1977–78 New York Rangers season
The 1977–78 New York Rangers season was the 52nd season of the New York Rangers franchise. The Rangers slipped to last in the Patrick but qualified for the playoffs by having one of the top twelve records in the league. The Rangers lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Offseason
The Rangers hired Jean-Guy Talbot as their new head coach. It would be his only season as head coach of the Rangers.Regular season
Season standings
Schedule and results
Playoffs
Key: Win LossPlayer statistics
;Skaters| Player | |||||
| 79 | 38 | 43 | 81 | 53 | |
| 80 | 40 | 33 | 73 | 47 | |
| 78 | 24 | 48 | 72 | 100 | |
| 80 | 26 | 40 | 66 | 30 | |
| 79 | 19 | 44 | 63 | 30 | |
| 66 | 27 | 28 | 55 | 41 | |
| 80 | 6 | 40 | 46 | 115 | |
| 71 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 43 | |
| 71 | 22 | 8 | 30 | 27 | |
| 53 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 44 | |
| 37 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 12 | |
| 56 | 2 | 19 | 21 | 63 | |
| 57 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 52 | |
| 59 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 15 | |
| 59 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 22 | |
| 29 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 34 | |
| 78 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 38 | |
| 19 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | |
| 59 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 105 | |
| 66 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 62 | |
| 18 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| 29 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 23 | |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | |
| 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Player | |||||
| 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
;Goaltenders
| Player | ||||||||
| 41 | 2352 | 12 | 20 | 7 | 141 | 3.60 | 4 | |
| 34 | 1848 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 98 | 3.18 | 1 | |
| 6 | 360 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 3.33 | 0 | |
| 4 | 240 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 3.50 | 0 |
| Player | |||||||
| 2 | 122 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3.44 | 0 | |
| 1 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 |
†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.
Awards and records
- Phil Esposito, Lester Patrick Trophy
Transactions
Roster
Draft picks
New York's picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 1 | 8 | Lucien DeBlois | RW | Sorel Black Hawks | |
| 1 | 13 | Ron Duguay | C | Sudbury Wolves | |
| 2 | 26 | Mike Keating | LW | St. Catharines Fincups | |
| 3 | 44 | Steve Baker | G | Union College | |
| 4 | 62 | Mario Marois | D | Quebec Remparts | |
| 5 | 80 | Benoit Gosselin | LW | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | |
| 6 | 98 | John Bethel | LW | Boston University | |
| 7 | 116 | Bob Sullivan | LW | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | |
| 8 | 131 | Lance Nethery | C | Cornell University | |
| 9 | 146 | Alex Jeans | C | University of Toronto | |
| 10 | 157 | Pete Raps | LW | Western Michigan University | |
| 11 | 164 | Mike Brown | RW | Western Michigan University | |
| 12 | 171 | Mark Miller | LW | University of Michigan |