1998–99 New York Rangers season

1998–99 New York Rangers
Division4th Atlantic
Conference11th Eastern
1998–99 record33–38–11
Home record17–19–5
Road record16–19–6
Goals for217
Goals against227
Team information
General managerNeil Smith
CoachJohn Muckler
CaptainBrian Leetch
Alternate captainsAdam Graves
Jeff Beukeboom
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Average attendance18,200 (100%)
Minor league affiliate(s)Hartford Wolf Pack
Charlotte Checkers
Team leaders
GoalsAdam Graves (38)
AssistsWayne Gretzky (53)
PointsWayne Gretzky (62)
Penalty minutesUlf Samuelsson (93)
Plus/minusUlf Samuelsson (+6)
WinsMike Richter (27)
Goals against averageMike Richter (2.63)

The 1998–99 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 73rd season. The Rangers missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season in what was Wayne Gretzky's final season in the National Hockey League.

Regular season

Final standings

Atlantic Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 1 New Jersey Devils 82 47 24 11 248 196 105
2 5 Philadelphia Flyers 82 37 26 19 231 196 93
3 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 82 38 30 14 242 225 90
4 10 New York Rangers 82 33 38 11 217 227 77
5 13 New York Islanders 82 24 48 10 194 244 58

[1]

Eastern Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 y – New Jersey Devils ATL 82 47 24 11 248 196 105
2 y – Ottawa Senators NE 82 44 23 15 239 179 103
3 y – Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 34 30 18 210 202 86
4 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 45 30 7 268 231 97
5 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 37 26 19 231 196 93
6 Boston Bruins NE 82 39 30 13 214 181 91
7 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 37 28 17 207 175 91
8 Pittsburgh Penguins ATL 82 38 30 14 242 225 90
9 Florida Panthers SE 82 30 34 18 210 228 78
10 New York Rangers ATL 82 33 38 11 217 227 77
11 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 32 39 11 184 209 75
12 Washington Capitals SE 82 31 45 6 200 218 68
13 New York Islanders ATL 82 24 48 10 194 244 58
14 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 19 54 9 179 292 47

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division


The Great One retires

Wayne Gretzky's Farewell Game at Madison Square Garden

Wayne Gretzky's last NHL game in Canada was on April 16, 1999, in a 2–2 tie with the Ottawa Senators. His 1,487th and final game was a 2–1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins which had Jaromir Jagr, a future Ranger captain, scoring the game-winning goal on April 18, 1999, at Madison Square Garden. The national anthems in that game were adjusted to accommodate Gretzky's departure. In place of "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee," Bryan Adams sang "We're going to miss you Wayne Gretzky."[3] John Amirante changed lyrics in "The Star-Spangled Banner" from "the land of the free" to "the land of Wayne Gretzky." He scored his final point in this game, assisting on the lone New York goal scored by team captain Brian Leetch. Gretzky was named as the first, second and third star of both games; only Maurice Richard had such an honour previously, for his performance in a 1944 playoff game.

At the time of his retirement, Gretzky was the second-to-last former WHA player still active in professional hockey, Mark Messier being the last. Messier, himself a former Ranger who would return to spend his final four playing years there, along with other representatives of the great Edmonton Oilers dynasty of the 1980s, attended the game.[4] Gretzky's final game was considered a "national retirement party" in Canada,[4] and Bryan Adams' rendition of "O Canada" was like a "lullaby."[4] As the final seconds ticked away, the crowd at Madison Square Garden gave him a standing ovation, capping off "an entirely satisfying, weekend-long going-away party" in Canada,[4] as there would be "No Regretzkys."[4]

Gretzky told Scott Morrison that the final game of his career was his greatest day.[5] He recounted:

My last game in New York was my greatest day in hockey...Everything you enjoy about the sport of hockey as a kid, driving to practice with mom [Phyllis] and dad [Walter], driving to the game with mom and dad, looking in the stands and seeing your mom and dad and your friends, that all came together in that last game in New York.[5]

