Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Yes, I’ve written about today’s topic about a billion times before in this space – but as it was when I first started doing so some ten-years ago – it’s still my life mission as a Ranger fan to see Frank Boucher receive his proper flowers from the franchise.
For regular readers, you’ve read all of this before, but as a refresher, and for the new readers unaware about Frank Boucher too, then you can check out everything about the greatest Ranger of all-time by clicking this link: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/retire-frank-bouchers-7/
As the Rangers enter their 99th season at the onset of this upcoming 2024-25 NHL campaign, the club is now one-year away from their 100th birthday party – and where there are already rumblings that the franchise is making plans to celebrate this milestone with much fanfare.
While granted, the franchise will be willing-and-able to pump out centennial merchandise to their customers, fans and supporters for big bucks and profit; at the same time, the organization needs to do what the Toronto Maple Leafs did back in October of 2016 – when the team north of the border honored all of their legends during a one-shot ceremony.
(You can find out more about this in my first book, which is linked below – and where as a bonus – I’m also including the Frank Boucher chapter/profile for free.)
I know that if I was paid a nickel every time I said some sort of the following on this site, then I’d have Elon Musk money, but here it is one more time:
“I don’t understand how the Rangers can ignore the man responsible for 75% of their Stanley Cup victories.”
The Rangers, set to turn one-hundred-years-old next year, only have four Stanley Cup wins in their existence.
Frank Boucher, who spent 29-years with the Rangers as a player, coach and general manager, won two Stanley Cups as a player (1928 and 1933) and then won another in 1940 as a head coach.
In 1958, Boucher, for all of his work as a Ranger, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Despite all of his success and Hall of Fame status – the organization outright refuses to acknowledge his career.
The same goes for Boucher’s Hall of Fame right-winger, Bill Cook.
For a comparison (and yes, this is a stretch, as the Yankees have a richer history than the Rangers), but can you imagine if the Bronx Bombers ignored the likes of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig from Monument Park?
The Rangers refusal to honor the championship men, pioneers too, is the most blasphemous omission in franchise history.
And nothing against the likes of Rod Gilbert, Vic Hadfield, Eddie Giacomin, Jean Ratelle, Henrik Lundqvist, Harry Howell and Andy Bathgate, the names honored/jersey numbers retired by the organization – but none of these legends ever won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers – much less multiple championships.
Heck, most of these men didn’t spend their entire careers with the Rangers either – much less 29-years.
It’s been overdue for sometime now, but with the franchise making their centennial plans in the present day – it’s time to make the organization whole – and to honor the excellent and superstar players prior to the inception of television.
After all, every other Original Six team honors their legends and Hall of Famers from the early days of the NHL – so why do the Rangers want to go against the grain in this department?
Below you will find a letter written by a name regular readers of this site are long familiar with – Frankie Baird – Frank Boucher’s granddaughter – and who also wrote the foreword to my first book.
After that, the longest and most comprehensive biography on Frank Boucher – and where for people with a true thirst for knowledge – then you should check out his autobiography too, “When The Rangers Were Young.”
To Whom It May Concern:
In light of the upcoming 100 year anniversary of the New York Rangers, I would like to make a suggestion/plea.
My grandfather, Frank Boucher, joined the Rangers and played in that very first game. He remained with the Rangers as player, Coach and General Manager until 1955.
Frank was on the Team, winning the Stanley Cup, as a player in 1928 and 1933; and as a Coach for a Stanley Cup win in the 1939-40 season. As you know, it wasn’t until 1994 that the Rangers won the Cup again.
In 1979, the Number 7 jersey that Frank wore was retired, two years after his death. It was a wonderful honor for our family, especially my dad, Frank’s only child.
I am writing to you with a plea to raise my Grandfather, Frank’s #7 jersey into the Rafters alongside Rod Gilbert’s. It would be especially meaningful at this time for the 100 year anniversary celebrations.
Please consider this as an acknowledgement of Frank Boucher’s contribution to the Rangers, as a forefather, an innovator and builder in those early years of the New York Rangers.
Thank you for considering my request.
Sincerely,
Frankie (Boucher) Baird
The following text originally appeared in “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
(And yes, this text does read better in book form rather than on a website, so feel free to pick up a copy if you haven’t already done so!)
Enjoy!
The Rafters of Madison Square Garden
— #7 Frank Boucher: (Player: 1926-1938, 1943-1944) (Head Coach: 1939-1949, 1953-1954) (General Manager: 1946-1955)
If you’re familiar with my writings on the BlueCollarBlueShirts.com website, then you know when it comes to New York Ranger fans, no one has been a bigger fan or advocate of Frank Boucher than me. In fact, as previously mentioned in this book, it was Stan Fischler’s books on Frank Boucher which first piqued my interest in Frank Boucher, which in turn, led me to meet Frank Boucher’s granddaughters and visit Frank Boucher’s gravesite.
If there was one book that I used to get a bulk of source material when working on the book that you’re reading now, it was Frank Boucher’s autobiography “When The Rangers Were Young”, published in 1974, which was three years before Boucher’s passing. There isn’t a better Rangers history book out there, especially for first-hand stories of the Rangers first thirty years of existence. After all, not only was Boucher a top player during the era of the Original Rangers – Boucher remained with the franchise as both a head coach and general manager. His autobiography is a must-read book for any diehard fan of the New York Rangers.
To me, not only was Frank Boucher the greatest Ranger in all of franchise history, but Boucher is also the most important. While Boucher himself would say that Bill Cook was the greatest player he ever saw and while many would say that Lester Patrick was more of a showman than Boucher – Frank Boucher was there at the beginning and served the franchise full-time for nearly thirty years. Not even Lester Patrick could say that. It is just mind-boggling how the Rangers ignore Boucher’s legacy and devotion in the current day.
