What’s up everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Off puck drop, I’d like to thank everyone for all the emails/feedback for my last blog, the New York Rangers 2018-2019 season preview. It took some time to put that together, so I’m glad you guys enjoyed it.
As the Traverse City tournament nears a close and with Week 1 of the NFL nearly in the books, we are creeping & inching closer to the start of the 2018-2019 NHL season. Next week’s blog will be my annual NHL season preview, with profiles of all 31 teams, plus all my predictions & thoughts on each team. Keep an eye out for that blog.
All summer long, I have done book review and “Delorean” blogs. You can find all of those blogs in the archives, which are located on the right hand of the site or by checking out the tabs on the menu. For the most part, most of the books I reviewed this summer covered the Emile Francis Era of Rangers. Whether it was Marv Albert, Gilles Villemure, Brad Park, Gump Worsley and in this case Eddie Giacomin, all of these books dealt with the Emile Francis Rangers. In addition, with the exception of the Worsley book, all of these books dealt with the height, and the eventual crash, of the Francis Era.
For new readers, just to put it all out on the table, I’m 36 years old. In other words, for the sake of this blog, I was born four years after Giacomin retired. I don’t have any personal memories of Giacomin’s playing days. When it comes to Eddie Giacomin, I’ve seen full games and highlights of his career, but it’s not like I grew up with him, nor saw him play on a day-to-day basis.
Recently in my “Richter vs Lundqvist” blog, which you will find linked below, I talked about the history of Ranger goaltenders. While we know that the Rangers history isn’t the most impressive, with only four Stanley Cup wins in 91+ seasons, for the most part, the Rangers have had tons of Hall of Famers & All-Time Great goalies. Whether it was Davey Kerr, Chuck Rayner, Gump Worsley, Eddie Giacomin, John Vanbiesbrouck, Mike Richter or Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have been well represented in net, for the majority of their history.
Additionally, let’s not forget that the Rangers also had many legends & Hall of Fame goalies stop in for a cup of coffee, like Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, etc. The Rangers also saw the “Silver Fox” himself, Lester Patrick, stand in for a Stanley Cup Final game. The Rangers also gave Johnny Bower his start. Furthermore, two-time Cup Champion & the winner of the Vezina in 1935, Lorne Chabot, was an Original Ranger.
No matter how you slice it, despite a lack of Stanley Cup victories to show for their great goalies, the Rangers have indeed, have had some of the best goalies in the history of the NHL. It’s just unfortunate that in the same vein, the Rangers also had some dark stretches.
Before getting into the meat and potatoes of today’s blog, as always, here are my last few blogs, in case you missed them:
The New York Rangers 2018-2019 Season Preview Blog: Taking An In-Depth & Comprehensive Look at the Roster & Every Storyline Going Into The Season, The Lundqvist Era and How His Role Has Changed, The Draft vs The Playoffs, The Rebuild, Free Agents vs Youth, Ranger Fans vs Patience, No Move Clauses, Potential Trades, Sather Must Go ASAP, What It Takes To Win The Cup & More on the Current State of NYR
BCBS For 8/27: An In-Depth “Play The Man” by Brad Park & Stan Fischler Book Review, Park vs Orr, Looking at the 1970-1971 New York Rangers, The Latest News/Notes/Opinions on the Current Rangers & Thoughts On The Upcoming Season, America Loses John McCain, Rangerstown Loses Tim Malone & More
The New York Rangers Delorean Blog Chapter X: Wayne Gretzky’s Final Game. NYR Ends A Depressing Season With a Passing of the Torch Moment, What Could’ve Been w/Messier & 99, Barrasso vs Richter, Jagr Stuns, Captain Brian Leetch, The NHL on FOX, The John MacLean Situation, The nWo, TLC, Bill Clinton, The Matrix & Much More From April 18th, 1999!
BCBS For 8/12: “The Summer Classic” Game Review! Team Henke vs Team Zucca, Current & Ex-Rangers Raise A Ton of Dough For Charity, Feelings About The 2018-2019 Rangers, Raanta vs Lundqvist, The All-American Ryan McDonagh, Zucc’s Best Friends, The Hank Era of Rangers & Much More From Norway!
