2013–14 New York Rangers season

The 2013–14 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 87th season of play and their 88th season overall. It was the Rangers' first season in the newly-created Metropolitan Division, which was created during the NHL's realignment in the 2013 offseason. The Rangers won 25 road games in the regular season, setting a then-franchise record. The season marked the first time the Rangers had returned to the Stanley Cup Finals since their championship in the 1993-94 season. However, they would lose in five games to the Los Angeles Kings.

Off-season

The Rangers first order of business for the 2013–14 season was to find a new head coach after letting John Tortorella go on May 29, 2013.^[2] The Rangers hired recently fired Canucks coach Alain Vigneault on June 21. Coincidentally, Tortorella would be hired as the new Canucks coach only days after Vigneault was hired by the Rangers.^[3] The Rangers finished their coaching staff on August 6 by hiring Scott Arniel as an associate coach, along with former players Ulf Samuelsson and Daniel Lacroix as assistant coaches.^[4]

Pre-season

The New York Rangers lost five of their six pre-season games, during which they scored nine goals and allowed 22 goals against. They went 2-for-22 on the power play and allowed five power play goals against in the last three games.

Regular season

Due to final stages of renovations at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers opened the season on a nine-game road trip from October 3 to 24, during which the team went 3–6–0. The Rangers had a franchise-record nine-game homestand from December 7 to 23, during which they had a record of 3–4–2.^[5]

As part of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series games, the Rangers played two consecutive outdoor games at Yankee Stadium on January 26 against the New Jersey Devils (7–3 win) and on January 29 against the New York Islanders (2–1 win).^[6]

The NHL took a two-week break from February 9 to February 25 for the Olympics. The Rangers had seven players represent their countries: Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan for the United States; Rick Nash for Canada; Mats Zuccarello for Norway; and Carl Hagelin and Henrik Lundqvist for Sweden.

On April 7, with a New Jersey Devils loss to the Calgary Flames, the Rangers clinched a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season, and for the eighth time out of nine seasons.

On April 10, with a 2–1 win over the Buffalo Sabres and a Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Rangers clinched second place in their division and home ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

The New York Rangers ended the 2013–14 regular season as the Metropolitan Division's second seed. They defeated the third seed Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, 4–3. Then they faced the first seed Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs. For the first time in Rangers history, the team came back from a 3–1 series deficit to win the series in seven games. Next, they defeated the third seed Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final in the third round, 4–2, and became the Eastern Conference Champions. They are the first team in NHL history that played the maximum of 14 games over the first two rounds and still had enough to advance to the final. After 20 years, the Rangers headed to the Stanley Cup Final, where they faced the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Kings. The Rangers lost three games in overtime and lost the series 4–1.

Key:      Win      Loss

Player statistics

Final stats

Skaters

Goaltenders

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Rangers. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
^‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and records

Transactions

The Rangers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2013–14 season:

