History of New York Rangers in Timeline

The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City, competing in the NHL's Eastern Conference, Metropolitan Division. Their home games are played at Madison Square Garden, which they share with the New York Knicks (NBA). They are one of three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area, alongside the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders.

1926: NHL Franchise Awarded

In 1926, George Lewis "Tex" Rickard, president of Madison Square Garden, was awarded an NHL franchise to compete with the New York Americans.

1926: Inaugural Season

In 1926, Rickard's franchise began play in the 1926–27 season with Conn Smythe initially hired to assemble the team but replaced by Lester Patrick before the season began.

1926: Rangers Founded

In 1926, Tex Rickard founded the New York Rangers as one of the Original Six teams in the NHL before the 1967 expansion.

December 13, 1929: First NHL Team to Travel by Plane

On December 13, 1929, the Rangers became the first team in the NHL to travel by plane, hiring the Curtiss-Wright Corporation to fly them to Toronto for a game against the Maple Leafs.

1929: Stanley Cup Finals Loss

After a loss to the Bruins in the 1929 Stanley Cup Finals, the Rangers struggled in the early 1930s.

1929: Uniform Change

In 1929, the Rangers' uniform switched from light blue to a darker "Broadway Blue." Red pants have been used with the uniform since the 1929-30 season.

1933: Stanley Cup Win

In 1933, the Rangers, led by brothers Bill and Bun Cook and Frank Boucher, defeated the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Finals to win their second Stanley Cup.

1939: Regular Season Standing

In the 1939–40 season, the Rangers finished the regular season in second place behind Boston.

1940: Stanley Cup Win

In 1940, the Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals, winning their third Stanley Cup.

1942: Last Ranger To Lead NHL In Scoring

Prior to Jean Ratelle potentially leading the NHL in scoring in 1972, the last Ranger to do so was Bryan Hextall in 1942.

1943: Team Performance Decline

By the mid-1940s, the Rangers experienced a significant decline in performance; in 1943-44, goaltender Ken McAuley led the league with 39 losses and 310 goals allowed in 50 games played.

1946: Sweater Design Change

During the 1946–47 season, the word "RANGERS" was arranged in an arch form above the sweater number.

1947: Playoff Berth

After missing the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, the Rangers earned the fourth and final playoff spot in 1947–48.

1948: First Round Loss

In 1948-49 the New York Rangers lost in the first round and missed the playoffs again.

1950: Stanley Cup Finals Loss

In the 1950 Stanley Cup Finals, the Rangers were forced to play all their games in Toronto due to the circus being held at the Garden, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in overtime in the seventh game.

1951: White Jersey Unveiled

In the 1951–52 season, the white Rangers jerseys were first unveiled. The word "RANGERS" is arranged diagonally in blue with red drop shadow. A quinticolor of blue, white and red stripes accentuate the tail and sleeves.

1966: Bernie Geoffrion Signed

In 1966, the New York Rangers signed former Montreal Canadiens star Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion out of retirement.

1967: Original Six Era

In 1967, the New York Rangers were one of the Original Six teams that competed in the NHL before its expansion.

1967: Playoff Loss

In 1974, the Rangers became the first Original Six club to lose a playoff series to a 1967 expansion team, the Philadelphia Flyers.

1968: Move to Fourth Madison Square Garden

In 1968, the Rangers moved into the fourth version of Madison Square Garden.

1972: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance

In 1972, despite Jean Ratelle's injury, the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals, carried by players like Brad Park and Rod Gilbert, but lost to the Bruins.

1972: New York Islanders Enters League

In 1972, the New York Islanders entered the League and paid a territorial fee to the Rangers.

1974: Conference Semifinals Loss

In 1974, the Rangers lost a conference semifinals series against the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games.

1975: Blockbuster Trade

In 1975, the Rangers acquired Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais from the Boston Bruins for Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, and Joe Zanussi.

1975: Playoff Loss to Islanders

In the 1975 playoffs, the New York Islanders defeated the Rangers in the first round, establishing a rivalry.

1976: Modernized Sweater Design Unveiled

During the 1976–77 season, general manager John Ferguson Sr. unveiled a modernized Rangers sweater featuring rounded numbers, a darker shade of blue, and the shield logo.

1977: Modernized Sweater Design Year Two

The 1977-78 Rangers sweater had a modernized design. However, it proved unpopular with the fans, and following the season it was replaced by an updated version of their classic uniforms.

