The 2000–01 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 75th season. The Rangers compiled a 33–43–5–1 record in the regular season, finishing in fourth place in the Atlantic Division. New York's 10th-place finish in the Eastern Conference left it out of the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs; it was the first time the team missed the postseason for four consecutive seasons since the 1962–63 to 1965–66 seasons.
The season saw several new faces join the team. Glen Sather, the longtime Edmonton Oilers executive, was brought in to be team president and general manager. Ron Low was hired as the team's head coach. Former team captain Mark Messier returned to the Rangers after spending the previous three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and resumed his place as team captain.
Regular season The Rangers allowed the most goals during the regular season, with 290. They also scored the most short-handed goals, with 16.
Final standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 7, 2000 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 2–1 || 1–0–0–0 ||
| 2 || October 11, 2000 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–1 || 2–0–0–0 ||
| 3 || October 14, 2000 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–6 || 2–1–0–0 ||
| 4 || October 16, 2000 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 4–3 || 2–2–0–0 ||
| 5 || October 18, 2000 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 4–2 || 3–2–0–0 ||
| 6 || October 22, 2000 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–2 || 3–3–0–0 ||
| 7 || October 24, 2000 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–4 || 3–4–0–0 ||
| 8 || October 26, 2000 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–0 || 3–5–0–0 ||
| 9 || October 27, 2000 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || 3–6–0–0 ||
| 10 || October 29, 2000 || Boston Bruins || 5–1 || 4–6–0–0 ||
| 11 || November 1, 2000 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 6–1 || 5–6–0–0 ||
| 12 || November 2, 2000 || @ Ottawa Senators || 6–5 || 5–7–0–0 ||
| 13 || November 4, 2000 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 5–2 || 6–7–0–0 ||
| 14 || November 7, 2000 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–3 || 7–7–0–0 ||
| 15 || November 9, 2000 || @ Washington Capitals || 5–3 || 8–7–0–0 ||
| 16 || November 12, 2000 || Phoenix Coyotes || 2–0 || 8–8–0–0 ||
| 17 || November 15, 2000 || @ Minnesota Wild || 3–2 || 9–8–0–0 ||
| 18 || November 17, 2000 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 4–3 || 9–9–0–0 ||
| 19 || November 18, 2000 || @ Calgary Flames || 5–4 OT || 10–9–0–0 ||
| 20 || November 21, 2000 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–1 || 10–10–0–0 ||
| 21 || November 22, 2000 || @ New York Islanders || 4–3 OT || 11–10–0–0 ||
| 22 || November 24, 2000 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || 11–11–0–0 ||
| 23 || November 26, 2000 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || 12–11–0–0 ||
| 24 || November 28, 2000 || Los Angeles Kings || 7–6 || 13–11–0–0 ||
| 25 || November 29, 2000 || @ New Jersey Devils || 5–2 || 13–12–0–0 ||
| 26 || December 2, 2000 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 8–2 || 13–13–0–0 ||
| 27 || December 3, 2000 || Colorado Avalanche || 6–3 || 13–14–0–0 ||
| 28 || December 6, 2000 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 || 14–14–0–0 ||
| 29 || December 8, 2000 || Buffalo Sabres || 5–2 || 15–14–0–0 ||
| 30 || December 9, 2000 || @ Boston Bruins || 6–4 || 15–15–0–0 ||
| 31 || December 12, 2000 || @ San Jose Sharks || 3–2 || 15–16–0–0 ||
| 32 || December 14, 2000 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5–5 OT || 15–16–1–0 ||
| 33 || December 15, 2000 || @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 6–4 || 15–17–1–0 ||
| 34 || December 18, 2000 || Florida Panthers || 6–3 || 16–17–1–0 ||
| 35 || December 20, 2000 || St. Louis Blues || 6–3 || 16–18–1–0 ||
| 36 || December 23, 2000 || Nashville Predators || 3–2 OT || 16–18–1–1 ||
| 37 || December 27, 2000 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4–3 ||16–19–1–1 ||
| 38 || December 28, 2000 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4–1 || 16–20–1–1 ||
