1975–76 New York Rangers season

The 1975–76 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 50th season. The Rangers would finish in fourth in the Patrick Division and miss the playoffs.

1975–76 New York Rangers
Division	4th Patrick
Conference	7th Campbell
1975–76 record	29–42–9
Home record	16–16–8
Road record	13–26–1
Goals for	262
Goals against	333
Team information
General manager	Emile Francis John Ferguson
Coach	Ron Stewart John Ferguson Sr.
Captain	Phil Esposito
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Rod Gilbert (36)
Assists	Rod Gilbert (50)
Points	Rod Gilbert (86)
Penalty minutes	Carol Vadnais (104)
Wins	John Davidson (22)
Goals against average	John Davidson (3.97)
← 1974–75 1976–77 →

Offseason

The Rangers chose Wayne Dillon as their first pick in the 1975 draft. Dillon was already playing professionally with the Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association.

Regular season

On November 7, 1975, the New York Rangers pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Boston Bruins, exchanging Brad Park, Jean Ratelle and Joe Zanussi for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais.^[1]

Final standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Philadelphia Flyers	80	51	13	16	348	209	118
New York Islanders	80	42	21	17	297	190	101
Atlanta Flames	80	35	33	12	262	237	82
New York Rangers	80	29	42	9	262	333	67

^[2]

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1975–76 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Atlanta — 1–1–4 3–2–1 1–4–1 5–7–6 N.Y. Islanders 1–1–4 — 4–2 4–2 9–5–4 N.Y. Rangers 2–3–1 2–4 — 1–5 5–12–1 Philadelphia 4–1–1 2–4 5–1 — 11–6–1 Vs. Smythe Division 1975–76 NHL records Team CHI KCS MIN STL VAN Total Atlanta 2–2–1 5–0 4–1 1–3–1 3–0–2 15–6–4 N.Y. Islanders 3–1–1 2–0–3 4–1 4–0–1 0–3–2 13–5–7 N.Y. Rangers 2–0–3 4–1 4–1 3–2 3–1–1 16–5–4 Philadelphia 2–1–2 5–0 3–0–2 3–1–1 4–0–1 17–2–6 Vs. Adams Division 1975–76 NHL records Team BOS BUF CAL TOR Total Atlanta 2–3 1–2–1 3–1 2–2 8–8–1 N.Y. Islanders 0–2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1–1 8–6–3 N.Y. Rangers 1–3 0–2–3 1–3 0–4 2–12–3 Philadelphia 1–2–1 3–0–1 4–0–1 3–0–1 11–2–4 Vs. Norris Division 1975–76 NHL records[3] Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Atlanta 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–2–1 4–0 7–12–1 N.Y. Islanders 3–1 2–1–1 1–2–1 2–1–1 4–0 12–5–3 N.Y. Rangers 3–1 0–4 0–3–1 1–3 2–2 6–13–1 Philadelphia 2–2 2–0–2 2–1–1 3–0–1 3–0–1 12–3–5