BCBS For 8/6: “Ranger Fever” By Marv Albert & Stan Fischler Book Review, The Optimism of 1973, The Marv Albert Scandal & Today’s PC World, Who Should Be The Next Captain of the Rangers, Lundqvist/Zuccarello’s Monster Charity Game & An Idea For It, Spoonman Remains Blue and More NYR News/Notes/Opinions
BCBS 7/31: The Gump Worsley Blog! “They Call Me Gump” Book Review, Gump’s Place on the Mount Rushmore of NYR Goalies, Gump Quotes & More! Plus: Detailed Thoughts On Brady Skjei & Kevin Hayes Returning to the NY Rangers, Rod Gilbert Bashing, Tim Moriarity & Much More
The New York Rangers “Rink of Honor”: Looking At 90+ Different Men Who Represented The Rangers with Pride & Valor
The Real Rafters of Madison Square Garden Through the Eyes of a Rangers Fan
Gilles Villemure’s “Tales from the Rangers Locker Room” Book Review: A Former Vezina Winner Recounts The Emile Francis Era of Rangers with a Symposium Feel, NYR Rink of Honor, Rafters of MSG & More Rangers History From the Early 1970’s
BCBS 7/20: Frank Boucher “When The Rangers Were Young” Book Review & All The Latest News/Opinions on the Current State of NYR. The “Lose For Hughes” Debate, One Trade NYR Should Look Into, Quinn’s Coaching Staff, Hank’s Attitude, The “Controversial” McLeod Re-Signing, Smith, Quick, Lettieri, The Russians, Shatty, Chart Hockey & Much More
The Mike Richter vs Henrik Lundqvist Debate: An In-Depth Look At Who Is Truly The Greatest Goalie in the History of the New York Rangers, Looking At Every Starting Goalie in the 91+ Year History of NYR & Much More Richter vs Lundqvist Talk
When you look at Eddie Giacomin, without question, he was one of the most beloved Rangers of all-time. Even today, whether it’s revisionist history or because the other great Ranger goalies before Giacomin are all deceased, thus not having a voice, Giacomin is widely considered the third greatest goalie in the history of the Rangers. As alluded to above, if you check out my Richter vs Lundqvist blog, I’m more inclined to think that Kerr, Rayner and Worsley were all better than Giacomin. However, as also mentioned in that blog, it’s nearly impossible to compare eras and trying to decide who was better is just fun bar room debate.
That said, the reason I value Kerr, Rayner and Worsley so much is because Giacomin, who won the Vezina only once in his career, had to share the honor with Gilles Villemure, as the two split the season. In comparison, Kerr won the Vezina (by himself) and the Stanley Cup in 1940. Rayner, who had some of the worst teams in Rangers history, was able to get the Rangers to a Stanley Cup in 1950 and won the Hart Trophy that season. Worsley, who may have had teams even worse than Rayner had in front of him, was one of the greatest goalies in the league and once put into a winning situation, won four Stanley Cups and two Vezinas in Montreal. And to be fair, one must wonder the hardware Giacomin would’ve had on his mantle, had he played with Montreal.
If you’ve read my past history blogs on the Rangers, and again, check the archives, the Rangers had a woeful period of time during and after World War II. It took over 20 years for the team to become a perennial playoff team again. Sure, they had the one run in 1950, but that was because Rayner had a season for the ages. However, ever since the Kerr retirement, it wouldn’t be until the 1966-1967 season, Giacomin’s first full season as a Ranger (his second with the team, as he was sent to Baltimore during his rookie year) that the Rangers were a season in and season out, playoff staple.
Of course, it also must be mentioned that the Rangers would usher in new talent in these years, the Emile Francis years, with players such as Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, Brad Park, Walt Tkaczuk and others. The Rangers, also during this time, would flesh out the roster with grinders such as Peter Stemkowski, Teddy Irvine, Tim Horton, and yes, even Glen Sather.
In other words, Giacomin had the best Ranger teams in front of him since the 1939-1940 Rangers. Sadly, unlike his peers and contemporaries of his time, such as Worsley (MTL), Terry Sawchuck (TOR), Johnny Bower (TOR), Gerry Cheevers (BOS), Ken Dryden (MTL), Bernie Parent (PHI), Glenn Hall (CHI) or Tony Esposito (MTL), Giacomin would never win the Stanley Cup.
