| New York Rangers | |
|---|---|
 2025–26 New York Rangers season | |
 | |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Metropolitan |
| Founded | 1926 |
| History | New York Rangers 1926–present |
| Home arena | Madison Square Garden |
| City | New York, New York |
 | |
| Team colors | Royal blue, red, white[1][2] |
| Media | MSG Network MSG Sportsnet 880 ESPN New York |
| Owner(s) | Madison Square Garden Sports (James L. Dolan, chairman) |
| General manager | Chris Drury |
| Head coach | Mike Sullivan |
| Captain | J. T. Miller |
| Minor league affiliates | Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Bloomington Bison (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 4 (1927–28,1932–33,1939–40,1993–94) |
| Conference championships | 2 (1993–94,2013–14) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 4 (1991–92,1993–94,2014–15,2023–24) |
| Division championships | 8 (1926–27,1931–32,1989–90,1991–92,1993–94,2011–12,2014–15,2023–24) |
| Official website | nhl |
TheNew York Rangers are a professionalice hockey team based inNew York City. The Rangers compete in theNational Hockey League (NHL) as a member of theMetropolitan Division in theEastern Conference. The team plays its home games atMadison Square Garden, an arena they share with theNew York Knicks of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). They are one of three NHL franchises located in theNew York metropolitan area; the others being theNew Jersey Devils andNew York Islanders.
Founded in 1926 byTex Rickard, the Rangers are one of theOriginal Six teams that competed in the NHL before its1967 expansion, along with theBoston Bruins,Chicago Blackhawks,Detroit Red Wings,Montreal Canadiens andToronto Maple Leafs. The team attained success early on under the guidance ofLester Patrick, who coached a team containingFrank Boucher,Murray Murdoch, andBun andBill Cook to win theStanley Cup in only their second season.[3] In 1928, they became the first NHL franchise in the United States to win the trophy, and are still the fastest true expansion team in NHL history to do so. The team won two more Stanley Cups in 1933 and 1940.
Following this initial grace period, the franchise struggled between the 1940s and 1960s, where playoff appearances and successes were infrequent. The team enjoyed a mini-renaissance in the 1970s, where they made theStanley Cup Final twice, losing to the Bruins in1972 and the Canadiens in1979. The Rangers subsequently embraced a rebuild for much of the 1980s and early 1990s, which eventually paid dividends in1994, where the team, led byMark Messier,Brian Leetch,Adam Graves, andMike Richter, captured their fourth Stanley Cup.
The team was unable to duplicate that success in the years that followed, and entered into another period of mediocrity, enduring a franchise-record seven-year postseason drought from 1998 to 2005. After the arrival of goaltenderHenrik Lundqvist in 2006, the Rangers thrived, missing the playoffs just once between then and 2017. The Rangers returned to the Stanley Cup Final in2014, falling to theLos Angeles Kings in five games. Between 2012 and 2024, they reached the Eastern Conference finals five times.
George Lewis "Tex" Rickard, president ofMadison Square Garden, was awarded an NHL franchise for the1926–27 season to compete with theNew York Americans, who had begun play at the Garden the previous season.[4] The Americans' early success in their inaugural season exceeded expectations, leading Rickard to pursue a second team for the Garden despite promising the Americans that they were going to be the only ice hockey team to play there.[5] The team was originally incorporated under the name "New York Giants Professional Hockey Club" during a league meeting with NHL presidentFrank Calder on April 17, 1926, but during the meeting the name was then changed to "New York Rangers Hockey Club." The franchise's nickname is attributed to sports editor of theNew York Herald Tribune, George Haley, who referred to the new team as "Tex's Rangers" because of Rickard's decision to bring a new NHL team to New York.[6]
Rickard's franchise began play in the 1926–27 season. The first team crest played on the club's name with a rearing horse sketched in blue carrying a cowboy waving a hockey stick aloft, with the word "TEX'S" in a crescent at the top of the emblem with "RANGERS" below it.[7] Rickard rejected that design and management settled on a crest similar to the Americans, a "shield" shape with "NEW YORK" horizontally across the top of the shield and "RANGERS" written diagonally from the top left to bottom right. The diagonal positioning of "RANGERS" carried over to the front of the solid blue jerseys.[6] FutureToronto Maple Leafs ownerConn Smythe was hired to assemble the team. However, he had a falling-out with Rickard's associate,John S. Hammond, and was fired as manager-coach on the eve of the first season – he was paid a then-hefty $2,500 to leave. Smythe was replaced byPacific Coast Hockey Association co-founderLester Patrick.[8] The new team Smythe assembled turned out to be a winner. The Rangers won theAmerican Division title their first year but lost to theBoston Bruins in the playoffs.[4]
