2009–10 New York Rangers season

The 2009–10 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 83rd season of play and their 84th season overall. For the first time in five years, the Rangers failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers in each team's last game with the winner clinching the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and the loser being eliminated. This is the only season the Rangers missed the playoffs between 2005–06 and 2016–17.

2009–10 New York Rangers
Division	4th Atlantic
Conference	9th Eastern
2009–10 record	38–33–11
Home record	18–17–6
Road record	20–16–5
Goals for	222
Goals against	218
Team information
General manager	Glen Sather
Coach	John Tortorella
Captain	Chris Drury
Alternate captains	Ryan Callahan Vaclav Prospal (Nov.–Apr.)
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Average attendance	18,200
Team leaders
Goals	Marian Gaborik (42)
Assists	Marian Gaborik (44)
Points	Marian Gaborik (86)
Penalty minutes	Sean Avery (160)
Plus/minus	Marian Gaborik (+15)
Wins	Henrik Lundqvist (35)
Goals against average	Lundqvist (2.41)
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

Off-season

On May 4, 2009, Markus Naslund announced that he would be retiring from professional hockey after playing one season for the Rangers.^[1]

At the NHL Entry Draft, the Rangers chose Chris Kreider with their first-round pick, 19th overall. The Rangers followed this with a couple of trades at the draft to acquire Brian Boyle and Chad Johnson. A bigger splash was made a few days later when the Rangers traded Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens. With Gomez's $7 million contract gone, the Rangers then signed free agent Marian Gaborik on July 1, the first day of free agency. On July 16, the Rangers announced that Mike Sullivan had been hired as an assistant coach.^[2]

On August 16, 2009, Mark Messier rejoined the Rangers organization as a special assistant to general manager Glen Sather.^[3]

Pre-season

2009 pre-season game log: 3–3–1 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 1–2–1)
#	Date	Opponent	Score	Decision	Record
1	September 15	Boston Bruins	2–1	Zaba	0–1–0
2	September 16	@ New Jersey Devils	3–2 SO	Johnson	0–1–1
3	September 18	@ Detroit Red Wings	4–3	Zaba	0–2–1
4	September 19	@ Boston Bruins	5–2	Valiquette	1–2–1
5	September 21	Detroit Red Wings	4–2	Lundqvist	2–2–1
6	September 24	Washington Capitals	3–2	Lundqvist	3–2–1
7	September 27	@ Washington Capitals	4–3	Lundqvist	3–3–1

Regular season

The NHL took a two-week break from February 15 to March 1 for the Olympics. The Rangers had five players represent their countries; Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan for the United States, Marian Gaborik for Slovakia, Olli Jokinen for Finland and Henrik Lundqvist for Sweden.

Divisional standings

Atlantic Division^[4]

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	New Jersey Devils	82	48	27	7	222	191	103
2	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	47	28	7	257	237	101
3	Philadelphia Flyers	82	41	35	6	236	225	88
4	New York Rangers	82	38	33	11	222	218	87
5	New York Islanders	82	34	37	11	222	264	79

Conference standings

Eastern Conference^[5]

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Washington Capitals	SE	82	54	15	13	318	233	121
2	y – New Jersey Devils	AT	82	48	27	7	222	191	103
3	y – Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	45	27	10	235	207	100
4	Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	47	28	7	257	237	101
5	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	44	32	6	225	238	94
6	Boston Bruins	NE	82	39	30	13	206	200	91
7	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	41	35	6	236	225	88
8	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	39	33	10	217	223	88
8.5
9	New York Rangers	AT	82	38	33	11	222	218	87
10	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	35	34	13	234	256	83
11	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	35	37	10	230	256	80
12	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	34	36	12	217	260	80
13	New York Islanders	AT	82	34	37	11	222	264	79
14	Florida Panthers	SE	82	32	37	13	208	244	77
15	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	30	38	14	214	267	74

bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division)

