2008–09 New York Rangers season

The 2008–09 New York Rangers season was the Rangers' 82nd season in the National Hockey League, and saw the Rangers qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The Rangers started the season in Europe. First, as part of the inaugural Victoria Cup being held in Switzerland, the Rangers played an exhibition game against SC Bern on September 30, and then the main game against the 2008 European Champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk on October 1 (the first game between a Russian club and an NHL team since 1991). They won both games, and were awarded the first Victoria Cup. The Rangers opened the NHL regular season against the Tampa Bay Lightning with two games in Prague, Czech Republic, on October 4 and 5.NHL's European plans finalized Alexei Cherepanov, a former first-round draft pick of the Rangers, died suddenly on Monday, October 13 during a Kontinental Hockey League game in Moscow.Ralph, Dan. Rangers draft pick dies, Canadian Online Explorer, October 13, 2008, accessed on January 2, 2009. The Rangers tied the 1983–84 Rangers for the best start in franchise history with a 5–0 record. The quest for the greatest start in franchise history was put to a hault on October 15, 2008 with a 3–1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.Obernauer, Michael. "Rangers tie mark for best start with 4-1 win over Devils at Garden", New York Daily News, October 13, 2008, accessed on January 2, 2009. The Rangers set the franchise record for best start in a season by going 10–2–1 for 21 points in the first 13 games. The 10 wins and 21 points are both franchise records.Zherdev, Lundqvist pace Rangers to fourth straight win, Associated Press, ESPN, October 30, 2008, accessed on January 2, 2009. On January 24, 2009, the festivities for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game began in Montreal with Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal playing for the Sophomore team in the YoungStars game. Staal scored 2 goals in the game, but the Rookie team won 9-5. Henrik Lundqvist was the Rangers only all-star selection, and stopped 12 of 16 shots in the Elimination Shootout during the SuperSkills Competition.Rangers shine in SuperSkills competition On January 25, 2009, Lundqvist stopped 15 of the 21 shots he faced in the second period of the All-Star Game, helping the East beat the West 12-11 in a shootout.Lundqvist helps East win NHL All-Star Game On February 3, 2009, the New York Rangers retired Adam Graves' Number 9 jersey before a game against the Atlanta Thrashers, joining fellow 1994 Stanley Cup Champion teammates Brian Leetch, Mark Messier and Mike Richter, as well as Ranger greats Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin in the rafters of Madison Square Garden.Graves joins Rangers legends in MSG rafters On February 22, 2009, the Rangers retired Andy Bathgate's Number 9 and Harry Howell's Number 3 jerseys before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Bathgate, Howell come home to the rafters A day later, head coach Tom Renney was fired after 5 season with the Rangers. Former Rangers assistant coach and coach of the 2003-04 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lighting, John Tortorella, was hired later that same day to replace Renney. Rangers assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld was given the interim assistant coaching position.Tortorella expected to add more 'fire' to bench Shortly after that, Sean Avery made his return to the Rangers, claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars. Head coach John Tortorella was suspended for Game 6 of the Rangers/Capitals playoff series after an altercation with a fan towards the end of the Rangers' 4-0 loss in Washington during Game 5. On May 4, 2009, Markus Naslund announced that he would be retiring after one season with the Rangers.
==Regular season==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
===Game log===
2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log 	2008–09 game log
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%	 	 	
Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)	Preseason: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–3–0)
Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Recap 	 	 	
September 20 	NY Rangers 	2 - 3 	Senators 	 	Valiquette 	17,616 	 	 	 	
September 22 	Senators 	1 - 2 	NY Rangers 	 	Lundqvist 	18,200 	 	 	 	
September 23 	NY Rangers 	2 - 3 	Lightning 	 	Wiikman 	14,991 	 	 	 	
September 24 	NY Rangers 	2 - 3 	Devils 	 	Lundqvist 	8,014 	 	 	 	
September 25 	Lightning 	4 - 2 	NY Rangers 	 	Valiquette 	9,500 	 	 	 	
September 27 	Devils 	4 - 2 	NY Rangers 	 	Lundqvist 	15,361 	 	 	 	
September 30 	NY Rangers 	8 - 1 	SC Bern (NLA) in Bern, Switzerland 	 	Valiquette 	16,789 	 	 	 	
October 1 	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) 	3 - 4 	NY Rangers in Bern, Switzerland 	 	Lundqvist 	13,794 	 	 	 	
==Playoffs==
The New York Rangers ended the 2008–09 regular season as the Eastern Conference's seventh seed. They were defeated in the first round by the Washington Capitals in seven games.
