The 2007–08 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 81st season of play and their 82nd season overall in the National Hockey League (NHL). An impressive late season run in 2006–07 brought the team from 12th to 6th place in the Eastern Conference, but the team ran out of steam in the Conference Semifinals before losing in six games to the Buffalo Sabres.
Offseason The off-season began in late June with the 2007 NHL entry draft in Columbus, Ohio. The Rangers had the 17th overall pick in the first round, yet came away with Russian superstar Alexei Cherepanov, despite Cherepanov being considered by many rankings to be a top five prospect, and the top European available in the draft. A variety of reasons have been postulated for Cherepanov's drop, most notably, the lack of a new transfer agreement between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) concerning players from Russia.Rangers Official Site. "Rangers Get Cherepanov with First-Round Pick", June 22, 2007 – accessed July 2, 2007. In the second round, the Rangers selected goaltender Antoine Lafleur from the P.E.I. Rocket of the QMJHL.Rangers Official Site. "Rangers 2007 Draft Picks", June 23, 2007 – accessed July 4, 2007. Lafleur was ranked #3 among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting.
The Rangers made a tremendous splash on July 1, the first day of free agency. Within a 30-minute span on that Sunday evening, the Rangers announced the signings of the two most coveted centers available: Scott Gomez from the rival New Jersey Devils and Chris Drury from the Buffalo Sabres.Roarke, Shawn P. "Rangers Double Up with Gomez, Drury", NHL.com, July 1, 2007 – accessed July 2, 2007. As both players had worn number 23 with their previous teams, general manager Glen Sather flipped a puck at their introductory press conference to determine who would wear number 23 on the Rangers; the winner was Drury.Rangers Official Site. "New Rangers Drury, Gomez Get Heroes' Welcome", July 2, 2007 – accessed July 2, 2007.
After these signings, left out of the picture was center Michael Nylander, who had reportedly signed with the Edmonton Oilers,"Report: Oilers Sign Michael Nylander", TSN.ca, July 2, 2007 – accessed July 2, 2007. but then actually signed with the Washington Capitals."Capitals Sign Michael Nylander ", TSN.ca, July 2, 2007 – accessed July 2, 2007. In addition, the Rangers also lost Jed Ortmeyer,"Ortmeyer Signs Two-Year Deal with Preds", TSN.ca, July 2, 2007 – accessed July 2, 2007. Brad Isbister,"Canucks Ink Isbister, Ritchie, Schneider", TSN.ca, July 3, 2007 – accessed July 3, 2007. Karel Rachunek"Devils Sign Zubrus, Rachunek", TSN.ca, July 3, 2007 – accessed July 4, 2007. and Kevin Weekes"Devils Sign Weekes to Back Up Brodeur", TSN.ca, July 5, 2007 – accessed July 5, 2007. to the free agency market, the latter two signing with the rival New Jersey Devils.
The Rangers re-signed a number of their own free agents, including Jason Strudwick,Rangers Official Site. "Strudwick Returning to Rangers for 2007–08", July 2, 2007 – accessed July 9, 2007. Petr Prucha"Rangers Re-Sign Forward Prucha", TSN.ca, July 5, 2007 – accessed July 5, 2007. and Brendan Shanahan."Rangers Agree to Terms with Shanahan", TSN.ca, July 10, 2007 – accessed July 10, 2007. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and forward Marcel Hossa had been designated for salary arbitration, but both signed contracts before reaching their respective hearings."Rangers, Lundqvist Agree to Terms", TSN.ca, July 11, 2007 – accessed July 11, 2007.Rangers Avoid Arbitration with Hossa", TSN.ca, July 31, 2007 – accessed July 31, 2007. Sean Avery did go through arbitration and was awarded a one-year deal worth $1.9 million."Arbitrator Awards Avery $1.9–Million", TSN.ca, August 1, 2007 – accessed August 1, 2007.
The multitude of high-profile free agent signings in July left the Rangers dangerously close to the league's $50.3 million salary cap. This effectively forced the Rangers to deal Matt Cullen and his $2.875 million per year cap number back to the Carolina Hurricanes."Hurricanes Acquire Cullen from Rangers", TSN.ca, July 17, 2007 – accessed July 17, 2007. At the start of the season, the Rangers total cap number was over the league maximum, but player bonuses can be deferred to the next season if it causes a team to exceed the upper limit of the salary cap, so the Rangers were in compliance."NHL Team Salaries: New York Rangers ", nhlnumbers.com – accessed November 13, 2007.
Regular season
The Rangers had the most shutouts of all 30 teams in the League, with 12.
On April 3, 2008, the New York Rangers clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive season in a 3–0 win against their crosstown rival Islanders.
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Playoffs
The New York Rangers ended the 2007–08 regular season as the Eastern Conference's fifth seed.
The Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in five games. This was the fifth playoff meeting between the two clubs, with the Rangers having won four of those series. The lone Devils series win was in 2006. They were eventually eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 4 || Florida Panthers || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 1–0–0 ||
| 2 || October 6 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 1–1–0 ||
| 3 || October 10 || @ New York Islanders || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 1–2–0 ||
| 4 || October 12 || Washington Capitals || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 2–2–0 ||
| 5 || October 13 || Ottawa Senators || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 2–3–0 ||
| 6 || October 18 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 5–3 || Lundqvist || 2–4–0 ||
| 7 || October 20 || @ Boston Bruins || 1–0 SO || Lundqvist || 2–4–1 ||
| 8 || October 23 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || Lundqvist || 2–5–1 ||
| 9 || October 25 || New Jersey Devils || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 3–5–1 ||
| 10 || October 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 3–6–1 ||
| 11 || October 29 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 4–6–1 ||
| 12 || November 1 || Washington Capitals || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 5–6–1 ||
| 13 || November 3 || New Jersey Devils || 2–1 SO || Lundqvist || 6–6–1 ||
| 14 || November 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 7–6–1 ||
| 15 || November 6 || @ New York Islanders || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 7–7–1 ||
| 16 || November 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 8–7–1 ||
| 17 || November 10 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 SO || Valiquette || 9–7–1 ||
| 18 || November 14 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 10–7–1 ||
| 19 || November 15 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–3 SO || Lundqvist || 11–7–1 ||
| 20 || November 17 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 OT || Lundqvist || 12–7–1 ||
| 21 || November 19 || New York Islanders || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 12–8–1 ||
| 22 || November 21 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 13–8–1 ||
| 23 || November 23 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–2 SO || Valiquette || 13–8–2 ||
| 24 || November 25 || Dallas Stars || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 13–9–2 ||
| 25 || November 29 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 14–9–2 ||
| 26 || December 1 || @ Ottawa Senators || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 15–9–2 ||
| 27 || December 3 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–0 || Lundqvist|| 15–10–2 ||
| 28 || December 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–2 || Lundqvist || 15–11–2 ||
| 29 || December 7 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 4–2 || Valiquette || 15–12–2 ||
| 30 || December 9 || New Jersey Devils || 1–0 OT || Lundqvist || 16–12–2 ||
| 31 || December 12 || @ Washington Capitals || 5–4 OT || Lundqvist || 16–12–3 ||
| 32 || December 16 || Phoenix Coyotes || 5–1 || Valiquette || 16–13–3 ||
| 33 || December 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0 || Lundqvist || 17–13–3 ||
| 34 || December 20 || @ Minnesota Wild || 6–3 || Lundqvist || 17–14–3 ||
| 35 || December 21 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 4–3 OT || Lundqvist || 17–14–4 ||
| 36 || December 23 || Ottawa Senators || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 17–15–4 ||
| 37 || December 26 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 18–15–4 ||
| 38 || December 29 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–1 || Valiquette || 19–15–4 ||
| 39 || December 30 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 OT || Lundqvist || 20–15–4 ||
| 40 || January 2 || @ Calgary Flames || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 20–16–4 ||
| 41 || January 3 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 3–0 || Valiquette || 20–17–4 ||
| 42 || January 5 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 20–17–5 ||
| 43 || January 8 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–3 || Lundqvist || 20–18–5 ||
| 44 || January 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–2 || Lundqvist || 20–19–5 ||
| 45 || January 12 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 21–19–5 ||
| 46 || January 14 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 21–20–5 ||
| 47 || January 16 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 22–20–5 ||
| 48 || January 19 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–3 SO || Lundqvist || 22–20–6 ||
| 49 || January 20 || Boston Bruins || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 22–21–6 ||
| 50 || January 22 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4–0 || Lundqvist || 23–21–6 ||
| 51 || January 24 || Atlanta Thrashers || 2–1 SO || Lundqvist || 24–21–6 ||
| 52 || January 29 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 24–22–6 ||
| 53 || January 31 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–0 || Valiquette || 25–22–6 ||
| 54 || February 1 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 26–22–6 ||
| 55 || February 3 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 5–3 || Lundqvist || 27–22–6 ||
| 56 || February 5 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 27–23–6 ||
| 57 || February 7 || Anaheim Ducks || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 27–24–6 ||
| 58 || February 9 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–0 || Valiquette || 28–24–6 ||
| 59 || February 10 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–2 OT || Valiquette || 28–24–7 ||
| 60 || February 16 || Buffalo Sabres || 5–1 || Lundqvist || 29–24–7 ||
| 61 || February 17 || San Jose Sharks || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 30–24–7 ||
| 62 || February 19 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 6–5 SO || Lundqvist || 30–24–8 ||
| 63 || February 23 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 31–24–8 ||
| 64 || February 24 || Florida Panthers || 5–0 || Lundqvist || 32–24–8 ||
| 65 || February 28 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 33–24–8 ||
| 66 || March 2 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–4 SO || Valiquette || 34–24–8 ||
| 67 || March 4 || New York Islanders || 4–3 SO || Lundqvist || 34–24–9 ||
| 68 || March 6 || @ New York Islanders || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 35–24–9 ||
| 69 || March 9 || Boston Bruins || 1–0 SO || Lundqvist || 36–24–9 ||
| 70 || March 10 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 37–24–9 ||
| 71 || March 14 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 37–25–9 ||
| 72 || March 15 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 37–26–9 ||
| 73 || March 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 38–26–9 ||
| 74 || March 19 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–1 SO || Lundqvist || 39–26–9 ||
| 75 || March 21 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–3 SO || Valiquette || 39–26–10 ||
| 76 || March 25 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 OT || Lundqvist || 39–26–11 ||
| 77 || March 27 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 40–26–11 ||
| 78 || March 30 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 40–27–11 ||
| 79 || March 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 OT || Lundqvist || 41–27–11 ||
| 80 || April 3 || @ New York Islanders || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 42–27–11 ||
| 81 || April 4 || New York Islanders || 4–3 SO || Lundqvist || 42–27–12 ||
| 82 || April 6 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 42–27–13 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 9 || New York Rangers || 4–1 || New Jersey Devils || || Rangers lead series 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 11 || New York Rangers || 2–1 || New Jersey Devils || || Rangers lead series 2–0 ||
| 3 || April 13 || New Jersey Devils || 4–3 || New York Rangers || OT || Rangers lead series 2–1 ||