Schedule and results

1975–76 regular season[4]
October: 4–5–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 1–3–0) Game October Opponent Score Record 1 8 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 0–0–1 2 10 @ Atlanta Flames 2–1 1–0–1 3 12 Los Angeles Kings 6–4 1–1–1 4 15 Atlanta Flames 3–1 2–1–1 5 18 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 2–2–1 6 19 Vancouver Canucks 8–1 3–2–1 7 22 @ Buffalo Sabres 9–1 3–3–1 8 25 @ New York Islanders 7–1 3–4–1 9 26 Philadelphia Flyers 7–2 3–5–1 10 29 St. Louis Blues 3–1 4–5–1
November: 5–9–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–6–1) Game November Opponent Score Record 11 1 @ Montreal Canadiens 4–0 4–6–1 12 2 Detroit Red Wings 6–4 4–7–1 13 4 @ Vancouver Canucks 4–2 5–7–1 14 7 @ California Golden Seals 7–5 5–8–1 15 8 @ Los Angeles Kings 3–1 5–9–1 16 11 @ St. Louis Blues 5–3 5–10–1 17 12 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 5–10–2 18 15 @ Minnesota North Stars 5–2 6–10–2 19 16 Detroit Red Wings 3–0 7–10–2 20 19 Kansas City Scouts 6–4 7–11–2 21 22 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 7–12–2 22 23 California Golden Seals 3–2 8–12–2 23 26 Boston Bruins 6–4 8–13–2 24 29 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 8–3 8–14–2 25 30 St. Louis Blues 5–2 9–14–2
December: 6–4–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 3–1–1) Game December Opponent Score Record 26 4 @ Buffalo Sabres 6–6 9–14–3 27 5 @ Kansas City Scouts 3–2 10–14–3 28 7 Washington Capitals 5–2 11–14–3 29 10 Buffalo Sabres 2–2 11–14–4 30 11 @ Boston Bruins 5–1 12–14–4 31 13 @ Detroit Red Wings 5–2 13–14–4 32 14 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–1 13–15–4 33 17 New York Islanders 3–0 13–16–4 34 19 @ Atlanta Flames 8–3 13–17–4 35 21 Minnesota North Stars 2–0 14–17–4 36 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 15–17–4 37 31 Atlanta Flames 8–1 15–18–4
January: 3–8–2 (home: 0–2–2; road: 3–6–0) Game January Opponent Score Record 38 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 8–6 15–19–4 39 6 @ St. Louis Blues 5–2 15–20–4 40 10 @ Kansas City Scouts 8–4 16–20–4 41 11 @ Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 17–20–4 42 14 @ Vancouver Canucks 5–1 17–21–4 43 16 @ California Golden Seals 7–0 17–22–4 44 18 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 8–3 17–23–4 45 21 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 17–23–5 46 23 @ Washington Capitals 7–5 17–24–5 47 25 Los Angeles Kings 4–1 17–25–5 48 28 Buffalo Sabres 3–3 17–25–6 49 29 @ St. Louis Blues 6–3 18–25–6 50 31 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 6–4 18–26–6
February: 5–8–1 (home: 3–5–1; road: 2–3–0) Game February Opponent Score Record 51 1 Minnesota North Stars 3–2 19–26–6 52 4 New York Islanders 6–5 19–27–6 53 7 @ Detroit Red Wings 5–4 20–27–6 54 8 Montreal Canadiens 3–0 20–28–6 55 12 @ Philadelphia Flyers 6–1 20–29–6 56 13 Philadelphia Flyers 5–3 20–30–6 57 15 Kansas City Scouts 5–1 21–30–6 58 17 @ New York Islanders 3–1 22–30–6 59 18 Washington Capitals 11–4 23–30–6 60 20 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–3 23–31–6 61 22 Boston Bruins 5–2 23–32–6 62 25 California Golden Seals 6–4 23–33–6 63 28 @ Minnesota North Stars 5–3 23–34–6 64 29 Montreal Canadiens 1–1 23–34–7
March: 5–7–2 (home: 3–1–2; road: 2–6–0) Game March Opponent Score Record 65 3 Vancouver Canucks 3–3 23–34–8 66 5 @ Atlanta Flames 8–3 23–35–8 67 7 Atlanta Flames 6–6 23–35–9 68 11 @ Los Angeles Kings 4–3 23–36–9 69 13 @ Vancouver Canucks 7–3 24–36–9 70 16 @ Washington Capitals 5–2 24–37–9 71 17 Minnesota North Stars 3–1 25–37–9 72 20 @ Boston Bruins 8–1 25–38–9 73 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 25–39–9 74 24 @ Buffalo Sabres 7–3 25–40–9 75 25 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4–1 25–41–9 76 27 @ Chicago Black Hawks 6–5 26–41–9 77 28 Kansas City Scouts 4–2 27–41–9 78 31 New York Islanders 3–1 28–41–9
April: 1–1–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–1–0) Game April Opponent Score Record 79 3 @ New York Islanders 10–2 28–42–9 80 4 Philadelphia Flyers 2–0 29–42–9
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season Player GP G A Pts +/- PIM Rod Gilbert 70 36 50 86 −8 32 Steve Vickers 80 30 53 83 −17 40 Phil Esposito† 62 29 38 67 −39 28 Rick Middleton 77 24 26 50 −38 14 Carol Vadnais† 64 20 30 50 −17 104 Wayne Dillon 79 21 24 45 −11 10 Pete Stemkowski 75 13 28 41 −7 49 Greg Polis 79 15 21 36 −8 77 Pat Hickey 70 14 22 36 −29 36 Walt Tkaczuk 78 8 28 36 −10 56 Bill Fairbairn 80 13 15 28 −14 8 Ron Greschner 77 6 21 27 −51 93 Gilles Marotte 57 4 17 21 −3 34 Jean Ratelle‡ 13 5 10 15 2 2 Larry Sacharuk 42 6 7 13 −14 14 Jerry Holland 36 7 4 11 −5 6 John Bednarski 59 1 8 9 −15 77 Nick Beverley 63 1 8 9 −9 46 Bill Collins 50 4 4 8 −19 38 Brad Park‡ 13 2 4 6 −4 23 Dave Maloney 21 1 3 4 −7 66 Doug Jarrett 45 0 4 4 −26 19 Ed Johnstone 10 2 1 3 4 4 Ron Harris 3 0 1 1 −1 0 Greg Holst 2 0 0 0 −3 0 Derek Sanderson‡ 8 0 0 0 −8 4 Dale Lewis 8 0 0 0 −2 0

