Rangers Facing Backlash for Controversial Banner: 'Can't Use That Word'

The New York Rangers are facing some backlash after unveiling their latest banner at Madison Square Garden celebrating their 2023-24 President’s Trophy.

Last season, the Rangers set franchise records with 55 wins and 114 points . As is typical in the National Hockey League, the franchise hung a banner in the rafters of their arena highlighting the accomplishment as the team with the most points in the regular season.

The problem this time, however, is that instead of the usual “President’s Trophy Winners” label, the Rangers opted for a rather odd choice of words to include in their banner at Madison Square Garden.

"Regular Season Champions" is what the Rangers stitched on the banner, an odd choice that has drawn ridicule from former NHL player and host of the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast Ryan Whitney.

While supportive of recognizing the team’s President’s Trophy achievement, Whitney made it clear he wasn’t a fan of how the Rangers chose to phrase the banner.

“I don't get this banner," Whitney said. "And I would be 100% down with a 'President’s Trophy Winners' or 'President’s Trophy Champions' banner.

"But to write ‘Regular Season Champions’ like that... You can’t put 'champion' on 'regular season.' You can’t use that word.”

Whitney’s comments make sense considering the term “champions” should be reserved for winning the Stanley Cup, not for finishing the regular season with the best record.

The former NHLer went as far as pointing out the real champions of last season, making clear how that word should be used when it comes to putting it on banners.

“The champions are the Florida Panthers,” Whitney said bluntly.

The Rangers finished the 2023–24 season atop the NHL standings, but they ultimately fell short in the playoffs. In fact, they were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champions in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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