Graves Moment No. 4: Return of the Ranger -- As a Shark
No. 9 shows up at MSG in teal
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 4:20 PMAfter 10 illustrious years skating for the Rangers, Adam Graves was traded to the San Jose Sharks for Mikael Samuelsson and Christian Gosselin. Upon hearing the news, Graves replied, "No complaints. It's still kind of sinking in."
But by Oct. 22, it HAD sunk in, and this fact was underlined when Adam returned to Madison Square Garden in Sharks' teal.
What Graves learned the moment that he stepped on the ice was that Rangers fans never forget a player they take to their hearts. Fans thundered applause as soon as he was noticed, and the applause continued throughout the game.
A video tribute that played in his honor on the scoreboard merely heightened the sense of rapture, although Graves himself, suffered mixed feelings. On the one hand, he made it clear that he was not looking forward to playing against his ex-mates; on the other, he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of positive emotion.
Adam allowed that it was an event he would never forget, and added that he was glad that it only happened once in his career.
Many fans added to the occasion by wearing Rangers sweaters with the No. 9 on the back. Others wore their jerseys backward with his name in front. One fan sported a sign that read, "NO 9'S HEART STILL BEATS BROADWAY BLUE."
The visiting Sharks won, 5-1. Although Adam did not score, he acted as a "screen" for Brad Stuart who lit the light behind goalie Dan Blackburn.
"I had the puck a few times," Graves said in his post-game chat with reporters, "and I bobbled it around. That was nothing new."
Whatever. The fans didn't like the score, but they sure loved seeing Adam Graves – just one more time.
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