How A Trip To The Movies Got Conn Smythe Fired As First Rangers Manager

Highly recommended for his excellent work managing the University Of Toronto hockey team, Conn Smythe was a unanimous choice to run the first Rangers club for the 1926-27 season.

After convening the new team at a rink in suburban Toronto, Smythe began workouts and had the new players housed at the neary Peacock Hotel. 

One night after a team meeting at the hostelry, Smythe decided to take the night off and go to a movie with his wife, Irene. 

It seemed the natural thing to do since Conn had everything organized, team-wise and the players were all content. 

But when Mr. and Mrs. Smythe returned from the movie house, Madison Square Garden executive Colonel John Hammond was sitting in the lobby.

"Where have you been?" Hammond demanded. 

Smythe explained that he had taken his wife to a movie. But the Garden boss was unimpressed. 

Hammond: "That night out has just cost us one of the greatest players in the game. The Toronto St. Pats just sold Babe Dye to Chicago. We could have had him for $14,000."

Furious, Smythe shot back, "I wouldn't want Dye on my team no matter what price. He's not the type of player we need."

Hammond phoned Black Hawks coach Barney Stanley and repeated Smythe's putdown of Dye. Stanley replied that Smythe knew nothing about NHL players. Furthermore, he suggested that Hammond replace Smythe with Lester Patrick, a former star player and executive who happened to be available.

Hammond then phoned Smythe and invited him to his office whereupon the MSG major domo had two words for Conn: "You're fired!" 

The next day Lester Patrick became the second manager in Rangers history!