What’s new with the New York Rangers? That’s what this page is all about.
The Team Spirit Line Change website begins where the Team Spirit books end.
That’s because hockey never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!
Take a look at some of the Rangers collectibles I have in my home.
Enjoy this site, check back whenever you like, and contact me with any questions or comments.
Updates
2020-21 Season
Season Recap: No team struggled more with COVID in 2021 and it probably cost the Rangers a trip to the playoffs. Among the few bright spots in a 27-win season was the play of Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren, who ranked among the top defensive duos in the NHL. The team was fun to watch, with five players scoring 45 points or more, but seven losses in their final 11 games put an end to their season.
March 17, 2021: Mike Zibanejad scored three goals in the second period of a win over the Flyers. He also had three assists to tie the NHL record of 6 points in one period. Bryan Trottier of the Islanders set the record in 1978. Eight days later, Zibanejad scored another hat trick against the same team!
Season Preview: The Rangers will rely on Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad to provide scoring punch again this season, and also tutor rookie Alexis Lafreniere—who begins the year as a teenager. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist will no longer be in net for New York, which means the pressure will be on his replacements, Igor Georgiev and Igor Shesterkin. The team is young and exciting, but will have to grow up fast to go deep into the playoffs.
2019-20 Season
Season Recap: After many disappointing seasons, the Rangers made it back to the playoffs. They fell to Carolina in the opening round, but their year was a positive one overall. New York was one of the NHL’s better road teams, and they scored a huge hit when they signed Russian star Artemi Panarin at the beginning of the year. Center Mika Zibanejad led the club with 41 goals and Adam Fox showed he was one of the NHL’s best young defensemen.
October 5, 2019: Center Mika Zibanejad scored three goals and added an assist in a 4–1 win over Ottawa. It was his second four-point game in a row. The only other Ranger with eight points in the season’s first two games was Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert, in 1976–77.
Season Preview: After trading away lots of talent over the last two seasons, the Rangers should start cashing in on the young prospects they received in return. Among the young players to watch are Vitali Kravstiov, Adam Fox, Libor Hajek, Pavel Buchnevich, and Kaapo Kakko. New York fans should also enjoy the play of left wing Artemi Panarin, the league’s biggest free agent signing this summer.
2018-19 Season
Season Recap: Although the Rangers played well at times, their overall talent was not a match for most NHL opponents. The team won 32 games and missed the playoffs. Kris Kreider had a good year and Mika Zibanejad had his best season as a pro. The team’s best player was center Kevin Hayes, but he was traded after scoring 42 points in 51 games. Veteran goalie Henrik Lundqvist looked exhausted at times, but backup Alexander Georgiev had some big games for the team.
January 25, 2019: Henrik Lundqvist won the Save Streak competition at the NHL All-Star Game. He stopped 12 shots in a row.
Season Preview: The Rangers are looking at a year of rebuilding in 2018–19. They have enough talent to win, but the team is likely to trade off some of its better players during the year if it looks like they will fall short of the playoffs. Or maybe they will go for broke and trade for veteran stars if they are winning more than they lose. You never know with New York! As always, Rangers fans will be enjoying the work of Henrik Lundqvist in goal. They can also look forward to improvement from top prospects Vitali Kravtsov, Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil.
2017-18 Season
Season Recap: High hopes for a playoff run disappeared after the Rangers struggled to fill the hole created by the trade of center Derek Stepan. Goalie Henrik Lunqvist was sensational in the first half, but he tired out down the stretch and the defense slowly unraveled. Despite a 34-39-9 record, the team saw improvement from several young players, and made trades for two first-round draft picks in 2018.
January 16, 2018: Henrik Lundqvist won his 20th game of the season, against the Flyers. He became the first goalie to win at least 20 games a year for 13 years in a row.
January 1, 2018: The Rangers hosted the 10th Winter Classic at Citi Field in record-low temperatures. They defeated Buffalo 3–2 in overtime.
Season Preview: The Rangers made some risky trades over the summer to get younger, and also signed a defensive star in Kevin Shattenkirk. They play a lightning-fast game and depend heavily on goalie Henrik Lundqvist to cover for their defensive mistakes. If he has a better year than last year, the Broadway Blues should have a happy season.
2015-16 Season
Season Recap: The Rangers finished with 101 points to finish third in the conference, and Henrik Lundqvist became the first goalie in history to win more than 20 games in each of his first 11 years in the NHL. “King Henrik” played brilliantly during the season, but could not hold back the Penguins in the playoffs. Five Rangers netted between 20 and 30 goals, but no player had a breakout scoring season, as Rick Nash did the year before.
Season Preview: The Rangers hoped to win the Stanley Cup last year but came up short. This year they bring the same strengths to the ice—a superstar goalie, lots of goal-scoring and speed to burn. Rick Nash is their most famous offensive player, but the key to a big offensive year for New York may be the play of Keith Yandle, who was injured in 2014–15.