The team's early success led to players becoming minor celebrities and fixtures in New York City'sRoaring Twenties nightlife. It was during this time, playing at the Garden on 49th Street, blocks away fromTimes Square, that the Rangers obtained their nickname "The Broadway Blueshirts".[4] On December 13, 1929, the Rangers became the first team in the NHL to travel by plane when they hired theCurtiss-Wright Corporation to fly them toToronto for a game against the Maple Leafs, which they lost 7–6.[9]
In only theirsecond season, they won the1928 Stanley Cup, defeating theMontreal Maroons in five games.[10] One of the most memorable stories that emerged from the Cup Final series involved Patrick playing in goal at the age of 44. At the time, teams were not required to dress a backupgoaltender. When the Rangers' starting goaltender,Lorne Chabot, left a game with an eye injury, Maroons head coachEddie Gerard vetoed Patrick's original choice for an emergency replacement,Alex Connell of theOttawa Senators, who was in attendance. An angry Patrick lined up between the pipes for two periods in game two of the Stanley Cup Final, allowing one goal to Maroons centerNels Stewart.Frank Boucher scored the game-winning goal in overtime for New York.[11]
After a loss to the Bruins in the1929 Stanley Cup Final,[3] the Rangers, led by brothersBill andBun Cook on the right and left wings, respectively, and Frank Boucher at center, defeated the Maple Leafs in the1933 Stanley Cup Final to win their second Stanley Cup.[12] Lester Patrick stepped down as head coach and was replaced by Frank Boucher.[13]
In the1939–40 season, the Rangers finished the regular season in second place behind Boston. The two teams then met in the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins gained a 2–1 series lead on New York, but the Rangers recovered to win three straight games, defeating the first-place Bruins four games to two. The Rangers' first-round victory advanced them to the Stanley Cup Final, where the Rangers defeated theToronto Maple Leafs in six games.[14] Following theBrooklyn Americans fold in 1942, and the league reneging onRed Dutton's promise to have the Americans return, Dutton swore acurse on the Rangers.[15]
The Rangers collapsed by the mid-1940s, losing games by scores as lopsided as 15–0.[16] In1943–44, goaltenderKen McAuley led the league with 39 losses and 310 goals allowed in 50 games played; his 6.24 goals-against average that year remains the worst in NHL history by a goaltender playing at least 25 games in a season.[17] They missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons before earning the fourth and final playoff spot in1947–48, losing in the first round. In December, 1948, Boucher resigned as head coach remaining as general manager, giving control toLynn Patrick, the son of Lester Patrick.[18] In the1950 Stanley Cup Final, the Rangers were forced to play all of their games, including "home" games, in Toronto, while thecircus was held at the Garden. They lost to the Detroit Red Wings in overtime in the seventh game of the series.[15]
During this time, Red Wings ownerJames E. Norris became the largest stockholder in the Garden. However, he did not buy controlling interest in the arena, which would have violated the NHL's rule against one person owning more than one team. Nonetheless, he had enough support on the board to exercise de facto control.[19] The Rangers missed the playoffs 12 of the next 16 years within the remainder of theOriginal Six era. Boucher, who had been general manager of the squad, resigned citing depression over the team's inability to be a contender.[13] His successor,Muzz Patrick, the younger brother of Lynn Patrick, did not fare well either, resigning in 1964 following criticism about management's unwillingness to improve the team by spending money.Emile Francis took over as both coach and general manager.[20] After a five-year absence, the team made the playoffs, aided by goaltenderEddie Giacomin and 37-year-old formerMontreal Canadiens right wingBernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, who signed out of retirement in 1966.[21]
In 1968, the Rangers moved into thefourth version of Madison Square Garden.[22] During the 1969–70 season, the Rangers acquired veteran goaltenderTerry Sawchuk, playing his final season with New York.[23]
In1971–72, the Rangers reached the1972 Stanley Cup Final despite losing high-scoring centerJean Ratelle to injury during the last half of the regular season.[24] The strength of players such asBrad Park, Jean Ratelle,Vic Hadfield andRod Gilbert (the last three constructing the famed "GAG line", standing for "goal-a-game") carried them through the playoffs.[25] They defeated the defending-champion Canadiens in the first round and the Chicago Black Hawks in the second,[26][27] but lost to the Bruins in the Cup Final.[28]
The following season in1972–73, the team made the semifinals against the Black Hawks again, but lost in five games.[29] The Rangers' conference semifinals series against thePhiladelphia Flyers in the1974 playoffs, which they lost in seven games became the first Original Six club to lose a playoff series to a 1967 expansion team. This series was noted for a game seven fight betweenDale Rolfe of the Rangers andDave Schultz of the Flyers.[30] The Rangers' newrivals, theNew York Islanders, who entered the League in1972–73 after paying a territorial fee – $4 million – to the Rangers,[31] were their first-round opponents in the1975 playoffs. After splitting the first two games, the Islanders defeated the Rangers 11 seconds into overtime of the deciding game three.[32]