In Ottawa, Ontario, Frank Boucher, born on October 7th, 1901, was one of four brothers to make it to the NHL. Even more impressively for the Boucher family, all four brothers would go on to win the Stanley Cup!
Frank Boucher also had two other brothers named Carroll and Joseph, who didn’t make it to the NHL. In addition, just like most families of Irish descent at the time, meaning large families, Boucher also had two sisters, named Irene and Lily.
Frank’s older brother, Georges “Buck” Boucher, a fellow Hall of Famer like Frank himself, would win four Stanley Cups with the Ottawa Senator dynasty teams of the 1920’s. Frank Boucher’s two other brothers, Billy and Bobby Boucher, would also win the Stanley Cup in 1924 as members of the Montreal Canadiens. While Frank’s brothers would win the Stanley Cup before him, Frank would go on to create a nice little legacy himself, winning 75% of all Stanley Cups in Rangers history. As you can see, hockey ran deep in the Boucher family bloodline!
While the Boucher brothers all excelled in hockey, their father, Tom Boucher, was a champion in another sport – rugby football. During his athletic career, Tom Boucher would win four championships in rugby football. It is thought that the Boucher brothers got their athletic ability from their father.
In Frank Boucher’s day, hockey was the most popular sport in Ottawa and the surrounding suburbs. At the age of six, Boucher would get his first pair of hockey skates, which were double-runners. In his book, “When the Rangers Were Young”, Boucher said the skates weren’t that good, so despite the skates being a Christmas gift, he’d never use them again. Boucher would then use skates that his brothers previously used.
As a youth, Boucher would play for local teams and play pond hockey on the Rideau River. During this time, Frank first met Marie Evelyn Moreton, aka Lady Byng, who was the wife of the Viscount Byng of Vimy. In 1925, prior to Boucher’s NHL debut, Lady Byng, a huge hockey fan herself, came up with the “Lady Byng Trophy”, an award that since its inception is given out to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Today, we now know Mrs. Moreton as simply “Lady Byng.”
Ironically (there’s that word again!), in the years following their first meeting, Boucher would win the Lady Byng Trophy seven times in eight years. In 1935, Boucher was given the original Lady Byng Trophy outright, as a result of Boucher’s consistent play and being a fine representative of the award. Lady Byng then donated a new trophy starting with the 1935-36 season. Unfortunately, in 1962, the original Lady Byng Trophy was destroyed in a fire at Frank Boucher’s home.
When Boucher first met Lady Byng, he was a youth hockey player, asking for money for team equipment. That was what youth hockey teams did at the time, similar to youth hockey teams of today. Boucher would also drop out of school at the age of 13, which unlike today, was more commonplace in Boucher’s era.
While no longer attending school, Boucher continued to play hockey for various teams and leagues in the Ottawa area. During World War I, Boucher would take a job with the federal government munitions department. While Boucher didn’t know it then, World War II would later affect his personal and professional career.
After World War I, Boucher moved to western Canada, where he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). While Boucher never did much with the RCMP, his time with the mounties eventually became the root of many tall tales, especially when yanking the chain of future teammate Cecil Dillon.
While in western Canada, Boucher hooked up with the Vancouver Maroons, a team that competed in different leagues and challenged for various championships during the early 1920’s. More importantly, it was during this time where Boucher first caught the eye of Bill Cook.
In Boucher’s time, players’ rights were always a tad confusing, as many hockey leagues sprung up and shut down throughout Canada. In 1926, with Boucher now approaching the age of 25, the Western League, which was the league of the Vancouver Maroons, folded. Boucher’s rights were then sold to the Boston Bruins by Frank Patrick – Lester Patrick’s brother and a Frank Patrick who also ran the Maroons. Fortunately, Boucher would never wear a Bruins sweater.
With Tex Rickard looking to ice his own team inside of his freshly built Madison Square Garden, Conn Smythe was hired as the team’s first General Manager. Bill Cook was one of the first players Smythe sought out. In a conversation between Smythe and Cook, Cook told Smythe that Frank Boucher was a player that Smythe should go after. Smythe would heed Cook’s advice and would pay the Bruins $1500 for the rights to Frank Boucher. History was made.
While Smythe made Frank Boucher a Ranger, Smythe wasn’t initially impressed with his new player. Smythe thought that Boucher was too small. However, Lester Patrick quickly replaced Smythe and Boucher never had to play under Smythe. For Smythe and Boucher, two Hockey Hall of Famers, they never got along, even feuding into the later years of their lives.
At the start of the 1926-27 season, the Rangers first season as a franchise, Lester Patrick had Frank Boucher center the Cook brothers, Bill and Bun. The trio would become known as “The Bread Line” and are arguably the greatest line in Rangers history (that’s my argument anyway!). Boucher, an original Ranger, would also take the first face-off in Rangers franchise history.
On November 16th, 1926, Frank Boucher, wearing a Rangers sweater for the first time, would take the opening ceremonial face-off against Nels Stewart of the Montreal Maroons. The first puck ever dropped in Rangers history was dropped by silent film star Lois Moran. A few minutes later, Frank Boucher and Nels Stewart would take another draw, this time for real, and Tex Rickard’s New York Rangers were now a reality. This also began Frank Boucher’s near thirty-year run with the franchise.
Now part of the original New York Rangers, Frank Boucher was the franchise’s first-line center during two separate Stanley Cup victories. As previously mentioned, Boucher would win the Lady Byng Trophy seven times during Boucher’s playing career before being given the trophy outright to keep. Off the ice, Boucher was an innovator who constantly changed the game and helped write the NHL rulebook. On the ice, Boucher was one of the league’s top stars. Perhaps Boucher’s biggest highlight of his eventual Hall of Fame career took place during the 1928 Stanley Cup Final.
