1996–97 New York Rangers season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1996–97 1996 New York Rangers Eastern 5th Atlantic 4th 38–34–10 21–14–6 17–20–4 258 231 Neil Smith Colin Campbell Mark Messier Brian LeetchAdam Graves Madison Square Garden 18,200 (100%) Binghamton RangersCharlotte Checkers Mark Messier (36) Wayne Gretzky (72) Wayne Gretzky (97) Darren Langdon (195) Brian Leetch (+31) Mike Richter (33) Glenn Healy (2.61) The 1996–97 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 71st season. The highlight of the season was that it was Wayne Gretzky's first season in New York. The Rangers qualified for the playoffs as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they were defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers. This marked the last playoff appearance for the Rangers until the 2005–06 season. Regular season The Rangers had the fewest power-play opportunities during the regular season (287), but the best power-play percentage (21.95%).https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997.html 1996-97 NHL Summary Final standings NYR NYR Playoffs 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs Schedule and results Regular season background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid; 1996–97 regular season1996-97 New York Rangers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1997_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 21, 2023 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; October: 5–6–3 (home: 4–3–1; road: 1–3–2) Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap |- | 1 || October 5, 1996 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–4 OT || 0–0–1 || 1996020004 T |- | 2 || October 6, 1996 || Florida Panthers || 5–2 || 0–1–1 || 1996020015 L |- | 3 || October 8, 1996 || @ Florida Panthers || 1–1 OT || 0–1–2 || 1996020024 T |- | 4 || October 10, 1996 || Dallas Stars || 2–1 || 0–2–2 || 1996020034 L |- | 5 || October 12, 1996 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 5–2 || 0–3–2 || 1996020045 L |- | 6 || October 14, 1996 || Calgary Flames || 5–4 || 1–3–2 || 1996020056 W |- | 7 || October 16, 1996 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–1 || 2–3–2 || 1996020066 W |- | 8 || October 18, 1996 || St. Louis Blues || 2–1 || 3–3–2 || 1996020076 W |- | 9 || October 20, 1996 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–2 || 3–4–2 || 1996020087 L |- | 10 || October 23, 1996 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 || 3–5–2 || 1996020100 L |- | 11 || October 25, 1996 || @ Florida Panthers || 6–4 || 3–6–2 || 1996020112 L |- | 12 || October 27, 1996 || Buffalo Sabres || 6–4 || 4–6–2 || 1996020125 W |- | 13 || October 29, 1996 || Florida Panthers || 1–1 OT || 4–6–3 || 1996020132 T |- | 14 || October 30, 1996 || @ New Jersey Devils || 6–1 || 5–6–3 || 1996020137 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; November: 4–7–1 (home: 0–3–0; road: 4–4–1) Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap |- | 15 || November 2, 1996 || @ Boston Bruins || 5–2 || 6–6–3 || 1996020156 W |- | 16 || November 4, 1996 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–3 || 6–7–3 || 1996020171 L |- | 17 || November 6, 1996 || @ New York Islanders || 1–1 OT || 6–7–4 || 1996020177 T |- | 18 || November 9, 1996 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–2 || 6–8–4 || 1996020199 L |- | 19 || November 11, 1996 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–2 || 6–9–4 || 1996020210 L |- | 20 || November 13, 1996 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 6–10–4 || 1996020218 L |- | 21 || November 16, 1996 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–3 || 7–10–4 || 1996020235 W |- | 22 || November 18, 1996 || @ Calgary Flames || 5–3 || 7–11–4 || 1996020250 L |- | 23 || November 21, 1996 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 3–2 || 7–12–4 || 1996020267 L |- | 24 || November 23, 1996 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 5–3 || 7–13–4 || 1996020283 L |- | 25 || November 26, 1996 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 3–1 || 8–13–4 || 1996020291 W |- | 26 || November 27, 1996 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 5–2 || 9–13–4 || 1996020300 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; December: 11–3–1 (home: 7–1–1; road: 4–2–0) Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap |- | 27 || December 1, 1996 || Montreal Canadiens || 6–2 || 10–13–4 || 1996020322 W |- | 28 || December 4, 1996 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–1 OT || 10–13–5 || 1996020336 T |- | 29 || December 6, 1996 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–5 || 11–13–5 || 1996020347 W |- | 30 || December 7, 1996 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–0 || 12–13–5 || 1996020359 W |- | 31 || December 9, 1996 || Phoenix Coyotes || 5–2 || 13–13–5 || 1996020366 W |- | 32 || December 11, 1996 || New York Islanders || 5–3 || 13–14–5 || 1996020376 L |- | 33 || December 13, 1996 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–0 || 14–14–5 || 1996020386 W |- | 34 || December 16, 1996 || Hartford Whalers || 5–2 || 15–14–5 || 1996020406 W |- | 35 || December 18, 1996 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–0 || 16–14–5 || 1996020415 W |- | 36 || December 21, 1996 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 OT || 17–14–5 || 1996020436 W |- | 37 || December 22, 1996 || Florida Panthers || 7–3 || 18–14–5 || 1996020440 W |- | 38 || December 26, 1996 || @ Ottawa Senators || 5–2 || 18–15–5 || 1996020457 L |- | 39 || December 27, 1996 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–2 || 19–15–5 || 1996020464 W |- | 40 || December 30, 1996 || @ Dallas Stars || 3–2 || 20–15–5 || 1996020488 W |- | 41 || December 31, 1996 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–2 || 20–16–5 || 1996020491 L |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; January: 5–4–2 (home: 3–3–2; road: 2–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap |- | 42 || January 2, 1997 || New York Islanders || 4–3 || 21–16–5 || 1996020500 W |- | 43 || January 4, 1997 || Ottawa Senators || 6–4 || 22–16–5 || 1996020517 W |- | 44 || January 6, 1997 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–2 OT || 22–16–6 || 1996020527 T |- | 45 || January 8, 1997 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 || 22–17–6 || 1996020535 L |- | 46 || January 9, 1997 || @ Washington Capitals || 2–0 || 22–18–6 || 1996020543 L |- | 47 || January 12, 1997 || New Jersey Devils || 3–0 || 23–18–6 || 1996020562 W |- | 48 || January 13, 1997 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || 23–19–6 || 1996020568 L |- | 49 || January 21, 1997 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–4 OT || 23–19–7 || 1996020592 T |- | 50 || January 22, 1997 || @ Washington Capitals || 5–3 || 24–19–7 || 1996020600 W |- | 51 || January 25, 1997 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–4 || 25–19–7 || 1996020617 W |- | 52 || January 27, 1997 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–1 || 25–20–7 || 1996020629 L |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; February: 3–6–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–5–1) Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap |- | 53 || February 1, 1997 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 26–20–7 || 1996020657 W |- | 54 || February 2, 1997 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 26–21–7 || 1996020666 L |- | 55 || February 5, 1997 || Hartford Whalers || 5–2 || 27–21–7 || 1996020680 W |- | 56 || February 8, 1997 || @ New York Islanders || 5–2 || 28–21–7 || 1996020698 W |- | 57 || February 9, 1997 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–3 || 28–22–7 || 1996020706 L |- | 58 || February 13, 1997 || @ St. Louis Blues || 4–1 || 28–23–7 || 1996020727 L |- | 59 || February 15, 1997 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 2–0 || 28–24–7 || 1996020738 L |- | 60 || February 17, 1997 || New Jersey Devils || 2–2 OT || 28–24–8 || 1996020749 T |- | 61 || February 19, 1997 || @ New Jersey Devils || 1–1 OT || 28–24–9 || 1996020761 T |- | 62 || February 21, 1997 || @ Hartford Whalers || 7–2 || 28–25–9 || 1996020771 L |- | 63 || February 23, 1997 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 28–26–9 || 1996020785 L |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; March: 7–6–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 3–4–0) Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap |- | 64 || March 1, 1997 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 3–0 || 28–27–9 || 1996020820 L |- | 65 || March 3, 1997 || San Jose Sharks || 5–4 OT || 29–27–9 || 1996020829 W |- | 66 || March 6, 1997 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 6–2 || 30–27–9 || 1996020849 W |- | 67 || March 7, 1997 || @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 5–2 || 30–28–9 || 1996020853 L |- | 68 || March 9, 1997 || @ San Jose Sharks || 2–1 || 31–28–9 || 1996020868 W |- | 69 || March 12, 1997 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 || 32–28–9 || 1996020879 W |- | 70 || March 14, 1997 || @ Ottawa Senators || 4–3 OT || 33–28–9 || 1996020890 W |- | 71 || March 17, 1997 || Ottawa Senators || 4–3 || 33–29–9 || 1996020911 L |- | 72 || March 19, 1997 