| 39 || December 31, 2000 || @ Dallas Stars || 6–1 || 16–21–1–1 ||
| 40 || January 4, 2001 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 3–1 ||16–22–1–1 ||
| 41 || January 6, 2001 || New Jersey Devils || 5–5 OT || 16–22–2–1 ||
| 42 || January 8, 2001 || Dallas Stars || 2–1 ||16–23–2–1 ||
| 43 || January 13, 2001 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–1 || 16–24–2–1 ||
| 44 || January 14, 2001 || Minnesota Wild || 4–2 || 17–24–2–1 ||
| 45 || January 16, 2001 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–3 OT || 18–24–2–1 ||
| 46 || January 18, 2001 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 OT || 19–24–2–1 ||
| 47 || January 20, 2001 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 OT || 19–24–3–1 ||
| 48 || January 22, 2001 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 5–2 || 20–24–3–1 ||
| 49 || January 24, 2001 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3–2 || 20–25–3–1 ||
| 50 || January 26, 2001 || New York Islanders || 3–2 || 20–26–3–1 ||
| 51 || January 27, 2001 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–1 || 20–27–3–1 ||
| 52 || January 29, 2001 || Atlanta Thrashers || 7–2 || 20–28–3–1 ||
| 53 || January 31, 2001 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–2 || 21–28–3–1 ||
| 54 || February 6, 2001 || Buffalo Sabres || 6–3 || 21–29–3–1 ||
| 55 || February 9, 2001 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–2 || 22–29–3–1 ||
| 56 || February 11, 2001 || New Jersey Devils || 1–1 OT || 22–29–4–1 ||
| 57 || February 12, 2001 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 4–3 || 23–29–4–1 ||
| 58 || February 17, 2001 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–4 || 24–29–4–1 ||
| 59 || February 19, 2001 || Chicago Blackhawks || 4–2 || 25–29–4–1 ||
| 60 || February 23, 2001 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || 25–30–4–1 ||
| 61 || February 25, 2001 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 25–31–4–1 ||
| 62 || February 26, 2001 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || 25–32–4–1 ||
| 63 || February 28, 2001 || Florida Panthers || 4–2 || 26–32–4–1 ||
| 64 || March 2, 2001 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–5 || 26–33–4–1 ||
| 65 || March 4, 2001 || @ Nashville Predators || 5–2 || 26–34–4–1 ||
| 66 || March 5, 2001 || New York Islanders || 5–2 || 26–35–4–1 ||
| 67 || March 9, 2001 || @ Washington Capitals || 5–3 || 26–36–4–1 ||
| 68 || March 10, 2001 || @ Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || 27–36–4–1 ||
| 69 || March 12, 2001 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || 27–36–5–1 ||
| 70 || March 14, 2001 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 6–3 || 27–37–5–1 ||
| 71 || March 17, 2001 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 27–38–5–1 ||
| 72 || March 19, 2001 || Washington Capitals || 6–3 || 28–38–5–1 ||
| 73 || March 21, 2001 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–0 || 28–39–5–1 ||
| 74 || March 24, 2001 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–0 || 28–40–5–1 ||
| 75 || March 25, 2001 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 28–41–5–1 ||
| 76 || March 28, 2001 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || 29–41–5–1 ||
| 77 || March 29, 2001 || @ New York Islanders || 6–4 || 30–41–5–1 ||
| 78 || March 31, 2001 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–3 || 31–41–5–1 ||
| 79 || April 1, 2001 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 4–2 || 32–41–5–1 ||
| 80 || April 4, 2001 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || 32–42–5–1 ||
| 81 || April 5, 2001 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 OT || 33–42–5–1 ||
| 82 || April 7, 2001 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–0 || 33–43–5–1 ||