1978: Swedish Stars Join Rangers

In 1978, Swedish stars Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson joined the Rangers from the World Hockey Association (WHA).

1978: Modernized Classic Uniforms Introduced

In 1978, modernized classic uniforms were introduced featuring a V-neck collar and bolder stripes. From 1978 to 1987, the blue jersey featured "NEW YORK" diagonally across the front.

1979: First Finals Appearance Since 1979

In 1979, the New York Rangers advanced to the finals for the first time since 1979 after Stephane Matteau's double overtime goal in game 7 against the New Jersey Devils, securing a 2-1 victory.

1979: Stanley Cup Finals Loss

In 1979, the Rangers lost the Stanley Cup Finals in five games to the Montreal Canadiens, who had players like Bob Gainey and Guy Lafleur.

1982: Playoff Elimination by Islanders

In the 1982 playoffs, the Rangers were eliminated by the rival Islanders, who went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.

1984: Playoff Elimination by Islanders

In the 1984 playoffs, the Rangers were eliminated by the rival Islanders, who went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.

1986: Conference Finals Appearance

In the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers, behind rookie goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, reached the Wales Conference finals but were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens.

1987: "NEW YORK" Jersey

From 1978 to 1987, the blue jersey featured "NEW YORK" diagonally across the front.

1988: Marcel Dionne Milestone

In 1988, while playing for the Rangers, Marcel Dionne moved into third place in NHL career goals scored.

1989: Gulf+Western Renamed

In 1989, Gulf+Western, the owner of the Rangers, was renamed to Paramount Communications.

1991: Presidents' Trophy

In the 1991–92 season, the New York Rangers captured the Presidents' Trophy.

1993: Best Record Since 1993-94 Season

During the 2005-06 season, the Rangers had their best record since the 1993-94 season.

1994: Mike Keenan Leaves After Stanley Cup Win

Despite leading the Rangers to a first-place regular season finish and Stanley Cup victory, head coach Mike Keenan departed in 1994 due to a dispute with general manager Neil Smith.

1994: Viacom Acquisition

In 1994, Paramount Communications, the owner of the Rangers, was sold to Viacom.

1994: Stanley Cup Win

In 1994, led by Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, and Mike Richter, the Rangers captured their fourth Stanley Cup.

1995: Rangers Eliminated in Second Round of Playoffs

During the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, the Rangers won their first-round series but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Flyers. Also, in the summer of 1995, general manager Neil Smith orchestrated a deal that sent Sergei Zubov and Petr Nedved to Pittsburgh in exchange for Ulf Samuelsson and Luc Robitaille.

1996: Rangers Acquire Wayne Gretzky

In 1996, the New York Rangers acquired Wayne Gretzky, adding a significant player to their roster.

1996: Statue of Liberty Jersey Introduction

In 1996, the Rangers introduced a navy alternate jersey featuring the head of the Statue of Liberty with the team abbreviation (NYR) below in a futuristic script. Silver was used as an accent color.

1996: Rangers Defeat Canadiens but Lose to Penguins

In the 1996 playoffs, the Rangers defeated the Canadiens in six games, but their second-round series ended with a loss to the Penguins in five games.

1996: First Playoff Spot Since 1996-97

On April 4, 2006, the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 in a shootout, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since the 1996–97 season.

1997: Rangers Lose to Flyers in Conference Finals; Messier Departs

In 1997, Wayne Gretzky led the Rangers to the conference finals, where they were defeated by the Eric Lindros-led Flyers. Additionally, Mark Messier left the team in the summer of 1997.

1997: Blue Jersey Reverted Design

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.

1997: Conference Finals Since 1997

In the 2011-12 NHL Season, the Rangers made it to the conference finals for the first time since 1997.

1998: Gretzky's Retirement

At the end of the 1998–99 season, Wayne Gretzky retired from the New York Rangers.

1998: Postseason Drought Begins

In 1998, the Rangers began a franchise-record seven-year postseason drought.

1998: White Version Jersey

In the 1998–99 season, the Rangers had a white version of the Statue of Liberty jersey, which was used until 2007.

1999: White Jerseys Update

In 1999, the Rangers white jerseys followed suit with the blue jersey's updated design, and the design was carried over to the Reebok Edge template in 2007.

March 2000: Firing of Smith and Muckler

In March 2000, the New York Rangers fired general manager Smith and head coach John Muckler.

2000: Wayne Gretzky's Number Retired

At the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, the NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams.

