HELP WANTED! That was the Rangers' S.O.S. in March 1954.
For the fourth straight year, the Blueshirts were going to miss the playoffs and Madison Square Garden President General John Reed Kilpatrick was desperate.
"We need a draft system to even the playing field," Kilpatrick told NHL President Clarence Campbell, "and we need it sooner rather than later."
This time the league was listening. Covering the story for Hearst's evening newspaper, the New York Journal-American, reporter Stan Saplin wrote the following:
"Long in need of legislation similar to baseball's for the drafting of player talent, professional ice hockey will begin this (1954) summer to function under a draft law more sweeping in some respects than that employed in the diamond game."
The new draft rule permitted the six NHL teams each to "freeze" 20 players – 18 plus two goalies – from the annual draft.
Then every major and minor league player over 20 would be made available.
"More than 250 skaters in the NHL," wrote Saplin, "and in three minor pro circuits will be exposed. Campbell estimated that 15 to 20 desirable players will be picked up each year."
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The date was February 11, 1945; the place, Old Madison Square Garden on Eighth Avenue between West 49th and West 50th Streets. (World War II still was blazing in Europe, Pacific and elsewhere.
At the time, Rangers manager Frank Boucher was seriously eyeing three Toronto-owned players – Danny Lewicki, Bob Hassard and Bob Solinger. Lewicki eventually would become a Ranger for the 1954-55 season and emerge as a star.
Needless to say, the Blueshirts were delighted that their lobbying for the draft finally paid dividends.
"There's a small chance in the future that a team that's in the doldrums will find itself without the means of getting out," Kilpatrick concluded.
Two seasons later (1955-56) the Rangers finally gained a playoff berth; their first since 1949-50.