1988–89 New York Rangers season
The 1988–89 New York Rangers season was the Rangers' 63rd season. The team returned to the playoffs for the 11th time in 12 seasons. A major storyline of the season was Guy Lafleur's comeback from retirement.
Regular season
Guy Lafleur
After being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Guy Lafleur returned to the NHL during the 1988–89 with the New York Rangers. Lafleur remained one of the few players that did not wear protective helmets due to the Grandfather clause. A highlight of Lafleur's season was the opportunity to be on the same team with Marcel Dionne. During his first game back in the Montreal Forum, he scored twice against Patrick Roy during the Rangers' 7–5 loss to the Canadiens. Although his high-scoring days were well behind him, his stint with the Rangers was moderately successful and he helped the team to first place in the Patrick Division until being knocked out by a knee injury. The Rangers would finish the season in third place.Season standings
Schedule and results
Playoffs
Key: Win LossPlayer statistics
;Skaters| Player | ||||||
| 79 | 32 | 56 | 88 | 5 | 148 | |
| 68 | 23 | 48 | 71 | 8 | 50 | |
| 78 | 29 | 35 | 64 | 7 | 60 | |
| 78 | 36 | 27 | 63 | 17 | 140 | |
| 70 | 26 | 36 | 62 | 14 | 91 | |
| † | 41 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 1 | 45 |
| 68 | 11 | 36 | 47 | 3 | 41 | |
| 67 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 1 | 12 | |
| 56 | 24 | 19 | 43 | -6 | 50 | |
| 60 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 0 | 14 | |
| 73 | 9 | 24 | 33 | -6 | 107 | |
| 69 | 8 | 25 | 33 | -15 | 154 | |
| 38 | 8 | 16 | 24 | -3 | 6 | |
| 37 | 7 | 16 | 23 | -6 | 20 | |
| ‡ | 30 | 7 | 10 | 17 | -2 | 39 |
| 63 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 88 | |
| 44 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -3 | 27 | |
| 38 | 7 | 7 | 14 | -8 | 177 | |
| † | 45 | 2 | 12 | 14 | -8 | 45 |
| ‡ | 31 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 16 |
| 58 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 94 | |
| 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 4 | |
| ‡ | 26 | 0 | 10 | 10 | -3 | 14 |
| 24 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -1 | 2 | |
| ‡ | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 15 |
| 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 18 | |
| † | 13 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -6 | 31 |
| 52 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -8 | 199 | |
| ‡ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 2 | |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 | |
| ‡ | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 40 |
| 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 84 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | |
| †‡ | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 0 | |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Player | |||||
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 30 | |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 27 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
;Goaltenders
| Player | ||||||||||
| 56 | 3207 | 28 | 21 | 4 | 197 | 3.69 | 1662 | .881 | 0 | |
| 30 | 1621 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 102 | 3.78 | 787 | .870 | 1 |
| Player | |||||||||
| 2 | 107 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3.36 | 55 | .891 | 0 | |
| 2 | 72 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6.67 | 51 | .843 | 0 | |
| 1 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.14 | 30 | .867 | 0 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
Roster
Forwards
, Ulf Dahlen, Lucien DeBlois, John Ogrodnick, Jan Erixon, Chris Nilan, Brian Mullen, Paul Cyr, Tony Granato, Kelly Kisio, Carey Wilson, Marcel Dionne, Don Maloney.Defencemen
, Mark Hardy, David Shaw, Norm MacIver, Normand RochefortDraft picks
New York's picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the Montreal Forum.| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 2 | 22 | Troy Mallette | LW | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | |
| 2 | 26 | Murray Duval | D | Spokane Chiefs | |
| 4 | 68 | Tony Amonte | RW | Thayer Academy | |
| 5 | 99 | Martin Bergeron | C | Drummondville Voltigeurs | |
| 6 | 110 | Dennis Vial | D | Hamilton Steelhawks | |
| 7 | 131 | Mike Rosati | G | Hamilton Steelhawks | |
| 8 | 152 | Eric Couvrette | LW | Saint-Jean Castors | |
| 10 | 194 | Paul Cain | C | Cornwall Royals | |
| 10 | 202 | Eric Fenton | RW | N. Yarmouth Academy | |
| 11 | 215 | Peter Fiorentino | D | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | |
| 12 | 236 | Keith Slifstein | RW | Choate Academy |
Supplemental Draft
New York's picks at the 1988 NHL Supplemental Draft.| Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| Mike Hurlbut | D | St. Lawrence University | |
| Ron Lecinskas | LW | Salem State College |
Awards and records
- Brian Leetch, Calder Memorial Trophy
- Brian Leetch, Most Goals by a Rookie Defenseman in One Season
- Most goals by rookie, season - Tony Granato - 36