October 7, 2001: Modified Blue Jersey

On October 7, 2001, the Rangers wore a modified version of their blue jerseys in a home game against the Buffalo Sabres. The uniforms were worn in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

2001: Messier Returns; Fleury and Lindros Join Rangers

By the end of the 2000–01 season, Mark Messier returned to the New York Rangers, and Theoren Fleury joined the team after playing most of his career with the Calgary Flames. Eric Lindros was also traded to the Rangers by the Flyers.

2002: Rangers Acquire Pavel Bure; Blackburn Makes All-Rookie Team

In 2001–02, the New York Rangers acquired Pavel Bure from the Florida Panthers. During the 2002 season, Dan Blackburn made the NHL All-Rookie Team, even as the Rangers finished last in the Conference and missed the playoffs.

2003: Blackburn Injured

Dan Blackburn started strongly in 2002–03, but burned out after 17 games. He missed 2003–04 due to mononucleosis and a damaged nerve in his left shoulder.

2004: NHL Lockout

After the 2004–05 NHL Lockout, the New York Rangers entered another period of prosperity.

2004: John Tortorella Named Coach

After the Rangers went 2–7–3 in 12 games, coach Tom Renney was fired, with 2004 Stanley Cup and Jack Adams Award winner John Tortorella named as his replacement.

2005: Lundqvist's Stellar Rookie Season

During the 2005–06 NHL season, Henrik Lundqvist had a stellar rookie season, leading the Rangers to finish with a record of 44–26–12.

2005: Postseason Drought Ends

In 2005, the Rangers ended a franchise-record seven-year postseason drought.

2005: Rangers Sign Brendan Shanahan

Prior to the 2005-06 campaign, the Rangers signed Brendan Shanahan.

March 29, 2006: Jagr Breaks Rangers' Single-Season Points Record

On March 29, 2006, Jaromir Jagr broke the New York Rangers' single-season points record with a first-period assist in a 5–1 win against the New York Islanders, reaching 110 points and surpassing Jean Ratelle's previous record.

October 5, 2006: Jagr Named Team Captain

On October 5, 2006, Jaromir Jagr was named the first team captain of the New York Rangers since Mark Messier's retirement.

2006: Henrik Lundqvist Arrival

After the arrival of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in 2006, the Rangers thrived, missing the playoffs just once between 2006 and 2017.

February 5, 2007: Rangers Acquire Sean Avery

On February 5, 2007, the New York Rangers acquired forward Sean Avery from the Los Angeles Kings.

2007: Rangers Draft Alexei Cherepanov

At the 2007 NHL entry draft, the New York Rangers selected Alexei Cherepanov 17th overall.

2007: Reebok Edge Template

In 2007, the Rangers jersey design was carried over to the Reebok Edge template.

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2007: Statue of Liberty Jersey End

The Rangers Statue of Liberty jersey had a white version in the 1998-99 season. This jersey was used until 2007, and proved to be highly popular with fans.

2007: Alexei Cherepanov's Death

The successful start to the New York Rangers season was tempered by the news of the sudden death of 2007 first-round pick Alexei Cherepanov, which occurred during a KHL game in Russia on October 13.

October 3, 2008: Chris Drury Named Captain

Following Jagr's departure, Chris Drury was named captain of the New York Rangers on October 3, 2008.

June 30, 2009: Trade with Montreal Canadiens

On June 30, 2009, the New York Rangers traded Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Michael Busto to the Montreal Canadiens for Ryan McDonagh, Chris Higgins, Pavel Valentenko, and Doug Janik.

2009: John Davidson Awarded Foster Hewitt Memorial Award

In 2009, John Davidson, a Rangers broadcaster, was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

2009: Rangers Lose to Capitals in Playoffs

The New York Rangers made the 2009 playoffs, but lost their opening-round series to the Washington Capitals four games to three.

2010: Heritage Blue Jersey Debut

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.

2010: MSG Properties Spun Off

In 2010, Cablevision spun off the MSG properties, including the New York Rangers, as their own company.

May 13, 2011: Death of Derek Boogaard

On May 13, 2011, New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard was found dead in his Minnesota apartment.

2011: Rangers Finish Top Seed in Eastern Conference

In the 2011–12 season, the New York Rangers finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, recording 51 wins and 109 points.

July 23, 2012: Trade with Columbus Blue Jackets

On July 23, 2012, the Rangers traded Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a 2013 first-round draft pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle, and a 2013 conditional third-round pick.

