Editing New York Rangers (section)

====Return to the playoffs (2005–2011)====
[[File:Henrik Lundqvist - New York Rangers.jpg|thumb|Stellar performances by rookie goaltender [[Henrik Lundqvist]] during the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]] led to the Rangers' best record since [[1993–94 NHL season|1993–94]].]] 
The Rangers were expected to struggle during the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]], but behind stellar performances by Swedish rookie goaltender [[Henrik Lundqvist]], the Rangers finished the season with a record of 44–26–12, their best record since 1993–94. Jagr broke the Rangers' single-season points record with a first-period assist in a 5–1 win against the New York Islanders on March 29, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/boxscore_archive.asp?BoxScore=boxscore_03292006.asp | title=Box Score – Rangers 5, Islanders 1 | date=March 29, 2006 | access-date=August 8, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070417102804/http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/boxscore_archive.asp?BoxScore=boxscore_03292006.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date =April 17, 2007}}</ref> The assist gave him 110 points on the season, breaking [[Jean Ratelle]]'s record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/gamenotes.asp?id=960&gametype=Post | title=Game Notes – Rangers 5, Islanders 1 | date=March 29, 2006 | access-date=August 8, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095546/http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/gamenotes.asp?id=960&gametype=Post <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date =September 29, 2007}}</ref> Less than two weeks later, on April 8, Jagr scored his 53rd goal of the season against the Boston Bruins, breaking the club record previously held by Adam Graves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/gamenotes.asp?id=968&gametype=Post | title=Game Notes – Rangers 4, Boston Bruins 3 (OT) | date=April 8, 2006 | access-date=August 8, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926222646/http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/gamenotes.asp?id=968&gametype=Post <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date =September 26, 2007}}</ref> Two games prior, on April 4, the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3–2, in a shootout, to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/gamenotes.asp?id=964&gametype=Post | title=Game Notes – Rangers 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2 (SO) | date=April 4, 2006 | access-date=August 8, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083446/http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/gamenotes.asp?id=964&gametype=Post <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date =September 29, 2007}}</ref> In the [[2006 Stanley Cup playoffs|2006 conference quarterfinals]], the Rangers drew a matchup with the Devils and were defeated in a four-game sweep. Jagr fell two points short of winning his sixth [[Art Ross Trophy]] as scoring champion in 2005–06, but did win his third [[Ted Lindsay Award|Pearson Award]] as the players' choice for the most outstanding player.

[[File:Jaromir Jagr picks stick 2008-05-04.JPG|thumb|left|[[Jaromír Jágr|Jaromir Jagr]] was named team captain at the start of the [[2006–07 NHL season]].]]
Realizing that the team had trouble scoring goals in the 2005–06 campaign, the Rangers signed [[Triple Gold Club]] winner and 12-time 30-goal scorer [[Brendan Shanahan]] to a one-year contract. On October 5, 2006, opening night of the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]], Jagr was named the first team captain since Mark Messier's retirement.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2317 | title= Jagr named 24th captain in Rangers history | publisher=New York Rangers | date=October 5, 2006 | access-date=January 5, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125170904/http://www.nyrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2317 | archive-date=November 25, 2006}}</ref> Though the Rangers started slow in the first half of the 2006–07 season, the second half was dominated by the stellar goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist. On February 5, 2007, the Rangers acquired agitating forward [[Sean Avery]] in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings, which brought further intensity to the team. Despite losing several players to injury in March, the Rangers went 10–2–3 in the month and clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season. Facing the [[Atlanta Thrashers]] in the first round of the [[2007 Stanley Cup playoffs|2007 playoffs]], the Rangers swept the series. However, they were eliminated in the next round by the [[Buffalo Sabres]].

At the [[2007 NHL entry draft]], the Rangers chose [[Alexei Cherepanov]] 17th overall, who had been ranked by the [[NHL Central Scouting Bureau]] as the number one European skater.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/SPORTS01/706270387/1046/SPORTS0107 |title=Rangers have high hopes for top pick Cherepanov |first=Sam |last=Weinman |work=[[The Journal News]] |date=June 27, 2007 |access-date=August 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514163316/http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070627%2FSPORTS01%2F706270387%2F1046%2FSPORTS0107 |archive-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> Despite the departure of Michael Nylander, the 2007 free agency season started with a bang for the Rangers, with the signing of two high-profile centerman; [[Scott Gomez]] on a seven-year contract, as well as [[Chris Drury]] on a five-year deal.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/SPORTS01/707020347/1046/SPORTS0107 |title=Rangers sign top tier centers Drury, Gomez |first=Sam |last=Weinman |work=[[The Journal News]] |date=July 2, 2007 |access-date=August 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121075809/http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070702%2FSPORTS01%2F707020347%2F1046%2FSPORTS0107 |archive-date=January 21, 2015}}</ref> The moves, along with retaining most other key players, had been met favorably, and the Rangers made the playoffs for the third consecutive season and the second round for the second season in a row. Despite these streaks, the Rangers failed to meet expectations, losing their second-round series to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The following off-season saw the departures of captain Jaromir Jagr to the KHL, and alternate captains Martin Straka and Brendan Shanahan, who left to play in the Czech Republic and with the New Jersey Devils, respectively.