In a blockbuster trade with theBoston Bruins, the Rangers acquired Esposito andCarol Vadnais from the Bruins for Park, Ratelle andJoe Zanussi in1975–76.[33] On January 8, 1976,Emile Francis was fired after the team got to a bad start.[34]Ron Stewart who was coaching the team was also fired.[35]John Ferguson Sr. took over as both coach and general manager for the remainder of the season.[36] To assist in Ferguson's contention building, the team acquiredKen Hodge from Bruins in exchange forRick Middleton.[37] However, the team failed to make a playoff push and Ferguson was fired in 1978.[36] Madison Square Garden's new owner,Sonny Werblin, hiredFred Shero to take over as head coach and general manager.[36] In the1979 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers defeated the Islanders in the semifinals and advanced to the1979 Stanley Cup Final,[38] losing to the Canadiens.[39]
In four consecutive playoffs (1981–1984),[40] the Rangers were eliminated by the rival Islanders, who went on to win the Stanley Cup in1981,1982, and1983.[41]
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The Rangers stayed competitive through the 1980s and early 1990s, making the playoffs each year. In the1986 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers, behind the play of rookie goaltenderJohn Vanbiesbrouck, upended thePatrick Division-winning Flyers in five games followed by a six-game win over theWashington Capitals in the Patrick Division finals.[42][43] Montreal disposed of the Rangers in the Wales Conference finals behind a rookie goaltender of their own,Patrick Roy.[44] During the1986–87 season, the team acquired superstar centerMarcel Dionne after almost 12 years with theLos Angeles Kings.[45]
Frustration was at its peak when the1991–92 Rangers captured thePresidents' Trophy. They took a 2–1 series lead on the defending championPittsburgh Penguins and then faltered in three-straight (some observers note aRon Francis slapshot from outside the blue line that eluded goaltenderMike Richter as the series' turning point).[46][47] The following year, they missed the playoffs and head coachRoger Neilson was fired and replaced byRon Smith mid-season.[48] Smith was dismissed at the conclusion of the season.[49]
During this period, the Rangers were owned byGulf+Western, which was renamed to Paramount Communications in 1989.[50]
The1993–94 season was the Rangers' most successful in 54 years. With several transactions up to this point, the Rangers had acquired seven players who had been part of theEdmonton Oilers' Cup-winning teams: Oilers captain (and new Rangers captain)Mark Messier,Adam Graves,Kevin Lowe,Jeff Beukeboom,Esa Tikkanen,Craig MacTavish, andGlenn Anderson. Graves set a team record with 52 goals, breaking the prior record of 50 held byVic Hadfield.[51] The Rangers clinched the Presidents' Trophy by finishing with the best record in the NHL at 52–24–8, setting a franchise record with 112 points earned.[52] In the playoffs the Rangers made it past the first two rounds of the playoffs, sweeping the New York Islanders,[53] and then defeating the Washington Capitals in five games.[51] However, in the conference finals against the third-seededNew Jersey Devils, with the Rangers down 3–2 in the series and heading back to theMeadowlands for the sixth game, Messier guaranteed a win to the press. During the game he scored ahat trick in the third period to lead the Rangers to a 4–2 win, setting up a seventh game back at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers won game seven, 2–1, whenStephane Matteau scored a goal in double overtime, leading the team to the Cup Final for the first time since1979.[51] In the Final, the Rangers led the series 3–1, but the Canucks won the next two games to force a seventh game.[54] In the seventh game, the Rangers took a 2–0 first period lead, with Messier scoring later to put the Rangers up 3–1, the eventual Cup-winning goal they won 3–2.[55] DefencemanBrian Leetch became the first American-born player to win theConn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, whileAlexander Karpovtsev,Alexei Kovalev,Sergei Nemchinov andSergei Zubov became the first Russians to have their names engraved on the Cup.[56]
Despite coaching the Rangers to a regular season first-place finish and the Stanley Cup victory, head coach Mike Keenan left after a dispute with general managerNeil Smith.[57] Paramount Communications, the owners of the Rangers, were acquired by Viacom who then sold the team toITT Corporation andCablevision in August 1994.[58][59] During thelockout-shortened1994–95 season, the Rangers won their first-round series with theQuebec Nordiques, but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Flyers in four games with succeeding head coachColin Campbell.[60] Neil Smith orchestrated a deal that sent Sergei Zubov and centerPetr Nedved to Pittsburgh in exchange for defensemanUlf Samuelsson and left-wingerLuc Robitaille in the summer of 1995.[61] The Rangers defeated the Canadiens in six games in the1996 playoffs,[62] but lost their second-round series to the Penguins in five games.[63]
