Emile Francis became the New York Rangers' General Manager – replacing Muzz Patrick – in 1964-65. He held that position until fired in 1975-76, and replaced by John Ferguson. Almost 50 years later, you'll still hear fans criticize Francis for not creating a team tough enough to beat the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Those fans – if they know the history of their favorite team – have to acknowledge that “The Cat” did create a team with significantly more size and sandpaper than the Blueshirts had before he took the reins. Andy Bathgate – the Rangers' Hall of Fame bound right winger, who was traded to the Leafs by Patrick during the 1963-64 season – often said that the Rangers teams he played with were too small, and too easily manhandled. That was especially true at centre.
Francis said that – before he became GM – he recognized that the Blueshirts were too small, and – once in a position to change that fact – set about doing so. During the 1964-65 season, he brought in some size in a trade which sent Camille Henry, Wally Chevrier, Don Johns and Billy Taylor Jr., to Chicago for d-man Wayne Hillman (6' 1” 205 lbs), winger Doug Robinson (6' 197lbs) and winger John Brenneman, who brought tremendous skating ability, not size or sandpaper. If you've never seen the image of Hillman's check on the Canadiens' Bobby Rousseau, have a look. With that one check, Wayne immediately endeared himself to those fans who were frustrated with Harry Howell's lack of physicality.
After the 1964-65 season, Emile acquired John McKenzie – 5' 9” 175 lbs – only average in size, but loaded with feistiness, from Chicago. During the 1965-66 season, McKenzie was sent to Boston for a guy a little smaller, but feistier still: Reggie Fleming (5' 8” 170 lbs). The Blueshirts now had two legitimate tough guys, Fleming and Vic Hadfield (6' 190 lbs). After that season, Francis picked up a third – and the best yet (in terms of reputation) – in the Bargain Bin (the NHL's Intra-League Draft): Orland Kurtenbach (6' 2” 180 lbs). During the 1966-67 season, Emile's third line consisted of Kurtenbach between Fleming and Hadfield.
After the 1967-68 season, Emile sent three players to the Minnesota North Stars to bring Dave Balon back to New York. During the 1969-70 season, he traded for Ted Irvine and Tim Horton, and – with those additions – went in to the first-round of the playoffs against the Bruins with a roster nothing like the Lollipop Guild Patrick put together. Up front, there was Irvine – 6' 2” 195 lbs, and able to provide offense and physicality; Balon – an average-sized forward who was fearless along the boards and in front of the opposition net – who provided the same on the Bulldog Line. His line-mates – Walt Tkaczuk and Bill Fairbairn – lived up to their line's name. Kurtenbach was still there. Hadfield was injured by the time that series began. On the blueline were Horton, Brad Park, Jim Neilson and Arnie Brown. Al Hamilton – 6' 1” 195 lbs – was a young defenseman with size andsandpaper.
Orland was lost to the Vancouver Canucks in the Expansion Draft, and early during the 1970-71 season, Pete Stemkowski was acquired from the Wings to centre the Rangers' third line. In the playoffs – with Hadfield available, and rambunctious as ever (picking up a goal, four assists and 42 PIM) – New York eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the first-round, in a fight-filled series. Against the Hawks in the next round – minus a willing sparring partner – Vic had 4 goals and 4 assists in seven games, and just 8 PIM. Stemkowski had two game-winning goals in that series. Unfortunately, the series winning goal was scored by Bobby Hull.
During the 1971-72 season, Francis acquired one of the NHL's toughest customers – Jim Dorey – from the Leafs. He was injured during his first (and only) game as a Blueshirt. Still – without Dorey and Ratelle – the Rangers knocked off Montreal and Chicago, to earn their place in the Stanley Cup Final, against the Big, Bad Bruins. After six games – with Boston hoisting the Cup – the Rangers had eight players with double-digit PIM. The Bruins had 11, and three of them had 20+ PIM.
Perhaps prompted by the results of the 1972 Final, Emile acquired defensemen Bert Marshall (6' 3” 205) and Ron Harris (5' 10” 190 lbs) during the 1972-73 season. In the first-round – against Boston – in which only one player on either team hit double-digits in PIM (Irvine with 16), New York eliminated the Bruins in five games. Phil Esposito's injury in Game Two –courtesy of a check by Harris – tilted the scales in the Blueshirts' favor. During the next round – against the Hawks – New York was bounced in five games, in an even more tepid series.
Before the start of the 1973-74 season, Francis sent Bob Kelly – the one who would be become known as Battleship – to St. Louis. Same place he had sent Andre Dupont. During the season, he acquired Gilles Marotte – known as Captain Crunch. In the playoffs – led by the third line, Stemkowski between Irvine and Bruce MacGregor – the Rangers eliminated the Canadiens in six games. Then, they faced the Broad Street Bullies in the second round. The Flyers had home ice advantage, and won the four games (and the seven-game series) in Philadelphia.. In terms of PIM, the Flyers were led by Dave Schultz (69), Gary Dornhoefer (34) and Dupont (24). The Rangers were led by Stemkowski (29), Park (27)and Dale Rolfe (19). Anyone who mentions that series decades later, mentions Schultz' hammering of Rolfe.
After the 1973-74 season, Hadfield was sent to Pittsburgh, and Derek Sanderson – a long time nemesis ofthe Blueshirts – was acquired from the Bruins. In the playoffs in 1974-75 – in a feisty affair against their nearby rivals, the New York Islanders in the first-round – the Rangers were eliminated in three games (a two-out-of-three series). In just three games, the Islanders had 7 players hit double-digits in PIM. The Rangers – led by d-man John Bednarski (17) – had five players do it.
