1978-985: 465 games played 397 points)
Yes I know his better days were in the WHA in Winnipeg, he had over 100 points in every year he played there. At the same time, he was still pretty steady scoring on Broadway. During four of his six full seasons in the NHL (he played only 4 games 1982), he scored at least 30 goals. Hell he scored at least 20 goals and at least 50 points in each season on Broadway. The scoring touch wasn't nearly as good as it was in the WHA, but he could still produce at the NHL level.
Don Maloney (1979-989: 653 games played 502 points)
Don Maloney is the last member of the 500 point club on Broadway, a twenty goal scorer in each of his first five years in the league. The only thing that topped his goal scoring ability was his passing skills, having 40 or more assists three times in his first six years. He wasn't as much of a scoring threat near the end of his time with the Rangers, as his defensive skill stepped up, but he was very productive at the beginning.
Mike Gartner (1990-1994: 322 games, 286 points)
Look there's no doubt that by the time Gartner got to New York, his best scoring days were behind him. He's still very productive while playing here. His last year was his lowest total with just 28 goals, but that was following 40 or more goals in each of his first three seasons here. That sniper ability was still evident in his four years in New York as the 40 goal seasons showed.
Mats Zuccarello (2010-2019: 509 games, 352 points)
Didn't have the goal scoring touch of say a Mika Zibanejad or an Artemi Panarin, but Zuccarello could do a little bit of everything here. He scored double digit goals every year here and had 25 or more assists every year here. To show how consistent he was, Zuccarello became the ninth player in Rangers history to lead the team in points for three consecutive seasons, joining Jaromír Jágr, Wayne Gretzky, Phil Esposito, Andy Bathgate, Bryan Hextall Sr., Cecil Dillon, Bill Cook and Frank Boucher.
New York Islanders
Pierre Turgeon (1991-1995: 255 games played, 340 points)
He was the big prize that came to Long Island in the Pat LaFontaine trade and had an immediate impact. Three and a half years on the Island left an enduring legacy among fans. He was the last Islander to score 50 goals and 100 points in a season. His sublime skills were on full display for the Isles, and it sucks the way things turned out with the hit from Dale Hunter in the playoffs, a play which still bothers most Isles fans to this day. It took away from what could have been more brilliance.
Mark Parrish (2000-2006: 345 games, 214 points)
Wasn't the flashiest player but he knew what needed to be done to score goals. He would take a pounding in front of the net in order to be able to get a shot off or wack away at a rebound. Getting almost 25 goals a year in four of the five seasons here was pretty good. You needed a big goal, Parrish was the guy to get it for you. He established himself as a power forward with pretty good hands that could produce when you needed him to.
Derek King (1986-997: 638 games, 499 points)
His most productive years were in the early 90s with three 30 goal seasons, one of which was a 40 goal year. ASure he spent time early on as a winger on the checking line, but turned into a scorer till injuries started to take hold. He had a level of consistency. A grinder who had no problem putting the puck in the back of the net when need be.
Mariusz Czerkawski (1997-2004: 470 games, 295 points)
For a four year stretch in the late 90s Mariusz was the best player on this team and the face of the franchise. At the turn of the century he had back to back 30 goal seasons, with little of much help on this team. Solid skater with good vision on the ice and really quick hands and could pick the corners with the best of them
Bob Bourne (1974-1986: 814 games, 542 points)
Back in the 80s, there was no faster skater in the entire NHL than Bob Bourne, he could flat out fly. He had seven twenty goal seasons, three of which were 30 or more goals in a year. He had defensive skill that was solid, but his speed created a lot of scoring chances. That speed was on display in the end to end rush he scored on against the Rangers in the 83 playoffs. Lets put it this way, Matt Barzal reminds me a lot of him today as far as the speed and skating ability today
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