Lester Patrick is known as "The Father Of The Rangers Franchise" as well as "The Silver Fox." Both nicknames are apt under Patrick's guidance as Blueshirts' manager the team won its first Stanley Cup in 1928 – only its second year – and another Cup in 1933, only five years later. And since Lester's mane was gray and he was foxy about his maneuvering, The Silver Fox handle fit him like a fedora. But what rarely is known is that Patrick could be downright dumb when he could have been smart. Had there been a Booby Prize for "Stupidest Rangers Move Of All-Time," it took place after the 1942-43 season. First let me explain that center Clint (Snuffy) Smith is in the Hockey Hall of Fame because he starred for New York starting in 1936-37. He was a superb scorer and playmaker and won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1938-39 for ability and good sportsmanship. In the 1940 Stanley Cup Final, the Rangers led Toronto three games to two and now had a chance to win their third Stanley Cup in Game Six at Maple Leaf Gardens. During that match, the Rangers were down 2-0 going into the third period. After Alf Pike put the Blueshirts on the board, it was Smith who set up the tying goal that sent the game into overtime. It was then that the Blueshirts captured the Cup on Bryan Hextall's sudden-death winner. Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG Smith also helped the Rangers finish first in 1941-42. But by the time 1942-43 rolled around, many of the Blueshirts had entered the armed forces of Canada and the United States. World War Two was on fire and – because of that – prior to the 1943-44 season Patrick needed all the scoring help he could get. The Silver Fox still had Smitty. Al he had to do was sign him to a new contract, but Lester low-balled his star and that was that. "Put it this way," said Snuffy, "Lester and I were never the best of friends." Unnecessarily petulant, Patrick decided to unload Smith who was much-coveted at the time. You would think that Lester would have obtained a good scorer in return for a master center such as Clint. You would think! Instead, the Rangers got some cash for a player in his prime. Now stickhandling for the Chicago Black Hawks (spelled that way at the time), Smith was better than ever. Skating on a line with future Hall of Famers Max Bentley and Bill Mosienko, Snuffy was half man-half amazing. In his first year with Chicago he set an NHL record for assists with 49 and finished with 72 points in a 50 game season. On March 4, 1945 he scored four goals in one period against Montreal and completed a glorious Chicago career in 1947. In the John Kreiser-John Halligan Ranger book, "The Game Of My Life," Smith said, "I was glad to get away from Lester. He was a great man but he was a mean man in a lot of ways." And dumb and dumber to trade his ace for what amounted to Monopoly money!