Early in 1975-76, struggling out of the gate, Francis waived goalie Ed Giacomin (and he was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings), and sent Ratelle, Park and Joe Zanussi to Boston for Esposito and defenseman Carol Vadnais. Still the Rangers continued to struggle, and in January Emile Francis was replaced as GM by John Ferguson.
Francis said that – before he became GM – he recognized that the Blueshirts were too small, and – once in a position to change that fact – set about doing so. During the 1964-65 season, he brought in some size in a trade which sent Camille Henry, Wally Chevrier, Don Johns and Billy Taylor Jr., to Chicago for d-man Wayne Hillman (6' 1” 205 lbs), winger Doug Robinson (6' 197lbs) and winger John Brenneman, who brought tremendous skating ability, not size or sandpaper. If you've never seen the image of Hillman's check on the Canadiens' Bobby Rousseau, have a look. With that one check, Wayne immediately endeared himself to those fans who were frustrated with Harry Howell's lack of physicality.
After the 1964-65 season, Emile acquired John McKenzie – 5' 9” 175 lbs – only average in size, but loaded with feistiness, from Chicago. During the 1965-66 season, McKenzie was sent to Boston for a guy a little smaller, but feistier still: Reggie Fleming (5' 8” 170 lbs). The Blueshirts now had two legitimate tough guys, Fleming and Vic Hadfield (6' 190 lbs). After that season, Francis picked up a third – and the best yet (in terms of reputation) – in the Bargain Bin (the NHL's Intra-League Draft): Orland Kurtenbach (6' 2” 180 lbs). During the 1966-67 season, Emile's third line consisted of Kurtenbach between Fleming and Hadfield.
After the 1967-68 season, Emile sent three players to the Minnesota North Stars to bring Dave Balon back to New York. During the 1969-70 season, he traded for Ted Irvine and Tim Horton, and – with those additions – went in to the first-round of the playoffs against the Bruins with a roster nothing like the Lollipop Guild Patrick put together. Up front, there was Irvine – 6' 2” 195 lbs, and able to provide offense and physicality; Balon – an average-sized forward who was fearless along the boards and in front of the opposition net – who provided the same on the Bulldog Line. His line-mates – Walt Tkaczuk and Bill Fairbairn – lived up to their line's name. Kurtenbach was still there. Hadfield was injured by the time that series began. On the blueline were Horton, Brad Park, Jim Neilson and Arnie Brown. Al Hamilton – 6' 1” 195 lbs – was a young defenseman with size andsandpaper.
Orland was lost to the Vancouver Canucks in the Expansion Draft, and early during the 1970-71 season, Pete Stemkowski was acquired from the Wings to centre the Rangers' third line. In the playoffs – with Hadfield available, and rambunctious as ever (picking up a goal, four assists and 42 PIM) – New York eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the first-round, in a fight-filled series. Against the Hawks in the next round – minus a willing sparring partner – Vic had 4 goals and 4 assists in seven games, and just 8 PIM. Stemkowski had two game-winning goals in that series. Unfortunately, the series winning goal was scored by Bobby Hull.
During the 1971-72 season, Francis acquired one of the NHL's toughest customers – Jim Dorey – from the Leafs. He was injured during his first (and only) game as a Blueshirt. Still – without Dorey and Ratelle – the Rangers knocked off Montreal and Chicago, to earn their place in the Stanley Cup Final, against the Big, Bad Bruins. After six games – with Boston hoisting the Cup – the Rangers had eight players with double-digit PIM. The Bruins had 11, and three of them had 20+ PIM.
Perhaps prompted by the results of the 1972 Final, Emile acquired defensemen Bert Marshall (6' 3” 205) and Ron Harris (5' 10” 190 lbs) during the 1972-73 season. In the first-round – against Boston – in which only one player on either team hit double-digits in PIM (Irvine with 16), New York eliminated the Bruins in five games. Phil Esposito's injury in Game Two –courtesy of a check by Harris – tilted the scales in the Blueshirts' favor. During the next round – against the Hawks – New York was bounced in five games, in an even more tepid series.
Before the start of the 1973-74 season, Francis sent Bob Kelly – the one who would be become known as Battleship – to St. Louis. Same place he had sent Andre Dupont. During the season, he acquired Gilles Marotte – known as Captain Crunch. In the playoffs – led by the third line, Stemkowski between Irvine and Bruce MacGregor – the Rangers eliminated the Canadiens in six games. Then, they faced the Broad Street Bullies in the second round. The Flyers had home ice advantage, and won the four games (and the seven-game series) in Philadelphia.. In terms of PIM, the Flyers were led by Dave Schultz (69), Gary Dornhoefer (34) and Dupont (24). The Rangers were led by Stemkowski (29), Park (27)and Dale Rolfe (19). Anyone who mentions that series decades later, mentions Schultz' hammering of Rolfe.
After the 1973-74 season, Hadfield was sent to Pittsburgh, and Derek Sanderson – a long time nemesis ofthe Blueshirts – was acquired from the Bruins. In the playoffs in 1974-75 – in a feisty affair against their nearby rivals, the New York Islanders in the first-round – the Rangers were eliminated in three games (a two-out-of-three series). In just three games, the Islanders had 7 players hit double-digits in PIM. The Rangers – led by d-man John Bednarski (17) – had five players do it.
Early in 1975-76, struggling out of the gate, Francis waived goalie Ed Giacomin (and he was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings), and sent Ratelle, Park and Joe Zanussi to Boston for Esposito and defenseman Carol Vadnais. Still the Rangers continued to struggle, and in January Emile Francis was replaced as GM by John Ferguson.
Last edited:
