2014–15 New York Rangers season
The 2014–15 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 88th season of play and their 89th season overall.
The Rangers clinched their third Presidents' Trophy and eighth division title by finishing with the best record in the NHL at 53–22–7. The 53 wins and 113 points both set franchise records. The 113 points marked the eighth time in franchise history that the team had reached the 100-point plateau. The division title was the Rangers' first in the Metropolitan Division, which was created during the NHL's realignment in the 2013 offseason. The team won 28 road games in the regular season, breaking the franchise record set the previous season.
The season marked the third time in four years that the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
Off-season
The Rangers used their second compliance buyout on center Brad Richards on June 20, 2014.Training camp
On September 24, center Derek Stepan suffered a fractured fibula during on-ice fitness testing, meaning the Rangers would need to start the season without their number one center for four-to-six weeks.At the conclusion of training camp, Anthony Duclair was named the 2014 winner of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award for being the best Rangers rookie in training camp. Duclair, a third round draft pick in 2013, turned heads in camp by scoring in three-straight pre-season games. Duclair was also the only teenager to score five points or more during the pre-season.
On October 6, defenseman Ryan McDonagh was named the 27th captain in New York Rangers history. Dan Girardi, Martin St. Louis, Marc Staal and Derek Stepan were named alternate captains.
Regular season
On October 14, 2014, in a loss to the New York Islanders, Rick Nash established a franchise record by scoring a goal in each of the team's first four games of a season.On December 27, the Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 3–1 to extend their winning streak to eight in a row, which was the longest win streak by the Rangers since the 1974–75 season.
The Rangers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot on March 26 with a 5–1 win over the Ottawa Senators with 101 points. It is the eighth time in franchise history the team has reached the 100-point mark.
On April 2, 2015, the Rangers clinched the Metropolitan Division title with a win over the Minnesota Wild, 3–2. This win also made it their 26th road win of the season, a franchise record.
On April 4, 2015, the Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 6–1 for their 50th win of the season. This was the fourth time in franchise history that the Rangers achieved a 50 win season.
On April 7, 2015, the Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 4–2 to clinch the Presidents' Trophy, the third in franchise history. This win also made it their 27th league-leading road win.
On April 11, 2015, the Rangers beat the Washington Capitals 4–2 to win their 53rd game with 113 points. This is the most wins and points ever by the team, breaking single-season franchise records.
Playoffs
In the first round of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Rangers played the Pittsburgh Penguins and won the series in five games.In the second round of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Rangers played the Washington Capitals and won the series in seven games.
During the second round, the Rangers set an NHL record in which 14-straight playoff games were decided by one goal. They also became the first team in NHL history to battle back from a 3–1 deficit in back-to-back seasons.
Standings
Schedule and results
Pre-season
Regular season
Playoffs
Player statistics
Final Stats;Skaters
| Player | ||||||
| 79 | 42 | 27 | 69 | 29 | 36 | |
| 80 | 19 | 41 | 60 | 9 | 34 | |
| 68 | 16 | 39 | 55 | 26 | 22 | |
| 74 | 21 | 31 | 52 | 12 | 20 | |
| 78 | 15 | 34 | 49 | 17 | 45 | |
| 80 | 21 | 25 | 46 | 24 | 88 | |
| 79 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 15 | 22 | |
| 82 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 18 | 46 | |
| 71 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 23 | 26 | |
| 82 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 5 | 28 | |
| 65 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 24 | 25 | |
| 58 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 5 | 23 | |
| 65 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 18 | 20 | |
| 80 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 42 | |
| 82 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 12 | 22 | |
| ‡ | 53 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 7 | 18 |
| 58 | 6 | 8 | 14 | −1 | 8 | |
| 55 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 16 | |
| † | 21 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 8 |
| ‡ | 18 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| 66 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −12 | 98 | |
| ‡ | 38 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
| † | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −1 | 9 |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| † | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 | |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 4 |
| Player | ||||||
