BOSTON — Manny Malhotra is a profile in courage, two victories away from winning the first Stanley Cup of his 12-year NHL career, hailed across the continent after returning to the Canucks’ lineup for Saturday’s 3-2 victory in Game 2 of the Final against the Bruins in Vancouver after sustaining a serious eye injury on Mar. 16 that required two surgeries and threatened his career.
He is a symbol of dedication, commitment and professionalism.
But a dozen years ago, Malhotra instead was a symbol of the Rangers organization’s dysfunction through the dark ages in which the team missed the playoffs seven straight times from 1998 into the lockout.
He was a teenager who, after being selected seventh overall in the 1998 Entry Draft, became a political football in the unhealthy triangular relationship between Garden president Dave Checketts, general manager Neil Smith and head coach John Muckler that undermined the cause.
“To be honest, I look back now and I’m thankful I was so naive at the time,” Malhotra told The Post prior to Game 3 of the Final last night at TD Garden. “I was so focused on what I needed to do on the ice that I wasn’t really aware of what was going on behind the scenes.
“I didn’t exactly understand. I think that was probably good for me.”
Smith had desperately wanted to showcase Malhotra as evidence of the organization’s commitment to developing youth on a roster that was fraying and graying. But after training camp, the GM realized Malhotra, who had been selected more for his character and work ethic than dazzling offensive numbers and skill, wasn’t ready for the NHL and prepared to send him back to the OHL.
But Checketts, more interested in image and perception than in either his GM’s evaluation or hockey nuts-and-bolts, intervened, overruled Smith and signed Malhotra minutes before the deadline for signing junior-eligibles.
Like it or not, Smith had the 18-year-old on the roster. Like it or not, Muckler had the center in his lineup. When Malhotra played, it was as a spare part. The following season was worse, with Malhotra playing in just 27 games (without a point) before finally returning to Guelph of the OHL in late March.
It was in training camp of 1999 that Muckler created an uproar by pegging Malhotra as a checking center rather than a top-six forward. “Sometimes I think the media has Manny rated too high,” the coach said, though the media hadn’t drafted him. “I see Manny as a solid third-line hockey player. I think that’s where he’s going to be in this league.”
Never mind that is exactly into what Malhotra evolved. Recognized as one of the elite checking centers and best faceoff operatives in the league (second overall this year, first on the road at the dots), Malhotra has carved his niche.
Smith fumed when told of Muckler’s assessment. Muckler chafed. The GM and the coach — barely on speaking terms — were both fired with four games to go in the 1999-2000 season. Malhotra himself was gone late the following year, sent to Dallas for veteran rental Marty Rucinsky. Malhotra’s Rangers career consisted of 206 games, 19 goals and 22 assists.
“But I look at it as a positive, learning experience,” he said. “From day one, I was playing with a Who’s Who of Hockey, who imparted their wisdom to me on a daily basis.
“I never got caught up in being selected seventh overall so I should get my minutes. I just wanted to learn and try to be the best NHL player I could be.
“It was different, and I went through a lot, but I look back on those days as a foundation, not an obstacle, and as building block for my career.”
His career as an upper-echelon checking center. Somewhere, Muckler is saying, “I told you so.”