You may be thinking that I’m downplaying Eddie Giacomin a bit here, but that is not my goal. My aim is to show you that Giacomin was so beloved, that names like Kerr, Rayner and Worsley are now forgotten about. You never hear the Rangers talk about those guys, just like how the Rangers thumb their nose and give the middle finger to the families of Frank Boucher and the Cook brothers.
The Rangers, rich in history, choose to select who to honor and who to discard like a used piece of chewing gum. Even now, the Rangers will be honoring Vic Hadfield this upcoming season, while the Rangers continue to snub players and men who meant more to his franchise than Hadfield. I guess that’s to be expected from a team that’s been mired in mediocrity for most of their existence. It’s mind boggling how how the franchise ignores some of the greatest men to proudly wear the diagonal Rangers letters across their chest.
And if you’re not a regular reader of these blogs, yes, I tend to go on tangents from time-to-time. Retire Frank Boucher’s #7 already!
Anyhoo, while the 1970’s and Giacomin’s prime are nearly 50 years old, at that time, the 1970’s were considered a “modern” period of hockey. The Great Expansion of 1967 was the first step in the growth of the NHL. The advent of the WHA, which bolstered player salaries, was a major step for players, in their never-ending quest for better treatment from their owners. The NHL season expanded. Players were now able to become full-time hockey players and no longer had to worry about a summer job. With television slowly replacing radio, fans who couldn’t go to games could now put faces to the names of the players. The NHL and the world was changing.
With communication, travel and the media working better and more efficiently than ever before, Eddie Giacomin would become the face of the Rangers. As his career moved along, he became the heart and soul of the Rangers. Unlike his predecessors, in Kerr, Rayner and Worsley, Giacomin’s face and games were made more available. By the time Giacomin was eventually picked up by the Detroit Red Wings, one could make the argument that Giacomin was the most beloved Ranger in Rangers history.
While I personally feel that Giacomin may be overrated when compared to past Ranger goalies and to the contemporaries he played against, one can not deny that Giacomin was one of the biggest fan favorites in the game. Sure it wasn’t always like that, as I’ll get to below, but for the bulk of Giacomin’s 10+ year run on Broadway, Giacomin was beloved and respected. He was the player men wanted to be and the player women wanted to be with. On any given night, the chant of “EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!” would reverberate all over the place, under the iconic ceiling of Madison Square Garden.
To this day, Eddie Giacomin was my mother’s favorite Ranger. She isn’t alone. If you lived through this period, while you could say other goalies around the league were better (Esposito, Hall, Worsley, Parent, Dryden, etc) and you could argue that Giacomin’s best seasons came when Gilles Villemure was there to shoulder the load, one can not deny the love affair Ranger fans had with Giacomin.
What makes Giacomin an even more interesting subject today, is if you compare his career to Henrik Lundqvist. While Lundqvist has his detractors and people who want him traded, (yours truly included) there is no denying that Lundqvist has a loyal army of fans who are willing to overlook all his faults. This is also an era where there is a salary cap, something that didn’t exist in Giacomin’s day.
When the Rangers gave up on Giacomin and let the Red Wings claim Giacomin off of waivers for free, Giacomin was 36 years old. The Rangers would essentially give up and do a mini-rebuild, as they shipped off all their major players who just couldn’t win the Cup, like Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, Villemure, Giacomin, etc. Fast-forward to today, and the Rangers have done that with Stepan, Brassard, McDonagh, Girardi, Nash and others. Will Lundqvist be next? After all, he’s 36 years old, the same age Giacomin was in 1975, when the Rangers moved on from Giacomin.
Again, I’m on another tangent here, but when the Rangers decided to shake up their team and move on from their perennial playoff stalwarts who just couldn’t win the Cup, it took the Rangers 3+ seasons to get to a Stanley Cup Final. Sure, those Rangers didn’t win the Cup either, but after overhauling their roster completely, the Rangers needed the length of a presidential term to get back to a SCF. Just food for thought, with today’s team.
So oh yeah, this was supposed to be a book review blog!
