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Iced at the Igloo: The 1991-92 New York Rangers

By Scott Esposito

MONTREAL, CANADA - CIRCA 1990: John Vanbiesbrouck #34 of the New York Rangers slides to make a save on a shot by Chris Chelios #24 of the Montreal Canadiens Circa 1990 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - CIRCA 1990: John Vanbiesbrouck #34 of the New York Rangers slides to make a save on a shot by Chris Chelios #24 of the Montreal Canadiens Circa 1990 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) /

This was the year a half century of heartbreak and frustration was supposed to end. This New York Rangers team had speed, skill, toughness, solid goaltending and, at long last, a franchise player and Stanley Cup champion still in his prime.  This 1991-92 NHL season was to be capped by a parade down the Canyon of Heroes. However, the hockey gods had other plans.

In the first four parts of our series on the greatest New York Rangers teams that almost won the Stanley Cup, we looked at the squads of 1950, 1971, 1972, and 1979. In part five of our series, we examine a Blueshirts unit that might have been the best in franchise history to fall short.

Loaded

Loaded is one way to describe the 1991-92 Rangers. Stacked, dominant, skilled and tough also apply. It was easy to believe that these  Blueshirts would finally bring back the Cup to Broadway, especially considering their regular-season performance of 50 wins, 25 losses and five ties for 105 points.

The Rangers established franchise records and led the NHL in both wins and points, and earned their first Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s regular-season champion. They scored 321 goals, a single-season team best. They allowed just 246, the fewest in one year by the Broadway Blues since the 1972 club permitted 208 in 78 games.

Led by future Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Brian Leetch, who both finished among  the NHL’s top10 in scoring with over 100 points apiece, the Rangers boasted five 30-goal scorers and a goaltending tandem that combined for a .906 save percentage, 2.65 goals-against average and five shutouts.

By the time the playoffs arrived the Rangers seemed unstoppable.

NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Former New York Ranger players Adam Graves, Brian Leetch, Mark Messier, Mike Richter and Eddie Giacomin salute Andy Bathpage and Harry Howell on their numbers being retired prior to the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers on February 22, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Former New York Ranger players Adam Graves, Brian Leetch, Mark Messier, Mike Richter and Eddie Giacomin salute Andy Bathpage and Harry Howell on their numbers being retired prior to the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers on February 22, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Messier and Leetch

Every diehard Rangers fan knows exactly how and when Mark Messier arrived on Broadway.

For those needing a refresher (or who were on another team’s bandwagon, eating fish sticks and too busy to notice) the “Moose” was acquired on October 4, 1991, with future considerations from the Edmonton Oilers for Bernie Nicholls, Steven Rice and Louie DeBrusk.

A month later, the teams settled the future considerations part by swapping defensemen. The Rangers got the hard-hitting Jeff Beukeboom in exchange for David Shaw, making the entire trade one of the best in Blueshirts history.

Messier provided a nasty edge and the experience of having battled with his Oilers teammates in winning five Cups. He was the Rangers’ answer to Pittsburgh’s franchise center Mario Lemieux.

His debut season on Broadway earned him the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player in the regular season. “Moose” notched a team-best 107 points, scored 35 goals and tied for the club-lead with six game-winners and four shorthanders.

Meanwhile, Leetch became the first  and only U.S.-born defenseman to break 100 points in a season, and won the first of his two Norris trophies as the NHL’s top blueliner.

His 102 points topped all other defensemen in the NHL, and are the most in one season by a Rangers blueliner. His team-record 80 assists were the most behind future Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, while his 46 power-play points also led the club.

The pair was among the top three scorers for the Rangers that postseason.

Speedy right winger and future Hall of Famer Mike Gartner led with eight goals and 16 points after scoring a team-best 40 times during the season. Leetch had four markers and 11 assists for 15 points, while Messier tallied 14 points.

However, that wasn’t enough for the Rangers to even make the Finals, never mind win their first Cup in over a half-century.

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