The Rangers Rebuild That Ignited New York

After the Rangers won their second Stanley Cup in 1933, manager Lester Patrick believed it was time to rebuild. The changes began in 1934 and that's where Part Two of Unsung Rangers of the Past picks up.

1. LORNE CARR: A year after the Cup win, Patrick picked up a rookie from Stoughton, Saskatchewan. It proved to be one of the biggest mistakes of Lester's career. For starters, Patrick underestimated Carr's talents on the right wing and decided to discard Lorne before giving him a chance to prove himself. A year later he dealt Carr to the rival Amerks with whom he became a star. When Americans' boss Red Dutton needed more bodies he traded Carr to the Maple Leafs where Lorne became a Stanley Cup-winner.

2. LYNN PATRICK: Friends warned Lester Patrick not to sign his older son Lynn to a contract. "You'll be accused of nepotism" was the typical charge. But as a rookie in the 1934-35 season, Lynn proved that he had the goods. A year later he emerged as one of the Blueshirts top scorers and remained so until he joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in World War II.

3. ALEX SHIBICKY: One of the best additions to the attacking corps was a Winnipeg prospect who made his debut in the 1935-36 season. Shibicky didn't do much point-wise but the talent was all there. A season later he was placed on a line with Neil and Mac Colville. Writers dubbed it "The Bread Line" and, in a sense, it was the "bread-and-butter unit for the Blueshirts

4. MAC COLVILLE: Products of Edmonton, Alberta, the Colville brothers – Mac and Neil – proved an excellent tandem, particularly with Shibicky on the wing. But it was Neil who was the more productive of the pair. Mac, on the other hand, was a valuable member of the unit which eventually helped win the third Stanley Cup in 1940.

5. PHIL WATSON: Once Lester Patrick developed a farm system, one of his most useful outlets was Philadelphia in the Can-Am (later American) Hockey League. Watson, a hustling French-Canadian center, was promoted to the big club in 1935-36 and helped set up the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1940.

6. BRYAN HEXTALL: A complete unknown in 1936-37 when he was imported from Philadelphia, this Grenfell, Saskatchewan product needed time to ripen. By the end of the 1930's he was right wing on the top line with Phil Watson and Lynn Patrick. Hextall scored the Cup-winning goal in 1940 on a pass from Watson.

7. MUZZ PATRICK: Nobody complained when Lester Patrick promoted his younger son, Murray, to the NHL for the 1937-38 season. Muzz already had established himself as a multi-sport star and easily adjusted to big-league hockey. He was, however, overshadowed by the more flamboyant and talented Babe Pratt on the blue line.

8. ART COULTER: Another solid Winnipeg product, Coulter was one of the less-heralded Hall of Famers. His defense work eventually won him acceptance but not many headlines. Art's leadership was evident when Patrick named him team captain. Coulter wore the "C" when New York won the 1940 Cup.

9. KILBY MACDONALD: A young star in his native Ottawa, MacDonald was signed by the Rangers in1939 and went on to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year the same season as when he helped the Rangers win their third Stanley Cup.

10. BABE PRATT: A Ranger since 1935, Pratt grew in stature through the 1930's. He was a potent member of the Cup-winning 1940 team but by 1943 his relationship with his boss, Lester Patrick, had deteriorated and he was traded to Toronto. Babe won a Cup with the Leafs in 1945.