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

Schedule and results

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

2009–10 game log
October: 8–5–1 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 3–3–1) Game October Opponent Score Decision Record 1 2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Lundqvist 0–1–0 2 3 Ottawa Senators 5–2 Lundqvist 1–1–0 3 5 @ New Jersey Devils 3–2 Lundqvist 2–1–0 4 8 @ Washington Capitals 4–3 Lundqvist 3–1–0 5 11 Anaheim Ducks 3–0 Valiquette 4–1–0 6 12 Toronto Maple Leafs 7–2 Lundqvist 5–1–0 7 14 Los Angeles Kings 4–2 Lundqvist 6–1–0 8 17 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 Lundqvist 7–1–0 9 19 San Jose Sharks 7–3 Valiquette 7–2–0 10 22 New Jersey Devils 4–2 Lundqvist 7–3–0 11 24 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–4 OT Lundqvist 7–3–1 12 26 Phoenix Coyotes 5–2 Lundqvist 8–3–1 13 28 @ New York Islanders 3–1 Lundqvist 8–4–1 14 30 @ Minnesota Wild 3–2 Lundqvist 8–5–1
November: 5–8–0 (Home: 2–4–0; Road: 3–4–0) Game November Opponent Score Decision Record 15 1 Boston Bruins 1–0 Lundqvist 9–5–1 16 3 @ Vancouver Canucks 4–1 Lundqvist 9–6–1 17 5 @ Edmonton Oilers 4–2 Valiquette 10–6–1 18 7 @ Calgary Flames 3–1 Valiquette 10–7–1 19 12 Atlanta Thrashers 5–3 Lundqvist 10–8–1 20 14 @ Ottawa Senators 2–1 SO Lundqvist 11–8–1 21 17 Washington Capitals 4–2 Lundqvist 11–9–1 22 21 Florida Panthers 3–2 Lundqvist 11–10–1 23 23 Columbus Blue Jackets 7–4 Lundqvist 12–10–1 24 25 @ Florida Panthers 2–1 SO Lundqvist 13–10–1 25 27 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 5–1 Lundqvist 13–11–1 26 28 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 8–3 Valiquette 13–12–1 27 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 Lundqvist 13–13–1
December: 6–4–3 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 5–0–1) Game December Opponent Score Decision Record 28 5 @ Buffalo Sabres 2–1 Lundqvist 14–13–1 29 6 Detroit Red Wings 3–1 Lundqvist 14–14–1 30 9 @ Chicago Blackhawks 2–1 OT Lundqvist 14–14–2 31 12 Buffalo Sabres 3–2 Lundqvist 14–15–2 32 14 Atlanta Thrashers 3–2 SO Lundqvist 14–15–3 33 16 New York Islanders 2–1 Lundqvist 14–16–3 34 17 @ New York Islanders 5–2 Lundqvist 15–16–3 35 19 @ Philadelphia Flyers 2–1 Lundqvist 16–16–3 36 21 @ Carolina Hurricanes 3–1 Lundqvist 17–16–3 37 23 Florida Panthers 4–1 Lundqvist 18–16–3 38 26 New York Islanders 3–2 OT Lundqvist 18–16–4 39 30 Philadelphia Flyers 6–0 Lundqvist 18–17–4 40 31 @ Carolina Hurricanes 2–1 Lundqvist 19–17–4
January: 6–7–3 (Home: 4–3–2; Road: 2–4–1) Game January Opponent Score Decision Record 41 2 Carolina Hurricanes 2–1 OT Lundqvist 19–17–5 42 4 Boston Bruins 3–2 Lundqvist 20–17–5 43 6 Dallas Stars 5–2 Lundqvist 21–17–5 44 7 @ Atlanta Thrashers 2–1 SO Johnson 21–17–6 45 9 @ Boston Bruins 3–1 Lundqvist 22–17–6 46 12 New Jersey Devils 1–0 SO Lundqvist 22–17–7 47 14 Ottawa Senators 2–0 Lundqvist 22–18–7 48 16 @ St. Louis Blues 4–1 Johnson 22–19–7 49 17 Montreal Canadiens 6–2 Lundqvist 23–19–7 50 19 Tampa Bay Lightning 8–2 Lundqvist 24–19–7 51 21 @ Philadelphia Flyers 2–0 Lundqvist 24–20–7 52 23 @ Montreal Canadiens 6–0 Lundqvist 24–21–7 53 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Lundqvist 24–22–7 54 27 Carolina Hurricanes 5–1 Lundqvist 24–23–7 55 30 @ Phoenix Coyotes 3–2 Johnson 24–24–7 56 31 @ Colorado Avalanche 3–1 Johnson 25–24–7
February: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 1–1–0) Game February Opponent Score Decision Record 57 2 @ Los Angeles Kings 2–1 Lundqvist 25–25–7 58 4 Washington Capitals 6–5 Lundqvist 25–26–7 59 6 New Jersey Devils 3–1 Lundqvist 26–26–7 60 10 Nashville Predators 2–1 Lundqvist 26–27–7 61 12 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 OT Lundqvist 27–27–7 62 14 Tampa Bay Lightning 5–2 Lundqvist 28–27–7
March: 6–5–3 (Home: 2–2–2; Road: 4–3–1) Game March Opponent Score Decision Record 63 2 @ Ottawa Senators 4–1 Lundqvist 29–27–7 64 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 OT Lundqvist 29–27–8 65 6 @ Washington Capitals 2–0 Auld 29–28–8 66 7 Buffalo Sabres 2–1 OT Lundqvist 29–28–9 67 10 @ New Jersey Devils 6–3 Lundqvist 29–29–9 68 12 @ Atlanta Thrashers 5–2 Lundqvist 30–29–9 69 14 Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 Lundqvist 31–29–9 70 16 Montreal Canadiens 3–1 Lundqvist 31–30–9 71 18 St. Louis Blues 4–3 Lundqvist 31–31–9 72 21 @ Boston Bruins 2–1 Lundqvist 31–32–9 73 24 New York Islanders 5–0 Lundqvist 32–32–9 74 25 @ New Jersey Devils 4–3 SO Lundqvist 33–32–9 75 27 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 OT Lundqvist 33–32–10 76 30 @ New York Islanders 4–3 Lundqvist 34–32–10
April: 4–1–1 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 2–1–1) Game April Opponent Score Decision Record 77 2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 5–0 Lundqvist 35–32–10 78 3 @ Florida Panthers 4–1 Lundqvist 36–32–10 79 6 @ Buffalo Sabres 5–2 Lundqvist 36–33–10 80 7 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–1 Lundqvist 37–33–10 81 9 Philadelphia Flyers 4–3 Lundqvist 38–33–10 82 11 @ Philadelphia Flyers 2–1 SO Lundqvist 38–33–11

