As a season ticket holder through the heart of the Francis era, his death hits home. When he took over as GM and coach the Rangers were a mess and had been for years. There were two tiers of teams in the Original Six in the early 1960s: the Habs, Leafs, Wings, and Hawks. And then, there were the Rangers and Bruins. Brutally bad, terrible defensively, you name it...they were bad at it. Some of the pieces were already in place when he took over, but his moves put us over the hump. The Ranger teams of that era were some of the best in Ranger history...even though they didn't win the Cup. The Garden was a special place to be in the early 70s. You all know the names: Gilbert, Ratelle, Hadfield, Howell, Park, Giacomin, Vickers, Tkaczuk, Fairbairn, Villemure (I know I'm leaving some out).
Looking at photos of him behind the bench in that era is strange. Usually, he was the only coach back there, unlike today when it sometimes seems there are more coaches, medical and equipment managers than there are players. Francis handled everything: defensive changes, line changes, everything.
He eventually came to realize that being a coach as well as GM was two herculean a task and he was always trying to replace himself as coach: Bernie Geoffrion, Larry Popien, Ron Stewart. But all failed and he always was forced to take over again.
The Ranger teams of the Francis era followed a classic bell curve. Slow development, reaching a peak, and then, deteriorating as age took its toll. Eventually he was replaced, as even the most successful are.
The Cup winning team of 94 is my all time favorite team. I loved the black and blue Rangers of the Torts era. The current team, for all it foibles, seems to find ways to win that are endearing. The Lundqvist era certainly ranks as one wonderful time even though, again, there wasn't a Cup. But, if you were a young, hardcore fan during the Francis era, you hold the Francis era teams special. And that includes its coach and GM.