The 2001–02 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 76th season. During the regular season, the Rangers finished fourth in the Atlantic Division, compiling a 36–38–4–4 record. Their 11th-place finish in the Eastern Conference kept them out of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth straight season for the first time since the 1950–51 to 1954–55 seasons. Head coach Ron Low was fired after the season.
Pre-season On September 20, 2001, in the middle of a 2–2 game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, the game was stopped. A message from United States President George W. Bush about the September 11 attacks was broadcast on the arena video screen. After the message, the game did not resume and it was declared a 2–2 tie.Hockey's Book of Firsts, p.71, James Duplacey, JG Press,
Regular season The Rangers struggled in short-handed situations, finishing the regular season with the most power-play opportunities against (398), the most power-play goals allowed (80) and the lowest penalty-kill percentage (79.90%).
Final standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 5, 2001 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || 0–1–0–0 ||
| 2 || October 7, 2001 || Buffalo Sabres || 5–4 OT || 1–1–0–0 ||
| 3 || October 10, 2001 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || 1–2–0–0 ||
| 4 || October 13, 2001 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–2 OT || 1–2–1–0 ||
| 5 || October 15, 2001 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || 2–2–1–0 ||
| 6 || October 17, 2001 || New Jersey Devils || 4–3 OT || 3–2–1–0 ||
| 7 || October 19, 2001 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 4–3 || 4–2–1–0 ||
| 8 || October 20, 2001 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–2 || 4–3–1–0 ||
| 9 || October 22, 2001 || San Jose Sharks || 5–1 || 4–4–1–0 ||
| 10 || October 25, 2001 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5–1 || 4–5–1–0 ||
| 11 || October 27, 2001 || @ Boston Bruins || 2–1 OT || 5–5–1–0 ||
| 12 || October 29, 2001 || Dallas Stars || 4–2 || 6–5–1–0 ||
| 13 || October 31, 2001 || Florida Panthers || 3–1 || 6–6–1–0 ||
| 14 || November 2, 2001 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 3–2 || 6–7–1–0 ||
| 15 || November 3, 2001 || @ Florida Panthers || 5–3 || 7–7–1–0 ||
| 16 || November 6, 2001 || Minnesota Wild || 3–1 || 8–7–1–0 ||
| 17 || November 8, 2001 || @ New York Islanders || 6–2 || 9–7–1–0 ||
| 18 || November 10, 2001 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || 10–7–1–0 ||
| 19 || November 11, 2001 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 OT || 11–7–1–0 ||
| 20 || November 14, 2001 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 12–7–1–0 ||
| 21 || November 17, 2001 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 OT || 12–7–1–1 ||
| 22 || November 18, 2001 || Atlanta Thrashers || 6–2 || 13–7–1–1 ||
| 23 || November 20, 2001 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–3 || 14–7–1–1 ||
| 24 || November 23, 2001 || @ Washington Capitals || 6–2 || 14–8–1–1 ||
| 25 || November 25, 2001 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–2 || 14–9–1–1 ||
| 26 || November 27, 2001 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–2 OT || 14–9–2–1 ||
| 27 || November 29, 2001 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5–0 || 15–9–2–1 ||
| 28 || December 1, 2001 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–1 || 16–9–2–1 ||
| 29 || December 2, 2001 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1–0 || 17–9–2–1 ||
| 30 || December 4, 2001 || @ Washington Capitals || 5–2 || 17–10–2–1 ||
| 31 || December 6, 2001 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–3 || 17–11–2–1 ||
| 32 || December 8, 2001 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || 17–12–2–1 ||
| 33 || December 10, 2001 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–3 OT || 17–12–2–2 ||
| 34 || December 12, 2001 || Nashville Predators || 4–2 || 17–13–2–2 ||
| 35 || December 15, 2001 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || 18–13–2–2 ||
| 36 || December 17, 2001 || Florida Panthers || 4–2 || 19–13–2–2 ||
| 37 || December 19, 2001 || New Jersey Devils || 2–2 OT || 19–13–3–2 ||
| 38 || December 21, 2001 || New York Islanders || 2–1 || 19–14–3–2 ||
