On June 19 in NYR history: A new coach starts with controversy

What happened on June 19 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 1985, Ted Sator was named head coach of the New York Rangers.  He replaced GM Craig Patrick who had done double duty after firing Herb Brooks during the season.  Sator, an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers, was Patrick’s top target and his experience coaching five years in  Sweden was a big reason he was hired.

Sator’s tenure as coach wasn’t very long as he last just a season and a half.  He got to a controversial start, giving the starting goaltending slot to 22 year old John Vanbiesbrouck and installing the unproven Terry Kleisinger as the backup , sending veteran Glen Hanlon to the minor leagues.  He also sent veterans Pierre Larouche, Mike Rogers and Nick Fotiu to the minors, a shocking move for three fan favorites.

Sator ended up bring Larouche and Hanlon back and the Ranger finished fourth in the Patrick Division, sneaking into the playoffs with a sub-.500 record.  Despite the mediocre record, he guided the team to the Conference Finals, losing to eventual Cup champions Montreal.

Although they achieved some playoff success, Sator rubbed a number of players wrong and Barry Beck, Reijo Ruotsalainen and Mark Pavelich all departed citing issues with the coach.

After the 1985-86 season the Rangers fired GM Craig Patrick and hired Phil Esposito who wasted no time dumping Sator after just 19 games and a 5-10-4 record and installing Tom Webster as coach.

A second Norris Trophy for Leetch

On this date in 1997 it was announced that Brian Leetch had won his second Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL.   Leetch scored 20 goals and added 58 assists for 78 points in 82 games. He led all blueliners in assists and points and his 20 goals was second most in the NHL.

Leetch is the only Ranger to win two Norris Trophies and is one of only three Blueshirts to win the award along with Doug Harvey and Harry Howell.

Today’s birthdays

Only 13 NHL players have been born on June 19 with one current Ranger and two former Rangers among them.

Jonny Brodzinski was born on this date in 1993 in Ham Lake, Minnesota.  A center, Brodzinski was signed as a free agent by the Rangers prior to the 2020-21 season and spent most of the year in Hartford though he did get into five games in New York, scoring one goal.  Prior to coming to New York he had played 57 games with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

Alex Frolov was born on June 19, 1982 in Moscow, USSR.  The left winger played seven years with the Los Angeles Kings before signing as a free agent with the Rangers in 2010.  A proven goal scorer for the Kings, he signed a one-year $3 million contract, but played only 43 games, scoring seven goals and 16 points.  His only season in  New York was cut short when he tore his ACL and had to undergo surgery.  He returned to Russia after that season and is still playing there.

Laurie Scott was a forward born on this date in 1900 in South River, Ontario.  He played 62 games in the NHL including 23 games with the Rangers in 1927-28.  He was traded from the New York Americans to the Rangers prior to that season, meaning he just had to switch locker rooms at Madison Square Garden.  Although Scott played a majority of the games that season, he was sent to the minor leagues before the playoffs so he is not considered a member of the team that won the Stanley Cup that season.