Rayner, nicknamed "Bonnie Prince Charlie," signs as a free agent with the New York Americans and makes his NHL debut as a 20-year-old in 1940-41, going 2-7 with three ties. He plays one more season with the Americans before the team folds. After three years in the Royal Canadian Navy, he signs as a free agent with the Rangers and joins them for the 1945-46 season. His best season comes in 1949-50, when he goes 28-30 with 11 ties, wins the
Hart Trophy
as the NHL's most valuable player and helps the Rangers finish fourth and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Rayner limits the Montreal Canadiens to seven goals during New York's five-game upset victory in the NHL Semifinals. Though New York has no home games in the Stanley Cup Final against the first-place Detroit Red Wings because the circus has priority at Madison Square Garden, his performance helps them get to Game 7 before they lose in double overtime on a goal by
Pete Babando
.
A knee injury costs Rayner the starting job in 1952-53, which turns out to be his last NHL season. He is voted into the Hall in 1973 despite a career record of 138-207 with 78 ties and never finishing with a winning record in any of his 10 NHL seasons.
MORE MOMENTS
1989:Gord Stellick resigns as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs after they finish last in his one season on the job. Stellick, a member of the organization since age 17, becomes the youngest GM in NHL history at the time when he's hired in April 1988 at age 30.
2008:Drew Doughty, the second player taken in the 2008 NHL Draft, agrees to a contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Doughty leads all NHL rookies in 2008-09 with an average ice time of 23:49 and finishes with 27 points (six goals, 21 assists). He becomes one of the NHL's best defensemen, is instrumental in the Kings' Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014 and wins the
Norris Trophy
in 2016.
