Rod Gilbert, Emile Francis, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Ed Giacomin . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The New York Rangers went outside the organization for a GM for the first time
What happened on January 7 in the history of the New York Rangers
On this date in 1976, the New York Rangers fired General Manager Emile Francis and Coach Ron Stewart, installing John Ferguson as the new coach and GM. It was the first time the Rangers had gone outside the organization and hired someone for those jobs who had absolutely no history with the franchise.