Schedule and results

1998–99 regular season[6]
October: 3–4–3 (home: 3–3–1; road: 0–1–2)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
1 October 9, 1998 Philadelphia Flyers 1–0 0–1–0 Recap
2 October 10, 1998 @ Montreal Canadiens 7–1 0–2–0 Recap
3 October 12, 1998 St. Louis Blues 4–2 0–3–0 Recap
4 October 16, 1998 New Jersey Devils 2–1 0–4–0 Recap
5 October 17, 1998 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 OT 0–4–1 Recap
6 October 20, 1998 Edmonton Oilers 3–2 1–4–1 Recap
7 October 22, 1998 New York Islanders 3–2 2–4–1 Recap
8 October 24, 1998 @ Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 OT 2–4–2 Recap
9 October 27, 1998 Buffalo Sabres 0–0 OT 2–4–3 Recap
10 October 30, 1998 Carolina Hurricanes 1–0 3–4–3 Recap
November: 3–5–4 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–4–3)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
11 November 3, 1998 @ New Jersey Devils 3–1 3–5–3 Recap
12 November 4, 1998 Montreal Canadiens 4–1 3–6–3 Recap
13 November 7, 1998 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 6–6 OT 3–6–4 Recap
14 November 10, 1998 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 10–2 4–6–4 Recap
15 November 11, 1998 @ Florida Panthers 4–1 4–7–4 Recap
16 November 13, 1998 Boston Bruins 3–3 OT 4–7–5 Recap
17 November 18, 1998 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3–1 4–8–5 Recap
18 November 19, 1998 @ Los Angeles Kings 5–1 5–8–5 Recap
19 November 21, 1998 @ San Jose Sharks 2–2 OT 5–8–6 Recap
20 November 25, 1998 @ Buffalo Sabres 4–2 5–9–6 Recap
21 November 27, 1998 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 OT 5–9–7 Recap
22 November 29, 1998 Nashville Predators 5–1 6–9–7 Recap
December: 7–6–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 4–4–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
23 December 1, 1998 Florida Panthers 5–4 OT 7–9–7 Recap
24 December 2, 1998 @ New York Islanders 3–2 8–9–7 Recap
25 December 5, 1998 @ Ottawa Senators 2–1 9–9–7 Recap
26 December 7, 1998 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–2 10–9–7 Recap
27 December 9, 1998 Colorado Avalanche 2–1 10–10–7 Recap
28 December 11, 1998 @ Buffalo Sabres 2–0 10–11–7 Recap
29 December 14, 1998 Calgary Flames 5–2 11–11–7 Recap
30 December 16, 1998 @ New Jersey Devils 6–3 11–12–7 Recap
31 December 19, 1998 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 7–4 11–13–7 Recap
32 December 23, 1998 Carolina Hurricanes 1–0 11–14–7 Recap
33 December 26, 1998 @ Carolina Hurricanes 6–3 12–14–7 Recap
34 December 30, 1998 @ Phoenix Coyotes 3–1 12–15–7 Recap
35 December 31, 1998 @ Colorado Avalanche 6–3 13–15–7 Recap
January: 6–7–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–3–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
36 January 2, 1999 @ St. Louis Blues 1–0 14–15–7 Recap
37 January 4, 1999 San Jose Sharks 4–3 15–15–7 Recap
38 January 6, 1999 New Jersey Devils 5–2 15–16–7 Recap
39 January 7, 1999 @ Washington Capitals 5–1 15–17–7 Recap
40 January 10, 1999 Tampa Bay Lightning 5–2 16–17–7 Recap
41 January 13, 1999 New York Islanders 4–3 OT 17–17–7 Recap
42 January 15, 1999 Chicago Blackhawks 3–1 17–18–7 Recap
43 January 16, 1999 @ Montreal Canadiens 3–0 17–19–7 Recap
44 January 19, 1999 Ottawa Senators 2–1 17–20–7 Recap
45 January 21, 1999 Florida Panthers 2–1 17–21–7 Recap
46 January 26, 1999 @ Washington Capitals 4–1 18–21–7 Recap
47 January 28, 1999 @ Carolina Hurricanes 3–2 OT 18–22–7 Recap
48 January 30, 1999 @ Detroit Red Wings 3–2 19–22–7 Recap
February: 6–6–0 (home: 4–4–0; road: 2–2–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
49 February 1, 1999 Washington Capitals 3–1 19–23–7 Recap
50 February 4, 1999 Vancouver Canucks 8–4 20–23–7 Recap
51 February 7, 1999 @ Boston Bruins 3–2 20–24–7 Recap
52 February 12, 1999 Carolina Hurricanes 3–1 20–25–7 Recap
53 February 14, 1999 Detroit Red Wings 4–2 20–26–7 Recap
54 February 15, 1999 @ Nashville Predators 7–4 21–26–7 Recap
55 February 17, 1999 Montreal Canadiens 6–3 21–27–7 Recap
56 February 19, 1999 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–1 22–27–7 Recap
57 February 21, 1999 @ Edmonton Oilers 2–1 OT 23–27–7 Recap
58 February 22, 1999 @ Calgary Flames 6–2 23–28–7 Recap
59 February 26, 1999 Phoenix Coyotes 3–0 24–28–7 Recap
60 February 28, 1999 Philadelphia Flyers 6–5 25–28–7 Recap
March: 6–5–3 (home: 2–3–3; road: 4–2–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
61 March 2, 1999 Dallas Stars 2–2 OT 25–28–8 Recap
62 March 4, 1999 @ Washington Capitals 4–2 26–28–8 Recap
63 March 7, 1999 @ Boston Bruins 3–1 27–28–8 Recap
64 March 8, 1999 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 OT 28–28–8 Recap
65 March 10, 1999 Ottawa Senators 3–0 28–29–8 Recap
66 March 12, 1999 Boston Bruins 5–4 28–30–8 Recap
67 March 14, 1999 @ New York Islanders 3–2 OT 29–30–8 Recap
68 March 15, 1999 Washington Capitals 1–1 OT 29–30–9 Recap
69 March 19, 1999 Buffalo Sabres 3–2 OT 29–31–9 Recap
70 March 21, 1999 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 OT 29–31–10 Recap
71 March 22, 1999 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 6–3 29–32–10 Recap
72 March 24, 1999 @ Florida Panthers 2–1 30–32–10 Recap
73 March 27, 1999 @ Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 30–33–10 Recap
74 March 29, 1999 New York Islanders 3–1 31–33–10 Recap
April: 2–5–1 (home: 1–2–0; road: 1–3–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
75 April 2, 1999 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4–1 31–34–10 Recap
76 April 4, 1999 @ New Jersey Devils 4–1 31–35–10 Recap
77 April 5, 1999 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5–1 32–35–10 Recap
78 April 8, 1999 @ Chicago Blackhawks 6–2 32–36–10 Recap
79 April 9, 1999 @ Dallas Stars 3–1 32–37–10 Recap
80 April 12, 1999 Tampa Bay Lightning 2–1 33–37–10 Recap
81 April 15, 1999 @ Ottawa Senators 2–2 OT 33–37–11 Recap
82 April 18, 1999 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 OT 33–38–11 Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