The Rangers then acquiredWayne Gretzky in 1996.[64] With Gretzky, the team went to theconference finals in 1997, where they lost 4–1 to the Flyers.[65] During the season, ITT sold their stake of the Rangers to Cablevision.[66] Mark Messier, a former Oiler teammate of Gretzky's, left in the summer of 1997 and the team failed in a bid to replace him withColorado Avalanche superstarJoe Sakic.[67] Robitaille was also traded during the summer forKevin Stevens.[68] The Rangers missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, finishing no higher than fourth in their division.[69] Gretzky retired at the end of the1998–99 season.[70]
In March 2000, Smith was fired along with head coachJohn Muckler, and that summer, Cablevision CEO and ownerJames Dolan hiredGlen Sather as generla manager.[71] By the end of the2000–01 season, the Rangers had acquired some veterans. Messier returned to New York,[72]Theoren Fleury joined the Rangers after spending most of his career with theCalgary Flames and Eric Lindros was traded to the Rangers by the Flyers.[73][74] The Rangers also acquiredPavel Bure late in2001–02 from theFlorida Panthers.[75] Approaching the2004–05 NHL lockout, they also acquiredAlexei Kovalev,[76]Jaromir Jagr,[77]Martin Rucinsky,[78] andBobby Holik.[79] However, none of the acquisitions helped them obtain a playoff spot. Towards the end of the2003–04 season, general manager Glen Sather traded away Brian Leetch,[80] Kovalev,[81] Rucinsky,[82] and Nedved.[83]
With the emergence of Swedish rookie goaltenderHenrik Lundqvist during the2005–06 season, the Rangers finished the season with a record of 44–26–12, their best record since 1993–94.[84] Jagr broke the Rangers' single-season points record with a first-period assist in a 5–1 win against the New York Islanders on March 29, 2006.[85] The assist gave him 110 points on the season, breakingJean Ratelle's record.[86] Less than two weeks later, on April 8, Jagr scored his 53rd goal of the season against the Boston Bruins, breaking the club record previously held by Adam Graves.[87] Two games prior, on April 4, the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3–2, in a shootout, to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since1996–97.[88] In the2006 conference quarterfinals, the Rangers faced off against the Devils and were defeated in a four-game sweep.[89] Jagr fell two points short of winning his sixthArt Ross Trophy as scoring champion in 2005–06, but did win his thirdPearson Award as the players' choice for the most outstanding player.[90]
In the2006–07 offseason, the Rangers signedTriple Gold Club winner and 12-time 30-goal scorerBrendan Shanahan to a one-year contract.[91] On October 5, 2006, Jagr was named the first team captain since Mark Messier's retirement.[92] On February 5, 2007, the Rangers acquired forwardSean Avery in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings.[93] The Rangers swept theAtlanta Thrashers in the first round of the2007 playoffs.[94] However, they were eliminated in the next round by theBuffalo Sabres.[95]
At the2007 NHL entry draft, the Rangers choseAlexei Cherepanov 17th overall, who had been ranked by theNHL Central Scouting Bureau as the number one European skater.[96] In the 2007 offseason, they signedScott Gomez to a seven-year contract, as well asChris Drury to a five-year deal.[97] The Rangers made the playoffs for the third consecutive season and the second round for the second consecutive season. In the first round against the New Jersey Devils, in game three, Sean Avery faced himself towards Devils goaltenderMartin Brodeur and moved his arms and stick in an attempt to screen any shots from the Rangers. After the game, the league made it an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to purposefully screen the goalie with your arms and stick.[98] Following their first-round victory,[99] they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.[100] The following offseason saw the departures of captain Jaromir Jagr to the KHL and Martin Straka, who left to play in the Czech Republic.[101][102]
Following Jagr's departure,[103] Chris Drury was named captain on October 3, 2008.[104] The Rangers were one of four NHL teams to open the2008–09 season in Europe, being featured in theVictoria Cup final, defeating the European Champions Cup winnerMetallurg Magnitogorsk inBern, Switzerland.[105] This was followed by two NHL regular season games against Tampa Bay inPrague on October 4 and 5; the Rangers won both games.[106] However, on October 13, 2007, 2007 first-round pick, Alexei Cherepanov collapsed and died during a KHL game in Russia.[107] After the Rangers went 2–7–3 in 12 games, coach Tom Renney was fired, with2004 Stanley Cup andJack Adams Award winnerJohn Tortorella named as his replacement.[108] The Rangers made the2009 playoffs, but gave up a 3–1 series lead to the Washington Capitals to lose in seven games.[109]
On June 30, 2009, the Rangers traded Scott Gomez,Tom Pyatt, andMichael Busto to the Montreal Canadiens forRyan McDonagh,Chris Higgins,Pavel Valentenko, andDoug Janik.[110] The Rangers also signedMarian Gaborik on the first day of free agency.[111] In the2009–10 season, the Rangers failed to make the playoffs for the first time in five years, losing the final game in a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers.[112]
