Esa Tikkanen's 1994 Stanley Cup Ring Sells for $139,000 at Auction

Esa Tikkanen's 1994 Stanley Cup ring, commemorating the New York Rangers' historic victory, was sold for an impressive $139,444 at Classic Auctions on Tuesday night. This sale marks the first time an authentic Rangers player championship ring has ever been made available to the public.

The ring is from the Rangers' first title win in 54 years, making it an exceptionally rare piece of sports memorabilia. Tikkanen played a crucial role in the team's success, being one of seven Rangers players to score more than 20 goals and amass over 50 points during the season.

The value of the ring is primarily driven by its scarcity. Unlike the 1933 and 1940 Rangers championship rings, no authentic rings from those years have been sold. The only similar item was a commemorative ring given to Rangers center Cliff Smith in 1990, which sold for $6,600 in 2017.

Tikkanen had previously sold four of his five other Stanley Cup rings. His 1987 and 1988 Oilers rings each sold for $40,388, while his 1990 Oilers ring fetched $44,428. However, the 1994 Rangers ring was considered the most valuable due to the team's limited number of championships, having only won three Stanley Cups in nearly a century.

This notable sale occurred just four months after a new record was set for Stanley Cup rings. Heritage Auctions sold two of Mike Bossy’s New York Islanders championship rings, with the 1981 ring going for $228,000 and the 1980 ring for $220,000. Previously, the highest-selling Stanley Cup ring was a 1990 Oilers ring from former owner Peter Pocklington, which sold for $72,151 at Classic Auctions in 2009.