Today in NYR history: Adding an important piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle

What happened on December 6 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 1992, the New York Rangers made a move that got them one step closer to the Stanley Cup that had eluded them since 1940.  The Rangers sent prospect Roman Oksiuta and a third round draft pick to Edmonton for defenseman Kevin Lowe.

It was a bizarre trade, contingent on the Rangers signing Lowe who was a Group 3 free agent (the Oilers could match any offer).  Lowe wanted a $1 million salary and Glen Sather refused to pay him so he held out and stayed home when the season started.  The impasse lasted until December when Sather finally decided to trade him.  Since he had to sign first, Sather announced the trade, but didn’t know what he was getting in return.  After he inked the contract, the Rangers and the Oliers settled on the prospect and draft pick.

Lowe’s acquisition was crucial for the Rangers.  Mark Messier had pushed the Rangers to get him and he solidified the defense, teaming with 22-year old Sergei Zubov on the second pairing.  He joined Messier, Adam Graves, Jeff Beukeboom, Esa Tikkanen, Craig MacTavish, Genn Anderson and Mike Hudson as former Oilers who won the Cup with the Rangers.

Lowe played four years in New York before returning to Edmonton to finish his career.  He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.

The Cook brothers set a franchise record

On December 5, 1932, two brothers scored two goals each in the same game for the first and only time in franchise history.   Siblings Bill and Bun Cook each scored twice and each also added an assist in a 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.

The “Bread Line” was the line composed of the two Cooks and Frank Boucher and that night, the line combined for nine points.  After falling behind 2-1 the Cooks took over in the second period. Bun scored his two goals while Bill tallied one goal.  Bill added his second goal late in the third period.

The Cooks were one of 10 brother combinations who have played together with the Blueshirts.  Here is a list:

Bill and Bun Cook – 1926-36, Stanley Cup winners in 1928 and 1933
Muzz and Lynn Patrick -1937-46, Stanley Cup winners in 1940
Mac and Neil Colville – 1935-42, 1945-47, Stanley Cup winners in 1940
Bill and Grant Warwick – 1941-43
Bill and Gus Kyle  -1949-50
Andy and Frank Bathgate – Frank played two games in 1953
Greg and Pat Hickey  – Greg played one game in 1978
Dave and Don Maloney – 1978-85
James and Steve Patrick – 1984-86
Eric and Marc Staal – 2016

D-Day for coaches

December 6 is the date of two mid-season coaching changes.   On this date in 1951, Neil Colville resigned as head coach due to health reasons and was replaced by Bill Cook.  Colville, 37,  surprised the hockey world, making the announcement at a luncheon with hockey writers.  He cited ill health and the Rangers last place position in the standings.   He had coached the team for just over a year to a record of 26-41-26.

Cook was the coach of the Saskatoon Quakers when he was hired to replace Colville.  Cook didn’t last long either, finishing out this season and coaching the next season, missing the playoffs both years.

On this date in 1965, Red Sullivan was relieved of his duties after just over two years as head coach by GM Emile Francis.   Sullivan was reassigned to the newly created position of “coordinator of player personnel and scouting” with the team in fifth place with a 5-10-5 record.

This was the first of three instances when GM Francis fired his head coach and took over behind the bench.  This time he remained behind the bench for three seasons as Coach-GM.

Hello Canucks

On this date in 1970, the Vancouver Canucks played the Rangers for the first time in franchise history and the Canucks played their first game in New York City, losing 4-1 at Madison Square Garden.  The Rangers won the game handily, jumping out to a 4-0 lead on goals by Tim Horton, Ron Stewart, Walt Tkaczuk and Bob Nevin.

Coaching milestones

Two coaches notched their 500th career wins on this date against the Blueshirts.  In 2001, Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs won game number 500 in a 6-3 victory at Madison Square Garden.  Quinn was the seventh coach to achieve the 500  win total.

Thirteen years later, on December 6, 2014, Mike Babcock registered his 500th coaching win as the Red Wings beat the Rangers 3-2 at the Joe Louis Arena.  Babcock was the 19th coach to reach that milestone.

The numbers

The Rangers have played 34 games on December 6 in their history.  It has not been a good day for them with only 11 regulation wins.

Regulation wins:  11
Regulation losses:  15
Ties:  7
Overtime wins: 1
Points percentage:   .455

Today’s birthdays

16 NHL players have been born on December 6, with four of them former Rangers including one who was a ground breaker.

Pentti Lund was born on this date in 1925 in Karijoki, Finland.  He was the first player born in Finland to score a goal in an NHL game.  He wasn’t the first to play in the league, preceded by Finnish born Al Pudas who played four games in 1926-27.  Both players were raised in Canada as Pudas moved there as an infant while Lund came west when he was eight.  Lund joined the Rangers in 1948-49, winning the Calder Trophy as top rookie while scoring 14 goals and 30 points in 59 games.  The right winger was on the team that lost the 1950 Stanley Cup Final.  He was traded to the Boston Bruins where his career was cut short by an eye injury.

Jason Lafreniere was born on December 6, 1966 in St. Catharines, Ontario.  He is NOT related to Alexis Lafreniere. Drafted by Quebec in 1985, he was traded to the Rangers in 1988.  He played one season in New York scoring eight goals and 24 points in 38 games. The center also played for Tampa and had a pro career that lasted 20 year, playing his last few seasons Germany and the U.K.

Tony Feltrin was a tough defenseman born on this date in 1961 in Ladysmith, British Columbia.  Drafted by the Penguins, he played parts of three seasons in Pittsburgh before siging with the Rangers as a free agent in 1985.  He was scoreless in 10 games while accumulating 21 penalty minutes.  His NHL career came to an abrupt end on New Year’s Eve when he was struck in the eye by a stick and had to undergo surgery to save his vision.  While his playing career was not  distinguished he did his best work for the Rangers as a scout and is credited with scouting and convincing the Rangers to draft Alex Kovalev in 1991.

Marcel Pelletier was a goalie, born on this date in 1927 in Drummondville, Quebec.  He played six games for the Black Hawks in 1951 and then spent the next 11 years in the minor leagues, mostly for the Victoria Cougars, before signing as a free agent with the Rangers.  With Gump Worsley in net for New York, Pelletier saw action in only two games.  The 11 years between NHL games is one of the longest spans between appearances in league history, but not the longest. Goalie Moe Roberts didn’t play in an NHL game from 1933 to 1951, though his last appearance was on an emergency basis.