Lester Patrick has gone down in history as the founder-dean-builder of Rangers hockey. But nobody is perfect; and certainly not the man they called "The Silver Fox," especially after the Rangers first place finish in 1941-42. Two moves made by Patrick during the summer of 1942 rate at the top of The Maven's "Dumb and Dumber" list The first was an egregious mistake based on World War 2 NHL Player enlistments in the armed forces which decimated team rosters. Lester phoned his coach Frank Boucher with misleading news. "He told me that the NHL would not operate in 1942-43," Boucher wrote in his excellent autobiography, When The Rangers Were Young. "Lester also told me that because of the war, he'd be getting rid of our farm teams." Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG Wrong news and wrong moves. The NHL operated during the war and Patrick's move left the Blueshirts one farm team, the New York Rovers of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League. It took years for the franchise to recover from that blunder. Patrick's other mistake after the 1942-43 season was refusing an offer made by Montreal Canadiens GM Tommy Gorman. The Habs boss wanted to trade for veteran Rangers center Phil Watson who was on the downside of his career. Lester nixed the young right wing offered by Gorman. His name was Maurice (The Rocket) Richard, who merely became the most explosive scorer of all-time! How's that for putrid punditry!
