1997–98 New York Rangers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1997–98
Year:	1997
Team:	New York Rangers
Conferencerank:	11th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	25–39–18
Homerecord:	14–18–9
Roadrecord:	11–21–9
Goalsfor:	197
Goalsagainst:	231
Coach:	Colin Campbell (Oct–Feb) John Muckler (Feb–Apr)
Attendance:	18,189
Goalsleader:	Adam Graves/Wayne Gretzky/ Alexei Kovalev/Pat LaFontaine (23)
Assistsleader:	Wayne Gretzky (67)
Pointsleader:	Wayne Gretzky (90)
Pimleader:	Darren Langdon (197)
Plusminusleader:	Tim Sweeney (+7)
Winsleader:	Mike Richter (21)
Gaaleader:	Dan Cloutier (2.50)

The 1997–98 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 72nd season. The Rangers posted a 25–39–18 record in the regular season and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.^[1] New York missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1992–93 season.^[2]

The Rangers fired head coach Colin Campbell during the season and replaced him with former Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup-winning coach John Muckler.^[3] 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.^[4]

Regular season

The Rangers were the only team in the league not to score a short-handed goal.^[5]

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 1 || October 3, 1997 || New York Islanders || 2–2 OT || 0–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 2 || October 5, 1997 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–2 OT || 0–0–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 3 || October 8, 1997 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 3–3 OT || 0–0–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 4 || October 9, 1997 || @ Calgary Flames || 1–1 OT || 0–0–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5 || October 11, 1997 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 6–3 || 1–0–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 6 || October 14, 1997 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || 1–1–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 7 || October 15, 1997 || @ Ottawa Senators || 5–1 || 1–2–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 8 || October 18, 1997 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5–3 || 1–3–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 9 || October 20, 1997 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–2 || 2–3–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 10 || October 22, 1997 || Chicago Blackhawks || 1–0 || 2–4–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11 || October 24, 1997 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 || 3–4–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 12 || October 26, 1997 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–3 OT || 3–4–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 13 || October 28, 1997 || Dallas Stars || 3–2 || 3–5–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 14 || October 30, 1997 || @ New York Islanders || 5–3 || 3–6–5 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 15 || November 3, 1997 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–2 OT || 3–6–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16 || November 5, 1997 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 4–2 || 4–6–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 17 || November 7, 1997 || @ Dallas Stars || 2–2 OT || 4–6–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 18 || November 12, 1997 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || 4–7–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19 || November 14, 1997 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || 5–7–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 20 || November 16, 1997 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–1 || 6–7–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 21 || November 18, 1997 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–1 || 7–7–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 22 || November 19, 1997 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 6–3 || 7–8–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 23 || November 21, 1997 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4–3 || 8–8–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 24 || November 22, 1997 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 OT || 8–9–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 25 || November 25, 1997 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–2 || 8–10–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 26 || November 26, 1997 || @ New York Islanders || 4–1 || 8–11–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 27 || November 28, 1997 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–3 OT || 8–11–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 28 || November 30, 1997 || Florida Panthers || 1–1 OT || 8–11–9 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 29 || December 2, 1997 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 OT || 8–12–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 30 || December 5, 1997 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–4 OT || 8–12–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 31 || December 6, 1997 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 OT || 8–12–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 32 || December 8, 1997 || Phoenix Coyotes || 3–1 || 9–12–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 33 || December 10, 1997 || Calgary Flames || 4–1 || 9–13–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 34 || December 12, 1997 || Florida Panthers || 4–3 || 9–14–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 35 || December 16, 1997 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–3 || 9–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 36 || December 17, 1997 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–2 || 10–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 37 || December 20, 1997 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–2 OT || 10–15–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 38 || December 21, 1997 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–0 || 10–16–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 39 || December 23, 1997 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–1 || 11–16–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 40 || December 26, 1997 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–0 || 11–17–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41 || December 28, 1997 || Boston Bruins || 4–3 || 12–17–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 42 || December 31, 1997 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–0 || 12–18–12 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 43 || January 3, 1998 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–2 || 13–18–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 44 || January 6, 1998 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–2 || 14–18–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 45 || January 8, 1998 || Washington Capitals || 5–3 || 14–19–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 46 || January 12, 1998 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || 15–19–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 47 || January 14, 1998 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–1 || 15–20–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 48 || January 20, 1998 || St. Louis Blues || 3–1 || 16–20–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 49 || January 22, 1998 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–3 || 16–21–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 50 || January 24, 1998 || New Jersey Devils || 3–3 OT || 16–21–13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 51 || January 26, 1998 || Washington Capitals || 2–2 OT || 16–21–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 52 || January 29, 1998 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–2 OT || 16–21–15 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 53 || January 31, 1998 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 16–22–15 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54 || February 2, 1998 || @ San Jose Sharks || 3–2 || 17–22–15 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 55 || February 4, 1998 || @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–2 || 17–23–15 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 56 || February 5, 1998 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 3–1 || 17–24–15 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 57 || February 7, 1998 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 1–1 OT || 17–24–16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58 || February 26, 1998 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–2 || 18–24–16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 59 || February 28, 1998 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || 18–25–16 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 60 || March 2, 1998 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–0 || 18–26–16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61 || March 4, 1998 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–3 || 19–26–16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 62 || March 7, 1998 || @ New Jersey Devils || 6–3 || 19–27–16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 63 || March 9, 1998 || New Jersey Devils || 2–2 OT || 19–27–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64 || March 11, 1998 || San Jose Sharks || 5–3 || 20–27–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 65 || March 12, 1998 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || 20–28–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 66 || March 14, 1998 || @ Boston Bruins || 5–1 || 20–29–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 67 || March 16, 1998 || Ottawa Senators || 5–4 || 21–29–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68 || March 18, 1998 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 OT || 22–29–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 69 || March 21, 1998 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 || 22–30–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 70 || March 22, 1998 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–4 OT || 22–31–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 71 || March 25, 1998 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2 OT || 22–32–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 72 || March 26, 1998 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4–1 || 22–33–17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 73 || March 28, 1998 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 OT || 22–33–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 74 || March 30, 1998 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–1 || 22–34–18 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 75 || April 1, 1998 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 22–35–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 76 || April 4, 1998 || @ New York Islanders || 3–0 || 22–36–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77 || April 5, 1998 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 2–1 OT || 23–36–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 78 || April 7, 1998 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || 23–37–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 79 || April 11, 1998 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 5–2 || 23–38–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 80 || April 14, 1998 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–1 || 23–39–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81 || April 15, 1998 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || 24–39–18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 82 || April 18, 1998 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 25–39–18 || |-|-| Legend:

