2007–08 New York Rangers season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=2007–08
Team=New York Rangers
Conference=Eastern
ConferenceRank=5th
Division=Atlantic
DivisionRank=3rd
Record=42–27–13
HomeRecord=25–13–3
RoadRecord=17–14–10
GoalsFor=213
GoalsAgainst=199
GeneralManager=Glen Sather
Coach=Tom Renney
Captain=Jaromir Jagr
AltCaptain=Brendan Shanahan
Martin Straka
Arena=Madison Square Garden
Attendance=18,200 (100%)
GoalsLeader=Chris Drury (25)
Jaromir Jagr (25)
AssistsLeader=Scott Gomez (54)
PointsLeader=Jaromir Jagr (71)
PlusMinusLeader=Nigel Dawes (+11)
PIMLeader=Colton Orr (159)
WinsLeader=Henrik Lundqvist (37)
GAALeader=Henrik Lundqvist (2.23)

The 2007–08 New York Rangers season began October 4, 2007. It is the New York Rangers' 81st season in the National Hockey League.

In 2006–07, an impressive late season run 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.

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 a steal as Russian superstar Alexei Cherepanov fell for the taking, despite being considered by many rankings to be a top 5 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 National Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation concerning players from Russia.Rangers Official Site. " [http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2945 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. " [http://www.newyorkrangers.com/team/draft07/ 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 two of the biggest center icemen available on the market, nabbing Scott Gomez from the rival New Jersey Devils and Chris Drury from the Buffalo Sabres.Roarke, Shawn P. " [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=326916 Rangers Double Up with Gomez, Drury] ," NHL.com, July 1 2007 - accessed July 2, 2007] As both players had worn #23 with their previous teams, general manager Glen Sather flipped a puck at their introductory press conference to determine who would wear #23 on the Rangers; the winner was Drury.Rangers Official Site. " [http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2955 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," [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212502 Report: Oilers Sign Michael Nylander] ," TSN.ca, July 2 2007 - accessed July 2, 2007] but then actually signed with the Washington Capitals." [http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212549 Capitals Sign Michael Nylander] ," TSN.ca, July 2 2007 - accessed July 2, 2007] In addition, the Rangers also lost Jed Ortmeyer," [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212521 Ortmeyer Signs Two-Year Deal with Preds] ," TSN.ca, July 2 2007 - accessed July 2, 2007] Brad Isbister," [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212631 Canucks Ink Isbister, Ritchie, Schneider] ," TSN.ca, July 3 2007 - accessed July 3, 2007] Karel Rachunek," [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212635 Devils Sign Zubrus, Rachunek] ," TSN.ca, July 3 2007 - accessed July 4, 2007] and Kevin Weekes" [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212831 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. " [http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2956 Strudwick Returning to Rangers for 2007–08] ," July 2 2007 - accessed July 9, 2007] Petr Prucha," [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212828 Rangers Re-Sign Forward Prucha] ," TSN.ca, July 5 2007 - accessed July 5, 2007] and Brendan Shanahan." [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=213239 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." [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=213269 Rangers, Lundqvist Agree to Terms] ," TSN.ca, July 11 2007 - accessed July 11, 2007] [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=215158 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." [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=215240 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." [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=213832 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." [http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=NYR NHL Team Salaries: New York Rangers] ," nhlnumbers.com - accessed November 13, 2007]

On April 3, 2008 the New York Rangers clinched a playoff berth for the 3rd consecutive season in a 3–0 win against the rival Islanders.

Regular season

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Game log

* Green background indicates win (2 points).
* Red background indicates regulation loss (0 points).
* White background indicates overtime/shootout loss (1 point).

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Playoffs

The New York Rangers ended the 2007–08 regular season as the Eastern Conference's fifth seed.
* Green background indicates win.
* Red background indicates loss. 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.cite web
url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=280418011
title=Lundqvist stops penalty shot, Rangers hold on to eliminate Devils
accessdate=2008-04-19]

Player stats

katers

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes"col-2 Regular Season

Playoffs

Transactions

The Rangers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

Players re-signed

ee also

*2007–08 NHL season

References

*Game log: [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/schedule?team=nyr New York Rangers game log] on espn.com
*Player stats: [http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/stats?team=nyr New York Rangers statistics] on espn.com