Key: Win Loss 
2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% 	
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100%
Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3	Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Washington Capitals - Capitals win series 4 - 3
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Series 	Recap
1 	April 15 	NY Rangers 	4 - 3 	Capitals 	 	Lundqvist 	18,277 	1 - 0 	
2 	April 18 	NY Rangers 	1 - 0 	Capitals 	 	Lundqvist 	18,277 	2 - 0 	
3 	April 20 	Capitals 	4 - 0 	NY Rangers 	 	Lundqvist 	18,200 	2 - 1 	
4 	April 22 	Capitals 	1 - 2 	NY Rangers 	 	Lundqvist 	18,200 	3 - 1 	
5 	April 24 	NY Rangers 	0 - 4 	Capitals 	 	Lundqvist 	18,277 	3 - 2 	
6 	April 26 	Capitals 	5 - 3 	NY Rangers 	 	Lundqvist 	18,200 	3 - 3 	
7 	April 28 	NY Rangers 	1 - 2 	Capitals 	 	Lundqvist 	18,277 	3 - 4 	
==Player stats==
===Skaters===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Regular season	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	+/−	PIM
 	77	16	42	58 	-2 	60
 	82	23	35	58 	+6 	39
 	81	22	34	56 	-8 	32
 	82	24	22	46 	-10	57
 	82	13	28	41 	-6 	112
 	81	22	18	40 	+7 	45
 	76	8 	22	30 	-7 	52
 	81	3 	23	26 	-5 	51
 	82	4 	18	22 	-14	53
 	76	5 	16	21 	+2 	94
 	52	10	9 	19 	-2 	15
 	54	8 	8 	16 	-9 	122
 	82	3 	12	15 	-7 	64
 	68	6 	8 	14 	-10	14
 	18	7 	6 	13 	-1 	6
 	58	1 	12	13 	-7 	26
 	79	7 	6 	13 	-11	30
 	18	5 	7 	12 	+4 	34
 	81	6 	4 	10 	-5 	16
 	28	4 	5 	9 	-2 	16
 	18	0 	8 	8 	+3 	16
 	82	1 	4 	5 	-15	193
 	16	1 	3 	4 	-2 	2
 	5 	1 	1 	2 	-1 	0
 	11	0 	0 	0 	-4 	24
 	2 	0 	0 	0 	-2 	0
 	3 	0 	0 	0 	-1 	0
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Playoffs	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
 	7 	2	3	5 	-4 	4
 	7 	1	3	4 	+1 	18
 	7 	1	2	3 	+2 	10
 	7 	2	1	3 	-1 	6
 	7 	0	2	2 	-2 	0
 	7 	0	2	2 	-2 	0
 	7 	1	1	2 	-2 	8
 	6 	0	2	2 	-3 	24
 	7 	0	2	2 	0 	0
 	7 	2	0	2 	-1 	4
 	6 	1	0	1 	-5 	2
 	7 	0	1	1 	0 	0
 	7 	1	0	1 	-3 	0
 	7 	0	0	0 	0 	4
 	6 	0	0	0 	-1 	0
 	5 	0	0	0 	-1 	16
 	4 	0	0	0 	-2 	14
 	7 	0	0	0 	-3 	2
 	7 	0	0	0 	-3 	6
 	1 	0	0	0 	0 	0
===Goaltenders===
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SA = Shots against; SV = Saves; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts
Regular season	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	OT	GA 	GAA 	SA 	SV 	Sv% 	SO
 	70	4153	38	25	7 	168	2.43	2007	1839	.916	3
 	15	823 	5 	5 	2 	39 	2.84	421 	382 	.907	1
Playoffs	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA 	SA 	SV 	SV% 	SO
 	7 	380	3	4	19	3.00	207	188	.908 	1
 	2 	40 	0	0	0 	0.00	9 	9 	1.000	0
†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.