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.

	Regular season
	Player
99		C	82	23	67	90	−11	28
16		C	67	23	39	62	−16	36
27		LW	73	23	30	53	−22	44
2		D	76	17	33	50	−36	32
24		RW	70	19	28	47	0	24
17		LW	80	14	27	41	−7	130
9		LW	72	23	12	35	−30	41
37		RW	56	11	18	29	7	26
33		D	75	5	15	20	−3	46
12		RW	70	8	10	18	−12	47
5		D	73	3	9	12	1	122
20		C	59	5	6	11	−4	39
32		C	48	5	5	10	−2	16
25		D	47	3	7	10	−1	38
18		C	67	1	9	10	−15	55
26		D	63	1	6	7	−3	55
15		LW	70	3	3	6	0	197
10		C	28	1	5	6	−4	4
28		C	38	2	3	5	4	114
23		D	63	0	5	5	−25	195
39		RW	15	2	2	4	−10	6
21		LW	38	1	3	4	4	28
6		D	36	0	4	4	2	24
29		D	39	0	3	3	−3	92
36		LW	11	2	0	2	−4	4
14		D	15	1	1	2	−4	6
8		RW	16	1	0	1	−2	38
4		D	6	0	1	1	1	2
35		G	72	0	1	1		2
30		D	1	0	0	0	0	5
34		G	12	0	0	0		19
12		RW	12	0	0	0	−5	7
14		RW	1	0	0	0	−2	2
31		G	6	0	0	0		10
36		LW	3	0	0	0	0	2
8		RW	1	0	0	0	0	0
38		D	1	0	0	0	0	0
32		C	2	0	0	0	−1	0

Goaltending

= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.

	Regular season
	Player
35		72	21	31	15	1888	184	2.66	.903	0	4143
34		12	4	5	1	248	23	2.50	.907	0	551
31		6	0	3	2	156	17	3.26	.891	0	313

Sources:^[1] ^[6]

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL Second All-Star Team	Wayne Gretzky (Center)	^[7]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Wayne Gretzky	^[8]
Brian Leetch	NHL All-Star Game selection		^[8]
Team	Ceil Saidel Memorial Award	Adam Graves	^[9]
	Frank Boucher Trophy	Wayne Gretzky
	Good Guy Award	Alexei Kovalev
	Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award	Marc Savard
	Players' Player Award	Darren Langdon
	Rangers MVP	Wayne Gretzky
	Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award	Wayne Gretzky

Milestones

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Civic Arena.^[11] ^[12]

Round		Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	19	Stefan Cherneski	RW	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2	46	Wes Jarvis	D	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3	73	Burke Henry	D	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
4	93	Tomi Kallarsson	D	Finland	HPK Junior (Finland)
5	126	Jason McLean	G	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
5	134	Johan Lindbom	RW	Sweden	HV71 (SEL)
6	136	Mike York	C	United States	Michigan State University (NCAA)
6	154	Shawn Degagne	G	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
7	175	Johan Holmqvist	G	Sweden	Brynäs IF (SEL)
7	182	Mike Mottau	D	United States	Boston College (NCAA)
8	210	Andrew Proskurnicki	LW	Canada	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
9	236	Richard Miller	D	United States	Providence College (NCAA)

Notes and References

Web site: Hockey-Reference . 2010-01-26 . 1997–98 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics .
News: Sandomir . Richard . . 1998-04-08 . 2010-07-31 . Hockey; For Garden, No Playoffs Means No Payoff .
News: Veteran Muckler Hired To Coach N.Y. Rangers. The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 20, 1998. February 7, 2016.
News: Diamos. Jason. A Bad Feeling Chases Messier Out of New York. The New York Times. July 29, 1997. February 7, 2016.
Web site: 1997–98 NHL Season Summary . Hockey Reference . 2013-11-29.
Web site: New York Rangers 1997-98 roster and statistics . www.hockeydb.com . July 2, 2023.
Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . records.nhl.com . July 9, 2023.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries – 1998 . NHL.com . July 9, 2023.
Book: 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. 349–352.
News: Flyers get victory, spoil LaFontaine feat . Deseret News . Associated Press . July 9, 2023 . January 23, 1998.
Web site: Hockey-Reference . 2012-07-14 . 1997 NHL Entry Draft .
Web site: National Hockey League . 2012-07-14 . NHL Draft History . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010128131400/http://nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html . 2001-01-28 .