2014-15 Season
Recap: The Rangers won the President’s Cup with the most points in the NHL. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist missed two months with an injury to his throat, but Cam Talbot did a great job filling in until he got back. Rick Nash scored 42 goals and nine other Rangers scored in double-figures. Playmakers Derick Brassard, Derek Stepan, and Mats Zuccarello had fine seasons, too. New York entered the playoffs favored to win the championship, but fell in the third round to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
February 14, 2015: New York coach Alain Vigneault won his 500th NHL game.
Season Preview: New York’s surprising trip to the Stanley Cup Finals was followed by a busy summer. Several key players left as free agents, but the team kept its core of talented stars—and also brought in an important newcomers, Dan Boyle, a top defenseman. He joins Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, and Ryan McDonagh on the back line, while veteran Martin St. Louis leads the offense. They can all play with great confidence because they know as long as goalie Henrik Lundqvist stays healthy, the Rangers have a chance to win any game they play.
2013-14 Season
June 13, 2014: After letting two victories slip through their fingers to open the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings, the Rangers could not recover and fell 4 games to 1. New York won 45 games during the regular season with a quick, scrappy team and a magnificent goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. These qualities enabled the team to survive a pair of seven-game playoff series with the Flyers and Penguins, and win the first two games (on the road) against the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals. New York defeated Montreal 4 games to 2 to reach their first Stanley Cup Finals in 20 years.
May 13, 2014: When the Rangers upset the Penguins in a seven-game payoff series, New York center Martin center Martin St. Louis tied Hall of Famer Red Kelly as the only two players who are a perfect 7–0 in pressure-packed 7-game playoff series.
March 9, 2014: Goalie Henrik Lundqvist won his 300th game. He joined 28 others on the 300-victory list. Nine days later he became the team’s all-time winning goalie, passing Mike Richter, who had 301. Three days after passing Richter, Lundqvist broke Eddie Giacomin’s team record for shutouts.
Season Preview: An excellent defense, acrobatic goalie, and full season from right wing Rick Nash promise to keep the Rangers in the running for a championship. The team will also expect a big year from Derick Brassard, who will anchor New York’s second line. Derek Stepan, Brad Richards, and Ryan McDonagh lead a solid supporting cast.
More Go-To Guys
Bill Cook — Right Wing
Born: 10/9/1896
Died: 4/6/1986
Played for Team: 1926–27 to 1936–37
Bill Cook was the finisher on the line that included Frank Boucher and Bill’s brother, Bun Cook. He had a superb shot and was too big to keep away from the goal when he got up a head of steam. Cook was also an excellent team captain.Bun Cook — Left Wing
Born: 9/18/1903
Died: 3/19/1988
Played for Team: 1926–27 to 1935–36
The Rangers were the best-passing team of the 1920s, and Bun Cook was a big reason why. He perfect the drop pass, which froze goalies and defensemen long enough for linemates Bill Cook and Frank Boucher to get great shots on goal. During the 1928 Stanley Cup Finals, Cook’s “Bread Line” scored every Ranger goal.Ching Johnson — Defenseman
Born: 12/7/1897
Died: 6/19/1979
Played for Team: 1926–27 to 1936–37
Ching Johnson was a star football and lacrosse player as a young man. He began playing hockey while a member of the Canadian Army during World War I. In the NHL, he was known for his pleasant manner, friendly smile, and willingness to use every trick in the book to keep enemy skaters away from the net.Davey Kerr — Goalie
Born: 1/11/1910
Died: 5/12/1978
Played for Team: 1934–35 to 1940–41
Davey Kerr was one of the NHL’s top goalies during the late 1930s. He outdid himself during the 1939–40 season. Kerr played allowed just 1.54 goals per game and had 8 shutouts, and put together a 19-game unbeaten streak. He finished the year with a 3–2 overtime victory to win the Stanley Cup in his hometown of Toronto.Lynn Patrick — Left Wing
Born: 2/3/1912
Died: 1/26/1980
Played for Team: 1934–35 to 1942–43 & 1945–46
Lynn Patrick and his brother, Muzz, played for their dad, Lester Patrick, who ran the Rangers during the 1930s and 1940s. Lynn was an important part of the 1940 championship team, and led the NHL with 32 goals in 1941–42.Neil Colville — Center/Defenseman
Born: 8/4/1914
Died: 12/26/1987
Played for Team: 1935–36 to 1941–42 & 1944–45 to 1948–49
Neil Colville was a magician when it came to passing and also one of the brightest players in the NHL. He helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1940 as a forward. After spending three years in the military he returned as one of the game’s top defensemen.Bryan Hextall — Right Wing
Born: 7/31/1913
Died: 7/25/1984
Played for Team: 1936–37 to 1943–44 & 1945–46 to 1947–48
