How a Hockey Team Founded in 1926 Became New York's Broadway Blueshirts

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from a broken promise, the New York Rangers emerged as an NHL powerhouse in the Roaring Twenties. From their early Stanley Cup triumphs to their legendary Broadway Blueshirts nickname, the franchise has navigated decades of dramatic rebuilds, high-stakes trades, and a historic seven-year postseason drought to define New York hockey.

Founded in 1926 by Madison Square Garden president Tex Rickard, the Rangers were created to compete with the New York Americans, despite Rickard previously promising the Americans they would be the only hockey team at the Garden. Originally incorporated as the New York Giants Professional Hockey Club, the name was changed during an April 17, 1926, meeting. The nickname 'Rangers' was coined by New York Herald Tribune editor George Haley, who dubbed them 'Tex's Rangers' due to Rickard's decision to bring a second team to the arena.

The team found immediate success, winning the Stanley Cup in 1928, just their second season. This victory made them the first United States-based NHL franchise to claim the trophy. Their early years were marked by colorful moments, including head coach Lester Patrick playing in goal at age 44 during the 1928 Stanley Cup Final after starting goaltender Lorne Chabot was injured. By the 1940s, however, the team entered a long period of struggle, punctuated by a 1943–44 season where goaltender Ken McAuley recorded a 6.24 goals-against average, the worst in NHL history for a goalie playing at least 25 games.

The franchise experienced a major resurgence in 1994, capturing their fourth Stanley Cup under the leadership of Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, and Mike Richter. This era was defined by the acquisition of several former Edmonton Oilers, including Messier, who famously guaranteed a win in the 1994 Eastern Conference finals. Despite this success, the team later endured a franchise-record seven-year playoff drought from 1998 to 2005. The arrival of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in 2006 revitalized the club, leading to a period of consistent competitiveness that included a return to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, where they ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Kings.

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