The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden in the borough of Manhattan, an arena they share with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are one of three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area, the others being the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders. The Rangers were founded in 1926 by Tex Rickard as an expansion franchise and were one of the first NHL teams in the United States. The team has won the Stanley Cup four times, most recently in 1994–95. The team adopted its classic heavy blue shirt and white shorts uniform in 1932, which has become synonymous with the Rangers.
Early History
The Dynasty Years
The New York Rangers are based in New York City, New York, and were founded in 1926 by Tex Rickard, president of Madison Square Garden. The team is one of the most recognized teams in the NHL and has a large following because it’s one of the original six teams to compete professionally before the NHL was formed. The first team crest that represented the players included an image of a horse in blue with a cowboy that was waving a hockey stick. Eventually, the crest changed to the “RANGERS,” which is recognized around the world.
Lester Patrick was responsible for leading the team to success as their coach when the team won a Stanley Cup title in 1928. This was when the team was comprised of players that included Murray Murdoch, Frank Boucher, Bill Cook, and Bun. The Rangers officially became the first team to win a Stanley Cup before they continued to win two additional Stanley cups in 1933 and 1940.
Their successes weren’t consistent from the 1940s to the 1960s. They gained more traction in the 1970s as they worked hard to make the Stanley cup finals on two separate occasions, losing in 1972 to the Bruins and in 1979 to the Canadians.
During the 1980s and 1990s, they continued to work hard and gain a stronger following. In 1994, they finally won an additional Stanley Cup. The team was comprised of Adam Graves, Mark Messier, Mike Richter, and Brian Leetch. 1993 to 1994 proved to be the most successful season for the Rangers in 54 years. From 1998 to 2005, the team entered another drought that consisted of losses, which continued into the early 2000s.
Recent History
The New York Rangers recently acquired Gerard Gallant as their new head coach in 2021. The team had a record of 52–24–6 in the 2020-2021 season and was able to make the playoffs since the 2017 season.
The Fans
There’s a high level of comradery among the New York Ranger fans, who are often born into their support of the team due to previous generations of fans in their lineage. At each game, fans are known to join in and sing along to the New York Rangers goal song, which is deafening when thousands of people join in together at a home game.
During the rebuild of the team, fans remained committed and didn’t lose their support, even when the future looked bleak. Fans believed that the New York Rangers tough ending shouldn’t overshadow epic ride due to the thrill and excitement they’ve continued to offer fans at each game.
It’s often easy to spot a fan in the crowds due to their New York Rangers apparel and gear. Fans are also known to purchase souvenirs, mementos, and even New York Rangers wallpaper on their electronic devices.
The Arena
The New York Rangers play all of their home games at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It’s one of the most popular multi-purpose arenas in the world and is where the NHL team has continued to compete in the league since November 16, 1926. Madison Square Garden is larger than most arenas and can seat up to 20,789 people. The team shares the arena with the New York Knicks of the NBA. The New York Americans were the first team to play competitively at the location as they rented the arena during the 1925-1926 season.
Looking Forward
The Core
The Rangers’ core is expected to be together for the foreseeable future and consists of Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Both Barclay Goodrow and Chris Kreider have also secured long-term contracts until 2026-2027. Adam Fox is another player who is a part of the nucleus of the team and has signed a contract that doesn’t expire until 2028-2029. In August 2021, goalie Igor Shesterkin signed a four-year contract due to his impressive skills on the ice and contributions to the team’s recent wins in the league.
The Rookies
The main rookies on the New York Rangers include Nils Lundkvist, who helped start the season. Additional rookies who participated in the training camp in September of 2021 include Zac Jones, Vitali Kravtsov, and Morgan Barron. Zac Jones and Morgan Barron are the two strongest rookies.
Nils Lundkvist is a defenceman who has a successful SHL career and was recognized as the winner of the Salming Trophy. Braden Schneider is also a defenceman who has been sought after by Jeff Gorton. Will Cuylle also signed an entry-level deal with the team and was drafted during the second round of the 2020 draft 60th overall.
FAQ
Why are the NY Rangers called the Rangers?
The NY Rangers are called the Rangers because they were originally called the “Tex’s Rangers” after they were formed by Tex Rickard. This made the team sound like they were called “The Texas Rangers,” prompting them to be called the New York Rangers. The team originally had a logo that included an image of a cowboy, but today their symbol features their name and has a classic appearance that is featured on different types of apparel and memorabilia.
How popular are the NY Rangers in NYC?
The New York Rangers are among three NHL teams in New York but are known to have the largest following as the oldest team in the region. It’s easy to come across different people wearing Rangers gear on the streets or even find vendors who are selling sports memorabilia and apparel, especially during the season each year. Although the team isn’t as popular as some of the top Canadian teams, they are one of the most recognized NFL teams in the U.S. due to its four Stanley Cup titles and history that dates back to 1926.
Who is the greatest NY Ranger?
Brian Leetch is considered to be the greatest New York Ranger of all time because he’s known as a home-grown player. Leetch was drafted to the Rangers in 1986 and spent 17 seasons with the team. He’s gained a lot of attention when he broke the record for earning the most points as a rookie defenceman, earning 23 goals and a total of 71 points. His accomplishments on the ice allowed him to earn the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year.
From 1991-1992, Leetch continued to remain a key player on the team as he scored 22 goals and a total of 102 points. This made him break more records as he was the fifth defenseman in the history of the NHL to score more than 100 points during the season. He earned his second Norris Trophy in 1996-1997 and also became team captain after Mark Messier left the team.
What was the greatest New York Rangers moment in history?
The greatest New York Rangers moment in history was in 1994 when the team won their fourth Stanley Cup. They were only 1.6 seconds away from winning their first Stanley Cup after 54 years as Sam Rosen, the announcer, yells into the microphone, “The waiting is over! The New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions! And this one will last a lifetime!” The crowd erupted in celebration and continued to cry and hug each other.
Conclusion
The New York Rangers continue to be one of the leading ice hockey teams in the National Hockey League and have found success rebuilding their roster without losing their solid fan base over the decades. Today, there is plenty to celebrate as fans continue to enjoy each win and have hope for a promising future as plenty of goals have already been met by the managers of the team.