In 1993-94, it was Mike Richter’s heroics between the pipes that helped the New York Rangers to their first Stanley Cup victory since 1939-40. Back in 1940, it was a lesser known, but still great, goaltender that led the way.
Dave Kerr played in the NHL from 1930-31 to 1940-41 with the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and the Rangers. His stay with the Americans consisted of just one game during the 1931-32 season. The reliable goalie played in each of his team’s games in six different seasons. He missed games with the Rangers in his final six years and played in every game over his final five seasons in the National Hockey League.
In 1936-37, the Rangers came close to a Cup victory. New York finished the regular season one point below .500 and placed third in the American Division, holding onto the final playoff spot. However, they took out the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Maroons to earn a battle with the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup final series. New York took Detroit to the max in the five games series but the Red Wings finally emerged victorious with back to back shutouts in games four and five. As was typical for the Rangers in springtime, the circus took over Madison Square Garden, meaning all but the first game of the series were played at Detroit’s Olympia.
Dave led the NHL in shutouts in 1937-38 with eight. He led the league with the same number in 1939-40. His 1.54 goals against average earned him the Vezina Trophy in 1939-40 and he was selected to the First All-Star Team.
The Rangers finished the 1939-40 season second overall in the seven team league, three points behind first place Boston. In a baffling playoff format, the top two teams squared off in the quarter-finals. Kerr and the Rangers ousted the Bruins in six games, earning a bye directly to the Stanley Cup finals.
The 1940 final series went six games. New York got to play two at home before the circus sent them packing for Maple Leaf Gardens to finish out the series. The Rangers won in six games. It would be over 50 years before the team would hoist the Stanley Cup again.
The Dave Kerr rookie card can be found in the 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee V304B set as number 59. There are three versions of the card with red, yellow or blue background on the front of the card. The card is valued at $200. The complete set of 24 cards (numbered 49-72, and really an extension of V304A) is valued at $5,000. The most valuable card in the set belongs to Aurel Joliet of the Canadiens ($800). V304B is also home to the rookie cards of early NHL greats Ebby Goodfellow of the Detroit Red Wings and Baldy Northcott of the Montreal Maroons.