Lester Patrick had been signed by Colonel John Hammond, the director of Madison Square Garden to coach and manage the New York Rangers for their NHL debut on November 16, 1926.

The Rangers team had been assembled by Conn Smythe, who Colonel Hammond had hired first to coach and manage the team in New York, but when Lester Patrick became available with the collapsed of the Western Hockey League after the 1925-26 season, he went after Patrick, signing him as the new coach and manager and then fired Smythe (long story).

The Rangers would win their 1st game vs Montreal Maroons 1–0 and then placed first in the new American Division and qualified for the NHL playoffs, losing to the Boston Bruins in the playoff semi-final on April 4th.

Patrick played 1 regular season game for the Rangers, late in the NHL regular season on March 20, 1927, serving as a substitute defenceman vs the New York Americans at Madison Square Garden. He received a 2 minute minor penalty in the 2nd period, as the Rangers won 2-1.

Lester Patrick is also very famous for playing in just 1 other NHL game, as a substitute goalie during the 1928 Stanley Cup finals vs Montreal Maroons at The Forum. In game 2 of the finals, Rangers goalie Lorne Chabot had been hit near his eye by a puck and couldn't play. The Maroons would not allow 2 other goalies which were watching the game in the stands, to step in as a substitute, so Lester put on Chabot's goalie equipment and entered the game with 8 minutes remaining in the second period and played the final 35:05 of the game. Maroons Nels Stewart scored on Patrick late in the 3rd period to tie the game and send it to overtime, where Frank Boucher would win it for the Rangers at 7:05. Patrick made 17 saves during the game. New York went on to win the 1928 Stanley Cup, their 1st in franchise history, and Lester Patrick still holds the NHL record for the oldest player at 44 years, 99 days old, to play in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Patrick won the Stanley Cup six times as a player, coach and manager.

NOTE
It seems Lester is wearing Hockey socks from the Vancouver Maroons......they are not a Rangers design.