2003–04 New York Rangers season

The 2003–04 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 78th season. The team finished with one of the worst records in the league and missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the seventh consecutive season despite bringing in future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr midway through the season. The team would eventually trade away most of its major acquisitions, including their long-time defensive stalwart Brian Leetch. This would prove to be the final season for team captain Mark Messier.

Off-season
On July 1, 2003, general manager Glen Sather announced he would remain the Rangers head coach.

Regular season
Glen Sather stepped down as head coach on February 25, 2004, to focus on his managerial duties. Assistant coach Tom Renney was named interim head coach. Sather would make nine trades between then and the March 9 trading deadline, shipping out several veteran players for draft picks and prospects.

Schedule and results

 * Legend:
 * Legend:

Scoring

 * Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
 * † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
 * ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.

Transactions
The Rangers were involved in the following transactions from June 10, 2003, the day after the deciding game of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 7, 2004, the day of the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

Draft picks
New York's picks at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.
 * Draft notes
 * The New York Rangers' second-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a June 21, 2003 trade that sent a 2003 second-round pick and a 2003 third-round pick to the Rangers in exchange for this pick.
 * The San Jose Sharks' second-round pick went to the New York Rangers as a result of a June 21, 2003 trade that sent a 2003 second round pick to the Sharks in exchange for a 2003 third-round pick and this pick.
 * The San Jose Sharks' third-round pick went to the New York Rangers as a result of a June 21, 2003 trade that sent a 2003 second round pick to the Sharks in exchange for a 2003 second-round pick and this pick.
 * The New York Rangers' third-round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of an August 20, 2001 trade that sent Eric Lindros to the Rangers in exchange for Kim Johnsson, Pavel Brendl, Jan Hlavac and this pick.
 * The New York Rangers' fourth-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a March 18, 2002 trade that sent Pavel Bure and a 2002 second-round pick to the Rangers in exchange for Igor Ulanov, Filip Novak, a 2002 first round pick, a 2002 second round pick and this pick.
 * The Edmonton Oilers' fourth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as a result of a June 30, 2002 trade that sent Mike Richter to the Oilers in exchange for this pick.
 * The Calgary Flames' sixth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as a result of a January 22, 2003 trade that sent Mike Mottau to the Flames in exchange for a 2004 sixth-round pick and this pick.
 * The San Jose Sharks' sixth-round pick (originally New York Rangers) went to the New York Rangers as a result of a June 22, 2003 trade that sent previous considerations to the Sharks in exchange for this pick.
 * The Los Angeles Kings' sixth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as a result of a July 16, 2002 trade that sent Derek Armstrong to the Kings in exchange for this conditional pick.
 * The New York Rangers' ninth-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the result of a June 23, 2002 trade that sent Krysztof Oliwa to the Rangers in exchange for future considerations (this pick).