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 2 D 82 21 58 79 −18 34 93 C 79 32 46 78 10 54 14 RW 62 30 44 74 0 122 20 RW 82 31 36 67 9 20 11 C 82 24 43 67 −25 89 27 LW 79 28 36 64 3 20 13 LW 65 14 20 34 −18 36 18 C 79 14 17 31 1 20 9 LW 82 10 16 26 −16 77 3 D 75 5 21 26 −3 40 10 RW 81 11 10 21 3 171 8 RW 65 9 11 20 −10 61 24 D 71 2 13 15 3 55 6 C 50 4 8 12 −10 31 47 D 69 2 9 11 −2 175 26 C 38 2 5 7 −6 16 28 LW 46 2 3 5 −6 39 17 LW 19 1 4 5 −3 15 22 D 43 1 4 5 −3 74 4 D 48 1 3 4 0 107 25 D 26 1 3 4 −2 6 38 RW 21 3 0 3 −6 8 33 D 18 0 3 3 −6 13 25 D 14 0 3 3 1 12 29 LW 15 0 3 3 −5 8 29 LW 15 1 1 2 −3 0 23 D 3 0 2 2 0 4 5 D 42 0 2 2 5 180 39 RW 4 1 0 1 0 4 21 C 3 0 0 0 0 0 39 D 3 0 0 0 −1 0 21 D 3 0 0 0 0 0 31 G 13 0 0 0 0 32 G 2 0 0 0 2 34 G 1 0 0 0 0 15 RW 2 0 0 0 −2 0 30 G 23 0 0 0 0 35 G 45 0 0 0 0 21 D 2 0 0 0 −1 4 37 RW 6 0 0 0 −1 5 36 D 1 0 0 0 −2 2 31 G 4 0 0 0 0
Goaltending = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only. Player Regular season 35 Mike Richter 45 20 21 3 1487 144 3.28 .893 0 2635 30 Kirk McLean 23 8 10 1 710 71 3.49 .889 0 1220 31 Guy Hebert 13 5 7 1 409 42 3.43 .897 0 735 31 Vitali Yeremeyev 4 0 4 0 120 16 4.52 .846 0 212 32 Johan Holmqvist 2 0 2 0 81 10 5.05 .859 0 119 34 Jason LaBarbera 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 1.000 0 10
Sources:
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Adam Graves League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Theoren Fleury Brian Leetch NHL Player of the Week Theoren Fleury (November 6) Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves Frank Boucher Trophy Brian Leetch Good Guy Award Petr Nedved Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Filip Novak Players' Player Award Brian Leetch Rangers MVP Brian Leetch Rookie of the Year Tomas Kloucek Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Sandy McCarthy
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Jason LaBarbera October 14, 2000 Mike Mottau October 26, 2000 Johan Holmqvist October 27, 2000 Tomas Kloucek November 12, 2000 Vitali Yeremeyev December 27, 2000 Jeff Ulmer January 31, 2001 600th assist Brian Leetch October 14, 2000 400th goal scored Theoren Fleury November 4, 2000
Transactions The Rangers were involved in the following transactions from June 11, 2000, the day after the deciding game of the 2000 Stanley Cup Final, through June 9, 2001, the day of the deciding game of the 2001 Stanley Cup Final.
Trades Date Details Ref To New York Rangers To Detroit Red Wings To New York Rangers To San Jose Sharks To New York Rangers To Carolina Hurricanes To New York Rangers To Nashville Predators To New York Rangers To Chicago Blackhawks To New York Rangers To Columbus Blue Jackets To New York Rangers To Colorado Avalanche To New York Rangers To Dallas Stars To New York Rangers To Ottawa Senators To New York Rangers To St. Louis Blues To New York Rangers To Nashville Predators
Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Brandon Dietrich St. Lawrence University (ECAC) Free agency Vladimir Malakhov New Jersey Devils Free agency Mark Messier Vancouver Canucks 2-year Free agency Jeff Ulmer Houston Aeros (IHL) Free agency Andreas Johansson Calgary Flames Waiver draft Jeff Toms New York Islanders Waivers Tony Tuzzolino Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Free agency Guy Hebert Anaheim Mighty Ducks Waivers Richard Scott Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Free agency
Players lost Date Player New team Via Ref Mathieu Schneider Columbus Blue Jackets Expansion draft Dmitri Subbotin Minnesota Wild Expansion draft Alexandre Daigle Contract expiration (UFA) Kevin Stevens Philadelphia Flyers Free agency (III) P. J. Stock Montreal Canadiens Free agency (VI) Milan Hnilicka Atlanta Thrashers Free agency (VI) Chris Wells Dallas Stars Free agency (UFA) Kevin Hatcher Carolina Hurricanes Free agency (III) Stephane Quintal Chicago Blackhawks Waivers Daniel Goneau Manitoba Moose (IHL) Free agency (II) Chris Kenady Louisville Panthers (AHL) Free agency (VI) Stefan Cherneski Retirement Johan Witehall Montreal Canadiens Waivers
Signings Date Player Term Contract type Ref Johan Holmqvist Entry-level Vitali Yeremeyev Entry-level Martin Richter Entry-level Eric Lacroix Re-signing David Wilkie Re-signing Derek Armstrong Re-signing Jason Dawe Re-signing Johan Witehall Re-signing Drew Bannister Re-signing Dale Purinton Re-signing Mike Mottau Entry-level
Draft picks New York's picks at the 2000 NHL entry draft in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Pengrowth Saddledome.