Mike Richter
Encyclopedia
Michael Thomas Richter is a former ice hockey
goaltender
. One of the most successful American
-born goaltenders in history, he is best known for having led the New York Rangers
to the Stanley Cup
title in 1994 and for repeatedly representing the United States in international play. Due to his success, Richter was a part of the Class of 2008 in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, alongside his former Rangers and U.S. teammate Brian Leetch
.
, near Philadelphia, and idolized Philadelphia Flyers
goaltender Bernie Parent
. He attended and played for Germantown Academy
in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
and then Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York
, graduating in 1985. He also played at the Wissahickon Skating Club
. After playing for the United States in the World Junior championships in 1985, Richter played for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
from 1985–1987, and the Rangers made him the 28th overall pick in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
. He again represented the U.S. in the World Junior championships, as well as the World Championships
and the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary
, before making his NHL debut in the 1989 playoffs
. Though he lost the one game in which he played, he was soon a regular member of the Rangers, posting 12 wins against 5 losses in his rookie season as the club's backup goaltender. Over the next two seasons, Richter split goaltending duties with the Rangers' veteran starter, John Vanbiesbrouck
, and was selected to play for the U.S. in the 1991 Canada Cup
tournament.
The Rangers traded Vanbiesbrouck to the Vancouver Canucks
before the 1993–94 season
, and Richter had his first campaign as the team's number-one goaltender. He posted a career-best 42 wins and 2.57 goals-against average as the Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy
as the league's top regular-season team for the second time in three years. He was also named Most Valuable Player of the NHL All-Star Game
, which the Rangers hosted at Madison Square Garden
that year. In the playoffs, he ramped up his play, becoming the eighth goaltender to post four shutouts in one playoff season. The Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals
against the Canucks, and Richter earned a career highlight in Game 4, stopping Vancouver sniper Pavel Bure
on a penalty shot. The Rangers defeated the Canucks in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup since 1940
.
Over the next few years, Richter would be consistently ranked among the world's top goaltenders. He led the United States to victory in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey
, with his efforts earning him tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Injuries plagued much of his career with everything from MCL sprains, ACL sprains and concussions. At some points they occurred together, but he worked hard to rehabilitate his injuries to always make the return to the ice.
Richter's style of play was very acrobatic and quick. For a small goalie he made himself look big by using his lightning quick reflexes to make saves. He was rarely out of position and always square to his shooters. He was known for making plenty of desperation and sometimes unbelievable saves using his focus, flexibility, and athleticism. Long time teammate and Hall of Fame Ranger defenseman Brian Leetch
once said this about Richter:
" I have never seen anyone more focused than he was. As the game got tougher, he got better. If a goal was ever scored on him I was always surprised."
His last appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs would be 1997, as a series of knee injuries and a string of mediocre Ranger teams saw his personal statistics suffer. Nevertheless, he was selected as the top goalie for Team USA in the 1998
and 2002 Olympics
, winning a silver medal in the 2002 Games. A year later a skull fracture and concussion forced him to retire, but not until after he became the first Ranger to record 300 wins. He finished his career as the Rangers all-time leader in wins.
on February 4, 2004. Though he played his entire career for the Rangers, he twice changed teams between seasons due to a quirk in the NHL rules of free agency, returning to the Rangers each time. Upon his retirement and having played his entire career in New York
, the Rangers posted the quote of "Once a Ranger Always a Ranger" from everything to posters, websites, bill boards and arenas. The phrase is still seen all over the place in and near Madison Square Garden
.
Richter returned to college in 2004 and graduated in 2008 with a BA from Yale University
, entering the university through the highly competitive Eli Whitney Students Program
, Yale College's admissions program for non-traditional students. He majored in Ethics, Politics & Economics (EP&E). Richter volunteered as a coach for the Yale men's hockey team alongside head coach Keith Allain
; Allain was an assistant coach for Team USA in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
In 2007 the Rothenberg Political Report reported that Richter, who lives in Guilford, Connecticut
, was considering running for U.S. Congress under Connecticut's 4th congressional district
in 2008 as a Democrat
. However, on March 23, 2007, he stated that he would not run, despite still expressing interest in seeking public office one day.
Richter competed in the Ironman Triathlon
at Lake Placid on July 22, 2007. The triathlon involves a 2.4 miles (3.9 km) swim, 112 miles (180.2 km) bike ride, and a 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) run. He completed the grueling race in 12 hours 49 minutes 10 seconds.
