Ron Greschner

Raised in Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, Ron Greschner developed in the junior ranks of western Canada before turning professional. His play in the Western Canada Hockey League earned him selection to the WCHL All-Star Team in 1974 and set the stage for entry into the NHL draft that year.

Picked 32nd overall by the New York Rangers in the 1974 NHL amateur draft, Greschner began a professional career that would stretch from 1974 to 1990. Rather than moving between clubs, he spent all 16 seasons of his NHL tenure with the Rangers, a continuity that defined his time in the league.

Statistically, he left a durable mark. Over 982 regular-season games he recorded 179 goals and 431 assists for a total of 610 points, while amassing 1,226 penalty minutes—the highest total in Rangers franchise history. His most productive offensive year came in 1977–78 when he posted 24 goals and 48 assists for 72 points. Coaches occasionally used him forward; under Craig Patrick he was sometimes deployed as a left winger, reflecting his adaptability on the ice.

The scope of his contribution was later recognised in the book 100 Ranger Greats (2009), which placed him 12th among the first 901 players to wear New York’s colours over the franchise’s initial 82 seasons. That ranking encapsulates how he was viewed within the club’s history.

Following his playing days, Greschner led the Ron Greschner Foundation, an organisation focused on autism research and awareness, representing his principal public activity after retirement.