Playoffs

The New York Rangers failed to qualify for the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, despite going 7–1–2 at the end of the season. Their run set up a home and home series with the eighth place Philadelphia Flyers, but the Rangers fell to the Flyers in a shootout in the final game of the season and finished one point out of the playoffs.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Marian Gaborik 76 42 44 86 15 37 Vaclav Prospal 75 20 38 58 8 32 Brandon Dubinsky 69 20 24 44 9 54 Michael Del Zotto 80 9 28 37 −20 32 Ryan Callahan 77 19 18 37 −12 48 Chris Drury 77 14 18 32 −10 31 Sean Avery 69 11 20 31 0 160 Artem Anisimov 82 12 16 28 −2 32 Marc Staal 82 8 19 27 11 44 Erik Christensen† 49 8 18 26 14 24 Daniel Girardi 82 6 18 24 −2 53 Michal Rozsival 82 3 20 23 3 78 Ales Kotalik‡ 45 8 14 22 −18 38 Matt Gilroy 69 4 11 15 0 23 Olli Jokinen† 26 4 11 15 1 22 Wade Redden 75 2 12 14 8 27 Enver Lisin 57 6 8 14 −1 18 Chris Higgins‡ 55 6 8 14 −9 32 Brandon Prust† 26 4 5 9 3 65 P. A. Parenteau 22 3 5 8 −2 4 Aaron Voros 41 3 4 7 −2 89 Brian Boyle 71 4 2 6 −6 47 Jody Shelley† 21 2 4 6 4 37 Anders Eriksson† 8 0 2 2 2 0 Donald Brashear 36 0 1 1 −9 73 Dane Byers 5 1 0 1 1 31 Corey Locke 3 0 0 0 1 0 Corey Potter 3 0 0 0 0 2 Bobby Sanguinetti 5 0 0 0 0 4 Ilkka Heikkinen 7 0 0 0 2 0

