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The New York Rangers and the “Miracle on Ice”

By Steve Paulus

LAKE PLACID, NY - FEBRUARY 22: The United States Hockey team celebrates after they defeated the Soviet Union during a metal round game of the Winter Olympics February 22, 1980 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York. The game was named "The Miracle On Ice" as the United States defeated the Soviet Union 4-3. . (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
LAKE PLACID, NY - FEBRUARY 22: The United States Hockey team celebrates after they defeated the Soviet Union during a metal round game of the Winter Olympics February 22, 1980 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York. The game was named "The Miracle On Ice" as the United States defeated the Soviet Union 4-3. . (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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LAKE PLACID, NY – FEBRUARY 22: The United States Hockey team celebrates after they defeated the Soviet Union during a metal round game of the Winter Olympics February 22, 1980 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York. The game was named “The Miracle On Ice” as the United States defeated the Soviet Union 4-3. . (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
LAKE PLACID, NY – FEBRUARY 22: The United States Hockey team celebrates after they defeated the Soviet Union during a metal round game of the Winter Olympics February 22, 1980 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York. The game was named “The Miracle On Ice” as the United States defeated the Soviet Union 4-3. . (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

As the 40th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice ” nears,  it’s worth remembering  that more than any team in the NHL, the New York Rangers had a special relationship with the 1980 gold medal USA Olympic hockey team.

Herb Brooks, Craig Patrick, Mark Pavelich, Dave Silk, Rob McClanahan and Bill Baker.  Two coaches and four players from that amazing team went on to become New York Rangers.    Furthermore, it was the New York Rangers more than any other team that personified the style of play used by Team USA.

Craig Patrick was the second member of the team to join the New  York Rangers.  He was operations manager and became the youngest general manager in team history in 1981.   Patrick was the man who assembled the mini-Olympic team that went on to play for the Rangers.

In 1981, Patrick hired the man most identified with that team, Herb Brooks, as Rangers coach.  Portrayed by Kurt Russell in the film “Miracle,” Brooks was a larger than life figure who was a master motivator and strategist.

INGLEWOOD, CA – MARCH 7, 1988: Head Coach Herb Brooks of the Minnesota North Stars on March 7, 1988 1988 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo By Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA – MARCH 7, 1988: Head Coach Herb Brooks of the Minnesota North Stars on March 7, 1988 1988 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo By Bernstein Associates/Getty Images) /

The coach

Brooks coached the Rangers for four years and had the bad luck to be at the helm when the New York Islanders were running roughshod over the NHL.  The Rangers lost to the Islanders in the Stanley Cup playoffs the first three years that Brooks coached the team.

The Brooks-coached teams always won more than they lost and were known for their speed and skill.  Brooks instilled his “system” based on the European style of play that emphasized skating over muscle.

The highlight of Brook’s Ranger career was their three game sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers in the spring of 1983.   Flyers coach Bob McCammon mocked the Rangers, calling them a “bunch of Smurfs.”

The Rangers responded by beating the Flyers in three straight and knocking them out of the playoffs for the second straight year.

McCammon had a point.  The Blueshirts had nine players 5’10” or under including defenseman Reijo Ruotsalainen and forwards Mark Pavelich, Mike Rogers, Robbie Ftorek, Eddie Johnstone, Robby McClanahan, George McPhee, Mike Backman and Pat Conacher.

Rangers fans embraced the nickname, brandishing blue Smurf dolls in the stands.   It was a huge upset as the Flyers had finished first in the Patrick Division with 106 points compared to the Rangers’ 80.

The most bitter postseason for Brooks and the Rangers was their first round loss to the Islanders in 1984.  It was a best of five series and the teams went into the deciding game tied 2-2.   Trailing by a goal and with the goalie pulled, Don Maloney tied the score with only 39 seconds left in the game.  The jubilation was short lived when Ken Morrow, yet another gold medal winner from the  1980 Olympic team scored the winning goal for the Islanders in overtime.

The magic in New York ran out for Brooks in the 1984-85 season and his old friend Craig Patrick had to fire him.  Brooks was a taskmaster and he lost control of the team.  Furthermore, the relationship between Patrick and Brooks had become frayed as their roles had reversed from their time with the Olympic team.

The general manager

Craig Patrick served as Rangers general manager from 1980 to 1986, The Blueshirts made the playoffs every year that he was in charge of the team, but they could never make it past the second round until his final  year when they lost in the Conference Finals.  That season was tumultuous with a full-scale player revolt against coach Ted Sator and that led to Patrick’s dismissal in favor of Phil Esposito.

Patrick went on to become general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning the Stanley Cup in 1991.  As their GM, he drafted Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc Andre Fleury and is remembered for trading Jaromir Jagr to the Capitals.

The Jagr deal had a Rangers connection as Glen Sather was eager to make a deal for the Czech superstar, but the story was that Patrick still bore a grudge against the Rangers for firing him and made outrageous demands that Sather couldn’t agree to.

Ironically,  Patrick and Brooks patched up their differences and Patrick hired him to coach the Pens in 1999-2000 and he also worked for Patrick as a scout and director of player personnel.

Craig Patrick is the grandson of Lester Patrick, the son of Lynn Patrick and the nephew of Muzz Patrick all legendary New York Rangers.  He is currently still a scout for the Penguins.

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