| 39 || December 23, 2001 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || 20–14–3–2 ||
| 40 || December 28, 2001 || @ San Jose Sharks || 5–3 || 21–14–3–2 ||
| 41 || December 29, 2001 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5–4 || 22–14–3–2 ||
| 42 || December 31, 2001 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 5–0 || 22–15–3–2 ||
| 43 || January 2, 2002 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 4–1 || 22–16–3–2 ||
| 44 || January 3, 2002 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 3–2 OT || 22–16–3–3 ||
| 45 || January 5, 2002 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || 22–17–3–3 ||
| 46 || January 9, 2002 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–0 || 22–18–3–3 ||
| 47 || January 12, 2002 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 22–19–3–3 ||
| 48 || January 14, 2002 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 2–2 OT || 22–19–4–3 ||
| 49 || January 16, 2002 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 2–0 || 22–20–4–3 ||
| 50 || January 17, 2002 || @ New Jersey Devils || 6–4 || 22–21–4–3 ||
| 51 || January 22, 2002 || @ New York Islanders || 5–4 || 23–21–4–3 ||
| 52 || January 23, 2002 || Boston Bruins || 8–4 || 24–21–4–3 ||
| 53 || January 26, 2002 || Washington Capitals || 6–3 || 25–21–4–3 ||
| 54 || January 28, 2002 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1–0 || 25–22–4–3 ||
| 55 || January 30, 2002 || New York Islanders || 6–3 || 25–23–4–3 ||
| 56 || February 6, 2002 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 3–1 || 25–24–4–3 ||
| 57 || February 8, 2002 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 2–1 || 26–24–4–3 ||
| 58 || February 10, 2002 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || 27–24–4–3 ||
| 59 || February 13, 2002 || @ Dallas Stars || 4–2 || 27–25–4–3 ||
| 60 || February 26, 2002 || New Jersey Devils || 4–3 || 27–26–4–3 ||
| 61 || February 28, 2002 || Ottawa Senators || 3–0 || 27–27–4–3 ||
| 62 || March 2, 2002 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–5 || 28–27–4–3 ||
| 63 || March 4, 2002 || Calgary Flames || 5–3 || 28–28–4–3 ||
| 64 || March 5, 2002 || @ Minnesota Wild || 3–2 OT || 29–28–4–3 ||
| 65 || March 7, 2002 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 5–1 || 29–29–4–3 ||
| 66 || March 9, 2002 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 OT || 29–29–4–4 ||
| 67 || March 11, 2002 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || 30–29–4–4 ||
| 68 || March 13, 2002 || Boston Bruins || 3–1 || 30–30–4–4 ||
| 69 || March 16, 2002 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–1 || 30–31–4–4 ||
| 70 || March 17, 2002 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–3 || 30–32–4–4 ||
| 71 || March 19, 2002 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–1 || 30–33–4–4 ||
| 72 || March 21, 2002 || @ Ottawa Senators || 5–2 || 31–33–4–4 ||
| 73 || March 22, 2002 || Atlanta Thrashers || 5–2 || 31–34–4–4 ||
| 74 || March 25, 2002 || @ New York Islanders || 4–2 || 31–35–4–4 ||
| 75 || March 27, 2002 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 31–36–4–4 ||
| 76 || March 30, 2002 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–2 || 32–36–4–4 ||
| 77 || April 1, 2002 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 6–4 || 33–36–4–4 ||
| 78 || April 4, 2002 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || 34–36–4–4 ||
| 79 || April 6, 2002 || @ Boston Bruins || 6–4 || 35–36–4–4 ||
| 80 || April 8, 2002 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || 36–36–4–4 ||
| 81 || April 10, 2002 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–2 || 36–37–4–4 ||
| 82 || April 13, 2002 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 36–38–4–4 ||
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 88 C 72 37 36 73 19 138 14 LW 82 24 39 63 0 216 16 RW 69 18 39 57 8 16 2 D 82 10 45 55 14 28 93 C 78 21 25 46 −8 36 20 RW 65 17 20 37 −20 14 23 D 81 6 22 28 10 83 26 LW 70 14 10 24 6 46 10 RW 82 10 13 23 −8 171 11 C 41 7 16 23 −1 32 34 D 82 2 21 23 −1 60 36 RW 48 8 13 21 −3 144 9 RW 12 12 8 20 9 6 37 RW 67 6 10 16 10 23 6 C 56 7 6 13 −1 42 18 LW 29 6 7 13 −3 16 19 LW 15 3 10 13 6 6 32 C 38 7 4 11 −4 10 33 D 75 1 10 11 −9 131 3 D 11 1 7 8 −4 2 55 D 39 0 6 6 −4 53 8 RW 15 3 2 5 −3 12 24 D 41 0 5 5 −3 23 22 D 52 1 3 4 −2 137 5 D 40 0 4 4 4 113 21 LW 54 2 1 3 0 144 17 C 11 1 2 3 −9 4 29 C 15 2 0 2 0 0 29 D 17 1 0 1 3 12 25 D 8 0 1 1 −7 4 31 G 31 0 0 0 10 27 RW 1 0 0 0 −1 0 38 RW 10 0 0 0 −2 0 47 C 10 0 0 0 −4 2 40 G 1 0 0 0 0 4 D 1 0 0 0 0 0 35 G 55 0 0 0 4 13 LW 5 0 0 0 0 5 39 C 1 0 0 0 1 0