2012: Winter Classic Jersey

In the 2012 Winter Classic, the Rangers wore a cream jersey combining classic and current styles. A different version of the shield logo was used.

June 21, 2013: Alain Vigneault Hired as Head Coach

On June 21, 2013, Glen Sather introduced Alain Vigneault as the new head coach, replacing John Tortorella.

March 5, 2014: Trade for Martin St. Louis

On March 5, 2014, the Rangers traded Ryan Callahan, a 2015 first-round pick, a 2014 conditional second-round pick, and a 2015 conditional seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay for Martin St. Louis, due to contract issues with Callahan and St. Louis's desire to be traded to New York.

June 20, 2014: Brad Richards' Contract Bought Out

On June 20, 2014, the Rangers bought out the remaining six years of Brad Richards' contract to free up salary cap space.

2014: Stadium Series Jersey

For the 2014 Stadium Series, the Rangers used white jerseys with the city name in navy, silver and red. They feature diagonal stripes, sleeve numbers, and enlarged numbers on the back.

2014: Stanley Cup Finals Loss

In 2014, the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals, falling to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

June 27, 2015: Trades involving Hagelin, Talbot, and Haggerty

On June 27, 2015, the Rangers traded Carl Hagelin to the Anaheim Ducks, Cam Talbot and a draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers, and Ryan Haggerty to the Chicago Blackhawks for Antti Raanta.

July 18, 2016: Trade for Mika Zibanejad

On July 18, 2016, the Rangers traded Derick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round draft pick for Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 second-round draft pick. Michael Grabner was signed to a two-year deal, and Jimmy Vesey was signed to a two-year entry-level contract.

2016: Sam Rosen Awarded Foster Hewitt Memorial Award

In 2016, Sam Rosen, a Rangers broadcaster, was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

June 14, 2017: Buyout of Dan Girardi's Contract

On June 14, 2017, the Rangers announced a buyout of Dan Girardi's contract.

2017: Playoff Streak Ends

Between 2006 and 2017, the Rangers thrived, missing the playoffs just once.

2017: Heritage Jersey Retirement

For the 2017–18 season, the Rangers heritage jersey was retired because of the league-wide switch to the Adidas uniform format.

February 8, 2018: Announcement of Team Rebuild

On February 8, 2018, the Rangers' front office issued a letter to fans announcing a commitment to rebuilding the team, indicating potential trades of familiar players.

2018: Winter Classic Jersey

The 2018 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.

May 17, 2019: John Davidson Returns as President

On May 17, 2019, John Davidson resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets to return to the Rangers as the organization's new president.

March 2020: NHL season halted due to coronavirus pandemic

By early March 2020, the Rangers were within striking distance of the second wild-card position when the coronavirus pandemic halted the regular season.

May 2020: Rangers win the NHL draft lottery

In May 2020, after being eliminated from the playoffs, the Rangers won the NHL draft lottery and were awarded the first pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

September 2020: Henrik Lundqvist's Contract Bought Out

In September 2020, the Rangers bought out the final year of Henrik Lundqvist's contract, ending his 15-year tenure in New York.

2020: Reverse Retro Alternate Uniform Release

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.

January 31, 2021: Tony DeAngelo Placed on Waivers

On January 31, 2021, Tony DeAngelo was placed on waivers due to maturity issues and a decline in play, following an altercation with teammate Alexandar Georgiev.

May 3, 2021: Tom Wilson Incident and Fallout

On May 3, 2021, Tom Wilson cross-checked Pavel Buchnevich and slammed Artemi Panarin. Wilson was fined $5,000, the Rangers criticized the decision, and were fined $250,000. John Davidson and Jeff Gorton were fired, and Chris Drury was named president and general manager.

May 5, 2021: Chris Drury Named General Manager

On May 5, 2021, Chris Drury was named the general manager of the New York Rangers.

2022: Reverse Retro Uniform Release

During the 2022–23 season, the Rangers released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform. This uniform featured the "Lady Liberty" design worn from 1996 to 2007, but the lighter Broadway Blue served as the base color while the lower sleeves were recolored red with white and navy stripes.

June 13, 2023: Peter Laviolette Hired as Head Coach

On June 13, 2023, Peter Laviolette was hired as the head coach of the New York Rangers.

2023: New Third Jersey Introduction

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.

2024: Stadium Series Jersey

For the 2024 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.

2024: Playoff Run

In 2024, the Rangers swept the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round, but lost to the Florida Panthers in the conference finals, who eventually became the Stanley Cup champions.