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Mike Richter was drafted 28th overall in the 1985 Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. Three years later, Mike won the Lars-Erik Sjöberg Award as the best rookie in the 1988-89 Rangers training camp, but then only made his NHL debut in the 1989 playoffs against the Penguins. In 1989-90, Mike played 23 games as a rookie backup to John Vanbiesbrouck as the Rangers won a Patrick Division season title. In January of that season, Mike won NHL Rookie of the Month honours. In 1990-91, Mike alternated goaltending duties with Vanbiesbrouck and placed third in the NHL with a 90.3 save percentage. That year, Mike was a finalist for the Vézina Trophy and won the Rangers' Players' Player, Frank Boucher (most popular player), Rookie of the Year and Good Guy awards. In 1991-92, Mike won 23 games en route to a Rangers' Presidents' Trophy championship. That year, Mike played in his first mid-season NHL All-Star Game and won the All-Star Skills goaltending competition. In 1992-93, Mike split goaltending duties with Vanbiesbrouck for the third straight years and won 13 games.
In 1993-94, Mike succeeded Vanbiesbrouck who was picked in the Expansion Draft and won a team record 42 games for the Rangers. That year, Mike recorded five season shutouts, won the All-Star Game MVP Trophy and led the Rangers to their second Presidents' Trophy in three years. In the playoffs, Mike paced the league with four shutouts as the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup since 1940. In the shortened 1994-95 season, Mike played 35 games and won 14 times. In 1995-96, Mike missed 23 games with a groin injury, but still won 24 games and posted three shutouts. In 1996-97, Mike won 33 games including 11 consecutive wins from December 6 to January 4. At season's end, he also won the Rangers' Crumb Bum Award for service to New York youngsters. In 15 playoff games, Mike won nine times and paced the league with three shutouts. The following season, Mike played a league-best 72 games (franchise record) and posted a 2.66 goals-against average. In 1998-99, Mike played 68 games, won 27 times and posted a career-low 2.63 GAA. He also won his first Rangers' Frank Boucher Trophy. In 1999-2000, Mike played 60-plus games (61) for the fifth time in his career and had his eighth 20-win season (22). That year, he won NHL Player of the Week honours on January 24, earned his 250th participated in his third career All-Star Game on February 6 and won his 250th NHL game on February 25. He also won his third Frank Boucher Trophy, his second Rangers' Player's Player Award and his first Rangers' MVP honour.
In 2000-01, Mike went 20-21-3 with a 3.28 GAA. He set the Rangers' all-time wins mark on January 18 with his 267th victory in a 2-1 overtime win over the Maple Leafs. On February 19, he suffered an ACL tear to his right knee which sidelined him for the balance of the season.
PHOTOS
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