In the 1928 Stanley Cup Final, the Rangers, at a disadvantage since they were a team located in America and were only two years old, squared off against the heavily favored Montreal Maroons. While this series is known for Lester Patrick’s Game 2 appearance in goal for the Rangers, after an injury suffered by goaltender Lorne Chabot, what is often lost is what Frank Boucher did in that series.
In the five-game series to determine the Stanley Cup Champion and with the Rangers lack of home games due to the circus at Madison Square Garden; Frank Boucher scored the overtime game-winning goal in Game 2. In Game 4 and with the Maroons leading the Best of Five series by a tally of 2-1, Frank Boucher scored the lone goal of the contest, thus tying the series at two games a piece. In the winner-take-all Game 5, the Rangers would win the game by a final score of 2-1, with both Ranger goals coming off of Frank Boucher’s stick blade. If there were a Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs) in Boucher’s era, Boucher would’ve won it handily in 1928.
Frank Boucher was consistently one of the team’s top scorers throughout his playing days. In his first season, 1926-27, he led the team in assists with 15. Boucher’s point total of 28 was only second-best to Bill Cook, who had 37 points. A season later, the 1927-28 season, the same season where Boucher shone in the playoffs, Boucher led the team in goals (23) and points (35).
In Boucher’s third season, the 1928-29 season, he once again led the team in assists (16) and points (26). It should also be mentioned that during these days, the NHL season was only 44 games.
Boucher would continually lead the Rangers in both regular season and playoff scoring during his entire career. In the 1932-33 season, where the Rangers won their second Stanley Cup, Boucher led the team in assists again (28). Boucher’s point total of 35 was also third-best to his linemates Bill Cook (50) and Bun Cook (37).
The 1937-38 season would be Boucher’s last for the time being. At this point, Boucher was now 37 years old and had seen both Cook brothers retire from the NHL. When Boucher first retired as a player, he had already put together a Hall of Fame career. Boucher would then eventually return to play in limited action during the World War II-ravaged 1943-44 season.
Only Bill Cook could challenge Boucher as the greatest Ranger ever at this time, and even then, due to Boucher’s playoff heroics, some could argue that Boucher was more important – especially since Boucher was the one setting up the Cook brothers throughout their days.
When speaking of the Cook brothers and Frank Boucher, aka “The Bread Line”, what also helped their chemistry was that they instantly bonded. While the Cook brothers were already tight since they were siblings, Boucher quickly forged friendships with the brothers, which would last throughout their lives. During their playing days, the three would live together with their wives in an apartment building in Queens, NY. It was there where the trio became close.
It’s always hard to compare players from different generations, especially a player that didn’t play much during the television era, much less in an era where networks didn’t save game tapes. Networks taped over previous games due to the high cost of tapes at the time. However, there is an interesting study in modern times when talking about Frank Boucher’s career.
Boucher, who led the league in assists during three separate seasons, was studied by the website Total Hockey. In the study, as they were comparing players from older generations to players of today, Total Hockey found that Boucher would’ve had five-straight seasons of 100+ assists in the modern day, including a 1928-29 season that would’ve featured 151 assists. Boucher, who finished his career with 160 goals, 263 assists and 423 points, in adjusted totals to reflect today’s hockey, would’ve recorded 401 goals, 1,000 assists and 1,401 points.
Needless to say, this is all just fun bar-room stuff, as there’s no way to know how a player from an older generation would do today and vice-versa. As I’ve always said on my website BlueCollarBlueShirts.com, you can only play and be judged by the era in which you played in. And for Frank Boucher, he was a hands-down Hall of Fame player in his time.
That said, one person who saw Frank Boucher play, the legendary Hall of Fame announcer Foster Hewitt (there’s even eleven minutes worth of footage on YouTube of Foster Hewitt calling the 1933 Stanley Cup Final, where the Rangers beat the Maple Leafs), once commented on Boucher and the Bread Line while broadcasting the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the USSR. Hewitt said on the broadcast:
“There aren’t many people around to remember, but the way the Russians play reminds me of the old Rangers, especially the line of Boucher and the Cooks. They were even better than the Russians. When Frank, Bill and Bunny were on the ice, it always seemed to me they had the puck on the string.”
For old-timers who had the good fortune of seeing Boucher play, Boucher was considered the Wayne Gretzky of passing in his era. No one did it better, and as time would tell, Boucher was more than just a hockey player – he was one of the most elite minds that the hockey world has ever seen.
In the season following Boucher’s retirement, the 1938-39 season, Boucher remained in New York, this time as the new head coach of the New York Rovers. At the time, the Rovers were the Rangers Eastern Hockey League affiliate team. Like the Rangers, the Rovers played their home games at Madison Square Garden. In Boucher’s first and only season with the Rovers, the team would win the Hamilton B. Wills Trophy – the top prize of the league.
After a solid stint in the minors, by the time the 1939-40 season rolled around, Lester Patrick decided to step down from coaching. Patrick would then focus on his general manager duties. In his place, Lester Patrick hired Frank Boucher to become the second coach in franchise history. In Boucher’s first season as the head coach of the Rangers, the Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup in the spring of 1940. As a result, Boucher now had his name etched onto the Stanley Cup for the third time with the Rangers – two as a player and one as a head coach. (Lester Patrick’s name is also on these three Stanley Cups, two as the head coach and one as the general manager.)