On November 4, 2007 Richter ran in his first New York City Marathon
finishing with a time of 3:54:35.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. One of the most successful American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born goaltenders in history, he is best known for having led the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
title in 1994 and for repeatedly representing the United States in international play. Due to his success, Richter was a part of the Class of 2008 in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, alongside his former Rangers and U.S. teammate Brian Leetch
Brian Leetch
Brian Joseph Leetch is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 18 National Hockey League seasons with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He is generally considered one of the top defensemen in NHL history, being particularly noted for his...
.
Playing career
Richter grew up in Flourtown, PennsylvaniaFlourtown, Pennsylvania
Flourtown is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a ZIP code of 19031. Flourtown is adjacent to the Philadelphia neighborhoods of West Oak Lane, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill...
, near Philadelphia, and idolized Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
goaltender Bernie Parent
Bernie Parent
Bernard Marcel Parent , better known as Bernie Parent, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and also spent one season in the World Hockey Association with the...
. He attended and played for Germantown Academy
Germantown Academy
Germantown Academy is America's oldest nonsectarian day school, founded on December 6, 1759 . Germantown Academy is now a K-12 school in the Philadelphia suburb of Fort Washington, having moved from its original Germantown campus in 1965...
in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Fort Washington is an unincorporated census-designated place and suburb of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,446 at the 2010 census.-Prior to the Revolutionary War:...
and then Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, graduating in 1985. He also played at the Wissahickon Skating Club
Wissahickon Skating Club
Wissahickon Skating Club is a non-profit skating club in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. The club was organized in 1954 for the purpose of supporting amateur and professional athletes for ice hockey and figure skating competitions. Construction began in 1955, and in 1956, the doors opened...
. After playing for the United States in the World Junior championships in 1985, Richter played for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey
The Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The team plays at the Kohl Center and is coached by former Badger and NHL player Mike Eaves...
from 1985–1987, and the Rangers made him the 28th overall pick in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
1985 NHL Entry Draft
The 1985 NHL Entry Draft was the first draft outside of Montreal. The event was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and attended by 7,000 fans. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the...
. He again represented the U.S. in the World Junior championships, as well as the World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
and the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, before making his NHL debut in the 1989 playoffs
1989 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League began on April 5, after the conclusion of the 1988–89 NHL season...
. Though he lost the one game in which he played, he was soon a regular member of the Rangers, posting 12 wins against 5 losses in his rookie season as the club's backup goaltender. Over the next two seasons, Richter split goaltending duties with the Rangers' veteran starter, John Vanbiesbrouck
John Vanbiesbrouck
John "Beezer" Vanbiesbrouck is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender, who was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils...
, and was selected to play for the U.S. in the 1991 Canada Cup
1991 Canada Cup
The 1991 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament played in September 1991. The finals took place in Montreal on September 14 and Hamilton, Ontario on September 16, and were won by Canada. The Canadians defeated the USA in a two game sweep, to win the fifth and final Canada...
tournament.
The Rangers traded Vanbiesbrouck to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
before the 1993–94 season
1993-94 NHL season
-Final:The Final pitted the New York Rangers, seeking to win their first Cup since 1940, versus the Vancouver Canucks, looking for their first-ever Cup win. The series was hard-fought and went the full seven games. The Rangers took a 3–1 series lead, but the Canucks won the next two to force a game...
, and Richter had his first campaign as the team's number-one goaltender. He posted a career-best 42 wins and 2.57 goals-against average as the Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
as the league's top regular-season team for the second time in three years. He was also named Most Valuable Player of the NHL All-Star Game
45th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 45th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in New York City, New York, on January 22, 1994.- Super Skills Competition :The Western Conference would win the Skills Competition for the second straight season...
, which the Rangers hosted at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
that year. In the playoffs, he ramped up his play, becoming the eighth goaltender to post four shutouts in one playoff season. The Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
against the Canucks, and Richter earned a career highlight in Game 4, stopping Vancouver sniper Pavel Bure
Pavel Bure
Pavel Vladimirovich Bure is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger. Nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed, Bure played for 12 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
on a penalty shot. The Rangers defeated the Canucks in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup since 1940
Curse of 1940
The Curse of 1940, also called Dutton's Curse, was a superstitious explanation for why the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League did not win the league's championship trophy, the Stanley Cup, from 1940 to 1994.-Popular theories:...
.
Over the next few years, Richter would be consistently ranked among the world's top goaltenders. He led the United States to victory in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey
1996 World Cup of Hockey
The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
, with his efforts earning him tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Injuries plagued much of his career with everything from MCL sprains, ACL sprains and concussions. At some points they occurred together, but he worked hard to rehabilitate his injuries to always make the return to the ice.
