Undermanned but Undaunted: The Frank Boucher Era New York Rangers 1940 - 1955 Kindle Edition

The Frank Boucher era cannot be judged solely on his coaching record alone. If not for World War II, Boucher could have been one of the most successful coaches in Rangers history. In his first three seasons behind the bench Frank’s prewar coaching record was 77–47–20 which included three playoff appearances, one first-place finish, and a Stanley Cup.However, once the war began, all six NHL teams struggled to replace the players who had gone into the service. But no team suffered more than the Rangers, who due to Lester Patrick’s mistake in judgement, were severely undermanned and the repercussions were felt for many years to come.Boucher was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958 based on his playing career and for the innovations he introduced to the game. However, his most significant achievement was keeping the Rangers afloat and relevant during their darkest years. He persevered and for that alone he should be remembered and applauded. Read more