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.
No. Player Pos Regular season
GP G A Pts +/- PIM
99 Wayne Gretzky C 70 9 53 62 −23 14
15 John MacLean RW 82 28 27 55 5 46
2 Brian Leetch D 82 13 42 55 −7 42
9 Adam Graves LW 82 38 15 53 −12 47
93 Petr Nedved† C 56 20 27 47 −6 50
33 Marc Savard C 70 9 36 45 −7 38
17 Kevin Stevens LW 81 23 20 43 −10 64
24 Niklas Sundstrom LW 81 13 30 43 −2 20
22 Mike Knuble RW 82 15 20 35 −7 26
25 Mathieu Schneider† D 75 10 24 34 −19 71
20 Todd Harvey RW 37 11 17 28 −1 72
6 Manny Malhotra C 73 8 8 16 −2 13
5 Ulf Samuelsson‡ D 67 4 8 12 6 93
37 Brent Fedyk LW 67 4 6 10 −11 30
23 Jeff Beukeboom D 45 0 9 9 −2 60
27 Alexei Kovalev‡ RW 14 3 4 7 −6 12
21 Scott Fraser RW 28 2 4 6 −12 14
4[a] Chris Tamer† D 52 1 5 6 −12 92
34 Peter Popovic D 68 1 4 5 −12 40
12 Rich Brennan D 24 1 3 4 −4 23
36 Rumun Ndur† D 31 1 3 4 −2 46
28 Eric Lacroix† LW 30 2 1 3 −5 4
32 Sean Pronger†‡ C 14 0 3 3 −3 4
10 Esa Tikkanen LW 32 0 3 3 −5 38
8 Jan Mertzig D 23 0 2 2 −5 8
25 Alexander Karpovtsev‡ D 2 1 0 1 1 0
18 Derek Armstrong C 3 0 0 0 0 0
39 Dan Cloutier G 22 0 0 0 2
14 Christian Dube C 6 0 0 0 0 0
26 Jeff Finley‡ D 2 0 0 0 −1 0
19 Darren Langdon LW 44 0 0 0 −3 80
26 Mike Maneluk† RW 4 0 0 0 −1 4
3 Stan Neckar†‡ D 18 0 0 0 −1 8
35 Mike Richter G 68 0 0 0 0
14 Geoff Smith‡ D 4 0 0 0 −5 2
28 P. J. Stock LW 5 0 0 0 −1 6
14 Johan Witehall LW 4 0 0 0 0 0
32 Harry York‡ C 5 0 0 0 −1 4