Bryan Hextall was the first of three generations of hockey stars. His sons Bryan Jr. and Dennis had long NHL careers, and his grandson Ron won the Conn Smythe Trophy as a goalie with the Flyers. Bryan was a rock-solid player who skated well for a big man. He led the league in scoring 1941–42.Edgar Laprade — Center
Born: 10/10/1919
Died: 4/28/2014
Played for Team: 1945–46 to 1954–55
Edgar Laprade was the team’s best player during its worst stretch of seasons. He was a great passer and unparalleled faceoff man, and one of the cleanest players the game has ever known. He went through three seasons with no penalties and three others with just one penalty!Gump Worsley — Goalie
Born: 5/14/1929
Died: 1/26/2007
Played for Team: 1952–53 & 1954–55 to 1962–63
Gump Worsley played goalie for some of New York’s worst defensive teams. He rarely allowed more than three goals a game, despite often facing 40 to 50 shots a night. Whenever sportswriters asked Worsley which team gave him the most trouble, he would smile and answer, “The Rangers!”Jean Ratelle — Center
Born: 10/3/1940
Played for Team: 1960–61 to 1975–76
Jean Ratelle was one of the NHL’s classiest and most consistent players. He was often compared to top centers Stan Mikita and Jean Beliveau during his career. Ratelle became a star in 1967–68 after teaming up with Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert. This trio led New York to the Stanley Cup Finals a few years later.Vic Hadfield — Left Wing
Born: 10/4/1940
Played for Team: 1961–62 to 1973–74
When Vic Hadfield first joined the Rangers he was expected to intimidate opponents with his size and strength. Over the years, he learned how to use his body to get into position for rebounds and deflections. In 1971–72, he set a new team record with 50 goals, and alsao had 56 assists.Adam Graves — Left Wing
Born: 4/12/1968
Played for Team: 1991–92 to 2000–01
Adam Graves was one of the team’s most popular and productive players during the 1990s. In 1993–94, he set a team record (later broken by Jaromir Jagr) for goals in a season, with 52. That same season, Graves won the King Clancy Award, which is given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities, or has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community.Rick Nash — Right Wing
Born: 6/16/1984
First Season with Team: 2012–13
When the Rangers needed a veteran scorer to provide leadership for their young team, they were able to trade for Rick Nash. They parted with some good players—plus a first-round draft pick—but Nash proved to be worth the high price when he averaged a point a game during his first season in New York. Though just 28 when he joined the Rangers, he scored his 300th career goal in 2012–13.Artemi Panarin — Left Wing
Born: 10/30/1991
First Season with Team: 2019–20
Artemi Panarin joined the Rangers as a free agent in 2019 after many solid seasons with the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets. He reached a whole new level in New York, setting new career-highs with 32 goals and 63 assists. Panarin was named a First-Team All-Star after the season.
More Fun Facts
HOLD EVERYTHING
Ching Johnson could move a forward out of position by grabbing his jersey in a way that was almost never spotted by the referee. That is how he got his nickname The Holding Corporation!CUP CAPER
The summer after New York’s first championship in 1928, Lester Patrick brought the Stanley Cup home for safekeeping. When he retrieved the Cup from his basement that fall to bring it back to New York, he was horrified to discover that two additional names had been etched into the trophy—Lynn and Fred, his two sons. A dozen years later, their names would appear on the trophy for real when they were members of the 1940 championship club.PERFECT TIMING
In 1938, goalie Davey Kerr became the first hockey player to be featured on the cover of Time Magazine.
League Leaders
GOALS
1926–27 — Bill Cook — 33
1931–32 — Bill Cook — 34*
1932–33 — Bill Cook — 28
1939–40 — Bryan Hextall — 24
1940–41 — Bryan Hextall — 26
1941–42 — Lynn Patrick — 32* Tied with another player
ASSISTS
1928–29 — Frank Boucher — 16
1929–30 — Frank Boucher — 36
1932–33 — Frank Boucher — 28
1941–42 — Phil Watson — 37
1961–62 — Andy Bathgate — 56
1963-64 — Andy Bathgate — 58**
1996–97 — Wayne Gretzky — 72
1997–98 — Wayne Gretzky — 67** Also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs
POINTS
1926–27 — Bill Cook — 37
1932–33 — Bill Cook — 50
1941–42 — Bryan Hextall — 56
1961–62 — Andy Bathgate — 84** Tied with another player
GOALS-AGAINST
1939–40 — Davey Kerr — 1.54PLUS/MINUS
1998–99 — Alexander Karpotsev — + 39**
2005–06 — Michal Rozsival — + 35** Also played with Toronto Maple Leafs
In the Stanley Cup Finals
| SEASON | OPPONENT | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| 1927–28 | Montreal Maroons | Won 3–2 |
| 1928–29 | Boston Bruins | Lost 0–2 |
| 1931–32 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Lost 0–3 |
| 1932–33 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Won 3–1 |
| 1936–37 | Detroit Red Wings | Lost 2–3 |
| 1939–40 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Won 4–2 |
| 1949–50 | Detroit Red Wings | Lost 3–4 |
| 1971–72 | Boston Bruins | Lost 2–4 |
| 1978–79 | Montreal Canadiens | Lost 1–4 |
| 1993–94 | Vancouver Canucks | Won 4–3 |
| 2013–14 | Los Angeles Kings | Lost 1–4 |