Two seasons later, in 1941-42, the final season before players were stripped from their teams due to World War II; the Rangers finished first place in the league. However, the Rangers would lose in the semifinal of the 1942 Stanley Cup Playoffs, dropping a six-game set to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As mentioned repeatedly throughout this book, World War II absolutely decimated the Rangers. Boucher’s Rangers would only make the playoffs one more time. This appearance took place during the 1947-48 season, where the Rangers lost a six-game semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings.
At the peak of World War II, Frank Boucher, now 42 years of age, would come out of retirement during the 1943-44 season. In 15 games played, as a player/head coach, Boucher finished with a stat line of 4 goals and 10 assists, good for 14 points overall. The Rangers would also finish dead last in the league for the first time under Boucher’s watch. The Rangers would then have three more sixth-place finishes, with the Rangers having four consecutive seasons of finishing in last place.
In addition, on February 21, 1946, Frank Boucher succeeded Lester Patrick once again, this time as the team’s General Manager. While Patrick named his successor and would remain with the team as an advisor, these two legends of New York Rangers history would then have a frosty relationship for the rest of their professional careers, sans one chance meeting in 1954.
While Boucher would now bump heads with Patrick over players (Eddolls and O’Connor being prime examples), another thing that bothered Boucher, prior to Patrick stepping down from his post, was that during World War II and with Frank Boucher as head coach, Lester Patrick sold off all of the Rangers minor league assets. Patrick did this because he thought all minor league hockey operations would be suspended during the war. However, minor league hockey continued. As a result, the Rangers had even less of a talent pool to choose from during these down times. This just gave Boucher more headaches.
It should be said that, as a person, Boucher always had a great personality. While Lester Patrick was always considered the “life of the party” and could take over any room he stepped into, Boucher was no slouch either. The Rangers’ media were always complimentary of Boucher during his days as a player, coach and general manager. As all the Lady Byng Trophies he won would suggest – Boucher was always classy with the media.
Boucher was also not shy of the drink, including while as a player during the Prohibition Era in the United States. While Boucher was never a drunkard or anything remotely like that; Boucher, along with his teammates, would often frequent the various speakeasies throughout New York City.
When Prohibition was repealed, Boucher would hold high court (and with the Rangers’ media surrounding him), at “Hogan’s Irish House” (a bar that once stood at 235 West 52nd Street and a few steps away Madison Square Garden III). It was there where Boucher often enhanced his relationship with the media.
By 1947, Boucher was also doing beer ads for Schaefer Beer. Boucher’s popularity, even during the Rangers’ down years, always remained sky-high. After all, when was the last time you saw a Ranger being sponsored by a beer company? In addition, in Boucher’s autobiography, he recounts one of his final moments in NYC – by having one last drink at “Hogan’s Irish House.”
As the General Manager of the Rangers, Boucher also put together the roster that made it to the 1950 Stanley Cup Final, including roster members that Lester Patrick previously disapproved of.
As mentioned previously, had Madison Square Garden management allowed the Rangers to have home games during the 1950 Stanley Cup Final, who knows what would’ve happened? Maybe Boucher would’ve won his fourth Stanley Cup, which would’ve made Boucher the first full-time Ranger to win a Stanley Cup as a player, coach and general manager. (Lester Patrick technically accomplished this feat due to the one game he played during the 1928 Stanley Cup Final.)
At the conclusion of the 1954-55 season, Frank Boucher would end his 29-season tenure with the New York Rangers.
On April 22nd, 1955, Boucher, as Lester Patrick once did for him, stepped down as General Manager of the Rangers, anointing Muzz Patrick, Lester Patrick’s son, as the third General Manager in franchise history. Previously, in 1948, Boucher relinquished his coaching duties to Muzz’s brother Lynn Patrick, but Lynn eventually left for Boston.
After former Ranger captains Neil Colville and Bill Cook had short runs as head coach of the team, Boucher returned to the bench for forty games during the 1953-1954 season. Once the season concluded, Boucher hired Muzz Patrick to coach the team, starting with the 1954-1955 season.
However, on this date of April 22nd, 1955, Muzz Patrick, like Frank Boucher and his father Lester Patrick before him, would now serve the team as both the team’s head coach and general manager.
In retirement, Boucher would return to Canada, making a home in Kemptville, Ontario, which is a farming town and suburb of Ottawa. In 1958, Boucher would officially be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Once retiring to Kemptville, Boucher would be involved in several minor league programs. Posthumously, in 2010, Boucher, who has a mural in Kemptville, was inducted into the Kemptville Hall of Fame.
In 1973, Frank Boucher would release his autobiography, entitled “When The Rangers Were Young.” The book was deemed a major success. In addition, nearly 50 years after its publication, I still reference this book – as you evidently can tell!
On October 15, 1976, at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Frank Boucher was presented with a “Frank Boucher Night” ceremony. Luminaries who attended this event included not only the Cook brothers, but other NHL legends such as Frank “King” Clancy; the Colville brothers; Aurel Joliet; Clarence Campbell; Art Coulter; Alex Shibicky; Jean Beliveau; Bill Chadwick; Clint Smith; Dave Kerr and others. During this event, Boucher and the Cook brothers took photos together for the very last time.
On December 12th, 1977, now at the age of 76, Frank Boucher passed away after a battle with cancer. For whatever reason, the Rangers didn’t think it was worth honoring Boucher at this time.
In 2014, now with free time on my hands, I started to get into the career of Frank Boucher. I would point to this period of time where not only my interest in Rangers history heightened, hence this book, but this is where my first interactions with the Boucher family occurred.
It was in the first months of 2015 where I first started writing 10,000-word essays/blogs about Frank Boucher on my BlueCollarBlueShirts.com website. As they say – once you publish something on the internet, you never know who is going to read it.