For the2010–11 season, the team signed Norwegian forwardMats Zuccarello.[113] The Rangers' playoff chances came down to the final day of the regular season for the second consecutive year. The team defeated the New Jersey Devils and passed theCarolina Hurricanes in the standings, putting the Rangers in the playoffs.[114] The Rangers faced Washington in the first round and lost the series in five games.[115]
On May 13, 2011, Rangers forwardDerek Boogaard was found dead in hisMinnesota apartment.[116] On June 29, the Rangers bought out captain Chris Drury's contract.[117] On July 3, the Rangers signed free agentBrad Richards to a nine-year contract.[118] On September 12,Ryan Callahan was named the 26th captain in the Rangers' history.[119]
In the2011–12 season, the team finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, recording 51 wins and 109 points. Lunqvist was awarded theVezina Trophy for the League's best goaltender.[120] In the playoffs, they defeated both the Senators and Capitals in seven games respectively.[121][122] In the conference finals, they faced the New Jersey Devils. After leading the series 2–1, the Rangers lost the next three games, losing game six to New Jersey in overtime.[123]
On July 23, 2012, the Rangers tradedBrandon Dubinsky,Artem Anisimov,Tim Erixon and a2013 first-round draft pick to theColumbus Blue Jackets in exchange forRick Nash,Steven Delisle, and a 2013 conditional third-round pick.[124] At the 2013 trade deadline on April 3, the Rangers traded Marian Gaborik and Steven Delisle to Columbus forDerick Brassard,Derek Dorsett,John Moore, and a 2014 sixth-round draft pick.[125] After the Rangers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by Boston, management fired head coach John Tortorella. On June 21, 2013, general manager Glen Sather formally introduced former Canucks head coachAlain Vigneault as Tortorella's replacement.[126]
On March 5, 2014, the Rangers traded their captainRyan Callahan, along with a first-round draft pick in2015, a conditional second-round pick in2014, and a conditional seventh-round pick in 2015, for Tampa Bay captainMartin St. Louis. The trade occurred both due to the Rangers' and Callahan's inability to reach a contract extension, as well as St. Louis' growing tension with the Lightning organization and subsequent request to be traded to New York.[127] The2013–14 Rangers set a new franchise record of 25 road game wins.[128] New York defeated Philadelphia in seven games in the first round of the2014 playoffs, and in the next round rallied from a 3–1 series deficit to defeat Pittsburgh in seven games. They then defeated the Montreal Canadiens in six games to move onto theCup Final to face theLos Angeles Kings. The Rangers lost the series in five games.[129]
On June 20, 2014, a week after their season ended, the Rangersbought out the remaining six years of Brad Richards' contract.[130] On October 6, defensemanRyan McDonagh was named the Rangers' 27th captain in team history.[131] In2014–15, the Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy for the third time in franchise history by finishing with the best record in the NHL at 53–22–7.[132] The 53 wins and 113 points both set franchise records.[133] In the2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers dispatched the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games in the first round.[134] The Rangers then came back from a 3–1 series deficit to win their second-round series against the Capitals in seven games, becoming the first team in NHL history to battle back from a 3–1 deficit in back-to-back seasons and sending the Rangers to the conference finals for the third time in four years.[135] However, the Lightning shutout the Rangers 2–0 in game seven, ending the Rangers' season and marking the first occasion the Rangers had ever lost a game seven at home in franchise history.[136]
On June 27, 2015, the Rangers tradedCarl Hagelin to the Anaheim Ducks,Cam Talbot and a draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers, and prospectRyan Haggerty to the Chicago Blackhawks for goaltenderAntti Raanta.[137][138] On July 1,Glen Sather resigned as the general manager, withJeff Gorton taking his place.[139] On July 2, Martin St. Louis announced his retirement.[140] The team then re-signedJesper Fast,J. T. Miller, and Derek Stepan.[141][142][143]
The Rangers started the2015–16 season with a 14–2–2 record after 18 games, including a nine-game winning streak.[144] However, the team lost their momentum and floundered, posting a 4–7–2 record in December for only ten points. After the holiday break, the team gradually improved their play, going on a 10–3–1 run without any back-to-back losses in February. The Rangers finished the season with 101 points. In the2016 playoffs, the Rangers were eliminated in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On July 18, 2016, the Rangers traded Derick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round draft pick in exchange forMika Zibanejad and a 2018 second-round draft pick.[145] The team also signedMichael Grabner to a two-year deal[146] and the much-anticipated college sensationJimmy Vesey to a two-year entry-level contract.[147] The Rangers finished2016–17 in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with 102 points. In the first round of the2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, they won their series with the Montreal Canadiens in six games. They lost in the second round to the Ottawa Senators in six games.
