1997–98 New York Rangers season
The 1997–98 New York Rangers season was the 72nd season for the team in the National Hockey League. The Rangers posted a 25–39–18 record in the regular season and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. New York missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1992–93 season. The Rangers fired head coach Colin Campbell during the season and replaced him with former Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup-winning coach John Muckler. This was also the first season since the 1990–91 campaign that the Rangers did not have Mark Messier; after a  contentious negotiating period, the Rangers elected not to re-sign Messier and he instead joined the Vancouver Canucks. Regular season. The Rangers were the only team in the league not to score a short-handed goal. Playoffs. The Rangers failed to qualify for the playoffs, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. Player statistics. Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. Draft picks. New York's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Civic Arena