Goaltenders

Regular season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Henrik Lundqvist	73	4204	35	27	10	167	2.38	2109	.921	4	0	1	0
Steve Valiquette	6	305	2	3	0	19	3.74	128	.852	1	0	0	0
Chad Johnson	5	281	1	2	1	11	2.35	135	.919	0	0	1	0
Alex Auld†	3	119	0	1	0	5	2.52	52	.904	0	0	0	0
Matt Zaba	1	34	0	0	0	2	3.53	16	.875	0	0	0	0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

^[6]

Awards and records

Awards

Regular season
Player	Award	Reached
Michael Del Zotto[7]	NHL Rookie of the Month	October 2009
Marian Gaborik[8]	NHL Third Star of the Month	November 2009

Milestones

Regular season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Matt Gilroy	1st NHL game	October 2, 2009
Michael Del Zotto	1st NHL game	October 2, 2009
Michael Del Zotto	1st NHL goal 1st NHL point	October 3, 2009
Vaclav Prospal	600th NHL point	October 3, 2009
Daniel Girardi	200th NHL game	October 3, 2009
Michael Del Zotto	1st NHL assist	October 5, 2009
Matt Gilroy	1st NHL goal 1st NHL point	October 5, 2009
Artem Anisimov	1st NHL assist 1st NHL point	October 8, 2009
Artem Anisimov	1st NHL goal	October 11, 2009
Vaclav Prospal	200th NHL goal	October 14, 2009
Chris Drury	800th NHL game	October 19, 2009
Matt Gilroy	1st NHL assist	October 19, 2009
P. A. Parenteau	1st NHL goal	October 28, 2009
Dane Byers	1st NHL goal 1st NHL point	October 30, 2009
Henrik Lundqvist	150th NHL win	November 1, 2009
Donald Brashear	1,000th NHL game	November 12, 2009
Chris Higgins	300th NHL game	November 12, 2009
Enver Lisin	100th NHL game	November 23, 2009
Bobby Sanguinetti	1st NHL game	November 27, 2009
Sean Avery	200th NHL point	November 28, 2009
Vaclav Prospal	900th NHL game	November 28, 2009
Ilkka Heikkinen	1st NHL game	December 5, 2009
Marc Staal	200th NHL game	December 26, 2009
Chad Johnson	1st NHL game	December 30, 2009
Henrik Lundqvist	300th NHL game	December 30, 2009
Erik Christensen	100th NHL point	December 31, 2009
John Tortorella	600th NHL game coached	December 31, 2009
Brandon Dubinsky	100th NHL point	January 4, 2010
Brandon Dubinsky	200th NHL game	January 6, 2010
Chad Johnson	1st NHL assist 1st NHL point	January 7, 2010
Michal Rozsival	600th NHL game	January 9, 2010
Matt Zaba	1st NHL game	January 23, 2010
Ryan Callahan	200th NHL game	January 25, 2010
Chad Johnson	1st NHL win	January 31, 2010
Marian Gaborik	500th NHL point	January 31, 2010
Chris Drury	600th NHL point	February 14, 2010
Brian Boyle	100th NHL game	March 7, 2010
Brandon Prust	100th NHL game	March 10, 2010

Transactions

The Rangers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2009–10 season.

Trades Date Details June 27, 2009[9] To Los Angeles Kings 3rd-round pick in 2010 To New York Rangers Brian Boyle June 27, 2009[10] To Pittsburgh Penguins 5th-round pick in 2009 To New York Rangers Chad Johnson June 30, 2009[11] To Montreal Canadiens Scott Gomez Tom Pyatt Michael Busto To New York Rangers Chris Higgins Ryan McDonagh Pavel Valentenko Doug Janik July 13, 2009[12] To Phoenix Coyotes Lauri Korpikoski To New York Rangers Enver Lisin July 16, 2009[13] To Colorado Avalanche Brian Fahey To New York Rangers Nigel Williams February 1, 2010[14] To Calgary Flames Chris Higgins Ales Kotalik To New York Rangers Olli Jokinen Brandon Prust February 12, 2010[15] To San Jose Sharks Conditional 6th-round draft pick in 2011 To New York Rangers Jody Shelley March 3, 2010[16] To Detroit Red Wings Jordan Owens To New York Rangers Kris Newbury March 3, 2010[17] To Phoenix Coyotes Miika Wiikman 7th-round pick in 2011 To New York Rangers Anders Eriksson