On June 14, 2017, the Rangers announced a buyout of Dan Girardi's contract.[148] Just over a week later, the Rangers traded Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to theArizona Coyotes in exchange for a first-round draft pick (seventh overall) and former first-round pickTony DeAngelo.[149] Rangers' management also signed top free agent defensemanKevin Shattenkirk to a four-year deal.[150] However, injuries sidelined Shattenkirk, Kreider, and Zibanejad, and the Rangers struggled to compete. By February 8, 2018, the team had a 25–24–5 record, leading the front office to issue a letter to fans announcing the Rangers would be committing to a rebuild and may "lose some familiar faces" in the process.Rick Nash was traded the day before the 2018NHL trade deadline to the Bruins for a 2018 first-round pick, a 2019 seventh-round pick,Matt Beleskey,Ryan Spooner andRyan Lindgren. The following day, the Rangers traded captainRyan McDonagh andJ. T. Miller to theTampa Bay Lightning for picks and prospects. With the team missing the playoffs for the first time since2010, finishing under .500 for the first time since2004, and placing last in the Metropolitan Division, head coach Vigneault was fired at the conclusion of the season.[151]
On May 23,David Quinn was hired as the team's new head coach.[152] During the offseason, Hayes, Vesey,Brady Skjei and Spooner all filed for salary arbitration and all were re-signed.[153] Gorton and his team remained committed to a rebuild in the2018–19 season, and with their playoff chances slim, the Rangers once again traded away veteran players at the deadline, includingKevin Hayes andMats Zuccarello, who was sent to the Dallas Stars in exchange for two draft picks.[154][155]
The Rangers received the second overall pick in the2019 NHL entry draft,[156] and subsequently used it to select forwardKaapo Kakko. On May 17, 2019, former Ranger goaltender and broadcasterJohn Davidson resigned from his position as president of the Columbus Blue Jackets and returned to New York to become the organization's new president.[157] Davidson and Gorton addressed the team's defensive woes by acquiring top prospectAdam Fox from Carolina for a pair of picks,[158] as well as veteran defensemanJacob Trouba.[159] The team also signed free agentArtemi Panarin to a seven-year deal on July 1.[160] To help with salary cap restrictions, the Rangers then traded Jimmy Vesey and bought out the last two years of Shattenkirk's contract.[161]
The2019–20 season was a step forward for the rebuilding Rangers; Panarin earned aHart Trophy nomination,[162] rookie goaltenderIgor Shesterkin proved to be a worthy successor to aging superstar Henrik Lundqvist, Chris Kreider signed a seven-year contract extension,[163] and Mika Zibanejad emerged as an elite forward, recording a five-goal game against Washington on March 5 and ending up with 41 goals in 57 games played. By early March 2020, the Rangers were within striking distance of the second wild card position when thecoronavirus pandemic halted the regular season. In May 2020, the league announced a24-team playoff tournament to complete the season, where the Rangers were seeded 11th and faced the Carolina Hurricanes; the Hurricanes swept the Rangers. After being eliminated from the playoffs the Rangers were entered into the second phase of the NHL draft lottery where the team won the lottery and were awarded the first pick in the2020 NHL entry draft, which Gorton used to selectAlexis Lafreniere.[164] Later in the offseason, the team traded veteran defensemanMarc Staal to the Red Wings.
In September 2020, the Rangers bought out the final year ofHenrik Lundqvist's contract, ending his tenure in New York after 15 years.[165]
On January 31, 2021, defenseman Tony DeAngelo was placed on waivers, following reports that he had an altercation with teammateAlexandar Georgiev following an overtime loss.[166][167] According toThe Athletic, his continued "maturity" issues, combined with a marked decline in his play, led the Rangers to put him on the market; there were no takers.[168] In a game against theWashington Capitals on May 3, 2021, Capitals forwardTom Wilson cross-checkedPavel Buchnevich in the head and slammedArtemi Panarin into the ice, ending his season. Wilson, a repeat offender, was fined the league maximum of $5,000 for the incident.[169] The Rangers organization released a statement expressing disappointment in this decision, calling head of player safetyGeorge Parros "unfit to continue in his current role". The NHL subsequently fined the Rangers $250,000 for their comments.[170] Two days later, Rangers ownerJames Dolan fired presidentJohn Davidson and general managerJeff Gorton.[171] Despite the timing, Dolan stated the firings were not related to the Wilson incident and statement, citing "culture" issues within the organization.Chris Drury was then announced as the Rangers' new president and general manager.[172] On May 12, Drury fired head coach David Quinn,[173] and replaced him withGerard Gallant.[174] Despite a tumultuous season, a major bright spot was the play ofAdam Fox; he led NHL defensemen with 42 assists, finished second in points with 47, and won theJames Norris Memorial Trophy.[175]
