Al MacNeil: the Ranger connection

[alkurtz]

Some of you may have noticed the passing of longtime NHL player, coach, and executive Al MacNeil. Longtime Ranger fans might recall the brief connection he had with the team.

1966-1967 was one of the most consequential years in team history: the first real year of the Francis era, the first year they made the playoffs in many years. For those of us, like me, who became hardcore fans during the early 1960s, it seemed as if we would never make the playoffs.

In those Original Six days, believe it or not, teams dressed only 5D (and 11 forwards). The Ranger top 4 were Harry Howell (who won the Norris), Arnie Brown, Jim Neilson, and Wayne Hillman. They logged 25+ minutes per game. The 5D was Al MacNeil, who dressed for only 58 games (out of 70). He came to the Rangers in what was known as the interleague draft from Chicago and would move on to the Pens the next year in the expansion draft.

But I do remember him as a rugged, stay-at-home D who filled in admirably in what was for me, a magical year.

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[leetch99]

Some of you may have noticed the passing of longtime NHL player, coach, and executive Al MacNeil. Longtime Ranger fans might recall the brief connection he had with the team.

1966-1967 was one of the most consequential years in team history: the first real year of the Francis era, the first year they made the playoffs in many years. For those of us, like me, who became hardcore fans during the early 1960s, it seemed as if we would never make the playoffs.

In those Original Six days, believe it or not, teams dressed only 5D (and 11 forwards). The Ranger top 4 were Harry Howell (who won the Norris), Arnie Brown, Jim Neilson, and Wayne Hillman. They logged 25+ minutes per game. The 5D was Al MacNeil, who dressed for only 58 games (out of 70). He came to the Rangers in what was known as the interleague draft from Chicago and would move on to the Pens the next year in the expansion draft.

But I do remember him as a rugged, stay-at-home D who filled in admirably in what was for me, a magical year.

Coached part of one season in Montreal and won a Cup and that was all for him there and went back to the AHL. Good read . Al MacNeil - Wikipedia

The man that made Dryden famous !