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Free agents acquired Player Former team Contract terms Paul Crowder[18] University of Alaska Anchorage undisclosed Matt Gilroy[19] Boston University 2 years, $3.5 million Andres Ambuhl[20] HC Davos undisclosed Ilkka Heikkinen[21] HIFK undisclosed Donald Brashear[22] Washington Capitals 2 years, $2.8 million Marian Gaborik[23] Minnesota Wild 5 years, $37.5 million Tyler Arnason[24] Colorado Avalanche 2-way contract Corey Locke[25] Houston Aeros undisclosed Ales Kotalik[26] Edmonton Oilers 3 years, $9 million Sam Klassen[27] Saskatoon Blades undisclosed Vaclav Prospal[28] Tampa Bay Lightning 1 year, $1.1 million Lee Baldwin[29] University of Alaska Anchorage undisclosed Cam Talbot[30] University of Alabama in Huntsville undisclosed

Free agents lost Player New team Contract terms Colton Orr[31] Toronto Maple Leafs 4 years, $4 million Nik Antropov[32] Atlanta Thrashers 4 years, $16 million Fredrik Sjostrom[33] Calgary Flames 2 years, $1.5 million Greg Moore[34] New York Islanders 1 year, 2-way contract Doug Janik[35] Detroit Red Wings 1 year, 2-way contract Paul Mara[36] Montreal Canadiens 1 year, $1.675 million Derek Morris[37] Boston Bruins 1 year, $3.3 million Blair Betts[38] Philadelphia Flyers 1 year, $550,000 Nikolay Zherdev[39] Atlant Mytishchi 1 year

Claimed via waivers Player Former team Date claimed off waivers Erik Christensen[40] Anaheim Ducks December 2, 2009 Alex Auld[41] Dallas Stars February 27, 2010

Lost via waivers Player New team Date claimed off waivers

Lost via retirement Player Markus Naslund[1] Player signings Player Contract terms Matt Zaba[42] undisclosed Michael Del Zotto[43] undisclosed Jordan Owens[44] undisclosed P. A. Parenteau[45] undisclosed Chris Higgins[46] 1 year, $2.25 million Brian Boyle[47] 2 years, $1.05 million Dane Byers[48] undisclosed Chad Johnson[49] undisclosed Ryan Callahan[50] 2 years, $4.6 million Corey Potter[51] 1 year, $550,000 Enver Lisin[52] 1 year, $790,000 Brandon Dubinsky[53] 2 years, $3.7 million

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Canada, at the Bell Centre.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	19	Chris Kreider	LW	United States	Phillips Andover (USHS-MA)
2	47 (compensatory)	Ethan Werek	C	Canada	Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
3	80	Ryan Bourque	C	United States	U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)
5	127 (from Phoenix)	Roman Horak	C	Czech Republic	České Budějovice Mountfield Jr. (Czech Extraliga-Jr)
5	140	Scott Stajcer	G	Canada	Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
6	170	Daniel Maggio	D	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
7	200	Mikhail Pashnin	D	Russia	Mechel Chelyabinsk (Russia-2)

* On March 11, 2009, the NHL general managers agreed to award the 17th selection of the second round as a compensatory pick to the New York Rangers for deceased player Alexei Cherepanov.^[54]

See also

• 2009–10 NHL season

Farm teams

Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

The 2009–10 season will be the 13th season of AHL hockey for the franchise.

Charlotte Checkers (ECHL)

The 2009–10 season will be the 17th and final season of ECHL hockey for the franchise, as their place will be taken by an American Hockey League team of the same name (currently known as the Albany River Rats) for the 2010–11 season.