The Rangers finished the2021–22 season with a record of 52–24–6.[176] For the third time in franchise history, the Rangers overcame a 3–1 series deficit, this time against thePittsburgh Penguins in a first round matchup that concluded with a game-winning overtime goal fromArtemi Panarin. After defeating theCarolina Hurricanes in seven games,[177][178] they faced the back-to-back defending champions, theTampa Bay Lightning, and lost the series in six games despite a 2–0 series lead.[179]Igor Shesterkin was named theVezina Trophy winner following the season's conclusion. By the end of thefollowing season, the Rangers had acquiredVladimir Tarasenko andNiko Mikkola from theSt. Louis Blues andPatrick Kane from the Blackhawks,[180][181] but lost to theirriver rivals, theNew Jersey Devils, in the first round of the playoffs. Gallant was then fired as head coach and replaced withPeter Laviolette.[182]
In the2023–24 season, the Rangers clinched their fourthPresidents' Trophy, and in the first round of the2024 playoffs swept the Washington Capitals. After defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round, they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup championFlorida Panthers in the conference finals. Despite this run, thefollowing season was disastrous, as the Rangers became the fourth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents' Trophy the prior season and the first to do it twice.[183] Veteran players, such as Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, received significant criticism throughout the season, captain Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil were traded, and Laviolette was fired at the end of the season.[184]
On May 2, 2025,Mike Sullivan was named head coach.[185] Later that offseason, Chris Kreider was traded to theAnaheim Ducks after a 13-year career with the Rangers.[186]
The classic Rangers sweater has been in use since the franchise's foundation, with several alterations along the way. The current blue uniform has the serifed word "RANGERS" in red and white drop shadow arranged diagonally, with red and white stripes on the sleeves and tail. Originally, the uniform was light blue, before it switched to a darker classic Rangers "Broadway Blue" in 1929. In addition, the original versions neither had a drop shadow nor were serifed. During the 1946–47 season, the word "RANGERS" was arranged in an arch form above the sweater number. It adopted its current form the next season, along with dropshadowed numbers, except for a brief period where the city name was used, a tie-down collar was not used and the tail and sleeve stripes were separated by thin blue stripes. Red pants have been used with the uniform since the 1929–30 season.[187]
The white jerseys were first unveiled in the 1951–52 season, as part of a mandate that regulated NHL teams to have a dark home jersey and a light away jersey. Theserifed word "RANGERS" is also arranged diagonally, but in blue with red drop shadow. A quinticolor of blue, white and red stripes accentuate the tail and sleeves, while a blue shoulder yoke with white and red stripes completes the look. The white sweaters, with minor changes such as a tie-down collar and arched player names, have remained virtually unchanged since.[187]
During the tenure of general managerJohn Ferguson Sr., he sought to modernize the Rangers sweater by featuring rounded numbers, a darker shade of blue and the shield logo, which was unveiled in the 1976–77 season. A blue and red stripe (white and red stripe in the blue sweaters) extend from the yoke to the sleeves, while blue pants were used. However, it proved unpopular with the fans, and following the 1977–78 season it was replaced by an updated version of their classic uniforms. Ferguson used this similar design when he became general manager of the originalWinnipeg Jets.[188]
The modernized classic uniforms introduced in 1978 featured some subtle changes. Both jerseys featured a V-neck collar in a red-white-red pattern, and bolder stripes on the sleeves and waistline. On the blue jersey, the red and white stripes were separated by thin blue stripes, along with the waistline stripes being raised above the hemline so that the patterns on both jerseys matched. From 1978 to 1987, the blue jersey (then the road jersey) featured "NEW YORK" diagonally across the front instead of the traditional "RANGERS" wordmark, similar to their 2010s heritage alternate jerseys.[189] In 1997, the Rangers reverted the blue jersey's design, restoring the old striping pattern, and becoming the first team to re-introduce lace-up collars.[190] The white jerseys followed suit in 1999,[191] and the design was carried over to the Reebok Edge template in 2007.[192]
On October 7, 2001, the Rangers wore a modified version of their blue jerseys in a home game against theBuffalo Sabres. This design combined the current/traditional striping with the "NEW YORK" wordmark of the 1978–1987 uniforms. The uniforms were worn in the wake of theSeptember 11 attacks.[193]
The Rangers previously had a navy alternate jersey featuring the head of theStatue of Liberty with the team abbreviation (NYR) below in a futuristic script. Silver was used as an accent color, but the player names and numbers retain the same color schemes as the regular jerseys, except for a darker shade of blue. Other than a white version used in the 1998–99 season, this jersey was used from 1996 to 2007, and proved to be highly popular with fans.[194]
During the 2010–11 season, the Rangers debuted a heritage blue jersey as their new alternate uniform. The jersey featured a darker shade of blue, as well as a cream trim. Unlike the regular jerseys, the font of the alternate wassans-serif and did not feature a dropshadow, much like the original Rangers jersey. The Rangers wore the jerseys at home on Saturdays and when they played against Original Six teams.[187] For the 2017–18 season, the heritage jersey was retired because of the league-wide switch to theAdidas uniform format.