In 2016, I did a monster blog profiling Frank Boucher, which was pretty much a shorter version of the profile on Boucher that you’re reading right now. In 2017, a distant relative (a great great nephew) of Frank Boucher commented on one of my blogs. It turns out his son was doing a family tree project for school. When googling “Frank Boucher,” he found my writings on Boucher.
When I first saw the comment on the blog, where this person told me he was related to Boucher, I didn’t know if this person was screwing around or not. I emailed this person, whose name is Mike Casagrande, and asked him if he was serious or not. Mike replied with this:
“Yes he was. Frank had a non-hockey playing brother named Carrol (my great grandfather). Carrol had two boys, Ray and Thomas. Ray is my grandfather.
I came across your website, as my son is doing a project on Frank right now. Ironically, he is the same age I was when Frank gave me a copy of “When The Rangers Were Young.”
I grew up in Ottawa but now live in British Columbia. What is even funnier is that I met my wife in 1994 (a Canucks fan, no less). She was renting a condo from Andy Bathgate’s daughter (Sandee), who Frank coached. We had our honeymoon in NYC just to go to a Rangers game!”
For all the horror stories that you hear about the internet, this one was the complete opposite of the norm, and a great one at that. From this one email, Mike and I went back and forth. Mike, through email, would then introduce me to other members of the Boucher family. Mike would then ultimately introduce me to Frank Boucher’s granddaughter, whose name is Frankie Baird.
On September 14th, 2017, I received the following email:
Hi Sean,
My name is Frankie (Boucher) Baird, eldest grandchild of Frank Boucher. My grandfather had one son, Earl, and 6 grandchildren. Our family has now grown to 17 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren. Most of us live in the Kemptville area where Frank settled after his hockey career. My husband and I bought Frank’s home from him in 1972 and still live here.
My grandson, Braden Leeder has been in touch with you. I had a visit with Mike Casagrande a few weeks ago and he told me about your push to get my grandfather’s retired number in the rafters at MSG. I remember years ago, my cousin Brian Boucher lamenting that Frank wasn’t honoured in that way. I’m sorry I didn’t pursue this.
Thanks so much for your efforts.
Let me know who I should contact to put some pressure on. I’m attaching a couple of pictures of my sisters and me with our children and grandchildren at our Reunion this summer. There are lots of us, descendants of Frank Boucher.
Kindest regards – Frankie
For the next two years, Frankie and I would go back and forth over email. Over time, I would share updates on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com from Frankie and share some never-before-seen family and hockey photos of Frank Boucher. Frankie would also tell me stories about her grandfather and I would tell her the latest with my push to get her grandfather honored.
After doing a mostly solo campaign, Frankie Baird officially joined the efforts to get Frank Boucher his just due from the Rangers on December 13th, 2018. On that date, Frankie Baird released the following letter/statement:
December 2018
To Whom it may concern:
For many years I have thought about the fact that my grandfather, Frank Boucher, has had his #7 jersey retired by the New York Rangers, but is not being honoured in Madison Square Garden. Why is his jersey not hanging in the rafters? I remember the night that #7 was retired. My Dad, Frank’s only son, accepted the Jersey posthumously in MSG. It was a special night, and for many years, I assumed my grandfather’s jersey would be in that place of honour. No offense to Rod Gilbert, I’m glad his is there; however, I don’t understand why Frank Boucher’s isn’t.
Frank Boucher joined the original New York Rangers in their inaugural season, 1926. He is one of hockey’s legends, playing, coaching and acting as General Manager for the Rangers from 1926-1955, and has been in the Hockey Hall of Fame for years.
I grew up hearing about New York and knew how Frank and our grandma, Aggie, loved their life in New York. His success as a player, coach and GM is well documented. Pick up any book on hockey history and you will find Frank Boucher mentioned. Frank wrote a great book, “When the Rangers Were Young” and it tells of the early years of hockey in the NHL and in New York. He was a humble man, but hard working and always thinking of new ways to improve the game (eg., the red line, pulling the goalie).
We have been remiss, as a family, in not asking for this small gesture from the New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden. We are a large extended family, and we remember and love Frank Boucher. It saddens us that he is all but forgotten in New York. His immediate descendants include six grandchildren (one grandson died at age 41), 15 great grandchildren, and 19 great-great grandchildren. In the family tree, descending from Frank’s siblings, there are dozens of grand nieces and nephews.
Frank’s third grandchild, my sister, Bridget, remembers that she was in high school before she even realized that there was something special about Frank Boucher’s career. He was a very humble man and never bragged, and because there were so many hockey people around our house in the off season, it all just seemed normal to us. (I felt like I knew Lester Patrick, the Cook brothers, Stan Fischler, all these names of managers, players, sports writers that we heard so often from our grandpa.)
It was Bridget’s job in the winter, when Frank and Aggie were away for the hockey season, to polish the trophies that were on the staircase, as well as in a chest in our house that burned down, the winter of 1966. I felt so guilty, as a 17 year old, reading the sports page the next day about Frank Boucher’s trophies being lost in a fire. I had walked right past all these trophies as I led my sisters and brother out of the burning house. It was such a relief when my Poppa called and told me not to worry, all that mattered was that we all got out safely.
Bridget also was so disappointed when she learned that the Rangers had renamed the Frank Boucher Trophy. Bridget remembers the year Adam Graves won the Frank Boucher trophy; he was her daughter, Katie’s, favourite player. A Ranger fan, Katie’s room was plastered with posters, articles and pictures of the Rangers. It hit home that another generation of grandchildren would appreciate the accomplishments of their famous Great Grandpa.
In Bridget’s words: “I personally think that Frank Boucher was extremely well rounded as an elite player, coach, manager, and commissioner (Canadian Western Junior Hockey League). As much as he loved the Rangers, I think the Rangers were lucky to have him. His ease of speaking to the press probably helped them a great deal when they first entered the League, and basically everything he did would have helped them to become a successful franchise. He helped build the New York team that has thrived for so many years.”
