Blueshirts By the Numbers: Number 16: Mark Pavelich
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
in Ranger Legends
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Initially undrafted by the NHL, Mark Pavelich found himself playing in Switzerland after helping the USA Hockey team capture the gold medal in 1980.
When the architects of that team, Craig Patrick and Herb Brooks were brought on to run the Rangers, Pavelich was brought to New York and was an immediate sensation on Broadway, setting the team record for points by a rookie (78).
Previously ignored because of his small size, Pavelich excelled with the Rangers, as part of the "Smurfs" that Brooks employed which helped the Rangers knock the bigger Flyers out of the playoffs in 1982 and 1983. In 1983, against the Hartford Whalers, Pavelich became only the second player in Ranger history to score five goals in one game, a record he shares with Don Murdoch.
Injuries took their toll in the 84-85 and 85-86 seasons, and after a feud with then-Rangers coach Ted Sator, Pavelich was shipped off to Minnesota.
Pavelich scored 133 goals and 185 points in five seasons with the Blueshirts.
Honorable Mentions at 16: Rod Seiling, Alf Pike
I know the picture on the story is not the most flattering of Pavelich, but I used it because it also has our buddy "Kotsy" Chris Kotsopolous from his days with the Whalers, wearing the infamous pants.
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Boo!
Fine with Pavelich. Not even an honorable mention for my man Noonan?
by NYR in Chi-town on Aug 31, 2010 7:10 AM EDT reply actions
I met someone from Minn a few months back who lives near Pavs – said he was a total recluse, has a house in the woods and rarely is seen or heard from. Anybody know what he’s up to these days? Or if perhaps this was all just a load of BS?
by schwartzy on Aug 31, 2010 7:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
No apparently that is true. He has pretty much become a hermit, I think we heard he likes to hunt and fish, and just stays up there doing his thing.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
great choice
Mark Pavelich was a terrific player. Smart, tenacious, and skilled, it’s a shame he was chased away by Ted Sator.
Prole art threat.
Anybody old enough to have seen those “Smurf” teams of the Herb Brooks days knows that was a fun team to watch.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Good pick
Honorable mention to my boy who makes the league give him his own rule mid-playoffs. The Grate One!
by louielounz1 on Aug 31, 2010 8:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Too short of a career with the Rangers
But I liked the Little Ball of Hate in his time on Broadway.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Aug 31, 2010 8:33 AM EDT reply actions
Kotsy is great, we love him. And you gotta love the pants!
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Love is a strong word...
Unique might be better. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a photo of those pants I almost forgot about that look.
They looked a lot better on the Whalers than on the Flyers
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
How often?
How often do these “by the numbers” posts come up?
Are these published at a consistent interval?
Looking forward to some more!
by Anders Griffen on Aug 31, 2010 10:18 AM EDT reply actions
Anders we are running them just based on whatever else is going on. It’s really hard to actually “schedule” them, just because if something more important happens with the team, we focus on that, and the “Numbers” posts get bumped.
I’m glad you are enjoying them though.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks, Jim
that makes sense.
it’s been fun remembering players from the past, some of them that were with the team just briefly. it should remain quite interesting all the way up into/through the thirties. much higher than that and you run out of players to compare.
keep ’em coming!
thanks again
by Anders Griffen on Aug 31, 2010 12:33 PM EDT reply actions
I like this choice...
but shouldn’t Avery just get a mention? I mean, last year was a disappointment from him, but his other years with us were great. But Pavelich is the man.
Proudly suffering as a Ranger fan
Fun Team
Pavelich was a very good player, the year the beat the flyers was great. He is in the wood in minnesota fishing or hunting now.
Overlooked my Fav 70's player....
No mention of Pat Hickey? Shame, Shame. He is ahead of Pav in my book….also in the top 100 Ranger Greats…Pav is #83, while Hitch is #78. Can we get a recount??
Pavelich had 60 more points than Hickey in 29 less games, and averaged a point a game in the post-season.
Plus, Pat Hickey had points deducted for making the Rangers draft his brother, ha ha.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Special “Mandar is busting my balls as usual honorable mention” to Pat Hickey….
Happy? :)
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 31, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought about posting something about Hickey too. . but it brought back too many painful memories associated with the #5 pick on this board a while back – for which I’ve already stated my peace!
by schwartzy on Aug 31, 2010 7:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
no busting balls needed here Jimbo….just pointing out an egregious error. Pav may have had more points, but Hitch was one of the vital pieces that got the team to the finals in 1979 (he was the other winger with the 2 swedes on that line). Also….Pav up and quit on the team….no respect for that at all. For that alone he shouldnt be recognized….Hitch would have had many more points if he wasnt in the Beck deal. Again, I call for a recount.
Pav
For #16, Seiling was very versatile and dependable. Alf Pike must have been before my time. Pat Hickey should receive an honorable mention- for his speed alone- but Pav was the best, and one of the best Rangers i’ve seen in my 45 years+ of following them. He was so good almost anyone could stand near the crease and tap in 40 goals- even Ron Duguay.
Not to knock Duges, he hustled and played both ways, but he never came close to 40 till he played alongside Pav.
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Rangers
|
49 | 32 | 12 | 5 | 69 |
|
Philadelphia
|
50 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 66 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
51 | 29 | 18 | 4 | 62 |
|
New Jersey
|
50 | 28 | 19 | 3 | 59 |
|
New York Islanders
|
50 | 21 | 22 | 7 | 49 |
(updated 2.4.2012 at 8:30 AM EST)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
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Tue 02/07 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Tampa Bay
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Thu 02/09 | 7:00 PM EST |
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@
Philadelphia
|
Sat 02/11 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
Washington
|
Sun 02/12 | 12:30 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
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Buffalo
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Wed 02/01 | SO - W 1 - 0 |
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Tue 01/31 | SO - L 3 - 4 |
|
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Tue 01/24 | W 3 - 0 |
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Boston
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Sat 01/21 | SO - W 3 - 2 |
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Pittsburgh
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Thu 01/19 | L 1 - 4 |
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