==Awards and records==
===Records===
===Milestones===
Regular Season 	Regular Season 	Regular Season 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season
Player 	Milestone 	Reached 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Lauri Korpikoski	1st NHL Regular Season Game 	October 4, 2008 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Henrik Lundqvist	200th NHL Appearance 	October 15, 2008 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Brandon Dubinsky	100th NHL Game 	October 27, 2008 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Nikolai Zherdev 	300th NHL Game 	November 8, 2008 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Lauri Korpikoski	1st NHL Regular Season Goal1st NHL Regular Season Point	November 12, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Marc Staal 	100th NHL Game 	November 15, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Lauri Korpikoski	1st NHL Assist 	November 15, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Michal Rozsival 	500th NHL Game 	November 17, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Fredrik Sjostrom	300th NHL Game 	November 22, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Nikolai Zherdev 	200th NHL Point 	November 24, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scott Gomez 	400th NHL Assist 	December 3, 2008 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Corey Potter 	1st NHL Regular Season Game 	December 7, 2008 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Ryan Callahan 	100th NHL Game 	December 16, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dmitri Kalinin 	500th NHL Game 	December 16, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Paul Mara 	600th NHL Game 	December 23, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Colton Orr 	200th NHL Game 	December 23, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Corey Potter 	1st NHL Assist1st NHL Point 	December 27, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wade Redden 	500th NHL Penalty Minute 	January 3, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Nigel Dawes 	100th NHL Game 	January 5, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Blair Betts 	300th NHL Game 	January 9, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Henrik Lundqvist	1st NHL All-Star Game 	January 25, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Artem Anisimov 	1st NHL Game 	February 3, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Aaron Voros 	100th NHL Game 	February 3, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Colton Orr 	500th NHL Penalty Minute 	February 21, 2009	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Michal Rozsival 	200th NHL Point 	February 22, 2009	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wade Redden 	900th NHL Game 	February 26, 2009	 	 	 	 	 	 	
John Tortorella 	1st Win as Rangers coach 	February 28, 2009	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Markus Naslund 	1,100th NHL Game 	March 5, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Henrik Lundquist	1st NHL goalie to win 30+ games in first four seasons 	March 12, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
John Tortorella 	Winningest US-born coach in NHL history with 245 wins 	March 17, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mike Sauer 	1st NHL Game 	March 24, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Nik Antropov 	300th NHL Point 	March 26, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scott Gomez 	700th NHL Game 	March 28, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Corey Potter 	1st NHL Goal 	April 2, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Artem Anisimov 	1st NHL Playoff Game 	April 28, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Markus Naslund 	Final NHL Game 	April 28, 2009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Transactions==
The Rangers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2008–09 season.
===Trades===
Date 	Details	Details
July 2, 2008Columbus Sends Zherdev To The Rangers," The Sports Network, July 2, 2008, accessed on July 2, 2008. 	To Columbus Blue Jackets 
----
Fedor TyutinChristian Backman	To New York Rangers 
----
Nikolai ZherdevDan Fritsche
July 14, 2008Hollweg traded to Toronto for fifth-rounder, New York Rangers, July 14, 2008, accessed on January 2, 2009.	To Toronto Maple Leafs 
----
Ryan Hollweg	To New York Rangers 
----
5th round pick in 2009
October 30, 2008Rangers trade Jessiman to Predators, New York Rangers, October 30, 2008, accessed on January 2, 2009. 	To Nashville Predators 
----
Hugh Jessiman	To New York Rangers 
----
Future Considerations
January 29, 2009Rangers obtain Reitz from Wild, New York Rangers, January 29, 2009, accessed on January 29, 2009. 	To Minnesota Wild 
----
Dan Fritsche	To New York Rangers 
----
Erik Reitz
March 4, 2009Rangers add power in a hurry at deadline, New York Rangers, March 4, 2009, accessed on March 4, 2009. 	To Toronto Maple Leafs 
----
2nd round draft pick in 2009Conditional draft pick in 2010	To New York Rangers 
----
Nik Antropov
March 4, 2009 	To Phoenix Coyotes 
----
Nigel DawesDmitri KalininPetr Prucha	To New York Rangers 
----
Derek Morris
===Free agents acquired===
Player 	Former team 	Contract terms
Aaron Voros 	Minnesota Wild 	three years, $3 million.