Richter's style of play was very acrobatic and quick. For a small goalie he made himself look big by using his lightning quick reflexes to make saves. He was rarely out of position and always square to his shooters. He was known for making plenty of desperation and sometimes unbelievable saves using his focus, flexibility, and athleticism. Long time teammate and Hall of Fame Ranger defenseman Brian Leetch
Brian Leetch
Brian Joseph Leetch is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 18 National Hockey League seasons with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He is generally considered one of the top defensemen in NHL history, being particularly noted for his...
once said this about Richter:
" I have never seen anyone more focused than he was. As the game got tougher, he got better. If a goal was ever scored on him I was always surprised."
His last appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs would be 1997, as a series of knee injuries and a string of mediocre Ranger teams saw his personal statistics suffer. Nevertheless, he was selected as the top goalie for Team USA in the 1998
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
and 2002 Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, winning a silver medal in the 2002 Games. A year later a skull fracture and concussion forced him to retire, but not until after he became the first Ranger to record 300 wins. He finished his career as the Rangers all-time leader in wins.
Post-retirement
Richter's jersey (#35) became the third number retired by the Rangers at Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
on February 4, 2004. Though he played his entire career for the Rangers, he twice changed teams between seasons due to a quirk in the NHL rules of free agency, returning to the Rangers each time. Upon his retirement and having played his entire career in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the Rangers posted the quote of "Once a Ranger Always a Ranger" from everything to posters, websites, bill boards and arenas. The phrase is still seen all over the place in and near Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Richter returned to college in 2004 and graduated in 2008 with a BA from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, entering the university through the highly competitive Eli Whitney Students Program
Eli Whitney Students Program
The Eli Whitney Students Program is an admissions program designed to attract students from non-traditional backgrounds to Yale College. Students admitted through the program study either part or full-time and receive either a B.A. or a B.S. from Yale College...
, Yale College's admissions program for non-traditional students. He majored in Ethics, Politics & Economics (EP&E). Richter volunteered as a coach for the Yale men's hockey team alongside head coach Keith Allain
Keith Allain
Keith Allain is an American ice hockey coach. He is currently the head coach of the Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey team....
; Allain was an assistant coach for Team USA in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
In 2007 the Rothenberg Political Report reported that Richter, who lives in Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the coast. The population was 21,398 at the 2000 census...
, was considering running for U.S. Congress under Connecticut's 4th congressional district
Connecticut's 4th congressional district
Connecticut's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the southwestern part of the state, the district is largely suburban and consists of Bridgeport, the largest city in the state, and Stamford....
in 2008 as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. However, on March 23, 2007, he stated that he would not run, despite still expressing interest in seeking public office one day.
Richter competed in the Ironman Triathlon
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
at Lake Placid on July 22, 2007. The triathlon involves a 2.4 miles (3.9 km) swim, 112 miles (180.2 km) bike ride, and a 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) run. He completed the grueling race in 12 hours 49 minutes 10 seconds.
On November 4, 2007 Richter ran in his first New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
finishing with a time of 3:54:35.
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–87 | UW–Madison University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866... |
WCHA Western Collegiate Hockey Association The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference.... |
36 | 19 | 16 | 1 | 2136 | 126 | 0 | 3.53 | .901 |
| 1987–88 | Colorado Rangers | IHL | 22 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 1298 | 68 | 0 | 3.14 | — |
| 1988–89 | Denver Rangers Denver Rangers The Denver Rangers were a professional hockey team in Denver, Colorado for 1988–1989 season. They were a member of the International Hockey League. The team was originally the Indianapolis Checkers, but after the 1986–1987 season the team moved to Denver. The team was originally known as the... |
IHL | 57 | 23 | 26 | 3 | 3031 | 217 | 1 | 4.30 | — |
| 1989–90 | New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
