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 (which were both surpassed by the 2023–24 team). 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 Rangers faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, winning the series in five games following an overtime winner from Carl Hagelin. In the second round, the Rangers took on the Washington Capitals, winning the series in seven games after initially trailing three games to one. The season marked the third time in four years that the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Finals. They faced the Tampa Bay Lightning, but lost the series in seven games. They were the most recent Presidents' Trophy winners to advance past the second round of the playoffs until the 2023–24 team.

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 was their most wins and points scored in franchise history, which were both surpassed by the 2023–24 team.

Playoffs

In the first round of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Rangers played the Pittsburgh Penguins and won the series in five games. The series winner occurred in Game 5 in overtime from Carl Hagelin.

In the second round of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Rangers played the Washington Capitals and won the series in seven games. In Game 5, Chris Kreider tied the game with 1:41 left in regulation, and Ryan McDonagh won it in overtime. In Game 7, Derek Stepan scored an overtime winner, making him the second Ranger to score a Game 7 overtime winner after Stéphane Matteau did so in Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils. 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.

In the third round, the Rangers played the Tampa Bay Lightning, but lost the series in seven games including two shutouts at home. With the Game 7 loss, it was the first time the Rangers have lost a playoff Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.

After the playoff loss, head coach Alain Vigneault revealed that McDonagh was playing with a broken foot throughout the playoffs. Additionally, Mats Zuccarello also suffered a serious brain contusion and concussion after taking a hit in the head from a shot by McDonagh.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Final Stats

Skaters

Goaltenders

^†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.

Player injuries

Updated as of May 2, 2015

Player suspensions/fines

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

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

Trades

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.

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 (being conditional at the time of the trade). 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.
      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.
• 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.
       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 (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.
• ^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.
• 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). 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 (27th and 62nd overall) to San Jose in exchange for a first-round pick in 2014 (20th overall) 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 (being conditional at the time of the trade). 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.

References