Trades June 30, 2013[12] To Minnesota Wild: Benn Ferriero CBJ's 6th-round pick in 2014 To New York Rangers: Justin Falk July 1, 2013[13] To Philadelphia Flyers: Kris Newbury To New York Rangers: Danny Syvret July 2, 2013[14] To Montreal Canadiens: Christian Thomas To New York Rangers: Danny Kristo December 6, 2013[15] To Chicago Blackhawks: Brandon Mashinter To New York Rangers: Kyle Beach January 4, 2014[16] To Los Angeles Kings: Conditional 7th-round pick in 2014 To New York Rangers: Daniel Carcillo January 22, 2014[17] To Nashville Predators: Michael Del Zotto To New York Rangers: Kevin Klein March 5, 2014[18] To Tampa Bay Lightning: Ryan Callahan Conditional 2nd-round pick in 2014 1st-round pick in 2015 Conditional 7th-round pick in 2015 To New York Rangers: Martin St. Louis Conditional 2nd-round pick in 2015 March 5, 2014[19] To Vancouver Canucks: 5th-round pick in 2015 To New York Rangers: Raphael Diaz Free agents acquired Player Former team Contract terms Dominic Moore[20] San Jose Sharks 1 year, $1 million Aaron Johnson[21] Boston Bruins 1 year, $600,000 Benoit Pouliot[22] Tampa Bay Lightning 1 year, $1.3 million Troy Donnay[23] Erie Otters 3 years, $2.15 million entry-level contract David LeNeveu[24] Hartford Wolf Pack 1 year, $550,000 Ryan Haggerty[25] RPI 3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract Chris McCarthy[26] University of Vermont 2 years, $1.385 million entry-level contract Mathew Bodie[27] Union College 1 year, $925,000 entry-level contract Petr Zamorsky[28] PSG Zlin 2 years, $1.85 million Free agents lost Player New team Contract terms Ryan Clowe[29] New Jersey Devils 5 years, $24.25 million Matt Gilroy[30] Florida Panthers 1 year, $700,000 Steve Eminger[31] Admiral Vladivostok undisclosed Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date Lost via waivers Player New team Date Taylor Pyatt[32] Pittsburgh Penguins January 2, 2014 Lost via retirement Player Martin Biron[33] Player signings Player Date Contract terms Ryan McDonagh[34] July 8, 2013 6 years, $28.2 million Carl Hagelin[35] July 10, 2013 2 years, $4.5 million Justin Falk[36] July 10, 2013 1 year, $975,000 Mats Zuccarello[37] July 30, 2013 1 year, $1.15 million Brandon Mashinter[38] August 7, 2013 1 year, $605,000 Derek Stepan[39] September 26, 2013 2 years, $6.15 million Henrik Lundqvist[40] November 4, 2013 7 years, $59.5 million contract extension Anthony Duclair[41] January 2, 2014 3 years, $2.46 million entry-level contract Dan Girardi[42] February 28, 2014 6 years, $33 million contract extension Ryan Graves[43] March 17, 2014 3 years, $1.98 million entry-level contract Mackenzie Skapski[44] June 2, 2014 3 years, $2.4 million entry-level contract Calle Andersson[45] June 2, 2014 3 years, $1.985 million entry-level contract Draft picks See also: List of New York Rangers draft picks New York Rangers' picks at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, which was held in Newark, New Jersey, on June 30, 2013.[46] Round # Player Pos Nationality College/junior/club team (league) 3 65[a] Adam Tambellini C Canada Surrey Eagles (BCHL) 3 75[b] Pavel Buchnevich LW Russia Severstal Cherepovets (KHL) 3 80 Anthony Duclair LW Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 4 110 Ryan Graves D Canada P.E.I. Rocket (QMJHL) 6 170 Mackenzie Skapski G Canada Kootenay Ice (WHL) Draft notes[47] The New York Rangers' first-round pick went to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the result of a July 23, 2012, trade that sent Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and a 2013 conditional third-round pick to the Rangers in exchange for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and this pick.[48] The New York Rangers' second-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of an April 2, 2013, trade that sent Ryane Clowe to the Rangers in exchange for a 2013 third-round pick (previously acquired from Florida), a 2014 conditional round pick and this pick.[49] a The Nashville Predators' third-round pick went to the New York Rangers as a result of a June 23, 2012, trade that sent a 2012 third-round pick (#89–Brendan Leipsic) to the Predators in exchange for this pick.[50] b The Columbus Blue Jackets' third-round pick went to the New York Rangers as a result of a July 23, 2012, trade that sent Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a 2013 first-round pick to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and this pick.[48] The New York Rangers' fifth-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a June 23, 2012, trade that sent a 2012 fifth-round pick (#142–Thomas Spelling) to the Rangers in exchange for this pick.[50] The New York Rangers' seventh-round pick went to the Minnesota Wild as the result of a February 3, 2012, trade that sent Casey Wellman to the Rangers in exchange for Erik Christensen and this pick.[51] References ↑ http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance/_/year/2014 ↑ Tortorella relieved of coaching duties ↑ Vigneault named Rangers head coach ↑ Rangers Announce Additions to Coaching Staff ↑ http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20131223_TOR@NYR ↑ http://www.nhl.com/ice/event.htm?location=/stadiumseries/2014/ny/responsive 1 2 "2013–2014 Regular Season Stats – Points – New York Rangers – Statistics". New York Rangers. Retrieved June 12, 2014. ↑ Tavares, Hiller, Lundqvist named week's 'Three Stars' ↑ Nyquist, Lundqvist, Iginla named 'Stars' of week ↑ Mats Zuccarello wins 2013-14 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award ↑ Dominic Moore Captures Bill Masterton Trophy ↑ "New York Rangers acquire Justin Falk from Minnesota Wild – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. June 30, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Acquire Defenseman Danny Syvret – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. July 1, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Acquire Forward Danny Kristo – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. July 1, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Acquire Forward Kyle Beach From Chicago – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. December 6, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Acquire Forward Daniel Carcillo – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. January 4, 2014. ↑ "Rangers Acquire Defenseman Kevin Klein – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. January 22, 2014. ↑ "RANGERS ACQUIRE FORWARD MARTIN ST. LOUIS – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. March 5, 2014. ↑ "RANGERS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN RAPHAEL DIAZ – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. March 5, 2014. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Forward Dominic Moore – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. July 5, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms with Defenseman Aaron Johnson – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. July 5, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Forward Benoit Pouliot – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. July 5, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Free Agent Defenseman Troy Donnay – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. August 1, 2013. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Goaltender David LeNeveu – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. January 21, 2014. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Free Agent Forward Ryan Haggerty – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. March 12, 2014. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Free Agent Forward Chris McCarthy – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. March 31, 2014. ↑ "Rangers Agree To Terms With Free Agent Defenseman Mat Bodie – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. April 15, 2014. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Free Agent Defenseman Petr Zamorsky – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. June 11, 2014. ↑ "Devils sign forward Ryane Clowe – New Jersey Devils – News". New Jersey Devils. July 5, 2013. ↑ "Florida Panthers Sign C Jon Matsumoto & D Matt Gilroy – Florida Pantherss – News". Florida Panthers. July 8, 2013. ↑ "Report: Eminger reaches preliminary agreement with KHL squad". August 25, 2013. ↑ Penguins Claim Forward Taylor Pyatt Off Waivers ↑ Martin Biron announces retirement ↑ Rangers Agree to Terms With Defenseman Ryan McDonagh ↑ "Honored" Hagelin Returns To The Fold ↑ Rangers Agree to Terms With Defenseman Justin Falk ↑ RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD MATS ZUCCARELLO ↑ Rangers re-sign Brandon Mashinter ↑ Rangers Agree to Terms With Forward Derek Stepan ↑ Rangers Sign Henrik Lundqvist to Contract Extension ↑ Rangers Agree to Terms With Forward Anthony Duclair ↑ Rangers Agree to Terms With Dan Girardi on a Contract Extension ↑ Rangers Agree to Terms With Defenseman Ryan Graves ↑ Rangers Agree To Terms With Goaltender Mackenzie Skapski ↑ Rangers Agree To Terms With Defenseman Calle Andersson ↑ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com. Retrieved June 6, 2013. ↑ "2013 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved June 15, 2013. 1 2 "Nash obtained in blockbuster trade – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. July 23, 2012. ↑ "Rangers get Clowe in deal with Sharks – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. April 2, 2013. 1 2 "Rangers make three more picks in draft – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. June 23, 2012. ↑ "Rangers obtain Wellman from Minnesota – New York Rangers – News". New York Rangers. February 3, 2012.