Goaltending

No. Player Regular season
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
35 Mike Richter 68 27 30 8 1897 170 2.63 .910 4 3878
39 Dan Cloutier 22 6 8 3 570 49 2.68 .914 0 1097

Awards and honors

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual) 		Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Wayne Gretzky [7]
League
(in-season) 		NHL All-Star Game selection Wayne Gretzky[b] [9]
NHL Player of the Week Wayne Gretzky (April 19) [10]
Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves [11]
"Crumb Bum" Award Rod Gilbert [11]
Frank Boucher Trophy Mike Richter [11]
Good Guy Award Kevin Stevens [11]
Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Manny Malhotra [11]
Players' Player Award Adam Graves [11]
Rangers MVP Brian Leetch [11]
Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Adam Graves [11]

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Jan Mertzig October 9, 1998 [12]
Manny Malhotra October 10, 1998
Johan Witehall January 30, 1999
1,000th game played John MacLean November 11, 1998 [13]
Ulf Samuelsson January 13, 1999 [14]

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York at the Marine Midland Arena.[15]

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 7 Manny Malhotra C  Canada Guelph Storm (OHL)
2 40 Randy Copley LW  Canada Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
3 66 Jason LaBarbera G  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
4 114 Boyd Kane LW  Canada Regina Pats (WHL)
5 122 Pat Leahy RW  United States Miami University (Ohio) (NCAA)
5 131 Tomas Kloucek D  Czech Republic Slavia Prague (Czech Extraliga)
7 180 Stefan Lundqvist RW  Sweden Brynas IF (SEL)
8 207 Johan Witehall LW  Sweden Leksands IF (SEL)
9 235 Jan Mertzig D  Sweden Lulea HF (SEL)

Notes

  1. ^ Tamer wore number 3 in his first three games.
  2. ^ Gretzky was named the All-Star Game MVP.[8]

References

  • "New York Rangers 1998-99 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  • "1998-99 New York Rangers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  1. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 155.
  2. ^ "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  3. ^ Brady, Erik (April 19, 1999). "He loved 'every part of the game'". USA Today. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e Cole, Stephen (2004). The Best of Hockey Night in Canada. Toronto: McArthur & Company. p. 133. ISBN 1-55278-408-8.
  5. ^ a b Morrison, Scott (2008). Hockey Night in Canada: My Greatest Day. Toronto: Key Porter Books. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-55470-086-8.
  6. ^ "1998-99 New York Rangers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Lady Byng Memorial Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "Wayne Gretzky at the All-Star Game". NHL.com. October 2, 2004. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "1999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Gretzky Named Player of the Week". NHL.com. April 19, 1999. Archived from the original on October 9, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. pp. 349–352.
  12. ^ "1998-99 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Bruins Rally To Tie Rangers - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. November 14, 1998. Retrieved June 27, 2023. Before the game, the Rangers presented MacLean with an award for playing in his 1,000th NHL game last Wednesday in Florida. MacLean is the 129th player to reach that milestone.
  14. ^ Lapointe, Joe (January 16, 1999). "HOCKEY; Last-Place Blackhawks Too Good for Rangers". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2023. In a pre-game ceremony, the Rangers and the league honored defenseman ULF SAMUELSSON, who played in his 1,000th. N.H.L. game on Wednesday night.
  15. ^ "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.