"We told Hank that if he didn't want to ride it out through this process, we'd find a good landing place for him," Rangers owner James Dolan told the New York Post on Wednesday. "But he said that he wanted to stay and see it through. … I'm very happy that's the way he feels. I think with him at the top of his game, that gives us our best chance of competing for a playoff spot next year."

Henrik Lundqvist could have been traded prior to the NHL Trade Deadline this season, but the goaltender told the New York Rangers he was willing to stay while they rebuild.

New York (34-39-9) failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2009-10. The Rangers front office announced Feb. 8 they were going into rebuilding mode; they were three points out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot with 28 games remaining at the time.

"I think Hank was able to keep us in the playoff race when we probably didn't really belong there the way the team was playing," Dolan said. "Having him in place gives us a great foundation going forward."

Lundqvist went 26-26-7 with a 2.98 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and two shutouts in 63 games (61 starts). The 36-year-old has multiple years left on a contract he signed Dec. 4, 2013.

Video: NYR@PHI: Lundqvist scrambles to keep the puck out

"There's some excitement about trying to come back here and trying to do it better, and [to] see how far we can push it next season," Lundqvist said April 10.

New York needs a coach after Alain Vigneault was fired April 7. Dolan said he considers NHL experience valuable, "but that will be up to [general manager Jeff Gorton]."

"The next coach is going to have to be able to take the players we have, the young guys we have, and get them to the next level," Dolan said. "I liked what I saw in the young guys and so did the staff. … The guy we hire has to be a developmental coach, I can't stress that enough."

Dolan said the Rangers will be active pursuing players this offseason after trading veteran defenseman and captain Ryan McDonagh, forward J.T. Miller (to the Tampa Bay Lightning), and forward Rick Nash (Boston Bruins) prior to the Feb. 26 deadline.

"I know we need that one great player who can make a difference," Dolan said. "We've identified some who might become available, and if they do, we want to be in position where we're able to get them. We're building a lot of data and analytics into our decision making. And it's important for the new coach to embrace that.

"We're committed to winning the Stanley Cup. I can't give a timetable, but I also think we can compete for a playoff spot next year and sneak into seventh or eighth place. We're rebuilding, but it doesn't have to take forever."