1989–90 New York Rangers season
The 1989–90 New York Rangers season was the 64th season for the team in the National Hockey League. During the regular season, the Rangers led the Patrick Division with 85 points and qualified for the NHL playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rangers defeated the New York Islanders four games to one and earned a berth in the Patrick Division Finals. There, New York lost to the Washington Capitals in five games.
Offseason
During the offseason, Gulf+Western, owners of the Rangers, and all MSG properties since 1977, changed their name to Paramount Communications. The new name was chosen in honor of the company's leading subsidiary, the Paramount Pictures film studio.Regular season
The Rangers finished the regular season with the most power-play opportunities and the most power-play goals scored.Final standings
Schedule and results
Playoffs
Key: Win LossPlayer statistics
;Skaters| Player | ||||||
| 80 | 43 | 31 | 74 | 11 | 44 | |
| 76 | 27 | 41 | 68 | 7 | 42 | |
| 76 | 32 | 34 | 66 | 3 | 32 | |
| 68 | 22 | 44 | 66 | 11 | 105 | |
| 73 | 14 | 43 | 57 | 4 | 50 | |
| 72 | 11 | 45 | 56 | −18 | 26 | |
| ‡ | 48 | 19 | 19 | 38 | −10 | 100 |
| † | 32 | 12 | 25 | 37 | −3 | 20 |
| ‡ | 63 | 18 | 18 | 36 | −4 | 30 |
| 79 | 13 | 16 | 29 | −8 | 305 | |
| 41 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 4 | 57 | |
| ‡ | 37 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 77 |
| † | 12 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 6 |
| 54 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 94 | |
| 45 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 26 | |
| 68 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 286 | |
| 80 | 5 | 8 | 13 | −26 | 161 | |
| 58 | 4 | 9 | 13 | −17 | 8 | |
| 60 | 1 | 12 | 13 | −1 | 139 | |
| 22 | 2 | 10 | 12 | −3 | 22 | |
| 55 | 1 | 9 | 10 | −7 | 53 | |
| 56 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −10 | 80 | |
| 32 | 5 | 3 | 8 | −4 | 26 | |
| 28 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −8 | 25 | |
| † | 19 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 16 | 0 | 5 | 5 | −1 | 2 | |
| 31 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 24 | |
| 25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −8 | 59 | |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −4 | 5 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 | |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 6 | |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 55 |
| Player | |||||
| 10 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 16 | |
| 10 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 0 | |
| 10 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 8 | |
| 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 0 | |
| 10 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 12 | |
| 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 32 | |
| 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 81 | |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | |
| 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 26 | |
| 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | |
| 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | |
| 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | |
| 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
;Goaltenders
| Player | ||||||||||
| 47 | 2734 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 154 | 3.38 | 1362 | .887 | 1 | |
| 23 | 1320 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 66 | 3.00 | 686 | .904 | 0 | |
| 15 | 812 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 45 | 3.33 | 355 | .873 | 0 |
| Player | |||||||||
| 6 | 330 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 3.45 | 181 | .895 | 0 | |
| 6 | 298 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 3.02 | 153 | .902 | 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
Awards and records
Transactions
- September 1, 1989: the Rangers traded Barry Beck to the Los Angeles Kings for future considerations.
- September 7, 1989: the Rangers traded Chris McRae and a 5th round draft pick in 1990 to the Detroit Red Wings for Kris King.
- September 14, 1989: the Rangers acquired Lee Giffin from the Pittsburgh Penguins for future considerations.
- October 5, 1989: the Rangers traded Michel Petit to the Quebec Nordiques for Randy Moller.
- November 1, 1989: the Rangers traded Jayson More to the Minnesota North Stars for Dave Archibald.
- January 20, 1990: the Rangers traded Tomas Sandstrom and Tony Granato to the Los Angeles Kings for Bernie Nicholls.
- March 6, 1990: the Rangers traded Ulf Dahlen, a 4th round draft pick in 1990, and future considerations to the Minnesota North Stars for Mike Gartner.
Draft picks
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 1 | 20 | Steven Rice | RW | Kitchener Rangers | |
| 2 | 40 | Jason Prosofsky | RW | Medicine Hat Tigers | |
| 3 | 45 | Rob Zamuner | LW | Guelph Platers | |
| 3 | 49 | Louie DeBrusk | LW | London Knights | |
| 4 | 67 | Jim Cummins | RW | Michigan State University | |
| 5 | 88 | Aaron Miller | D | Niagara Scenics | |
| 6 | 118 | Joby Messier | D | Michigan State University | |
| 7 | 139 | Greg Leahy | F | Portland Winter Hawks | |
| 8 | 160 | Greg Spenrath | D | Tri-City Americans | |
| 9 | 181 | Mark Bavis | LW | Cushing Academy | |
| 10 | 202 | Roman Oksiuta | RW | Voskresensk Khimik | |
| 11 | 223 | Steve Locke | D | Niagara Falls Thunder | |
| 12 | 244 | Kenneth MacDermid | LW | Hull Olympiques |
Supplemental Draft
New York's picks at the 1989 NHL Supplemental Draft.| Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| Anthony Palumbo | C | Lake Superior State University |