On This Day in New York Rangers history: September 28th
Photo credit: Bluecollarblueshirts
There's a significant date for the New York Rangers on September 28th, as they completed a deal that would define the franchise from its inception.
On this day, the Rangers would make a huge splash and acquire Center Frank Boucher from the Vancouver Maroons.
They would purchase his contract from the Maroons, before they began their inaugural season in the NHL, in 1926.
He'd play 533 games for the Rangers in 13 seasons, scoring 414 points( 152 G, 262 A) helping to deliver a Stanley Cup to the Rangers in 1928, 1933, and in 1940 as a coach.
Boucher also won the Lady Byng Trophy seven times in eight seasons with the Rangers and was a benefit of Duchess Byng's largesse.
Boucher won the Lady Byng Trophy for being the most gentlemanly player in the game, seven times in an eight-season span. The donor of the trophy, Evelyn Bing, let Boucher keep the original trophy and donated a new one to the league. Upon his retirement, Boucher spent a total of 10 seasons as head coach of the Rangers.
He would retire from the NHL the leader in all-time assists, and would later coach the Rangers to a Stanley Cup. His tenure as a coach with the Rangers would last a decade, and would eventually be promoted to GM of the club.
While his career began with the club in 1926, it lasted a fruitful 29 years, up until 1955. That kind of tenure you don't hear about in the NHL too often, as nowadays, teams will trade, or waive whomever they want, when they want(Based upon CBA rules of course).
Boucher wouldn't let the status quo infect his thinking either, as he introduced new philosophies into the game.
As a coach and a GM, Boucher was a pioneer. Boucher was the first coach to use two goalies regularly, common place today. He would even alternate them in shifts, until he abandoned that philosophy and alternated them every game. He also would introduce the center red line to the game.
Boucher was, by all means, a Blueshirt at heart, and helped shape the Rangers into the legendary franchise they are today.
Source: Bluecollerblueshirts
Don't Let History Be Forgotten! Time for The Rangers to Finally Honor The Greatest Ranger Ever, Frank Boucher
Don't Let History Be Forgotten! Time for The Rangers to Finally Honor The Greatest Ranger Ever, Frank Boucher
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28 SEPTEMBRE | 26 ANSWERS On This Day in New York Rangers history: September 28th Was Frank Boucher a Rangers legend? | ||
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