With the Rangers facing second-round playoff extinction in Tuesday night’s Game 6 against the Senators at the Garden, they don’t have even a single Stanley Cup winner in the lineup or on the roster.
It not only marked the first time this was the case in the Henrik Lundqvist Era that commenced with the 2006 tournament, but the first time in more than a quarter-century that the Blueshirts entered and went through the playoffs without a ring-wearer.
Here’s a review of the individual Cup-winners and their championship bona fides on the Ranger teams that have gone 1-for-24 since 1992.
2016, first-round elimination: Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay (2004). Veteran defenseman was a healthy scratch for the final game of the series and retired soon after.
2015, conference finals elimination: Boyle; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay (2004). Boyle was a marginal figure while St. Louis struggled through much of the tournament and announced his retirement a few weeks after it ended.
2014, Cup final defeat: St. Louis; Brad Richards, Tampa Bay (2004). The death of St. Louis’ mother on the eve of Game 5 of the second round against the Penguins with the Blueshirts trailing the series 3-1 created an emotional wave the club rode to the final.
2013, second-round elimination: Richards. The 2004 Conn Smythe winner was a healthy scratch for the final two games of the Round 2 defeat to the Bruins that created a firestorm around John Tortorella in advance of the coach’s abrupt firing following the players’ exit meetings.
2012, conference finals elimination: Richards; Ruslan Fedotenko, Tampa Bay (2004); Mike Rupp, Devils (2003). Fedotenko had scored both goals in the Lightning’s Game 7, 2-1 Cup-clincher over Calgary in ’04 while Rupp scored the Cup-winner for New Jersey in the Game 7, 3-0 victory over Anaheim in ’03.
2011, first-round elimination: Fedotenko. The winger earned a roster spot after reporting to training camp unsigned on a tryout.
2009, first-round elimination: Scott Gomez, Devils (2000, 2003) The last hurrah on Broadway for Gomez, who was sent to Montreal for a package including the rights to Ryan McDonagh.
2008, second-round elimination: Gomez; Brendan Shanahan, Detroit (1997, 1998, 2002); Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh (1991, 1992). Jagr and Shanahan were not offered contracts to return upon reaching free agency.
2007, second-round elimination: Shanahan; Jagr. Shanahan was a shadow of himself after having returned two weeks prior to the playoffs after missing more than a month with the concussion he sustained in a frightful, violent open-ice collision with Mike Knuble.
2006, first-round elimination: Jagr; Petr Sykora, Devils (2000); Sandis Ozolinsh, Colorado (1996). This is the one in which Jagr suffered a separated shoulder while taking a wild swing at New Jersey’s Gomez late in the first game of the opening-round sweep. No. 68 missed the second game, played cautiously and ineffectively in the third game, and then left the fourth game following one shift after re-injuring the shoulder.
1997, conference finals elimination: Mark Messier, Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) and Rangers (1994); Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988); Esa Tikkanen, Edmonton (1985, 1987, 1988) and Rangers (1994); Adam Graves, Edmonton (1990) and Rangers (1994); Mike Richter, Rangers (1994); Brian Leetch, Rangers (1994); Alexander Karpovtsev, Rangers (1994); Jeff Beukeboom, Edmonton (1988, 1990) and Rangers (1994); Doug Lidster, Rangers (1994); Ulf Samuelsson, Pittsburgh (1991, 1992); Bruce Driver, Devils (1995). The Great One records hat tricks against the Panthers in Round 1 and against the Flyers in Round 2 in the final playoffs of his career.
1996, second-round elimination: Messier; Graves; Richter; Leetch; Beukeboom; Lidster; Karpovtsev; Samuelsson; Driver; Alex Kovalev, Rangers (1994); Sergei Nemchinov, Rangers (1994); Kevin Lowe, Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) and Rangers (1994); Jari Kurri, Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990); Marty McSorley, Edmonton (1987, 1988). Blueshirts acquired Kurri and McSorley after failing to complete trade with LA for Gretzky, who signed in New York as free agent a few months later.
1995, second-round elimination: Messier; Graves; Richter; Leetch; Beukeboom; Kovalev; Karpovtsev; Lowe; Sergei Zubov, Rangers (1994); Stephane Matteau (1994); Steve Larmer, Rangers (1994); Nick Kypreos, Rangers (1994); Joe Kocur, Rangers (1994); Jay Wells, Rangers (1994); Brian Noonan, Rangers (1994); Glenn Healy, Rangers (1994). Experience carried eight-seed to first-round upset of Nordiques before sweep by Flyers.
1994, Stanley Cup champions: Messier; Graves; Tikkanen; Beukeboom; Lowe; Glenn Anderson, Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990); Craig MacTavish, Edmonton (1987, 1988, 1990). When asked why he had collected so many former Oilers on the roster, general manager Neil Smith said, “Who should I collect, San Jose Sharks?”
1992, second-round elimination: Messier; Graves; Beukeboom. Presidents’ Trophy-winners in Messier’s first year that ends with Graves slashing Mario Lemieux and a bouncer beating Richter.
1991, first-round elimination: NONE.