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
John Davidson	56	3207	22	28	5	212	3.97	3
Dunc Wilson	20	1080	5	9	3	76	4.22	0
Doug Soetaert	8	273	2	2	0	24	5.27	0
Ed Giacomin‡	4	240	0	3	1	19	4.75	0

Mike Ralph dressed for 6 games from Jan 6th 1976 to Jan 18th 1976. All six were away games.
^†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.

^[5]

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Rod Gilbert
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Jean Ratelle

Transactions

• June 17, 1975 – Hartland Monahan was lost in intra-league draft to Washington Capitals.
• June 17, 1975 – Dale Lewis claimed in intra-league draft from Los Angeles Kings.
• June 18, 1975 – Ted Irvine, Bert Wilson and Jerry Butler traded to St. Louis Blues for John Davidson and Bill Collins.
• September 9, 1975 – Curt Ridley traded to Atlanta Flames for Jerry Byers.
• September 20, 1975 – Bob MacMillan, future consideration and cash went to the St. Louis Blues for Larry Sacharuk.
• October 28, 1975 – Gilles Villemure traded to Chicago Blackhawks for Doug Jarrett.
• October 30, 1975 – Derek Sanderson traded to St. Louis Blues for 1977 first-round pick.
• October 31, 1975 – Ed Giacomin was picked up on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings.
• November 7, 1975 – Brad Park, Jean Ratelle and Joe Zanussi traded to Boston Bruins for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais.
• November 14, 1975 – Al Simmons picked up for cash from the Boston Bruins.

Source: – "Search Results". hockeytransactions.com. Retrieved June 15, 2009.

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1975 NHL amateur draft in Montreal, Canada.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	12	Wayne Dillon	C	Canada	Toronto Toros (WHA)
2	30	Doug Soetaert	G	Canada	Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
3	48	Greg Hickey	LW	Canada	Hamilton Fincups (OHA)
4	66	Bill Cheropita	G	Canada	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
5	84	Larry Huras	D	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
6	102	Randy Koch	LW	United States	University of Vermont (NCAA)
7	120	Claude Larose	LW	Canada	Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
8	138	Bill Hamilton	C	Canada	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
9	154	Bud Stefanski	C	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
10	169	Daniel Beaulieu	LW	Canada	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
11	184	John McMorrow	C	United States	Providence College (NCAA)
12	195	Tom McNamara	G	United States	University of Vermont (NCAA)
13	200	Steve Roberts	D	United States	Providence College (NCAA)
13	201	Paul Dionne	D	Canada	Princeton University (NCAA)
14	205	Cecil Luckern	LW	United States	University of New Hampshire (NCAA)
15	209	John Corriveau	RW	United States	University of New Hampshire (NCAA)
16	212	Tom Funke	LW	United States	Fargo-Moorhead Sugar Kings (MidJHL)

See also

• 1975–76 NHL season