History of the New York Rangers

The history of the New York Rangers hockey team began in 1926 when the NHL granted a franchise to Tex Rickard, the founder of the team. The Rangers experienced early success, winning the Stanley Cup in only their second season of existence, and would go on to win two more in the next 12 years.

After their Cup win in 1940, the Rangers then suffered through one of the longest championship droughts in NHL history, which became known as the Curse of 1940. The 54-year drought ended with a Cup win in 1994 by a team led by captain Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, and Mike Richter, all of whose numbers have since been retired by the team.

In 1925, the New York Americans joined the National Hockey League, playing in Madison Square Garden. The Amerks proved to be a greater success than expected, leading Garden president Tex Rickard to seek his own franchise for the Garden, despite promising the Amerks that they would be the only hockey team to play there.

Rickard was granted a franchise, which he originally planned to name the "New York Giants". By the time the franchise was granted in April 1926, the name "New York Rangers Professional Hockey Club" was the official name. The origin of the name Rangers, as in "Tex's Rangers" is variously attributed to Rickard himself or the New York press. Rickard managed to get future legendary Toronto Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe to assemble the team. However, Smythe had a falling-out with Rickard's hockey man, Col. John S. Hammond, and was fired as manager-coach on the eve of the first season — he was paid a then-hefty $10,000 to leave. Smythe was replaced by Pacific Coast Hockey Association co-founder Lester Patrick, but kept all of the players Smythe had assembled. The new team turned out to be a winner. The Rangers won the American Division title their first year but lost to the Boston Bruins in the playoffs. The team's early success led to players becoming minor celebrities and fixtures in New York City's Roaring Twenties nightlife. It was also during this time, playing at the Garden on 48th Street, blocks away from Times Square, that the Rangers obtained their now-famous nickname "The Broadway Blueshirts".

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