It's Hard Not to Like "Gravy"
One of the best, both on and off the ice
Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 6:50 PMThe Rangers announced they will honor three greats in February: Adam Graves Night on Feb. 3; Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell Night on Feb. 22. Following the announcement, Stan Fischler offered these words on Graves:
If a popularity contest was held that included every Ranger whoever donned the Blueshirt, Adam Graves would be at or near the top.
It was hard not to like Adam; a player who extended himself to the public, whether the object of his interest was the mayor or a garbage collector. The peripatetic forward was also a splendid player and goal scorer, par excellence.
Graves was not the original NHL power forward, but he did redefine that style of play from the time he came to the New York Rangers in 1991 to the Blueshirts' victory over the New Jersey Devils in the 1997 playoffs, when he scored an overtime winning goal.
The quintessential gentleman off the ice, Graves became one of the most beloved athletes in New York history for his unparalleled charity work and noble efforts in the rink. Adam became so much a part of New York's fabric that it's hard to believe he actually started his NHL career in Edmonton.
The 1994 championship season showcased Graves more than ever. He tallied 52 goals — breaking the previous Blueshirts record for goals in a single season set by Vic Hatfield in 1971 — and helped the Rangers electrify New York en route to a Presidents' Trophy and the club's first Stanley Cup since 1940. The record held for 12 seasons until Jaromir Jagr netted 54 goals in 2005-06.
"Gravy" would not score at that rate again, but he consistently delivered 22 or more goals in each season from 1995-96 through 1999-2000, while earning respect across the NHL.
The 1997-98 season saw Graves lead the Rangers with 23 goals in 72 games. During that campaign, he carried the team in the absence of Mark Messier.
Graves' second proudest moment occurred on January 12, 2001, when he achieved his 300th goal in a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
Many believed that it would be most appropriate for Adam to finish his career in New York, but it wasn't to be. On a day that broke the hearts of Rangers fans everywhere, Graves — the Rangers' third leading goal scorer with 280 goals in 772 Blueshirts appearances — was traded at the 2001 entry draft on June 24 to the San Jose Sharks for Mikael Samuelsson and Chris Gosselin. Graves' career was renewed on a veteran Sharks team that challenged Western Conference perennial powerhouses Detroit and Colorado for league supremacy.
If there was one play Rangers fans could pinpoint as defining Graves' career, it took place in the final game of the Devils-Rangers playoff series in 1997 at the Meadowlands. With the score tied in overtime, Graves captured the puck at the right side of New Jersey's net and barreled around the cage with defenseman Scott Stevens in pursuit. One of the strongest backliners in the game, Stevens was unable to halt the Rangers forward. Graves forced his way past the defenseman and beat goalie Martin Brodeur to cement the series victory.
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