The 2002–03 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 77th season. In the regular season, the Rangers posted a 32–36–10–4 record, finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division. The Rangers' ninth-place finish in the Eastern Conference left them out of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the sixth straight season for the first time in franchise history.
The Rangers entered the season under the supervision of former Colorado Avalanche assistant coach and New York Islanders star Bryan Trottier in his first head coaching role. With the team on the outside of the playoff picture, he was fired after 54 games and replaced with general manager Glen Sather.
The Rangers saw a major milestone reached as goaltender Mike Richter won his 300th game with the team. Shortly thereafter, he suffered a concussion against the Edmonton Oilers when Todd Marchant accidentally struck his head with his knee. Combined with a skull fracture Richter suffered toward the end of the previous season when hit in the face with a slap shot, it was the second such injury he suffered in the previous eight months and caused him to miss the rest of the season. Richter retired before the start of the next season.
Regular season
Final standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 9 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4–1 || 1–0–0–0 ||
| 2 || October 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || 1–1–0–0 ||
| 3 || October 12 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–0 || 1–2–0–0 ||
| 4 || October 15 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–4 || 2–2–0–0 ||
| 5 || October 17 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 OT || 2–2–1–0 ||
| 6 || October 19 || Nashville Predators || 2–2 OT || 2–2–2–0 ||
| 7 || October 21 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–2 || 2–3–2–0 ||
| 8 || October 23 || Washington Capitals || 2–1 || 2–4–2–0 ||
| 9 || October 25 || Los Angeles Kings || 6–2 || 2–5–2–0 ||
| 10 || October 26 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || 3–5–2–0 ||
| 11 || October 28 || Phoenix Coyotes || 3–2 OT || 4–5–2–0 ||
| 12 || October 30 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–0 || 4–6–2–0 ||
| 13 || November 2 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 4–7–2–0 ||
| 14 || November 3 || St. Louis Blues || 3–2 || 4–8–2–0 ||
| 15 || November 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 5–2 || 5–8–2–0 ||
| 16 || November 7 || Calgary Flames || 1–0 OT || 6–8–2–0 ||
| 17 || November 9 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 6–3 || 6–9–2–0 ||
| 18 || November 11 || @ San Jose Sharks || 5–4 || 7–9–2–0 ||
| 19 || November 14 || @ Calgary Flames || 2–1 || 8–9–2–0 ||
| 20 || November 16 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 3–1 || 8–10–2-0 ||
| 21 || November 19 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–2 OT || 9–10–2–0 ||
| 22 || November 21 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–4 OT || 9–10–3–0 ||
| 23 || November 23 || New York Islanders || 3–1 || 9–11–3–0 ||
| 24 || November 25 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || 10–11–3–0 ||
| 25 || November 28 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 7–4 || 10–12–3–0 ||
| 26 || November 29 || @ Dallas Stars || 3–3 OT || 10–12–4–0 ||
| 27 || December 1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 || 11–12–4–0 ||
| 28 || December 3 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 5–3 || 12–12–4–0 ||
| 29 || December 5 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 OT || 12–12–4–1 ||
| 30 || December 6 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–1 || 12–13–4–1 ||
| 31 || December 8 || Boston Bruins || 4–1 || 12–14–4–1 ||
| 32 || December 11 || Chicago Blackhawks || 4–3 || 12–15–4–1 ||
| 33 || December 14 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–1 || 12–16–4–1 ||
| 34 || December 16 || San Jose Sharks || 2–1 OT || 13–16–4–1 ||
| 35 || December 19 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–1 || 13–17–4–1 ||
| 36 || December 21 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 3–2 || 13–18–4–1 ||
| 37 || December 23 || New Jersey Devils || 2–2 OT || 13–18–5–1 ||
| 38 || December 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–1 || 13–19–5–1 ||
| 39 || December 28 || @ Florida Panthers || 2–1 OT || 14–19–5–1 ||
| 40 || December 29 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–3 || 14–20–5–1 ||
| 41 || December 31 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 2–0 || 15–20–5–1 ||
| 42 || January 4 || Washington Capitals || 2–2 OT || 15–20–6–1 ||
| 43 || January 6 || Ottawa Senators || 5–2 || 15–21–6–1 ||
| 44 || January 8 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5–1 || 16–21–6–1 ||
| 45 || January 9 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || 16–22–6–1 ||