I talked about this in the Brad Park book that I reviewed, “Play the Man” and the same applies here – it’s too bad that players of today don’t write books like the ones that came out in the 1970’s. Unlike most books that I’ve reviewed here, “Eddie: A Goalie’s Story”, isn’t an autobiography. Hugh Delano, a Hall of Fame reporter, who has since passed, wrote this biography on Eddie Giacomin. However, it reads somewhat like an autobiography, as Giacomin approved this book and worked with Delano on the book. Everything in this book is written through the eyes of Giacomin. For comparison, this would be like Larry Brooks writing a biography of Lundqvist today. A Hall of Fame writer covering a future Hall of Fame player.
What I appreciate about this book, and other books from this era, is that you’re getting into the mind of the player at that time, at the height of his career, rather than getting a reflection of what happened. Instead of phrases like “back in my day” or “when hockey was hockey”, which is akin to “I had to walk 6786968 miles to school in the freezing snow”, you’re getting the player in the now. In this PC world and in a sports world where you don’t want to give bulletin board material to the opposition, you just don’t see these types of books today.
In “Eddie”, the book covers Giacomin’s early life, his family life and his entire Ranger career. The book’s epilogue covers Eddie’s move to Detroit. With the book being published in 1976, Eddie’s Detroit years aren’t covered. However, for Ranger fans, this is a perfect book, even today, to get everything you ever wanted to know about Eddie Giacomin.
As you may know if you’re a regular reader of this blog, I read many Ranger books, watch a ton of interviews and consume a lot of Ranger related media. Several stories in recent times, talk about Eddie Giacomin being hard to work with, in terms of getting him to appear at events. I’ve covered this before. Several books and interviews have talked about Eddie Giacomin always wanting a high fee to appear at Ranger gatherings, whether it was the 1994 Cup Banner presentation or the Rangerstown Hockey House, which was set up next to MSG during recent seasons.
When I finished reading “Eddie”, even though Eddie’s move to Detroit is now 43 years old, you understand why Giacomin felt betrayed and hurt by the Rangers. I get the sense that part of him, to this day, isn’t happy with what happened.
While Giacomin always respected then-Rangers GM, Emile Francis, Giacomin felt like he got a knife in his back, even if Giacomin understood it was only business. What made it truly hurt, was that Giacomin, once acquired for 4 NHL players, had now become a waiver wire pick up. Making matters worse, he wasn’t sent to a playoff contending team. He was sent to the Red Wings, smack in the middle of their “Dead Wing” era. In other words, I don’t blame Eddie for wanting some cash from a team that he thought treated him like yesterday’s newspaper.
After all, if putting Eddie on the waiver wire was “just business” (which I understand), then I don’t blame Giacomin for wanting big paydays to appear on behalf of the Rangers. It’s “just business.”
There were many things in this book that I didn’t know, that perhaps a fan from Eddie’s era would know. For instance, I wasn’t aware of Rollie Giacomin, Eddie’s brother, and the impact he had on Eddie’s career. I also wasn’t aware that Giacomin was originally property of the Red Wings, who at the time, thought Giacomin would never make it. In fact, Giacomin had to toil in “Midnight Leagues”, the equivalent of beer leagues of today, just to lose the claim the Red Wings had on him.
A major thing that I remembered hearing about, but didn’t realize the severity of what happened, was the fire at the Giacomin house hold, a fire that burnt up Giacomin severely. He was told he would never play sports again, but when he got an invitation from the Providence Reds, then of the AHL, Giacomin bled and froze his way on to the team, unbeknownst to management and his teammates. What a different world. Today, if a fire broke out and a player received major burns, it would be headline news.
This book does a great job of recapping Giacomin’s formative years, both at home and on the ice. The big break for Giacomin would come after a four game stint with the Washington Presidents. Giacomin would parlay his strong performances in Washington into a job with the Providence Reds. Giacomin, who would remain in Providence for the better part of five years, had some terrible teams in front of him. Fortunately, scout Johnny Gagnon took interest in Giacomin and sold the idea of Giacomin as a Ranger to Emile Francis. Francis, a former goalie himself, was immediately impressed with Giacomin.