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–4 || 33–30–9 || 1996020917 L |- | 73 || March 21, 1997 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–1 || 34–30–9 || 1996020930 W |- | 74 || March 24, 1997 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–0 || 35–30–9 || 1996020948 W |- | 75 || March 27, 1997 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–0 || 35–31–9 || 1996020963 L |- | 76 || March 29, 1997 || @ Hartford Whalers || 2–1 || 35–32–9 || 1996020971 L |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; April: 3–2–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 1–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap |- | 77 || April 1, 1997 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–1 OT || 35–32–10 || 1996020987 T |- | 78 || April 3, 1997 || Boston Bruins || 5–4 || 36–32–10 || 1996021001 W |- | 79 || April 4, 1997 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 5–1 || 36–33–10 || 1996021006 L |- | 80 || April 7, 1997 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || 37–33–10 || 1996021025 W |- | 81 || April 10, 1997 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 6–3 || 38–33–10 || 1996021041 W |- | 82 || April 11, 1997 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–2 || 38–34–10 || 1996021046 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid; 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Florida Panthers – Rangers win 4–1 Game Date Opponent Score Series Recap |- | 1 ||April 17, 1997 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–0 || Panthers lead 1–0 || 1996030141 L |- | 2 ||April 20, 1997 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–0 || Series tied 1–1 || 1996030142 W |- | 3 ||April 22, 1997 || Florida Panthers || 4–3 OT || Rangers lead 2–1 || 1996030143 W |- | 4 ||April 23, 1997 || Florida Panthers || 3–2 || Rangers lead 3–1 || 1996030144 W |- | 5 ||April 25, 1997 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–2 OT || Rangers win 4–1 || 1996030145 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (1) New Jersey Devils – Rangers win 4–1 Game Date Opponent Score Series Recap |- | 1 || May 2, 1997 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–0 || Devils lead 1–0 || 1996030211 L |- | 2 || May 4, 1997 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–0 || Series tied 1–1 || 1996030212 W |- | 3 || May 6, 1997 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || Rangers lead 2–1 || 1996030213 W |- | 4 || May 8, 1997 || New Jersey Devils || 3–0 || Rangers lead 3–1 || 1996030214 W |- | 5 || May 11, 1997 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–1 OT || Rangers win 4–1 || 1996030215 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; Eastern Conference Finals vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 4–1 Game Date Opponent Score Series Recap |- | 1 || May 16, 1997 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Flyers lead 1–0 || 1996030311 L |- | 2 || May 18, 1997 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–4 || Series tied 1–1 || 1996030312 W |- | 3 || May 20, 1997 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–3 || Flyers lead 2–1 || 1996030313 L |- | 4 || May 23, 1997 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || Flyers lead 3–1 || 1996030314 L |- | 5 || May 25, 1997 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || Flyers win 4–1 || 1996030315 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black W #fcc Loss 1px solid black L Player statistics Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only. No. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season Playoffs GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 99 Wayne Gretzky C 82 25 72 97 12 28 15 10 10 20 5 2 11 Mark Messier C 71 36 48 84 12 88 15 3 9 12 2 6 2 Brian Leetch D 82 20 58 78 31 40 15 2 8 10 5 6 9 Adam Graves LW 82 33 28 61 10 66 15 2 1 3 1 12 24 Niklas Sundstrom Niklas Sundström RW 82 24 28 52 23 20 9 0 5 5 3 2 20 Luc Robitaille LW 69 24 24 48 16 48 15 4 7 11 7 4 25 Alexander Karpovtsev D 77 9 29 38 1 59 13 1 3 4 2 20 27 Alexei Kovalev RW 45 13 22 35 11 42 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 33 Bruce Driver D 79 5 25 30 8 48 15 0 1 1 −3 2 8Flatley wore number 26 on February 5. Patrick Flatley RW 68 10 12 22 6 26 11 0 0 0 2 14 13 Sergei Nemchinov C 63 6 13 19 5 12 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 5 Ulf Samuelsson D 73 6 11 17 3 138 15 0 2 2 1 30 28 Brian Noonan RW 44 6 9 15 −7 28 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 18 Bill Berg ice hockey LW 67 8 6 14 2 37 3 0 0 0 −1 2 16 Daniel Goneau LW 41 10 3 13 −5 10 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 23 Jeff