| 46 || January 11 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || 17–22–6–1 ||
| 47 || January 13 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–1 || 18–22–6–1 ||
| 48 || January 15 || @ Washington Capitals || 2–1 OT || 19–22–6–1 ||
| 49 || January 19 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 19–23–6–1 ||
| 50 || January 21 || @ New York Islanders || 5–0 || 20–23–6–1 ||
| 51 || January 23 || @ Nashville Predators || 4–2 || 21–23–6–1 ||
| 52 || January 25 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4–1 || 21–24–6–1 ||
| 53 || January 26 || @ Washington Capitals || 7–2 || 21–25–6–1 ||
| 54 || January 28 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 5–2 || 21–26–6–1 ||
| 55 || January 30 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–3 OT || 21–26–6–2 ||
| 56 || February 5 || Ottawa Senators || 5–3 || 21–27–6–2 ||
| 57 || February 6 || @ St. Louis Blues || 4–4 OT || 21–27–7–2 ||
| 58 || February 8 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 21–28–7–2 ||
| 59 || February 12 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–1 || 22–28–7–2 ||
| 60 || February 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || 23–28–7–2 ||
| 61 || February 15 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 5–4 || 23–29–7–2 ||
| 62 || February 17 || @ Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || 23–30–7–2 ||
| 63 || February 19 || @ Minnesota Wild || 4–2 || 24–30–7–2 ||
| 64 || February 21 || @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 6–2 || 25–30–7–2 ||
| 65 || February 23 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 4–1 || 25–31–7–2 ||
| 66 || February 25 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–3 OT || 25–31–8–2 ||
| 67 || February 27 || Boston Bruins || 4–1 || 26–31–8–2 ||
| 68 || March 1 || Florida Panthers || 5–2 || 27–31–8–2 ||
| 69 || March 3 || New York Islanders || 1–1 OT || 27–31–9–2 ||
| 70 || March 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–1 || 28–31–9–2 ||
| 71 || March 10 || Florida Panthers || 2–1 || 28–32–9–2 ||
| 72 || March 13 || @ Ottawa Senators || 3–2 OT || 28–32–9–3 ||
| 73 || March 15 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–1 || 28–33–9–3 ||
| 74 || March 17 || New York Islanders || 1–0 || 29–33–9–3 ||
| 75 || March 19 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–0 || 30–33–9–3 ||
| 76 || March 22 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 31–33–9–3 ||
| 77 || March 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || 31–34–9–3 ||
| 78 || March 29 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–1 || 32–34–9–3 ||
| 79 || March 31 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4–3 OT || 32–34–9–4 ||
| 80 || April 1 || @ New York Islanders || 2–2 OT || 32–34–10–4 ||
| 81 || April 4 || New Jersey Devils || 2–1 || 32–35–10–4 ||
| 82 || April 5 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 5–4 || 32–36–10–4 ||
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. Player Regular season 93 C 78 27 31 58 −4 64 88 C 81 19 34 53 5 141 3 D 80 11 37 48 −6 60 11 C 78 18 22 40 −2 30 36 LW 79 14 22 36 9 142 16 C 64 16 19 35 −1 50 9 RW 39 19 11 30 4 16 2 D 51 12 18 30 −3 20 20 RW 63 6 21 27 −3 16 37 RW 58 8 14 22 0 32 26 C 55 8 11 19 −3 16 23 D 71 3 14 17 −7 52 10 RW 82 6 9 15 −4 81 38 LW 66 5 9 14 −12 77 6 D 80 3 11 14 5 85 27 RW 24 10 3 13 2 20 17 LW 32 6 6 12 −3 4 39 D 27 5 7 12 6 14 29 D 36 3 9 12 3 34 5 D 58 3 9 12 −2 161 27 LW 36 2 4 6 −1 6 22 RW 11 1 4 5 0 6 39 LW 24 1 4 5 4 0 18 D 26 0 4 4 13 16 8 C 49 2 1 3 −1 6 42 RW 9 1 2 3 1 2 33 D 19 0 2 2 −1 14 24 D 35 0 2 2 −7 10 21 D 10 1 0 1 −5 0 30 G 43 0 1 1 0 32 LW 17 0 1 1 −1 50 40 G 1 0 0 0 0 22 D 1 0 0 0 1 0 28 C 2 0 0 0 −2 0 18 D 3 0 0 0 1 0 22 LW 4 0 0 0 −1 2 12 LW 8 0 0 0 −2 2 29 LW 9 0 0 0 1 51 44 C 11 0 0 0 −2 12 35 G 13 0 0 0 0 31 G 32 0 0 0 2
Goaltending = 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. Player Regular season 30 Mike Dunham 43 19 17 5 1229 94 2.29 .924 5 2467 31 Dan Blackburn 32 8 16 4 842 93 3.17 .890 1 1762 35 Mike Richter 13 5 6 1 329 34 2.94 .897 0 694 40 Johan Holmqvist 1 0 1 0 18 2 3.08 .889 0 39 Sources:
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Brian Leetch Tom Poti Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Brian Leetch Frank Boucher Trophy Mike Dunham Good Guy Award Bobby Holik Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Jamie Lundmark Players' Player Award Brian Leetch Rangers MVP Brian Leetch Rookie of the Year Jamie Lundmark Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Matthew Barnaby
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Jamie Lundmark October 9, 2002 John Tripp January 8, 2003
Transactions The Rangers were involved in the following transactions from June 14, 2002, the day after the deciding game of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 9, 2003, the day of the deciding game of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.