Frank Boucher’s first great grandchild, my son, Rod, was born on Frank’s 70th birthday on October 7. Frank was so excited, not only about the birth of his first great grandchild, but also about Rod being born amid all these #7’s, his lucky number. My two oldest children, Rod and Angie, have fond memories of their Great Grandpa Frank coming over most days of the week to play with them. They were precious to each other.
Although we think our Poppa would feel slighted that Rod Gilbert’s jersey is holding that place of honour for #7 at Madison Square Garden, we don’t think he would have lobbied on his own behalf, for his sweater. He was not a man who sought recognition, but we always saw how very gracious he was when he received that recognition.
For we who loved Frank Boucher, it is our hope that we will see the day that our grandfather is recognized for his contribution to the New York Rangers and that we will see that Frank Boucher #7 hanging in Madison Square Garden.
Frankie (Boucher) Baird
In November of 2018, my buddies and I went on a road trip to see the Rangers play in Ottawa and Montreal. When you drive from Montreal to Ottawa, the city of Kemptville is on the way, about 30 minutes out from Ottawa. Kemptville is where Frank Boucher is buried and where Frankie Baird still lives. Unfortunately, Frankie Baird had a family obligation when we were in town during our trip, so we couldn’t meet up. That would change a year later, in November of 2019.
On November 22nd, 2019, my crew packed into my buddy’s car (my friend whose nickname is BORGATA RAY), and we did the two-hour drive from Montreal to Kemptville. At the time, Ray and my friend TEN O’CLOCK TOMMY were both nervous about visiting some stranger. However, at the end of the day, the love of hockey united all of us.
Personally, while I was excited to meet the Bairds, I could understand why Tommy and Ray had that “I don’t know what to expect” feeling. I have to give Ray and Tommy credit here too, because they wanted to be part of this. And really, without Ray, his car, and his love for history – this visit never happens. Talk about a good friend. (And you know you’re really good friends with someone when all you do is break balls with each other all day! Get a haircut, Ray!)
I also look at all of this through Baird’s eyes too. They were inviting three strangers to their house. They didn’t know if we were nuts or anything. Okay, maybe we are a bit nuts, but our craziness for the Rangers isn’t going to hurt anything – except for our livers while drinking and watching these games!
I can’t stress this enough – this is just a great story, where hockey brought people from all different backgrounds together. I’m not petitioning Walt Disney to make a movie out of this. I’m just trying to give you all the groundwork and facts here!
Around 3:45 PM on a Friday afternoon, we finally arrived at the Baird family home. As mentioned, this is the home Frank Boucher used to live in, as Frankie, and her husband Brian, bought the house from him in 1972. And really, it’s not a big deal that Frank Boucher used to live there, as our meeting was with the Baird family. It is just a cool little factoid to add to this story.
Upon our arrival and after exchanging pleasantries (and yes, while Ray and Tommy were nervous to begin with, but within five minutes, when they saw how cool and nice the Baird’s were, they opened up), we sat down at the Baird’s family dinner table, where the table was adorned with all sorts of Frank Boucher, Rangers and NHL memorabilia and photos.
The collection of photos and memorabilia of Frank Boucher’s career that the Baird’s have is invaluable. What is even more impressive is that everything is in mint and pristine condition. Nothing looks worn, weathered or faded. When looking at some of the stuff, I wanted to make sure my beer-soaked fingers didn’t ruin anything!
While I had a cordial relationship with Frankie Baird before we met, I made a new lifelong friend after our meeting. That is why I’m honored that she wrote the foreword for this book. If it weren’t for Frank Boucher, this book wouldn’t exist. Likewise, if it weren’t for Frankie Baird, my motivation for completing this book wouldn’t have been as high as it was. Simply speaking – I treasure the friendship I have with her and her family, especially her husband, the wise-cracking Brian!
In the time that has passed since my visit to Kemptville, Frankie Baird and I have continued our efforts in hoping to see the Rangers honor Frank Boucher. Hopefully, this book helps put our efforts over the top and across the finish line.
While I can’t confirm this as a fact, I’ve been told that Rod Gilbert wasn’t an advocate of sharing his #7 in the rafters. When writing this book, I asked Rod Gilbert to comment about Frank Boucher. I never received a reply. To be fair, it’s not like Gilbert owed me anything here or even knew about me.
Sadly, just before this book was published, Rod Gilbert passed away on August 22nd, 2021. Just like Frank Boucher, Rod Gilbert was a Rangers legend too and earned his “Mr Ranger” nickname.
In 1952, the official fan club of the New York Rangers (when fan clubs had more power and influence than they do today), created the “Frank Boucher Fan Trophy”, which was a trophy that honored the most popular Ranger every year. The award would last until 2010, upon the dissolution of the fan club due to the age of the internet.