Patrick Rissmiller 	San Jose Sharks 	one year, $1 million.
Wade ReddenRangers sign Redden to six-year deal, The Canadian Press, Canadian Online Explorer, July 1, 2008, accessed on January 2, 2009.	Ottawa Senators 	six years, $39 million.
Markus Naslund 	Vancouver Canucks 	two years, $8 million.
Dmitri Kalinin 	Buffalo Sabres 	one year, $2.1 million.
Andreas Jämtin 	HV71 (SEL) 	
Vladimir Denisov 	Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)	
Brian Fahey 	Chicago Wolves (AHL) 	
===Free agents lost===
Player 	New team 	Contract terms
Sean Avery 	Dallas Stars 	four years, $15.5 million.
Jaromir Jagr 	Avangard Omsk (KHL) 	two years, $20 million.
Martin Straka 	HC Lasselsberger Plzen (Czech)	one year
Jason Strudwick 	Edmonton Oilers 	one year, $650,000.
Andrew Hutchinson	Tampa Bay Lightning 	two years, $1 million.
Marek Malik 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	one year, $1.2-million.
Brendan Shanahan 	New Jersey Devils 	one year, $800,000.
===Claimed from Waivers===
Player 	Former team 	Date claimed off waivers
Mark Bell 	Toronto Maple Leafs	February 25, 2009
Sean Avery	Dallas Stars 	March 3, 2009
===Lost via Waivers===
Player 	New team 	Date claimed off waivers
Erik Reitz	Toronto Maple Leafs	March 4, 2009
===Players re-signed===
Player 	Contract terms
Michal Rozsival 	four years, $20 million.
Stephen Valiquette	one year, $725,000
Paul Mara 	one year, $1.95 million.
Dan Fritsche 	one year, $875,000.
Nigel Dawes 	one year, $587,500.
Greg Moore 	one year, $578,000.
Fredrik Sjostrom 	one year, $840,000.
==Roster==
Updated April 28, 2009.
|}
===Staff===
New York Rangers staff	New York Rangers staff	New York Rangers staff	New York Rangers staff	New York Rangers staff	New York Rangers staff	New York Rangers staff
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Executive Operations
* Ownership - Madison Square Garden, L.P.
*Chairman - James L. Dolan
*Vice Chairman - Hank J. Ratner
*President/General Manager/Alternate Governor - Glen Sather	  	 	
Hockey Operations
*Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel - Jim Schoenfeld
*Assistant General Manager, Hockey Administration - Cameron Hope
*Senior advisor; Director of U.S. Scouting - Mike Barnett
*Director, Player Personnel - Gordie Clark
*Head coach - John Tortorella
*Assistant coaches - Jim Schoenfeld, Mike Pelino
*Goaltending coach - Benoit Allaire
*Strength & conditioning - Reg Grant	 	
==Draft picks==
New York's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa • Ontario. 
Round	# 	Player 	Position 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	20 	Michael Del Zotto	Defense 	 	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
2 	51 	Derek Stepan 	Center 	 	Shattuck-Saint Mary's (High-MN)
3 	75 	Evgeny Grachev 	Center 	 	Lokomotiv-2 Yaroslavl (RUS-3)
3 	90 	Tomas Kundratek 	Defense 	 	Trinec Ocelari (CZE)
4 	111	Dale Weise 	Right Wing	 	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
5 	141	Chris Doyle 	Center 	 	P.E.I. Rocket (QMJHL)
6 	171	Mitch Gaulton 	Defense 	 	Erie Otters (OHL)
==See also==
*2008–09 NHL season
==Farm teams==
===Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)===
The 2008–09 season will be the 12th season of AHL hockey for the franchise.
===Charlotte Checkers (ECHL)===
The 2008–09 season will be the 16th season of ECHL hockey for the franchise.
==References==
*Game log: New York Rangers game log on espn.com
*Player stats: New York Rangers statistics on espn.com
Category:New York Rangers seasons
Category:2008 in hockey
Category:2009 in hockey