The 1978-79 Rangers, guided by coach/general manager Fred Shero with future Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito and a young core that included Duguay, Ron Greschner, Steve Vickers, Dave Maloney, Don Maloney and Don Murdoch, went 40-29 with 11 ties to clinch a playoff berth for the first time in two seasons. Led by goalie John Davidson, New York eliminated the Kings and Philadelphia Flyers and upset the top-seeded New York Islanders in six games of the NHL Semifinals to advance to the Final. Duguay became famous for his long, curly hair flowing while he skated without a helmet, and joined Esposito, Dave Maloney and Anders Hedberg in a 1979 Sasson jeans television commercial known for the jingle, “Oo La La! Sasson.”
Duguay scored nine seconds into an 8-3 win against the Flyers at the Philadelphia Spectrum on April 6, 1980, to tie a Rangers record shared by Fred Cook (Jan. 23, 1927) and Jean Ratelle (Nov. 5, 1971). He was traded to the Red Wings on June 13, 1983, reunited with the Rangers via a trade with the Penguins on Jan. 21, 1987, and played the final two seasons of his NHL career after he was sent to the Kings on Feb. 23, 1988.
“Ron lived life with an extraordinary passion, an infectious smile, and a heart that was truly larger than life, the NHL Alumni Association said in a social media post. “Above all else, his deepest and most sincere love was for his family. They were his greatest pride, his greatest joy, and always closest to his heart.
“His dedication and passion for the game of hockey were unwavering. Hockey was more than a sport to Ron; it was a part of who he was, a lifelong love that he carried with pride and shared so generously with others. But perhaps what made Ron most special was his humanity. His genuine compassion, kindness, and willingness to help others always extended far beyond himself. He cared deeply, gave generously of his heart, and had a remarkable way of making everyone around him feel valued and appreciated.”