Here are all of the winners of this prestigious award:
1951–52 Don Raleigh
1952–53 Wally Hergesheimer
1953–54 Johnny Bower
1954–55 Edgar Laprade
1955–56 Gump Worsley
1956–57 Andy Bathgate
1957–58 Andy Bathgate
1958–59 Andy Bathgate
1959–60 Dean Prentice
1960–61 Gump Worsley
1961–62 Andy Bathgate
1962–63 Gump Worsley
1963–64 Rod Gilbert
1964–65 Harry Howell
1965–66 Harry Howell
1966–67 Harry Howell
1967–68 Rod Gilbert
1968–69 Eddie Giacomin
1969–70 Walt Tkaczuk
1970–71 Dave Balon
1971–72 Jean Ratelle
1972–73 Jean Ratelle
1973–74 Brad Park
1974–75 Rod Gilbert
1975–76 Rod Gilbert
1976–77 Rod Gilbert
1977–78 Pat Hickey
1978–79 Phil Esposito
1979–80 Phil Esposito
1980–81 Ed Johnstone
1981–82 Nick Fotiu
1982–83 Mark Pavelich
1983–84 Barry Beck and Nick Fotiu
1984–85 Anders Hedberg and Mike Rogers
1985–86 John Vanbiesbrouck
1986–87 Walt Poddubny
1987–88 Walt Poddubny
1988–89 Guy Lafleur
1989–90 Brian Mullen
1990–91 Mike Richter
1991–92 Mark Messier
1992–93 Mike Gartner
1993–94 Adam Graves
1994–95 Mark Messier
1995–96 Mark Messier
1996–97 Mark Messier
1997–98 Wayne Gretzky
1998–99 Mike Richter
1999–00 Mike Richter
2000–01 Brian Leetch
2001–02 Mike Richter
2002–03 Mike Dunham
2003–04 Eric Lindros
2005–06 Jaromir Jagr
2006–07 Henrik Lundqvist
2007–08 Sean Avery
2008–09 Blair Betts
2009–10 Henrik Lundqvist
In 2020, I decided to bring back the Frank Boucher Fan Trophy, with permission from Frankie Baird. Here were the winners that I deemed, with my analysis, including the 2021 induction:
2010-11: HENRIK LUNDQVIST
When it comes to the early part of the 2010-2019 decade, no one was more dominant for the Rangers than Henrik Lundqvist. When it comes to fan popularity, which this award honors, you can make a case for guys like Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery. However, while many Ranger fans wore Callahan jerseys, no one was more popular than Henrik Lundqvist. While in the first half of this decade, the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award was won by Ryan Callahan on multiple occasions, Lundqvist usually won the team’s MVP award.
2011-12: HENRIK LUNDQVIST
While Lundqvist had already “arrived”, in regards to league-wide popularity, this was the best season of Lundqvist’s career, as Lundqvist won the Vezina this season. While Callahan remained popular, it was Marian Gaborik picking up 41 goals this season and impressing the fans. Whether you want to say that Lundqvist’s best years were a direct result of the system John Tortorella employed or not – the fact is, HEAD AND SHOULDERS (pun intended) – Lundqvist was the most popular Ranger this season.
2012-13: HENRIK LUNDQVIST
I know, I know, I know – long-time readers of BlueCollarBlueShirts.com and even Frankie Baird herself have to be shocked that I have Lundqvist winning this award four years in a row! While Rod Gilbert (5), Andy Bathgate (4), Mark Messier (4), and Mike Richter (4) have won this trophy four times or more – no one has ever won it four years in a row, that is until now.
In my opinion, had the original Rangers fan club existed during this time, Lundqvist would’ve been the first person to win this award four times in a row. That said, I have brought back the Frank Boucher Trophy so Lundqvist IS the first person to win this trophy four years in a row!
Historically, when you look at Lundqvist winning this award four times in a row, when compared to the others, it tells you how popular Lundqvist truly was. It also tells you that Lundqvist didn’t have a true number two at this time. While Callahan came borderline close to matching Lundqvist’s popularity, Callahan was never truly able to knock Lundqvist off of his perch. It just goes to show you how these Ranger teams were here.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, this honor bounced around between guys like Worsley, Bathgate, Howell and Giacomin. In the 1970’s, this award mostly bounced around the GAG line and Giacomin. In the 1980’s, it was up for grabs. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the award was decided among “the Core Four of ’94” and Gretzky. When it comes to the early years of the 2010’s – it was the Henrik Lundqvist show.
2013-14: HENRIK LUNDQVIST
Lundqvist tied Rod Gilbert for the most Frank Boucher Fan Trophies with this win, with five. Five straight at that. In this Stanley Cup Finalist season for the Rangers, this is when you first saw new faces gain popularity, like Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello. This was also the final season of Ryan Callahan, who may have won this award had he not been traded during this season’s trade deadline. Why would Callahan be considered here? It was this season where Callahan’s jersey outsold the jersey of Henrik Lundqvist.
Of note, Ryan McDonagh won the team MVP this season. However, McDonagh still wasn’t at the level that Lundqvist was at, in regards to fan popularity and production.
2014-15: MATS ZUCCARELLO
This was the season where Lundqvist suffered a throat injury, thus limiting his time on the ice. In turn, Cam Talbot had a phenomenal second half of the season en route to winning the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. (Rick Nash won the Rangers MVP award this season too.)
To me, this season was kind of up for grabs due to the Lundqvist injury. Martin St. Louis gained instant popularity this season, especially after the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hagelin was popular. Nash was popular. McDonagh was popular. However, this was the season where you saw an uptick in Zuccarello jersey sales and his face featured on Rangers advertising. If any chant rivaled the familiar sounds of “HEN-RIK!”, it was “ZUUUUUUUUUUUC!”
And as many believe to this day, if it wasn’t for the injury Zuccarello suffered in the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, who knows, maybe these Presidents’ Trophy winning Rangers would have won the Cup.
2015-16: MATS ZUCCARELLO
This is the first season where Lundqvist’s decline became noticeable. It was also around this time where Zuccarello somewhat usurped Lundqvist as “the most popular Ranger.”
To be fair here, while Zuccarello jerseys were flying off of the shelves, at this point, Lundqvist had logged 10 seasons with the Rangers. People already had Lundqvist jerseys. That said, in this season, Antti Raanta was the better goalie of the two. In addition, this was Zuccarello’s best season in the NHL, as Zuccarello logged career highs in goals and points. The “ZUUUUUUC” chants were part of every game at MSG during that season.