Beukeboom D 80 3 9 12 22 167 15 0 1 1 5 34 39 Vladimir Vorobiev RW 16 5 5 10 4 6 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 15 Darren Langdon LW 60 3 6 9 −1 195 10 0 0 0 −1 2 32 Mike Eastwood C 27 1 7 8 2 10 15 1 2 3 0 22 6 Doug Lidster D 48 3 4 7 10 24 15 1 5 6 −2 8 21 Russ Courtnall RW 14 2 5 7 −3 2 15 3 4 7 1 0 26 David Oliver ice hockey RW 14 2 1 3 3 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 10 Esa Tikkanen C 14 1 2 3 0 6 15 9 3 12 2 26 19 Christian Dube Christian Dubé (ice hockey) C 27 1 1 2 −4 4 3 0 0 0 −2 0 14 Chris Ferraro RW 12 1 1 2 1 6 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 37 Ryan VandenBussche RW 11 1 0 1 −2 30 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 29 Eric Cairns D 40 0 1 1 −7 147 3 0 0 0 0 0 22 Shane Churla RW 45 0 1 1 −10 106 15 0 0 0 −3 20 21 Jayson More D 14 0 1 1 0 25 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 38Blouin wore number 32 in his first five games. Sylvain Blouin D 6 0 0 0 −1 18 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 28 Dallas Eakins D 3 0 0 0 −1 6 4 0 0 0 −1 4 17 Peter Ferraro C 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 30 Glenn Healy G 23 0 0 0 -98 4 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 32 Sergio Momesso LW 9 0 0 0 −2 11 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 36 Jeff Nielsen RW 2 0 0 0 −1 2 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 35 Mike Richter G 61 0 0 0 -98 4 15 0 1 1 -98 0 12 Ken Gernander C -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 9 0 0 0 0 0 Goaltending No. Jersey number Player Regular season Playoffs GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on Ice GP Games played W Wins L Losses SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on Ice 35 Mike Richter 61 33 22 6 1945 161 2.69 .917 4 3598 15 9 6 488 33 2.11 .932 3 939 30 Glenn Healy 23 5 12 4 632 59 2.61 .907 1 1357 — — — — — — — — — Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) James Norris Memorial Trophy Brian LeetchJames Norris Memorial Trophy https://records.nhl.com/awards/trophies/james-norris-memorial-trophy records.nhl.com July 27, 2023 NHL First All-Star Team Brian Leetch (Defense)Postseason All-Star Teams https://records.nhl.com/awards/phwa-all-star-teams?season=19961997 records.nhl.com July 26, 2023 NHL Second All-Star Team Wayne Gretzky (Center) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Wayne Gretzkyfn1 Gretzky and Leetch were voted to the starting lineup.NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986) https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 NHL.com August 29, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20230322193353/https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 March 22, 20231997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1997_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 Brian Leetchfn1 Mark Messier Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide New York Rangers 2014 349–352 "Crumb Bum" Award Mike Richter Frank Boucher Trophy Mark Messier Good Guy Award Wayne Gretzky Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Eric Cairns Players' Player Award Darren Langdon Rangers MVP Brian Leetch Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Brian Leetch Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Daniel Goneau October 5, 19961996-97 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 7, 2024 Eric Cairns October 8, 1996 Christian Dube Sylvain Blouin November 18, 1996 Ryan VandenBussche December 13, 1996 Vladimir Vorobiev January 12, 1997 Jeff Nielsen February 19, 1997 Draft picks New York's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft in St. Louis, Missouri at the Kiel Center.1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1996e.html www.hockeydb.com July 27, 2023 Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 1 22 Jeff Brown D Canada Sarnia Sting (OHL) 2 48 Daniel Goneau LW Canada Granby Predateurs (QMJHL) 3 76 Dmitri Subbotin LW Russia CSKA Moscow (Russia) 5 131 Colin Pepperall LW Canada Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) 6 158 Ola Sandberg D Sweden Djurgårdens IF (SEL) 7 185 Jeff Dessner D United States Taft School (Connecticut) 8 211 Ryan McKie D Canada London Knights (OHL) 9 237 Ronnie Sundin D Sweden Frölunda HC (SEL) Notes References New York Rangers 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000481997.html www.hockeydb.com July 21, 2023 1996-97 New York Rangers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1997.html Hockey-Reference.com July 21, 2023 Category:New York Rangers seasons New York Rangers New York Rangers New York Rangers Category:1990s in Manhattan