| 19 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 20 | |
| 19 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 4 | |
| 19 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −1 | 10 | |
| 19 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 10 | |
| 19 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 2 | |
| 19 | 7 | 2 | 9 | −1 | 14 | |
| 19 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 8 | |
| 19 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | |
| 19 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −3 | 2 | |
| 19 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 4 | |
| 19 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | |
| 19 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −4 | 6 | |
| 19 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | |
| 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −1 | 2 | |
| 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −7 | 12 | |
| 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 31 | |
| 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −8 | 10 | |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
;Goaltenders
| Player | ||||||||||||||
| 46 | 46 | 2743 | 30 | 13 | 3 | 103 | 2.25 | 1329 | .922 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 36 | 34 | 2095 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 77 | 2.21 | 1038 | .926 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 2 | 120 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.50 | 45 | .978 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | |||||||||||||
| 19 | 19 | 1166 | 11 | 8 | 41 | 2.11 | 570 | .928 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Rangers. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
Roster
Injuries
Updated as of May 2, 2015Suspensions/fines
Awards and records
Awards
| Player | Award | Date |
| NHL Third Star of the Week | December 15, 2014 | |
| NHL All-Star game selection | January 10, 2015 | |
| NHL All-Star game assistant captain | January 14, 2015 | |
| NHL Third Star of the Week | March 9, 2015 | |
| NHL Second Star of the Week | March 16, 2015 | |
| Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award | April 8, 2015 | |
| Rangers' MVP Players' Player Award | April 8, 2015 |
Milestones
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| 1st career NHL game | October 9, 2014 | |
| Anthony Duclair | 1st career NHL assist 1st career NHL point | October 11, 2014 |
| 1st career NHL game | October 12, 2014 | |
| Kevin Hayes | 1st career NHL goal 1st career NHL point | October 19, 2014 |
| Kevin Hayes | 1st career NHL assist | October 21, 2014 |
| Anthony Duclair | 1st career NHL goal | October 27, 2014 |
| 300th career NHL game | November 1, 2014 | |
| 100th career NHL game | November 3, 2014 | |
| 100th career NHL point | November 9, 2014 | |
| 100th career NHL point | November 11, 2014 | |
| 200th career NHL point | November 11, 2014 | |
| Carl Hagelin | 200th career NHL game | November 13, 2014 |
| 800th career NHL game | November 15, 2014 | |
| Derek Stepan | 300th career NHL game | November 17, 2014 |
| 1st career NHL assist 1st career NHL point | November 23, 2014 | |
| Rick Nash | 300th career NHL assist | November 26, 2014 |
| 1,000th career NHL point | November 28, 2014 | |
| Jesper Fast | 1st career NHL goal | November 29, 2014 |
| 400th career NHL game | December 14, 2014 | |
| 600th career NHL game | December 21, 2014 | |
| 600th career NHL game | December 27, 2014 | |
| 100th career NHL point | December 31, 2014 | |
| Martin St. Louis | 1,100th career NHL game | January 13, 2015 |
| 500th career NHL game | January 13, 2015 | |
| 200th career NHL game | January 13, 2015 | |
| 500th career NHL win | January 14, 2015 | |
| 200th career NHL assist | February 16, 2015 | |
| 1st career NHL game 1st career NHL win | February 20, 2015 | |
| Mats Zuccarello | 200th career NHL game | February 22, 2015 |
| 1st career NHL game | February 24, 2015 | |
| 1,000th career NHL game | March 4, 2015 | |
| 300th career NHL game | March 10, 2015 | |
| Mackenzie Skapski | 1st career NHL shutout | March 14, 2015 |
| 100th career NHL game | March 15, 2015 | |
| Ryan McDonagh | 100th career NHL assist | April 4, 2015 |
| 1st career NHL game | April 9, 2015 | |
| 100th career NHL goal | April 11, 2015 |
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| 1st career NHL playoff game | April 16, 2015 | |
| Kevin Hayes | 1st career NHL playoff goal 1st career NHL playoff point | April 22, 2015 |
| 1st career NHL playoff goal | April 30, 2015 | |
| 100th career NHL playoff game | May 4, 2015 | |
| 1st career NHL playoff goal | May 26, 2015 |
Transactions
The Rangers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2014–15 season:Trades
| June 27, 2014 | To Vancouver Canucks: Derek Dorsett | To New York Rangers: ANA's 3rd-round pick in 2014 |
| June 28, 2014 | To Washington Capitals: 3rd-round pick in 2014 | To New York Rangers: 4th-round pick in 2014 CHI's 4th-round pick in 2014 |
| June 28, 2014 | To Tampa Bay Lightning: 4th-round pick in 2014 | To New York Rangers: 5th-round pick in 2014 STL's 5th round pick in 2014 |
| October 6, 2014 | To Florida Panthers: Steven Kampfer Andrew Yogan | To New York Rangers: Joey Crabb |