23 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 1320 | 66 | 0 | 3.00 | .904 |
| 1989–90 | Flint Spirits Flint Spirits The Flint Spirits were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1985–1990, and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They were a part of the International Hockey League, and replaced the recently departed Flint Generals team. They compiled an overall record of 162–220–28... |
IHL | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 782 | 49 | 0 | 3.76 | — |
| 1990–91 | New York Rangers | NHL | 45 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 2596 | 135 | 0 | 3.12 | .903 |
| 1991–92 | New York Rangers | NHL | 41 | 23 | 12 | 2 | 2298 | 119 | 3 | 3.11 | .901 |
| 1992–93 | New York Rangers | NHL | 38 | 13 | 19 | 3 | 2105 | 134 | 1 | 3.82 | .886 |
| 1992–93 1992–93 AHL season The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... |
Binghamton Rangers Binghamton Rangers The Binghamton Rangers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:The market was previously served by:-Playoffs:-Single Season:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 305 | 6 | 0 | 1.18 | .964 |
| 1993–94 | New York Rangers | NHL | 68 | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3710 | 159 | 5 | 2.57 | .910 |
| 1994–95 | New York Rangers | NHL | 35 | 14 | 17 | 2 | 1993 | 97 | 2 | 2.92 | .890 |
| 1995–96 | New York Rangers | NHL | 41 | 24 | 13 | 3 | 2396 | 107 | 3 | 2.68 | .912 |
| 1996–97 | New York Rangers | NHL | 61 | 33 | 22 | 6 | 3598 | 161 | 4 | 2.68 | .917 |
| 1997–98 | New York Rangers | NHL | 72 | 21 | 31 | 15 | 4143 | 184 | 0 | 2.66 | .903 |
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 68 | 27 | 30 | 8 | 3878 | 170 | 4 | 2.63 | .910 |
| 1999–00 | New York Rangers | NHL | 61 | 22 | 31 | 8 | 3622 | 173 | 0 | 2.87 | .905 |
| 2000–01 | New York Rangers | NHL | 45 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 2635 | 144 | 0 | 3.28 | .893 |
| 2001–02 | New York Rangers | NHL | 55 | 24 | 26 | 4 | 3195 | 157 | 2 | 2.95 | .906 |
| 2002–03 | New York Rangers | NHL | 13 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 694 | 34 | 0 | 2.94 | .897 |
| NHL totals | 666 | 301 | 258 | 73 | 38,183 | 1840 | 24 | 2.89 | .904 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | Colorado Rangers | IHL | 10 | 5 | 3 | 536 | 35 | 0 | 3.92 | — |
| 1988–89 | Denver Rangers | IHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | 210 | 21 | 0 | 6.00 | — |
| 1988–89 | New York Rangers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 4.14 | .867 |
| 1989–90 | New York Rangers | NHL | 6 | 3 | 2 | 330 | 19 | 0 | 3.45 | .896 |
| 1990–91 | New York Rangers | NHL | 6 | 2 | 4 | 313 | 14 | 1 | 2.68 | .923 |
| 1991–92 | New York Rangers | NHL | 7 | 4 | 2 | 412 | 24 | 1 | 3.50 | .894 |
| 1993–94 | New York Rangers | NHL | 23 | 16 | 7 | 1417 | 49 | 4 | 2.07 | .921 |
| 1994–95 | New York Rangers | NHL | 7 | 2 | 5 | 384 | 23 | 0 | 3.59 | .878 |
| 1995–96 | New York Rangers | NHL | 11 | 5 | 6 | 662 | 36 | 0 | 3.26 | .883 |
| 1996–97 | New York Rangers | NHL | 15 | 9 | 6 | 939 | 33 | 3 | 2.11 | .932 |
| NHL totals | 76 | 41 | 33 | 4,515 | 202 | 9 | 2.68 | .909 | ||
Career highlights
- Named to 1992 NHL All-Star43rd National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 43rd NHL All-Star Game featured 16 goals as the Campbell Conference defeated the Wales Conference, 10–6. Brett Hull was named as the All-Star M.V.P...
team - Named to 1994 NHL All-Star45th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 45th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in New York City, New York, on January 22, 1994.- Super Skills Competition :The Western Conference would win the Skills Competition for the second straight season...
team - Awarded Most Valuable Player - Won 1994 Stanley Cup1994 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
with the New York Rangers - Won gold medal at 1996 World Cup of Hockey1996 World Cup of HockeyThe first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
- Awarded Most Valuable Player - Named to 2000 NHL All-Star50th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game was part of the 1999–2000 NHL season, and took place in Toronto's Air Canada Centre on February 6, 2000....
team - Won silver medal at 2002 Winter Olympics2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
- Enshrined into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
- Received the 2009 Lester Patrick Award alongside Mark Messier and Jim Devellano.
- Ranked No. 3 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 2009).
Records
- NHL Record, Wins, Single Postseason: T-1st: 16 (1993–94)
- NYR Club Record, Games Played, Career: 666
- NYR Club Record, Wins, Career: 301
- NYR Club Record, Games Played, Single Season: 72 (1997–98)
- NYR Club Record, Wins, Single Season: 42 (1993–94)
NY Rangers team awards
- Crumb Bum Award - "For service to New York youngsters" (1997)
- Frank Boucher Trophy - "Most popular player on and off the ice" (1991, 1999, 2000, 2002)
- Good Guy Award - "For cooperation with the media" (1991)
- Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award - "Best rookie of training camp" (1991)
- Player's Player Award (1991, 2000)
- Team Rookie of the Year (1991)
- Team MVP (2000, 2002)