# 1975–76 New York Rangers season

The 1975–76 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 50th season. The Rangers would finish in fourth in the Patrick Division and miss the playoffs.

## Offseason

The Rangers chose Wayne Dillon as their first pick in the 1975 draft. Dillon was already playing professionally with the Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association.

## Regular season

On November 7, 1975, the New York Rangers pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Boston Bruins, exchanging Brad Park, Jean Ratelle and Joe Zanussi for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais.

### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 51 | 13 | 16 | 348 | 209 | 118 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 42 | 21 | 17 | 297 | 190 | 101 |
| Atlanta Flames | 80 | 35 | 33 | 12 | 262 | 237 | 82 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 29 | 42 | 9 | 262 | 333 | 67 |

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Atlanta
—1–1–43–2–11–4–15–7–6
N.Y. Islanders
1–1–4—4–24–29–5–4
N.Y. Rangers
2–3–12–4—1–55–12–1
Philadelphia
4–1–12–45–1—11–6–1
Vs. Smythe Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
CHI
KCS
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Atlanta
2–2–15–04–11–3–13–0–215–6–4
N.Y. Islanders
3–1–12–0–34–14–0–10–3–213–5–7
N.Y. Rangers
2–0–34–14–13–23–1–116–5–4
Philadelphia
2–1–25–03–0–23–1–14–0–117–2–6
Vs. Adams Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CAL
TOR
Total
Atlanta
2–31–2–13–12–28–8–1
N.Y. Islanders
0–2–22–23–13–1–18–6–3
N.Y. Rangers
1–30–2–31–30–42–12–3
Philadelphia
1–2–13–0–14–0–13–0–111–2–4
Vs. Norris Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Atlanta
1–31–30–41–2–14–07–12–1
N.Y. Islanders
3–12–1–11–2–12–1–14–012–5–3
N.Y. Rangers
3–10–40–3–11–32–26–13–1
Philadelphia
2–22–0–22–1–13–0–13–0–112–3–5 :

## Schedule and results

1975–76 Game Log :
October: 4–5–1 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 1–3–0)
GameOctoberOpponentScoreRecord
18Chicago Black Hawks2–20–0–1
210@ Atlanta Flames2–11–0–1
312Los Angeles Kings6–41–1–1
415Atlanta Flames3–12–1–1
518@ Toronto Maple Leafs4–12–2–1
619Vancouver Canucks8–13–2–1
722@ Buffalo Sabres9–13–3–1
825@ New York Islanders7–13–4–1
926Philadelphia Flyers7–23–5–1
1029St. Louis Blues3–14–5–1 :
November: 5–9–1 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 2–6–1)
GameNovemberOpponentScoreRecord
111@ Montreal Canadiens4–04–6–1
122Detroit Red Wings6–44–7–1
134@ Vancouver Canucks4–25–7–1
147@ California Golden Seals7–55–8–1
158@ Los Angeles Kings3–15–9–1
1611@ St. Louis Blues5–35–10–1
1712Chicago Black Hawks4–45–10–2
1815@ Minnesota North Stars5–26–10–2
1916Detroit Red Wings3–07–10–2
2019Kansas City Scouts6–47–11–2
2122@ Philadelphia Flyers4–27–12–2
2223California Golden Seals3–28–12–2
2326Boston Bruins6–48–13–2
2429@ Pittsburgh Penguins8–38–14–2
2530St. Louis Blues5–29–14–2 :
December: 6–4–2 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 3–1–1)
GameDecemberOpponentScoreRecord
264@ Buffalo Sabres6–69–14–3
275@ Kansas City Scouts3–210–14–3
287Washington Capitals5–211–14–3
2910Buffalo Sabres2–211–14–4
3011@ Boston Bruins5–112–14–4
3113@ Detroit Red Wings5–213–14–4
3214Toronto Maple Leafs6–113–15–4
3317New York Islanders3–013–16–4
3419@ Atlanta Flames8–313–17–4
3521Minnesota North Stars2–014–17–4
3623Pittsburgh Penguins4–315–17–4
3731Atlanta Flames8–115–18–4 :
January: 3–8–2 (Home: 0–2–2; Road: 3–6–0)
GameJanuaryOpponentScoreRecord
384Toronto Maple Leafs8–615–19–4
396@ St. Louis Blues5–215–20–4
4010@ Kansas City Scouts8–416–20–4
4111@ Chicago Black Hawks6–217–20–4
4214@ Vancouver Canucks5–117–21–4
4316@ California Golden Seals7–017–22–4
4418@ Pittsburgh Penguins8–317–23–4
4521Chicago Black Hawks3–317–23–5
4623@ Washington Capitals7–517–24–5
4725Los Angeles Kings4–117–25–5
4828Buffalo Sabres3–317–25–6
4929@ St. Louis Blues6–318–25–6
5031@ Toronto Maple Leafs6–418–26–6 :
February: 5–8–1 (Home: 3–5–1; Road: 2–3–0)
GameFebruaryOpponentScoreRecord
511Minnesota North Stars3–219–26–6
524New York Islanders6–519–27–6
537@ Detroit Red Wings5–420–27–6
548Montreal Canadiens3–020–28–6
5512@ Philadelphia Flyers6–120–29–6
5613Philadelphia Flyers5–320–30–6
5715Kansas City Scouts5–121–30–6
5817@ New York Islanders3–122–30–6
5918Washington Capitals11–423–30–6
6020@ Montreal Canadiens5–323–31–6
6122Boston Bruins5–223–32–6
6225California Golden Seals6–423–33–6
6328@ Minnesota North Stars5–323–34–6
6429Montreal Canadiens1–123–34–7 :
March: 5–7–2 (Home: 3–1–2; Road: 2–6–0)
GameMarchOpponentScoreRecord
653Vancouver Canucks3–323–34–8
665@ Atlanta Flames8–323–35–8
677Atlanta Flames6–623–35–9
6811@ Los Angeles Kings4–323–36–9
6913@ Vancouver Canucks7–324–36–9
7016@ Washington Capitals5–224–37–9
7117Minnesota North Stars3–125–37–9
7220@ Boston Bruins8–125–38–9
7321Pittsburgh Penguins4–225–39–9
7424@ Buffalo Sabres7–325–40–9
7525@ Philadelphia Flyers4–125–41–9
7627@ Chicago Black Hawks6–526–41–9
7728Kansas City Scouts4–227–41–9
7831New York Islanders3–128–41–9 :
April: 1–1–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–1–0)
GameAprilOpponentScoreRecord
793@ New York Islanders10–228–42–9
804Philadelphia Flyers2–029–42–9 :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| Rod Gilbert | 70 | 36 | 50 | 86 | −8 | 32 |
| Steve Vickers | 80 | 30 | 53 | 83 | −17 | 40 |
| Phil Esposito$^†$ | 62 | 29 | 38 | 67 | −39 | 28 |
| Rick Middleton | 77 | 24 | 26 | 50 | −38 | 14 |
| Carol Vadnais$^†$ | 64 | 20 | 30 | 50 | −17 | 104 |
| Wayne Dillon | 79 | 21 | 24 | 45 | −11 | 10 |
| Pete Stemkowski | 75 | 13 | 28 | 41 | −7 | 49 |
| Greg Polis | 79 | 15 | 21 | 36 | −8 | 77 |
| Pat Hickey | 70 | 14 | 22 | 36 | −29 | 36 |
| Walt Tkaczuk | 78 | 8 | 28 | 36 | −10 | 56 |
| Bill Fairbairn | 80 | 13 | 15 | 28 | −14 | 8 |
| Ron Greschner | 77 | 6 | 21 | 27 | −51 | 93 |
| Gilles Marotte | 57 | 4 | 17 | 21 | −3 | 34 |
| Jean Ratelle$^‡$ | 13 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| Larry Sacharuk | 42 | 6 | 7 | 13 | −14 | 14 |
| Jerry Holland | 36 | 7 | 4 | 11 | −5 | 6 |
| John Bednarski | 59 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −15 | 77 |
| Nick Beverley | 63 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −9 | 46 |
| Bill Collins | 50 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −19 | 38 |
| Brad Park$^‡$ | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −4 | 23 |
| Dave Maloney | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −7 | 66 |
| Doug Jarrett | 45 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −26 | 19 |
| Ed Johnstone | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Ron Harris | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| Greg Holst | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| Derek Sanderson$^‡$ | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −8 | 4 |
| Dale Lewis | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |

### Goaltenders

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| John Davidson | 56 | 3207 | 22 | 28 | 5 | 212 | 3.97 | 3 |
| Dunc Wilson | 20 | 1080 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 76 | 4.22 | 0 |
| Doug Soetaert | 8 | 273 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 5.27 | 0 |
| Ed Giacomin$^‡$ | 4 | 240 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 4.75 | 0 |
Mike Ralph dressed for 6 games from Jan 6th 1976 to Jan 18th 1976. All six were away games. $^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. $^‡$Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Awards and records

* Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Rod Gilbert
* Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Jean Ratelle

## Transactions

* June 17, 1975 – Hartland Monahan was lost in intra-league draft to Washington Capitals.
* June 17, 1975 – Dale Lewis claimed in intra-league draft from Los Angeles Kings.
* June 18, 1975 – Ted Irvine, Bert Wilson and Jerry Butler traded to St. Louis Blues for John Davidson and Bill Collins.
* September 9, 1975 – Curt Ridley traded to Atlanta Flames for Jerry Byers.
* September 20, 1975 – Bob MacMillan, future consideration and cash went to the St. Louis Blues for Larry Sacharuk.
* October 28, 1975 – Gilles Villemure traded to Chicago Blackhawks for Doug Jarrett.
* October 30, 1975 – Derek Sanderson traded to St. Louis Blues for 1977 first-round pick.
* October 31, 1975 – Ed Giacomin was picked up on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings.
* November 7, 1975 – Brad Park, Jean Ratelle and Joe Zanussi traded to Boston Bruins for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais.
* November 14, 1975 – Al Simmons picked up for cash from the Boston Bruins.
Source: – "Search Results". hockeytransactions.com. Retrieved June 15, 2009.

## Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft in Montreal, Canada.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 12 | Wayne Dillon | C | Canada | Toronto Toros (WHA) |
| 2 | 30 | Doug Soetaert | G | Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 3 | 48 | Greg Hickey | LW | Canada | Hamilton Fincups (OHA) |
| 4 | 66 | Bill Cheropita | G | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 5 | 84 | Larry Huras | D | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 6 | 102 | Randy Koch | LW | United States | University of Vermont (NCAA) |
| 7 | 120 | Claude Larose | LW | Canada | Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 138 | Bill Hamilton | C | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 9 | 154 | Bud Stefanski | C | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 10 | 169 | Daniel Beaulieu | LW | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 184 | John McMorrow | C | United States | Providence College (NCAA) |
| 12 | 195 | Tom McNamara | G | United States | University of Vermont (NCAA) |
| 13 | 200 | Steve Roberts | D | United States | Providence College (NCAA) |
| 13 | 201 | Paul Dionne | D | Canada | Princeton University (NCAA) |
| 14 | 205 | Cecil Luckern | LW | United States | University of New Hampshire (NCAA) |
| 15 | 209 | John Corriveau | RW | United States | University of New Hampshire (NCAA) |
| 16 | 212 | Tom Funke | LW | United States | Fargo-Moorhead Sugar Kings (MidJHL) |