[[File:John Tortorella.jpg|thumb|[[John Tortorella]] was named the team's head coach in 2009, maintaining the position until 2013.]]
Following Jagr's departure, Chris Drury was named captain on October 3, 2008. The Rangers were one of four NHL teams to open the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]] in Europe, being featured in the [[Victoria Cup (ice hockey)|Victoria Cup]] final, defeating the European Champions Cup winner [[Metallurg Magnitogorsk]] in [[Bern]], Switzerland. This was followed by two NHL regular season games against Tampa Bay in [[Prague]] on October 4 and 5, and the Rangers won both games. The Rangers tied the 1983–84 Rangers for the best start in franchise history with a 5–0 record, and set the franchise record for best start in a season through the first 13 games by going 10–2–1 for 21 points, with the 10 wins and 21 points each becoming franchise records. A successful start to the season, however, was tempered with by the news of the sudden death of 2007 first-round pick Alexei Cherepanov, which occurred during a KHL game in Russia on October 13.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burnside |first1=Scott |title=Cherepanov collapses on bench during game, dies of apparent heart attack |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3641566 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=May 3, 2024 |date=October 13, 2008}}</ref> A disappointing second half of the season followed. After the Rangers went 2–7–3 in 12 games, coach Tom Renney was fired, with [[2004 Stanley Cup Finals|2004 Stanley Cup]] and [[Jack Adams Award]] winner [[John Tortorella]] named as his replacement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x898854922/Reeling-New-York-Rangers-fire-coach|title=NHL notes: Renney rendered by Rangers|date=February 23, 2009|work=Journal Star news services|access-date=January 6, 2011|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320005638/http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x898854922/Reeling-New-York-Rangers-fire-coach|url-status=live}}</ref> The Rangers made the [[2009 Stanley Cup playoffs|2009 playoffs]], but lost their opening-round series to the Washington Capitals four games to three.
 
On June 30, 2009, the Rangers traded Scott Gomez, [[Tom Pyatt]], and [[Michael Busto]] to the Montreal Canadiens for [[Ryan McDonagh]], [[Chris Higgins (ice hockey)|Chris Higgins]], [[Pavel Valentenko]], and [[Doug Janik]]. With Gomez's salary cap hit gone, the Rangers signed superstar [[Marián Gáborík|Marian Gaborik]] on the first day of free agency. In the [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10 season]], the Rangers failed to make the playoffs for the first time in five years. There was some criticism that the off-season acquisition of Gaborik had not paid off, despite Gaborik scoring 42 goals and 86 points in the season. The final two games of the season were a home-and-home against the Philadelphia Flyers, with both teams competing for the same playoff spot. The Rangers skated away with the victory in the first game, keeping their postseason hopes alive. In the second game, the Flyers peppered Henrik Lundqvist with 47 shots, but scored only once. The game went to a shootout, and the Flyers prevailed to move on to the playoffs.

[[File:Ryan Callahan 2011.png|left|upright|thumb|On September 12, 2011, [[Ryan Callahan]] was named the 26th captain in Rangers history.]]
For the [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11 season]], the team waived defenseman [[Wade Redden]] and brought in several players to achieve more balanced scoring. On November 12, the Rangers unveiled the new Heritage Jersey for the first time at the [[Rockefeller Center|ice rink at Rockefeller Center]] in a special ceremony featuring Rangers alumni and current players discussing the history of the storied franchise. The club wore the jersey for the first time on November 17 when they played the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers' playoff chances came down to the final day of the regular season for the second-straight year. The team defeated the New Jersey Devils and passed the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in the standings, putting the Rangers in the playoffs after missing out the previous season. The Rangers faced Washington in the first round and lost the series in five games. It was the second time in three years that the Capitals eliminated the Rangers from the playoffs, fueling a rivalry that lasted several seasons.

On May 13, 2011, Rangers forward [[Derek Boogaard]] was found dead in his [[Minnesota]] apartment.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/york-rangers-forward-derek-boogaard-dead-28-025813197.html | title=New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard found dead at 28 | access-date=May 16, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518044517/http://ca.news.yahoo.com/york-rangers-forward-derek-boogaard-dead-28-025813197.html | archive-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> On June 29, the Rangers bought out captain Chris Drury's contract. On July 3, the Rangers signed free agent [[Brad Richards]] to a nine-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosen |first1=Dan |title=Richards signs multi-year deal with Rangers |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/richards-signs-multi-year-deal-with-rangers/c-568285 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009012220/https://www.nhl.com/news/richards-signs-multi-year-deal-with-rangers/c-568285 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |date=July 3, 2011}}</ref> On September 12, [[Ryan Callahan]] was named the 26th captain in the Rangers' history.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Jeff Z.|last2=Belson|first2=Ken|title=Callahan Fills Drury's Role as Captain of Rangers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/sports/hockey/ryan-callahan-is-named-rangers-26th-captain.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 1, 2015|date=September 12, 2011}}</ref> He became the fifth-youngest captain in team history.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Urtz|first1=Tom Jr.|title=New York Rangers: Where Could Ryan Callahan Rank in Lineage of Ranger Captains?|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/858722-ny-rangers-where-could-ryan-callahan-rank-amongst-the-teams-25-captains|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=April 1, 2015|date=September 20, 2011|archive-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403090921/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/858722-ny-rangers-where-could-ryan-callahan-rank-amongst-the-teams-25-captains|url-status=live}}</ref> Brad Richards and [[Marc Staal]] were named alternate captains on the same day.