9 Hockey Players who Played for Red Wings and Rangers
My guess is you’ve searched this page out because you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
If I’m right, that also means that today’s grid is asking for players who have played for both the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers.
And, I’m also guessing that you’re a little stuck on this particular square and you’re looking for a little help to keep your grid immaculate. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, I’m here to help.
I’ve already done the research and have put together a list of well-known stars along with some more “under-the-radar” players that could land you a low rarity score.
John Ogrodnick
John Ogrodnick was selected in the fourth round, 66th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.
Ogrodnick played 14 seasons in the NHL, primarily with the Detroit Red Wings but also spending time with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques. Over his career, he scored 402 goals and added 425 assists for a total of 827 points.
Ogrodnick was named to the NHL All-Star Game in the 1984-85 season and was well-respected for his goal-scoring ability, particularly during that season when he scored 55 goals for the Red Wings.
Ogrodnick Key Stats
- All-Star (Red Wings)
- 40+ Goal Season (Red Wings, Rangers)
- 50+ Assist Season (Red Wings, Rangers)
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan was drafted second overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Over his career, he also played for the Blues, Hartford Whalers, Red Wings, and Rangers. Shanahan is the only player in NHL history to have scored over 600 goals and accumulated over 2,000 penalty minutes.
Shanahan’s move to the St. Louis Blues in 1991 marked a significant period in his career. His performance peaked during the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons, scoring over 50 goals in each. He was a part of the Red Wings during their Stanley Cup victories in 1997, 1998, and 2002, and was named one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in 2017.
Internationally, Shanahan represented Canada and won a gold medal at the 1994 World Championships, 2002 Winter Olympics, and the 1991 Canada Cup. Shanahan’s legacy in the sport was cemented with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 8, 2013.
Shanahan Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Championship (Red Wings)
- 1000+ Career Points (Red Wings, Devils, Blues, Whalers*, Rangers)
- 500+ Career Goals (Red Wings, Devils, Blues, Whalers*, Rangers)
- 100+ Points in a Season (Blues)
- 40+ Goals in a Season (Blues, Whalers*, Red Wings)
- 50+ Assists in a Season (Blues)
*The Whalers are now the Carolina Hurricanes.
Adam Graves
Adam Graves began his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, who drafted him in the second round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. After a brief stint with the Red Wings, he played for the Edmonton Oilers, where he won a Stanley Cup in 1990.
However, it was with the Rangers that Graves truly made his mark. Joining the team in 1991, he became an integral part of their success during the early to mid-’90s. In the 1993-94 season, he set a then-Rangers’ record for goals in a single season (52) and helped lead the team to a Stanley Cup victory, ending a 54-year championship drought.
After leaving the Rangers, Graves finished his career with the San Jose Sharks, retiring after the 2002-03 season. In addition to his on-ice achievements, Graves was recognized for his charitable efforts, winning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian contributions in 1994.
Graves Key Stats
- All-Star (Rangers)
- Stanley Cup Champ (Oilers, Rangers)
- 40+ Goal Season (Rangers)
Brad Richards
Brad Richards, a Canadian former center, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He played for multiple NHL teams, including the Lightning, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, and Detroit Red Wings.
Richards won two Stanley Cups, in 2004 with the Lightning, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy, and in 2015 with the Blackhawks. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2004 and played for Team Canada in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Richards retired in 2016 after a solid NHL career, during which he scored 298 goals and 634 assists in 1,126 games. He set a record for most assists in a debut game for the Dallas Stars. His accolades include being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2001, and participating in the 2002 YoungStars Game.
Richards Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Championship (Lightning, Blackhawks)
- 50+ Assist Season (Lightning, Stars)
Ulf Samuelsson
Ulf Samuelsson began his NHL career after being drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the fourth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Over his 16-season NHL career, he played for several teams, including the Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers.
With the Penguins, Samuelsson was a key component of their back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1991 and 1992.
While he was a reliable defenseman with solid puck-moving skills, Samuelsson was often in the spotlight for his hard-hitting style of play, which occasionally straddled the line between aggressive and injurious. He was involved in various on-ice incidents that made him a polarizing figure among fans and players.
Vladislav Namestnikov
Vladislav Namestnikov is a Russian center currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets. He was drafted 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has since played for several NHL teams, including the Lightning, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, and now the Jets.
Namestnikov’s NHL career began with the Lightning in the 2014-15 season, where he scored his first NHL goal against the Montreal Canadiens. He recorded his first NHL hat-trick in 2016 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Throughout his career, he has been traded several times, including to the Rangers in 2018, the Senators in 2019, the Avalanche in 2020, and the Stars in 2022. He returned to the Lightning in 2022 before being traded to the Jets in 2023. His NHL career statistics include 630 games played, with 115 goals, 146 assists, and a total of 261 points.
Mathieu Schneider
Mathieu Schneider began his NHL journey after being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He would go on to play for the Canadiens for several seasons, even being a part of their Stanley Cup-winning squad in 1993.
His NHL career spanned over two decades, during which he played for multiple teams (10 in total), including the Islanders, Maple Leafs, Rangers, Kings, Red Wings, Ducks, Thrashers, Canucks, and Coyotes.
Offensively skilled, Schneider often posted impressive point totals for a defenseman, culminating in over 700 points throughout his NHL career.
Andrew Copp
Andrew Copp is currently serving as an alternate captain for the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL. His journey began with the Winnipeg Jets, who selected him 104th overall in the fourth round of the 2013 Draft. Copp made his NHL debut with the Jets and on March 24, 2021, scored his first career NHL hat-trick and a 4-goal game in a win over the Canucks.
He was later traded to the New York Rangers on March 21, 2022, where he notched his second career hat-trick on April 21 in a game against the New York Islanders, making him the third player in Rangers history to score a hat-trick in the first period.
On July 13, 2022, Copp signed a five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings, marking a return to his home state of Michigan. As of this writing, Copp has accumulated over 90 goals with a plus-minus rating of +73 through 569 games, mainly during his time with the Jets.
Patrik Nemith
Patrik Nemeth, a Swedish defenseman, was selected 41st overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He began his NHL journey with the Stars, debuting with their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. Nemeth made the Stars’ opening night roster for the 2014–15 season but suffered a significant injury early on, leading to a lengthy recovery period.
Nemeth’s career saw him move to various teams over the years. In the 2017–18 season, he was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Avalanche, where he had a breakout season, leading to a one-year contract extension. He later signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings in 2019, and was subsequently traded back to the Avalanche in 2021.
Nemeth then signed a three-year deal with the New York Rangers in 2021, and in 2022, he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. After his tenth NHL season, Nemeth was placed on unconditional waivers by the Coyotes and bought out from his contract, leading him to return to Europe.