| March 1, 2015 | To Arizona Coyotes: John Moore Anthony Duclair Conditional 1st-round pick in 2016 2nd round pick in 2015 | To New York Rangers: Keith Yandle Chris Summers 4th-round pick in 2016 |
| March 1, 2015 | To Winnipeg Jets: Lee Stempniak | To New York Rangers: Carl Klingberg |
| March 1, 2015 | To San Jose Sharks: 4th-round pick in 2016 | To New York Rangers: James Sheppard |
| June 1, 2015 | To Tampa Bay Lightning: Daniel Walcott | To New York Rangers: NYR's 7th-round pick in 2015 |
Free agents acquired
Free agents lost
Claimed via waivers
Lost via waivers
Lost via retirement
Player signings
Other
| Name | Date | Details |
| Darryl Williams | August 5, 2014 | Named as Assistant Coach |
Draft picks
Below are the New York Rangers' selections made at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 27–28, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 2 | 59 | Brandon Halverson | Goaltender |  USA | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 3 | 85 | Keegan Iverson | Center | USA | Portland Winterhawks |
| 4 | 104 | Ryan Mantha | Defenseman | USA | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 4 | 118 | Igor Shestyorkin | Goaltender |  Russia | JHC Spartak |
| 5 | 122 | Richard Nejezchleb | Right Wing |  Czech Republic | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 5 | 140 | Daniel Walcott | Defenseman |  Canada | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada |
| 5 | 142 | Tyler Nanne | Defenseman | USA | Edina High School |
;Draft notes
- The Rangers' first-round pick went to the Tampa Bay Lightning as the result of a trade on March 5, 2014, that sent Martin St. Louis to New York in exchange for Ryan Callahan, a first-round pick in 2015 and this pick. The condition — Tampa Bay will receive a first-round pick in 2014 if the Rangers advance to the 2014 Eastern Conference Final — was converted on May 13, 2014.
- The Anaheim Ducks' third-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 27, 2014, that sent Derek Dorsett to Vancouver in exchange for this pick.
- The New York Rangers' third-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent a fourth-round pick in 2014 and Chicago's fourth-round pick in 2014 to New York in exchange for this pick.
- The Washington Capitals' fourth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent a third-round pick in 2014 to Washington in exchange for Chicago's fourth-round pick in 2014 and this pick.
- The Chicago Blackhawks' fourth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent a third-round pick in 2014 to Washington in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2014 and this pick.
Washington previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 1, 2014, that sent Jaroslav Halak to the New York Islanders in exchange for this pick.
New York previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 6, 2014, that sent Peter Regin and Pierre-Marc Bouchard to Chicago in exchange for this pick. - The New York Rangers' fourth-round pick went to the Tampa Bay Lightning as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent a fifth-round pick in 2014 and St. Louis' fifth-round pick in 2014 to New York in exchange for this pick.
- The Florida Panthers' fifth-round pick will go to the Rangers as the result of a trade on July 20, 2012 that sent Casey Wellman to Florida in exchange for this pick.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning's fifth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent a fourth-round pick in 2014 to Tampa Bay in exchange for St. Louis' fifth-round pick in 2014 and this pick.
- The St. Louis Blues' fifth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent a fourth-round pick in 2014 to Tampa Bay in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and this pick.
Tampa Bay previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 10, 2012, that sent fourth-round picks in 2013 and 2014 to St. Louis in exchange for B. J. Crombeen and this pick. - The Rangers' fifth-round pick will go to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on April 2, 2013, that sent Ryane Clowe to New York in exchange for a second-round pick in 2013, Florida's third-round pick in 2013 and this pick. The condition – If Clowe does not re-sign with New York and the Rangers do not advance to the Eastern Conference Final, then San Jose will receive a fifth-round pick in 2014 – was converted on July 5, 2013.
- The New York Rangers' sixth-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on June 27, 2014, that sent a first-round pick and Florida's third-round pick both in 2014 to San Jose in exchange for a first-round pick in 2014 and this pick.
San Jose previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on January 16, 2013, that sent Brandon Mashinter to New York in exchange for Tommy Grant and this pick. The condition – San Jose will receive a sixth-round pick in 2014 if Mashinter was a signed player on the Rangers reserve list at some point during the 2013–14 NHL season. – was converted on August 5, 2013, when Mashinter re-signed with the Rangers for the 2013–14 NHL season. - The Rangers' seventh-round pick will go to the Los Angeles Kings as result of a trade on January 4, 2014, that sent Daniel Carcillo to New York in exchange for this conditional pick.