Brian Leetch, Adam Graves on Rangers' alumni roster
New York Rangers' Brian Leetch pushing the puck up the ice against St. Louis at Madison Square Garden. (Dec. 20, 2000) Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr
WASHINGTON -- The Rangers on Friday announced their roster for the Dec. 31 Winter Classic alumni game. It includes Brian Leetch and Adam Graves, but not Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky or Mike Richter.
Messier, the Rangers' special assistant to the president and general manager, still hopes to play in the game at Citizens Bank Park. He is having shoulder surgery early next month.
Gretzky reportedly declined an invitation from Rangers general manager Glen Sather to appear in the event, which will precede the Jan. 2 game between the current Rangers and Flyers. Richter cannot play because of concussion-related issues.
The complete roster: Leetch, Graves, Glenn Anderson, Mike Gartner, John Vanbiesbrouck, Dan Blackburn, Dave Maloney, Ron Greschner, Tom Laidlaw, Dale Purinton, Darius Kasparaitis, Mathieu Schneider, Darren Langdon, Stephane Matteau, Nick Kypreos, Darren Turcotte, Kris King, Brian Mullen, Paul Broten, Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu and Pat Hickey. The coaches will be Mike Keenan, Emile Francis and Colin Campbell.
The Rangers will unveil their jersey for the Jan. 2 game at 4 p.m. Monday on their Facebook page and at www.blueshirtsunited.com. After that announcement, fans will be able to vote for the alumni game starting lineup.
Deveaux suspended
As expected, Andre Deveaux was suspended three games by the NHL for his elbow to the head of Tomas Fleischmann in Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Florida. Deveaux, who participated in a telephone hearing on Thanksgiving Day, also was fined $8,513.52. The league ruled there was no "malicious intent" on Deveaux's part.
"I'm glad they realized that," Deveaux said. "I wasn't trying to do that. It was an accident. I'm glad he's not hurt. I'll serve my three games and hopefully move on. I don't want to be known as a player like that."
More Rangers
