Anders Hedberg

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hedberg joined the Rangers alongside fellow WHA signing Ulf Nilsson. During the regular season, on February 25, Nilsson was injured on a hip check by Denis Potvin of the New York Islanders. Nilsson suffered a broken ankle when his skate blade got caught in a crevice in the Madison Square Garden ice as he was hit by Potvin, which resulted in Nilsson bearing the entire force of the hit on only one leg. Nilsson later said, 'He [Potvin] was always fair. But the ice was never great in the Garden, because they had basketball and other events. My foot got caught. It was a freak thing.' This incident is commemorated by the 'Potvin Sucks' chant that takes place during every Rangers home game, and it serves as the origin of that chant at Madison Square Garden.

In Their Own Story

The 1978–79 Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final, facing the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, who were making their fourth straight Final appearance. It was the Rangers' first appearance in the Final since the 1972 Stanley Cup Final. The Canadiens won the best-of-seven series four games to one, winning their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. Hedberg was part of that playoff run, during which the Rangers played 12 consecutive playoff games without losing in regulation.

Reader's Guide

Anders Hedberg was signed by the Rangers as a forward away from the WHA's Winnipeg Jets in the 1978 offseason. He played for the Rangers during the 1978–79 season. The Rangers' first pick in the 1978 NHL amateur draft was Don Maloney, chosen in the second round, 26th overall. Don Maloney, younger brother of Rangers defenceman Dave Maloney, played 28 games for the Rangers that season. The Rangers also introduced a new color scheme in 1978, changing to a much lighter shade of blue, dispensing with the dark blue used since 1926. They used these colors until 1999.

Did You Know?

• Anders Hedberg was signed by the Rangers away from the WHA's Winnipeg Jets in the 1978 offseason.
• He played for the Rangers during the 1978–79 season, which ended with a Stanley Cup Final appearance.
• The Rangers played 12 consecutive playoff games without losing in regulation that season.
• The 'Potvin Sucks' chant at Rangers home games originated from that injury.