Here's a look back at some Rangers history from The Maven.
My first full-time job after graduating Brooklyn College in 1954 was as an assistant publicist for the Rangers. I began work in September of that year, working under THE publicity guy, Herb Goren.
For a hockey nut like me – former V.P. of the Rangers Fan Club – this was a heavenly gig, although our lads on ice weren't doing that well.
Then, IT happened.
I walked into the MSG hockey office on a Wednesday morning, preparing for the night's game vs. the hated Boston Bruins when Herb called me over. I could see he was pumped but had no idea why.
"Big stuff," he said. And before I could open my mouth, Herbie added, "we just made a huge trade and you're gonna be taking the story to all the sports editors around town.
WOW!
Already my juices were bubbling, and Goren went on. "We dealt (defenseman) Allan Stanley to Chicago with (forward) Nick Mickoski. We're getting (defenseman) Bill Gadsby and (forward) Pete Conacher."
I had become close pals with Mickoski; really liked the guy as a person and a player. Stanley was a good one, too, but New York fans disliked his non-bang-'em style. I felt a twinge of sadness over their leaving but that was deleted by the thrilling trade news.
Herb had a sheaf of press releases announcing the trades, deposited them in envelopes and gave me a list of newspaper sports desks I was to visit. To this day I remember the thrill of it all.
First the Times and Herald-Tribune around Times Square; then across town to the tabloids, Hearst's Daily Mirror and then the Daily News, near Grand Central Terminal.
Each sports editor greeted me warmly but I had no time to schmooze. Next it was Downtown to Hearst's evening broadsheet, the Journal-American, near the Fulton Fish Market and the Post and World-Telegram across from the Hudson River ferries. (I couldn't help but feel a bit like a big shot; but not as big as the trade.)
It was a whirlwind trip which ended with me back at our MSG office at 349 West 49th Street, just off Eighth Avenue. Lunch was out of the question that day since our Blueshirts were practicing at Iceland, the rink atop The Garden and then there was game stuff to prepare and to meet our new guys.
Gadsby and Conacher arrived late in the afternoon since they were told of the deal a day before and before I knew it, Gladys (Two D's) Goodding was playing the National Anthem on the organ and the game was on.
We beat the hateful Bruins by a couple of goals. That was the good news. The bad news was that – with only a few minutes left – Gadsby slid to block a shot and also blocked the puck with his jaw. It was broken and he'd need a month to recover.
The win was exciting to be sure but losing Gadsby was a huge blow. Pete Conacher was pretty good but none of the aforementioned could beat the excitement of dashing around town to herald a big trade.
Reminds me a bit of the fuss over Trouba and Shesterkin yesterday.
P.S. Irony of ironies, both Gadsby and Stanley wound up in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Big Al went one – actually four – better than Gads. Big Al played on four Stanley Cup-winners with Toronto over 20 odd years. Sadly Bill also played two NHL decades – but without one sip of Champagne!