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.

2014–15 New York Rangers
Metropolitan Division champions
Division1st Metropolitan
Conference1st Eastern
2014–15 record53–22–7
Home record25–11–5
Road record28–11–2
Goals for252
Goals against192
Team information
General managerGlen Sather
CoachAlain Vigneault
CaptainRyan McDonagh
Alternate captainsDan Girardi
Marc Staal
Derek Stepan
Martin St. Louis
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Average attendance18,006[1]
(37 games)
Minor league affiliate(s)Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)
Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsRick Nash (42)
AssistsDerick Brassard (41)
PointsRick Nash (69)
Penalty minutesTanner Glass (98)
Plus/minusRick Nash (+29)
WinsHenrik Lundqvist (30)
Goals against averageMackenzie Skapski (0.50)

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.[2][3]

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.[4][5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10] 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
See also: 2015 Stanley Cup 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
Metropolitan Division
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 p – New York Rangers 82 53 22 7 49 252 192 +60 113
2 x – Washington Capitals 82 45 26 11 40 242 203 +39 101
3 x – New York Islanders 82 47 28 7 40 252 230 +22 101
4 x – Pittsburgh Penguins 82 43 27 12 39 221 210 +11 98
5 Columbus Blue Jackets 82 42 35 5 33 236 250 −14 89
6 Philadelphia Flyers 82 33 31 18 30 215 234 −19 84
7 New Jersey Devils 82 32 36 14 27 181 216 −35 78
8 Carolina Hurricanes 82 30 41 11 25 188 226 −38 71
Source: National Hockey League
p – Clinched Presidents' Trophy; x – Clinched playoff spot.

Schedule and results

Pre-season
2014 pre-season: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 1–2–0)

Regular season
2014–15 Game Log
October: 5–4–0, 10 Points (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 2–2–0)
November: 6–4–4, 16 Points (Home: 5–5–0; Road: 1–3–1)
December: 9–3–0, 18 Points (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 5–2–0)
January: 8–4–0, 16 Points (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 5–2–0)
February: 10–2–2, 22 Points (Home: 5–0–2; Road: 5–2–0)
March: 10–4–1, 21 Points (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 7–1–1)
April: 5–1–0, 10 Points (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 3–0–0)

  Win (2 Points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs
Main article: 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs
2015 Stanley Cup playoffs
Eastern Conference First Round vs. (WC) Pittsburgh Penguins – Rangers won series 4–1 (Home: 2–1 Away: 2–0)
Eastern Conference Second Round vs. (M2) Washington Capitals – Rangers won series 4–3 (Home: 3–1 Away: 1–2)
Eastern Conference Final vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning – Lightning won series 4–3 (Home: 1–3 Away: 2–1)

Player statistics

Final Stats

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular season[11]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Henrik Lundqvist46462743301331032.251329.9225010
Cam Talbot363420952194772.211038.9265000
Mackenzie Skapski2212020010.5045.9781000
Playoffs
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Henrik Lundqvist19191166118412.11570.9280000

†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, 2015

Player Injury Date Returned Games missed
Derek StepanLower-body-injury (broken leg)September 24, 2014[12]November 8, 201412 games
Dan BoyleUpper-body-injury (broken hand)October 9, 2014[13]November 13, 201414 games
Ryan McDonaghUpper-body-injury (shoulder)November 1, 2014November 28, 201410 games
Kevin KleinLower-body-injury (foot)November 1, 2014November 5, 20141 game
Mats ZuccarelloUndisclosedNovember 1, 2014November 5, 20141 game
Henrik Lundqvist Vascular injury (neck)February 4, 2015March 28, 201525 games
Jesper Fast Knee sprainFebruary 8, 2015[14]March 2, 201511 games
Rick Nash Neck spasmsFebruary 24, 2015February 26, 20151 game
Kevin KleinUpper-body-injury (arm)March 11, 2015[15]April 30, 201516 games
Martin St. LouisLower-body-injury (leg)March 15, 2015[16]April 2, 20158 games
Total74 games

Suspensions/fines
Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued
John MooreIllegal check to the head of Minnesota Wild forward Erik Haula during NHL Game No. 122 in New York on Monday, October 27, 2014, at 7:12 of the second period.5 games$51,859.75October 29, 2014[17]
Tanner GlassButt-ending of Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid during NHL Game No. 1116 in Boston on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 20:00 of the third period.—$3,897.85March 28, 2015[18]

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Rangers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2014–15 season:

Trades
June 27, 2014[26] To Vancouver Canucks:
Derek Dorsett		 To New York Rangers:
ANA's 3rd-round pick in 2014
June 28, 2014[27] 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[27] 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[28] To Florida Panthers:
Steven Kampfer
Andrew Yogan		 To New York Rangers:
Joey Crabb
March 1, 2015[29] 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[30] To Winnipeg Jets:
Lee Stempniak		 To New York Rangers:
Carl Klingberg
March 1, 2015[31] To San Jose Sharks:
4th-round pick in 2016		 To New York Rangers:
James Sheppard
June 1, 2015[32] To Tampa Bay Lightning:
Daniel Walcott		 To New York Rangers:
NYR's 7th-round pick in 2015

Draft picks
See also: List of New York Rangers 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.[67]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
2 59 Brandon Halverson Goaltender USA Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
3 85a Keegan Iverson Center USA Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
4 104b Ryan Mantha Defenseman USA Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4 118c Igor Shestyorkin Goaltender Russia JHC Spartak (MHL)
5 122d Richard Nejezchleb Right Wing Czech Republic Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
5 140e Daniel Walcott Defenseman Canada Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
5 142f Tyler Nanne Defenseman USA Edina High School (MSHSL)
Draft notes[68]
  • 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 (being conditional at the time of the trade).[69] 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.
  • a 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.[70]
        Vancouver previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 27, 2014, that sent Ryan Kesler and a third-round pick in 2015 to Anaheim in exchange for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa, a first-round pick in 2014 (24th overall) and this pick.[71]
  • 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 (104th overall) and Chicago's fourth-round pick in 2014 (118th overall) to New York in exchange for this pick.
  • b 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 (89th overall) to Washington in exchange for Chicago's fourth-round pick in 2014 (118th overall) and this pick.
  • c 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 (89th overall) to Washington in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2014 (104th overall) 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.[72]
         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.[73]
  • 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 (120th overall) and St. Louis' fifth-round pick in 2014 (142nd overall) to New York in exchange for this pick.
  • d 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.[74]
  • e 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 (119th overall) to Tampa Bay in exchange for St. Louis' fifth-round pick in 2014 (142nd overall) and this pick.
  • f 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 (119th overall) to Tampa Bay in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2014 (140th overall) 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.[75]
  • 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 (being conditional at the time of the trade).[76] 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.[77]
  • 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 (27th and 62nd overall) to San Jose in exchange for a first-round pick in 2014 (20th overall) and this pick.[78]
         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 (being conditional at the time of the trade).[79] 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.[80] – 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.[81]

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