What helped Giacomin’s dream of making it to the NHL was where the Rangers were at in 1965. Worsley had already moved on to Montreal. Francis thought the acquisition of another future Hall of Famer, in Jacques Plante, would help Giacomin’s development. Francis knew he had to find a goalie for the future, and Giacomin was that guy. Francis would give up a lot to get Giacomin, but Plante somewhat screwed Francis over, when he announced he was going to retire. Francis would have to scramble to find veteran help and with all the moves, weakened the team in front of his goaltenders. This would lead to a hellacious rookie season for Giacomin.
The book covers Eddie’s Ranger years in-depth. While the Rangers and fans romanticize about Giacomin today, it wasn’t always a lovey-dovey relationship. Today, fans get shushed and sometimes asked to leave if they are cheering too loud for the Rangers. Back then, fans threw anything they could get their hands on – batteries, fruit, beer bottles, whatever; and threw it at the ice to voice their displeasure. Giacomin, who came to the Rangers as a very hyped rookie, had a rough go of it. Despite the team in front of him being blah, Eddie took the brunt of it. It got so bad, that Emile Francis sent Eddie down to Baltimore, just so Eddie wouldn’t be ruined psychologically.
Eddie would return to the Rangers as the full-time starter the season after, in the 1966-1967 season. From there, the Rangers would become a playoff team for the rest of Giacomin’s run as a starter.
During Eddie’s run as starter, he would log a ton of games, playing 95% of the minutes available. The Rangers would then struggle in the playoffs and wouldn’t make it out of the first round. It was thought that Eddie was too tired. In reality, the Rangers just weren’t that good enough to get out of the first round. In fact, most of their playoff losses came to the team that would go on to win the Stanley Cup, whether it was to Montreal, Boston or Philadelphia. The Rangers also struggled with Chicago, where it was thought that Bobby Hull just owned Eddie Giacomin.
It wasn’t until Gilles Villemure came around, that the Rangers became serious playoff contenders. As a direct result, Giacomin’s minutes/Games Played dropped immensely. The one goalie system, which worked in the Original Six Era, just simply couldn’t work in the Expansion Era, as the schedule increased and travel became a major issue.
With Villemure on the roster, the duo teamed up to win the Vezina in the 1970-1971 season. The Rangers had a shot at the Cup that year, but would lose in 7 games, in the semifinal, to the Chicago Blackhawks. It was a crushing defeat, as this was a series the Rangers should’ve won.
The following season, the 1971-1972 season, the Rangers beat two of their hardest outs, in the Canadiens and Blackhawks, to reach the Stanley Cup Final. However, the Boston machine was too strong and the Rangers couldn’t win the Cup. However, the Rangers did show promise and heading into the 1972-1973 season, expectations were high. In fact, many predicted the Rangers to finally have their turn with their Cup. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.
In the 1973 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Rangers knocked off the previous year Cup Champs, the Boston Bruins, disposing them in 5 games. However, the Rangers, who seemed to have got the Chicago monkey off their back in the playoffs the season prior, would go down in five games to the Blackhawks. The wind was out of the sails for the Rangers. They didn’t know it then, but the 1972 playoffs was the closest they were ever going to get in the Francis Era. If 1972 felt bittersweet, 1973 was crushing. For a modern day reference, the 1972 Rangers were like the 2014 Rangers and the 1973 Rangers were like the 2015 Rangers.
In the 1974 playoffs, the Rangers would put down mighty Montreal in the first round, finishing them in six games. However, the Rangers would then lose in the second round, to the Philadelphia Flyers, in seven games. This is where all the doubt set in and this is when people openly talked about the Rangers not having the drive, the guts or the ability to ever win a Stanley Cup. This is when around the league, the Rangers were called the “FAT CAT” Rangers, as the team had talent, but they seemed content with their money, rather than winning. While Giacomin didn’t get much of the blame, he took it personally. (Later on, Phil Esposito would blame Rod Gilbert for choosing partying over winning.)
With the playoffs now expanded to four rounds in 1975, the Rangers suffered their most embarrassing loss yet – a 2-1 series defeat to the expansion New York Islanders. It was this loss that changed everything.
In the book, while the Rangers got a major black mark in their history, Eddie Giacomin actually went on the Islanders team bus after the game to congratulate them. The book tries to sell Giacomin as classy, but to me, as a Rangers fan, I was disgusted to hear this.
Speaking of the book, before getting to the conclusion of this book review, let me share you with a few pages from the book.
