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Wednesday, March 7, 2001
Rangers claim Hebert off waivers
Associated Press
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NEW YORK – The New York Rangers, looking to replace injured
goalie Mike Richter, claimed Guy Hebert off waivers Wednesday from
the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Hebert, a 34-year-old native of Troy, N.Y., became expendable in
Anaheim because of the emergence of Jean-Sebastien Giguere and the
acquisition of Steve Shields on Monday in the trade that sent
leading-scorer Teemu Selanne to San Jose.
Hebert, the Mighty Ducks' career victories leader with 173, lost
the top job this season to Giguere, who has made 10 consecutive
starts.
The Rangers, the only NHL team without a shutout this season,
are 1-6 since Richter sustained a season-ending knee injury in a
victory over Chicago on Feb. 19.
The tandem of veteran Kirk McLean and rookie Vitali Yeremeyev
allowed 24 goals in those seven games as the Rangers have fallen
out of the Eastern Conference playoff race for the fourth straight
season.
New York general manager Glen Sather was known to covet
restricted free agent Nikolai Khabibulin, but his efforts to
acquire the Russian goalie -- out of the NHL since 1997 -- were
thwarted when the Phoenix Coyotes traded him Monday to Tampa Bay.
Hebert, who also earned 13 victories and a shutout for St. Louis
before joining the expansion Ducks in 1993, is 12-23-4 with two
shutouts this season in 41 games.
He holds most of Anaheim's goalie records. Besides victories,
Hebert also leads with 441 games played and 27 shutouts.
"Guy's been here since the start of the team. He's a great
guy," Anaheim defenseman Jason Marshall said. "He's played so
well for this organization, and I just hope good things happen for
him."
Hebert was also a backup to Richter on the 1998 U.S. Olympic
team. He did not play for the medal-less Americans in the first
Olympics to feature NHL players.
Richter, who had reconstructive surgery on his left knee last
April, will have a similar operation on his right knee Friday.
Richter injured both knees on nearly identical moves.
During the skills competition at the 2000 All-Star game, Richter
moved left and tore the anterior cruciate ligament, trying to stop
New York Islanders forward Mariusz Czerkawski during a breakaway
drill.
Against Chicago last month, the 34-year-old Richter slammed his
right knee into the goal post, tearing his other ACL, reacting to a
shot wide of the net.
The Rangers also made a trade Wednesday involving minor league
players.
New York sent 26-year-old defenseman Bert Robertsson, who played
in two Rangers games this season, to the Nashville Predators for
left wing Ryan Tobler.
Robertsson, acquired by the Rangers from Columbus in November,
had seven goals this season for Hartford of the American Hockey
League.
The 24-year-old Tobler has never played in the NHL, and has
spent the last two seasons with Milwaukee of the International
Hockey League.
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