Trades Date Details Ref To New York Rangers To Ottawa Senators To New York Rangers To San Jose Sharks To New York Rangers To Pittsburgh Penguins To New York Rangers To Edmonton Oilers To New York Rangers To Los Angeles Kings To New York Rangers To Tampa Bay Lightning To New York Rangers To Edmonton Oilers To New York Rangers To Nashville Predators To New York Rangers To Boston Bruins To New York Rangers To Chicago Blackhawks To New York Rangers To Boston Bruins To New York Rangers To Calgary Flames To New York Rangers To Pittsburgh Penguins To New York Rangers To Minnesota Wild To New York Rangers To Minnesota Wild To New York Rangers To Edmonton Oilers
Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Bobby Holik New Jersey Devils 5-year Free agency Darius Kasparaitis Colorado Avalanche 4-year Free agency Mike Richter Edmonton Oilers 2-year Free agency Ted Donato Los Angeles Kings Free agency Jeff State Merrimack College (HE) Free agency Craig Weller Kootenay Ice (WHL) Free agency Vladimir Chebaturkin Chicago Blackhawks Free agency Joel Bouchard New Jersey Devils Free agency Dixon Ward SCL Tigers (NLA) Free agency Ronald Petrovicky Calgary Flames Waiver draft Billy Tibbetts Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Free agency Cory Cross Toronto Maple Leafs Free agency Lucas Lawson University of Maine (HE) Free agency Steve MacIntyre Muskegon Fury (UHL) Free agency Jed Ortmeyer University of Michigan (CCHA) Free agency
Players lost Date Player New team Via Ref Kyle Freadrich Retirement (UFA) Terry Virtue Worcester IceCats (AHL) Free agency (VI) Steve McKenna Pittsburgh Penguins Free agency (UFA) Michal Grosek Boston Bruins Free agency (UFA) Jason Dawe St. Louis Blues Free agency (UFA) Brad Smyth Ottawa Senators Free agency (UFA) Bryan Berard Boston Bruins Free agency (UFA) Christian Gosselin Bracknell Bees (BISL) Free agency (VI) Andreas Johansson Nashville Predators Free agency (UFA) Chris St. Croix Manitoba Moose (AHL) Free agency (UFA) Martin Rucinsky St. Louis Blues Free agency (III) Wes Jarvis Charlotte Checkers (ECHL) Free agency (UFA) Sean Gagnon San Antonio Rampage (AHL) Free agency (VI) Josh Green Washington Capitals Waivers Gordie Dwyer Montreal Canadiens Waivers Janne Laukkanen Tampa Bay Lightning Waivers
Signings Date Player Term Contract type Ref Nils Ekman Re-signing Ken Gernander Re-signing Krzysztof Oliwa Re-signing Dale Purinton Re-signing Richard Lintner Re-signing Mikael Samuelsson 2-year Re-signing Johan Holmqvist Re-signing Brandon Snee Entry-level Roman Lyashenko Re-signing Tom Poti Re-signing Mark Messier Re-signing Radek Dvorak Re-signing Scott Meyer Re-signing Patrick Aufiero Entry-level Mike Mottau Re-signing Garth Murray Entry-level Bryce Lampman Entry-level Ken Gernander 1-year Option exercised
Draft picks