This book was published in 1976, so it captured Eddie’s raw feelings on the trade. He would go on to play three more seasons with Detroit. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/r5Xe64sSEp
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Inflation has really screwed up pricing at MSG, huh? #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/9VNFQxoDAO
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
A lot of Hall of Famers chimed in for this book. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/GHGWFUcR97
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
The book starts off with testimonials from the head honchos of MSG. Keep in mind, this book was published less than a year after the trade. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/2ivQfxzubq
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Bobby Hull skates over Eddie’s hand, but Eddie doesn’t want to come out. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/YR3dLVyEAy
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
This book does a great job of covering how hard goaltending was and the pressure involved. Remember, this is an era with limited masks and goalie interference was nothing like the calls of today. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/3khZ8biypW
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Giacomin’s roots. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/ezAPSKVUTU
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Giacomin meets Sawchuk and Howe for the first time #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/S4N056IYgN
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
After being told he wasn’t good enough by Detroit, Eddie played in midnight (beer) leagues until Detroit’s claim on him expired. Different times then. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/yFUioUukFa
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Today, Giacomin has a ton of grandchildren. He would also later separate from his wife. pic.twitter.com/5uRNLCtCqo
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Eddie’s brother Rollie was a huge positive influence on Eddie & helped get him his big break. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/pqrG4vLodj
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Giacomin went 4-0 in Washington and it would lead to bigger and better things #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/LWPqKpbcUg
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
An agonizing fire #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/yeqApVqKn4
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Giacomin defied doctor orders and would go on to play sports again. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/a8Cfw0LwyN
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Eddie kept his burns to himself #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/C6YpPBwpRm
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Average salary in 1976 was $75k and older players thought those guys were overpaid. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/ejv4Q8ADkL
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
After playing the last game of the season for the AHL Reds, Giacomin finally got a full time call up. #Giacomin #EddieBook pic.twitter.com/8iElCnWy6D
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Eddie has a son and interest from the Rangers #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/qDok95edxw
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Emile Francis deserves his name in the rafters of MSG #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/yZkCdoXSnQ
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
It’s great the Rangers got Giacomin, but how about the four Rangers who had to go to the AHL? #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/60diw38ay9
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Another book where Plante is called out. Gump didn’t care for Plante either. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/xxkMc16TbH
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Red Sullivan hones Eddie’s strength #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/T0Ga0L9iEd
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Gump Worsley knew all about the dark ages of Rangers #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/swMPJ7R0Qr
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
The careful drinker line is a great one #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/uavkTXA37K
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Francis always stuck with Eddie #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/BE3HObyQ8e
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Imagine if they threw garbage at Lundswiss? #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/6OFc4sxmKm
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Even @StanFischler criticized the sophomore Giacomin #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/h6EehG797s
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Eddie on the mask #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/Fp9SMQNgna
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
It’s the dream of many goalies to score a goal #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/3pP9NCpSOq
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Worsley and Giacomin always had a good relationship, even if there was a brawl going on. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/pEnTdPSxwU
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Classic pics through today’s eyes #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/TpTZPn9aU0
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Time is such a funny thing. Giacomin’s daughter is now 49 years old. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/muJNNBWlxf
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
If the Rangers didn’t finish at the bottom of the league, they usually found themselves losing a playoff series to the eventual Cup champions. Of note “Hairy Fairy” is a hell of an insult. Imagine saying that to a goalie that cares about his hair today? #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/pLIsrqgDuV
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Ranger fans used to throw all types of shit on ice. Today you’re asked to leave if you’re too loud cheering. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/WXFFyte4qw
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
This book is enjoyable but it feels like every other paragraph tells you about Giacomin’s work load and how nothing was ever his fault. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/uXcUADJnd8
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
I love this story, Francis kept pulling Giacomin for an extra attacker for the total goals tiebreaker #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/OKQboUAvkn
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
I covered Villemure in-depth on a previous blog. Of course Villemure and Eddi would win a Vezina together. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/YrtBH2TJFQ
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
CTE wasn’t a thing in 1972 #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/2XC0pZXec0
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
The peak of the Francis era #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/UHbR4hzo6q
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Poor @rodgilbert7 , Rangers probably should’ve won it in 1972. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/NrApJ5t9pZ
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
New coach in town #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/rMzUuxjVwj
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
The best part about this page is the part about the Knicks being winners. Seems like an impossible scenario in these times and the Knicks haven’t won shit since. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/dhGJAdCSau
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Another year in the playoffs and another loss to the eventual Cup champs #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/fq0qLVHVg6
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Sanderson on the Rangers #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/s0Y6FlqYwS
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Beginning of the end for Eddie #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/NP3lbBbUCY
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Most embarrassing loss yet but for some reason Eddie wished the Islanders well. #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/E36dTLmbmO
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Q&A chapter #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/j9Eo4dPiJ7
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
Even then people were furious with the rangers futility #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/dvKkFhjqKC
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
The end of the book covers the trade to Detroit and the comeback game against the Rangers #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/rOFjnajz5e
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
The end #Giacomin #EddieBook #NYR pic.twitter.com/JkpaVSEuKG
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 7, 2018
The book, after recapping Giacomin and the Rangers, talks about Giacomin’s injuries, the up and coming John Davidson and after a Question & Answer chapter, closes with an epilogue talking about Giacomin going to Detroit and the game at MSG with Giacomin in net – for the Detroit Red Wings.