Of note, Zuccarello won his first Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award this season too, which makes Zuccarello part of a small group of men who have won both the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award and the Frank Boucher Fan Trophy.
2016-17: MATS ZUCCARELLO
Just like other Rangers, Zuccarello wins the Frank Boucher Fan Trophy for the third year in a row. Historically, this was also the final season of an old era, a “pre-rebuild” season, if you will.
Once again, in net, Raanta was challenging Lundqvist, and coach Alain Vigneault would bench Lundqvist during stretches of the season. Conversely, once again, Zuccarello was tops on the team in points and assists. While Ryan McDonagh won the team’s MVP award this year, McDonagh’s popularity came nowhere close to matching Zuccarello’s.
In addition, Zuccarello won both the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award and the Frank Boucher Trophy this season, and in two consecutive seasons to boot.
2017-18: MATS ZUCCARELLO and HENRIK LUNDQVIST
While you may think naming two winners here is a cop-out, this isn’t unprecedented either. After all, in three consecutive years during the early 1980’s, the Rangers Fan Club named two co-winners of this award. In addition, the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award also had two winners in 1990.
This was the season where the Rangers sent out “THE LETTER”, where the Rangers front office announced that they were rebuilding their team. During this season, Zuccarello once again led the team in points and assists. With guys like Cam Talbot and Antti Raanta now gone, Lundqvist was easily the best goalie on the team as well.
On another note, with Zuccarello’s BFFs (best friends forever) of Carl Hagelin and Derick Brassard traded away, the bond between Zuccarello and Lundqvist grew. How fitting that they win this award together!
In the history of this trophy, Lundqvist is now the all-time winner of this honor with six wins. In addition, with this win, Mats Zuccarello now wins this award for the fourth season in a row.
2018-19: MIKA ZIBANEJAD
With the Rangers continuing their rebuild, which included selling off nearly everyone and combined with the continued decline of Henrik Lundqvist – Mika Zibanejad would easily win the Team MVP and the Steven McDonald Extra Effort award this season. Zibanejad, who was really coming into his own with the team this season, led the team in goals, assists and points. With Zuccarello now gone, Chris Kreider in a funk and Lundqvist nearing the end, Mika Zibanejad – HANDS DOWN – wins the Frank Boucher Trophy in this trying 2018-19 season.
2019-20: ARTEMI PANARIN
Like any other official Rangers award, fan award or anything like it during this 2019-20 season, when it comes to naming the most popular Ranger, the MVP of this team or the best Ranger -it’s a two-horse race between Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad.
As you may know, this 2019-20 season was the COVID-19-plagued season. That said, had the regular season continued without issue, and had the Rangers played out their final string of regular season games, Panarin would’ve hit 100 points (Panarin finished with 95 points). In addition, Panarin led all Rangers in the assists department with 63 overall.
While Panarin had a Hart Trophy candidate season, had the pandemic not shut down hockey, Zibanejad may have hit 50 goals too. (Mika finished with 41 goals in 57 games played.) However, what gives Panarin the edge here, is that prior to the pandemic, Zibanejad had missed 13 games. Furthermore, and this is no slight on Zibanejad at all, Panarin made his teammates better too. Just ask Ryan Strome.
At the end of the day, this Frank Boucher Trophy honors popularity. I saw more Panarin jerseys than Zibanejad jerseys worn by Rangers fans this season. In addition, I saw Panarin’s face as the emphasis of Rangers advertising more than I saw Zibanejad’s face being featured by the club.
I thought about making Zibanejad and Panarin co-winners here, but due to the fact that Panarin was a Hart Trophy Finalist, I had to give Panarin the nod over Zibanejad.
2020-21: ADAM FOX
Obviously, due to the pandemic, this season is tougher to judge than previous seasons. However, when you break it all down, there’s nobody else that deserved the Frank Boucher Fan Trophy more than Adam Fox did in 2021. In a down season for the Rangers, Fox was the brightest star and created the most positivity due to Fox’s Norris Trophy-winning season.
With other Rangers having so-so seasons and other Ranger distractions, Fox was the most consistent Ranger and played at a high level all season. Fox became one of the team’s most dynamic defensemen in some time, where, right or wrong, Fox has even drawn comparisons to Brian Leetch.
During the past decade, Henrik Lundqvist was a slam-dunk candidate and a six-time winner of the Frank Boucher Trophy. In 2021, Adam Fox may be in the same boat. With the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award recently honoring fan favorites, it’s no shock to see Fox win both of these honors this season. Even better for Fox, he also won the Rangers Team MVP award.
Frank Boucher’s legacy will live on forever in me, as I will continue to pester the Rangers organization in honoring Frank Boucher by placing Boucher’s #7 jersey in the rafters of Madison Square Garden. It’s also through the Frank Boucher Fan Trophy that I hope to keep Boucher’s memory alive.
Since 2015, I have attended many a Rangers home game where I’m wearing a custom-made Frank Boucher #7 jersey. Many times, I’m stopped by fans and people who ask me, “isn’t #7 Rod Gilbert?” or “who is Frank Boucher?” While the conversations can get repetitive from my end of things, I will always have time to share the legacy and greatness of one of the best people to ever represent the Rangers – Frank Boucher.
May the Rangers finally do the right thing – and not only honor Frank Boucher, but the likes of Bill Cook, Bun Cook, Ching Johnson, Lester Patrick and Emile Francis too.
And after that?
The organization should also honor two living members of their alumni as well, Ron Greschner and Brad Park.
I’ll be back later this weekend with some thoughts on Marc Staal’s retirement, the tragic deaths of the Gaudreau brothers and my 2024-25 NHL Season Preview.
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
