The Maven's Roundtable members like a good fight and we have one going on now about whether Emile (The Cat) Francis was a good – even great – Rangers' manager or not.

New member Larry (The Master Blaster) Hirsch of Devils, Lightning, Barons broadcasting fame came aboard touting The Cat as one of the best Rangers GMs since Lester Patrick downed his first potato knish.

Royal member – meaning he's an Original – Jess Rubenstein not only disagrees with Blaster but does so with all 16-inch guns blazing.

"The Cat was the one who put beloved goalie Ed Giacomin on waivers," Jess growls, "and Francis also is the guy who traded such heroes as Brad Park and Jean Ratelle. That makes three Hall of Famers gone.

"Those moves alone tell me that Emile Francis was NOT a great general manager. Plus, at the end of the day the bottom line remains: You have to win The Stanley Cup. And the last GM in New York who did it was Neil Smith."

Then, a pause: "And that, my friend, makes Neil the best Rangers GM of the modern era."

Maven As Referee: Blaster Hirsch is correct to the extent that Francis rebuilt a crumbled – left by previous GM Muzz Patrick – franchise into a formidable contender. Cat even doubled as GM-coach.

Cat's 1971-72 club went all the way to the Cup Final, losing to Boston in six games mostly because the Beantowners had Bobby Orr and New York wished it did.

How Will Cuylle And Will Change The Blueshirts Culture Are you looking for a Blueshirts' saviour for 2025-26? Look no more; The Maven has found him.

I covered the Rangers during that era and can assure you that Cat was excellent in many ways – when he wasn't interfered with by the MSG brass.

But the Bottom Line IS the Bottom Line. Francis never won a Cup; Smith did. Or to put  it in Brooklynese. "Next Year" never came for Cat; 1994 did for Neil!

Advantage, Jess.