In the2012 Winter Classic, the Rangers wore a cream jersey combining classic and current styles. A different version of the shield logo was used, while the player names were arranged in a straight line. The stripes were also lessened, giving it a minimalist, vintage look, as most Winter Classic jerseys are.[195]
For the2014 Stadium Series, the Rangers used white jerseys with the city name in navy, silver and red. In addition, they feature diagonal stripes and sleeve numbers, and enlarged numbers on the back to make them more readable to spectators. The chrome version of the shield logo is placed in the left shoulder. Like the Winter Classic sweaters, player names are in a straight position.[196]
The2018 Winter Classic saw the Rangers wear a navy jersey with a combination of elements from prior uniform designs. The striping design was inspired from their current uniforms, while the white "RANGERS" wordmark was a nod from the team's late 1920s jerseys. A white silhouette of the Rangers' shield logo contained either the abbreviation "N.Y." or the alternate captain "A" and captain "C" designations. Player names are arranged in a straight position.[197][198]
During the 2020–21 season, the Rangers released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform in collaboration with Adidas. The uniform featured the "Lady Liberty" design worn from 1996 to 2007, but with a few changes in the striping.[199] This same design was again used for their 2022–23 "Reverse Retro" uniform, but the lighter Broadway Blue served as the base color while the lower sleeves were recolored red with white and navy stripes.[200]
Introduced in the 2023–24 season, the Rangers began wearing a new third jersey, bringing back the shield logo as the main crest for the first time since the 1976–1978 redesign. The navy blue-based jersey features thin white, red and Broadway blue stripes on the sleeves, waist and socks, along with white letters.[201]
For the2024 Stadium Series, the Rangers wore white jerseys with an enlarged "NYR" diagonal lettering in red with blue drop shadows. Enlarged numbers also employ the same color scheme as the "NYR" wordmark, along with thick alternating blue and red sleeve stripes.[202]
The Rangers unveiled their centennial edition jersey ahead of the 2025–26 season. Based on their inaugural 1926–27 uniform, it featured a light blue base with the traditional red and cream stripes, and cream letters featuring the sans-serif "RANGERS" written diagonally in white. The 100th anniversary patch was placed on the left shoulder, and a sponsor patch featuring sports and entertainment brand "Game 7" was placed on the right shoulder.[203] A cream variation with a diagonal sans-serif "NEW YORK" wordmark serves as their uniform for the2026 NHL Winter Classic.[204]
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Rangers. For the full season-by-season history, seeList of New York Rangers seasons.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime/shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 27 | 23 | 6 | 60 | 177 | 157 | 5th, East | Did not qualify |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 52 | 24 | 6 | 110 | 254 | 207 | 2nd, Metropolitan | Lost in conference finals, 2–4 (Lightning) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 47 | 22 | 13 | 107 | 277 | 219 | 3rd, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 3–4 (Devils) |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 55 | 23 | 4 | 114 | 282 | 229 | 1st, Metropolitan | Lost in conference finals, 2–4 (Panthers) |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 39 | 36 | 7 | 85 | 256 | 255 | 5th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
Updated November 10, 2025[205][206]
The current general manager isChris Drury who had been named on May 5, 2021.[172]
The current head coach isMike Sullivan who was hired on May 2, 2025.[209]
The following lists the league awards which have been won by the Rangers team and its players and alumni:
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy[215][216]
King Clancy Memorial Trophy[221]
The New York Rangers acknowledge an affiliation with a number of inductees to theHockey Hall of Fame. Rangers inductees include 53 former players and ten builders of the sport.[231] The nine individuals recognized as builders by the Hall of Fame includes former Rangers executives, general managers, head coaches, and owners. In addition to players and builders, several broadcasters were also awarded theFoster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame.Sal Messina, acolor commentator, was the first Rangers broadcaster to be awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. Other Rangers broadcasters awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award includeJohn Davidson (awarded in 2009), andSam Rosen (awarded in 2016).[232]
Players
Builders
The Rangers have retired nine numbers for eleven players in their history, and the NHL retiredWayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams at the2000 NHL All-Star Game.[233]
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Date No. retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddie Giacomin | G | 1965–1976 | March 15, 1989 |
| 2 | Brian Leetch | D | 1987–2004 | January 24, 2008[234] |
| 3 | Harry Howell | D | 1952–1969 | February 22, 2009[235] |
| 7 | Rod Gilbert | RW | 1960–1978 | October 14, 1979 |
| 91 | Andy Bathgate | RW | 1952–1964 | February 22, 2009[235] |
| Adam Graves | LW | 1991–2001 | February 3, 2009[236] | |
| 111 | Vic Hadfield | LW | 1959–1974 | December 2, 2018[237] |
| Mark Messier | C | 1991–1997 2000–2004 | January 12, 2006[238] | |
| 19 | Jean Ratelle | C | 1960–1976 | February 25, 2018[239] |
| 30 | Henrik Lundqvist | G | 2005–2020 | January 28, 2022[240] |
| 35 | Mike Richter | G | 1990–2003 | February 4, 2004[241] |
Notes:
These are the top-ten-point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.[242]
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Source:[248]
The New York Rangers crest has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1926 - "New York" across the top complements "Rangers" stretching diagonally from top left to bottom right in classic blue, red and white - reflecting both the tradition and nostalgia of a time-honored Original Six club.
Even before our training camp opened we were widely known as Tex's Rangers, a name given us by George Daley, the sports editor of the New YorkHerald Tribune, and one that seemed likely to stick. In fact, our first team crest was that of a horse sketched in blue carrying a cowboy waving a hockey stick aloft. The horse was rearing, with the word "TEX'S" in a crescent at the top of the emblem with "RANGERS". But Rickard didn't like the idea and before the season opened our insignia was changed to the present diagonal splash of the word RANGERS.
The jersey features the Rangers' color scheme of red, white and blue, though navy blue replaces their traditional royal blue as a nod to the roots of the game outdoors.
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