Goaltending Player Regular season 35 Mike Richter 55 24 26 4 1832 157 2.95 .906 2 3195 31 Dan Blackburn 31 12 16 0 1030 95 3.28 .898 0 1737 40 Johan Holmqvist 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 1.000 0 9 Sources:
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) NHL All-Rookie Team Dan Blackburn (Goaltender) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Brian Leetch Eric Lindros Mike York NHL Player of the Week Mike Richter (December 3) NHL YoungStars Game selection Dan Blackburn Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Brian Leetch Frank Boucher Trophy Mike Richter Good Guy Award Brian Leetch Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Dan Blackburn Players' Player Award Brian Leetch Rangers MVP Mike Richter Rookie of the Year Dan Blackburn Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Sandy McCarthy
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Barrett Heisten October 5, 2001 Dan Blackburn October 10, 2001 Richard Scott October 27, 2001 1,000th point Theoren Fleury October 29, 2001 1,000th game played Theoren Fleury January 23, 2002 600th assist 1,000th game played Brian Leetch February 28, 2002
Transactions The Rangers were involved in the following transactions from June 10, 2001, through June 13, 2002.
Trades Date Details Ref To New York Rangers To Calgary Flames To New York Rangers To Minnesota Wild To New York Rangers To San Jose Sharks To New York Rangers To Atlanta Thrashers To New York Rangers To Calgary Flames To New York Rangers To Ottawa Senators To New York Rangers To San Jose Sharks To New York Rangers To Florida Panthers To New York Rangers To Tampa Bay Lightning To New York Rangers To Philadelphia Flyers To New York Rangers To Tampa Bay Lightning To New York Rangers To Dallas Stars To New York Rangers To Florida Panthers To New York Rangers To Nashville Predators To New York Rangers To Edmonton Oilers
Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Barrett Heisten Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Free agency Matt Kinch Calgary Hitmen (WHL) Free agency Layne Ulmer Swift Current Broncos (WHL) Free agency Scott Meyer St. Cloud State University (WCHA) Free agency Dave Karpa Carolina Hurricanes Free agency Igor Ulanov Edmonton Oilers Free agency Zdeno Ciger HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) Free agency Darren Van Impe Boston Bruins Waivers P. J. Stock Philadelphia Flyers Free agency Steve McKenna Pittsburgh Penguins Free agency Rory Rawlyk Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) Free agency Rico Fata Calgary Flames Waivers Bryan Berard Toronto Maple Leafs Free agency Trent Whitfield Washington Capitals Waivers Bobby Andrews University of Alaska Fairbanks (CCHA) Free agency Benoit Dusablon Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Free agency
Players lost Date Player New team Via Ref Colin Forbes Utah Grizzlies (AHL) Buyout Valeri Kamensky Dallas Stars Buyout Guy Hebert Buyout Kirk McLean Contract expiration (III) Derek Armstrong SC Bern (NLA) Free agency (II) . Retrieved March 3, 2023. Tony Tuzzolino Boston Bruins Free agency (VI) Drew Bannister Anaheim Mighty Ducks Free agency (UFA) Brad Brown Minnesota Wild Free agency (UFA) David Wilkie Augusta Lynx (ECHL) Free agency (UFA) Ryan Tobler Tampa Bay Lightning Free agency (UFA) Nils Ekman Djurgardens IF (SHL) Free agency (II) P. J. Stock Boston Bruins Waiver draft Ben Carpentier Providence Bruins (AHL) Free agency (UFA) Darren Van Impe Florida Panthers Waivers Martin Richter HC Sparta Praha (ELH) Free agency Trent Whitfield Washington Capitals Waivers Jeff Toms Pittsburgh Penguins Waivers
Signings Date Player Term Contract type Ref Andreas Johansson Re-signing Vitali Yeremeyev Re-signing Fedor Tyutin Entry-level Sandy McCarthy Re-signing Manny Malhotra Re-signing Jeff Toms Re-signing Jason Dawe Re-signing Brad Smyth 1-year Re-signing Eric Lindros 4-year Re-signing Petr Nedved Re-signing Dan Blackburn Entry-level
Draft picks