For those who weren’t alive at the time, to help illustrate how much Giacomin meant to Ranger fans during his playing days, check out this quick video from the MSG Networks:
I really enjoyed this book, even if it felt the author, Hugh Delano, always had to mention or placed blame on bad Ranger teams or poor defense, for every goal Giacomin ever allowed as a Ranger. While Delano would mention Giacomin’s struggles with long distance shots, for the most part, Delano rarely faulted Giacomin for any goal allowed. That’s probably why Giacomin gave him his blessing on this book!
Delano put blame on the Ranger teams, and none of the blame on Giacomin, for the Rangers failure to win a Cup during Giacomin’s tenure in net. I’m not so sure about that, because those Rangers had a good shot to win a Cup in either the 1971, 1972 or 1973 playoffs, but for whatever reason, it just never happened.
Without question, Giacomin is/was deserving of the Hall of Fame. In fact, it would be Hugh Delano who inducted Giacomin in 1987. Like many great Rangers, Giacomin is just another name on a huge list, that would never drink from the Holy Grail.
“Eddie: A Goalie’s Story” is a must-read for any Ranger fan, as it gives you an inside look at the Rangers in the late 60’s through the mid 70’s. Giacomin is one of the few people the Rangers acknowledge to this day, so this book is even more important for Ranger fans. Fans who lived with Giacomin will love this book and fans looking to learn their Rangers history will enjoy it as well.
There are 29 of these books left on Amazon right now, which is where I got the book for $6.00. To buy this book, visit Amazon.com or go to https://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Hugh-Delano/dp/0689107153 directly.
All in all, at under 300 pages, “Eddie: A Goalie’s Story” is time well spent.
We are less than a week out from the NHL preseason kicking off. My current work schedule is fluctuating, meaning that one week I’m on day shift, the next week I’m on the night shift. I am hoping for some regularity during the NHL season, but unfortunately, the Rangers do not pay my bills.
In other words, if someone is offering me money, I’m taking it. However, I’m crossing my fingers for the day shift during the NHL season, so I can do my usual regular season game recaps. The only reason I mention this, is because I don’t want you thinking I’m not doing my usual recaps because the team is going to be ca-ca.
Like previous seasons, I don’t plan on really covering the preseason games individually, as I prefer doing a weekly round-up. I mean, it’s preseason, which is the time for error and the time to try new things. Anyone who analyzes every preseason game must live in a basement.
If you haven’t already, check out my 2018-2019 New York Rangers season preview blog, as I have all my thoughts on the upcoming season in there.
As far as the Traverse tournament, I have not watched the games in full, but have seen highlights. These games have a little bit more riding on them than a preseason game, as prospects are fighting to boost the value of their name, but as I said, I haven’t seen the games in full to comment. Furthermore, the games are being broadcasted under a one camera shot with no replay, so without being there, it’s hard to get a full scope of everything, as you’re not privy to the away from the puck plays.
That about wraps up this week’s blog. Thanks for reading and stay tuned next week for my 2018-2019 NHL Season Preview Blog!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on twitter
