1998–99 New York Rangers season

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.

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)

Regular season

Final standings
Atlantic Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11New Jersey Devils82472411248196105
25Philadelphia Flyers8237261923119693
38Pittsburgh Penguins8238301424222590
410New York Rangers8233381121722777
513New York Islanders8224481019424458

[1]

Eastern Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1y – New Jersey DevilsATL82472411248196105
2y – Ottawa SenatorsNE82442315239179103
3y – Carolina HurricanesSE8234301821020286
4Toronto Maple LeafsNE824530726823197
5Philadelphia FlyersATL8237261923119693
6Boston BruinsNE8239301321418191
7Buffalo SabresNE8237281720717591
8Pittsburgh PenguinsATL8238301424222590
9Florida PanthersSE8230341821022878
10New York RangersATL8233381121722777
11Montreal CanadiensNE8232391118420975
12Washington CapitalsSE823145620021868
13New York IslandersATL8224481019424458
14Tampa Bay LightningSE821954917929247

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)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
1October 9, 1998Philadelphia Flyers1–00–1–0Recap
2October 10, 1998@ Montreal Canadiens7–10–2–0Recap
3October 12, 1998St. Louis Blues4–20–3–0Recap
4October 16, 1998New Jersey Devils2–10–4–0Recap
5October 17, 1998@ Pittsburgh Penguins3–3 OT0–4–1Recap
6October 20, 1998Edmonton Oilers3–21–4–1Recap
7October 22, 1998New York Islanders3–22–4–1Recap
8October 24, 1998@ Philadelphia Flyers2–2 OT2–4–2Recap
9October 27, 1998Buffalo Sabres0–0 OT2–4–3Recap
10October 30, 1998Carolina Hurricanes1–03–4–3Recap
November: 3–5–4 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–4–3)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
11November 3, 1998@ New Jersey Devils3–13–5–3Recap
12November 4, 1998Montreal Canadiens4–13–6–3Recap
13November 7, 1998@ Toronto Maple Leafs6–6 OT3–6–4Recap
14November 10, 1998@ Tampa Bay Lightning10–24–6–4Recap
15November 11, 1998@ Florida Panthers4–14–7–4Recap
16November 13, 1998Boston Bruins3–3 OT4–7–5Recap
17November 18, 1998@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim3–14–8–5Recap
18November 19, 1998@ Los Angeles Kings5–15–8–5Recap
19November 21, 1998@ San Jose Sharks2–2 OT5–8–6Recap
20November 25, 1998@ Buffalo Sabres4–25–9–6Recap
21November 27, 1998@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–2 OT5–9–7Recap
22November 29, 1998Nashville Predators5–16–9–7Recap
December: 7–6–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 4–4–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
23December 1, 1998Florida Panthers5–4 OT7–9–7Recap
24December 2, 1998@ New York Islanders3–28–9–7Recap
25December 5, 1998@ Ottawa Senators2–19–9–7Recap
26December 7, 1998Toronto Maple Leafs6–210–9–7Recap
27December 9, 1998Colorado Avalanche2–110–10–7Recap
28December 11, 1998@ Buffalo Sabres2–010–11–7Recap
29December 14, 1998Calgary Flames5–211–11–7Recap
30December 16, 1998@ New Jersey Devils6–311–12–7Recap
31December 19, 1998@ Toronto Maple Leafs7–411–13–7Recap
32December 23, 1998Carolina Hurricanes1–011–14–7Recap
33December 26, 1998@ Carolina Hurricanes6–312–14–7Recap
34December 30, 1998@ Phoenix Coyotes3–112–15–7Recap
35December 31, 1998@ Colorado Avalanche6–313–15–7Recap
January: 6–7–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–3–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
36January 2, 1999@ St. Louis Blues1–014–15–7Recap
37January 4, 1999San Jose Sharks4–315–15–7Recap
38January 6, 1999New Jersey Devils5–215–16–7Recap
39January 7, 1999@ Washington Capitals5–115–17–7Recap
40January 10, 1999Tampa Bay Lightning5–216–17–7Recap
41January 13, 1999New York Islanders4–3 OT17–17–7Recap
42January 15, 1999Chicago Blackhawks3–117–18–7Recap
43January 16, 1999@ Montreal Canadiens3–017–19–7Recap
44January 19, 1999Ottawa Senators2–117–20–7Recap
45January 21, 1999Florida Panthers2–117–21–7Recap
46January 26, 1999@ Washington Capitals4–118–21–7Recap
47January 28, 1999@ Carolina Hurricanes3–2 OT18–22–7Recap
48January 30, 1999@ Detroit Red Wings3–219–22–7Recap
February: 6–6–0 (home: 4–4–0; road: 2–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
49February 1, 1999Washington Capitals3–119–23–7Recap
50February 4, 1999Vancouver Canucks8–420–23–7Recap
51February 7, 1999@ Boston Bruins3–220–24–7Recap
52February 12, 1999Carolina Hurricanes3–120–25–7Recap
53February 14, 1999Detroit Red Wings4–220–26–7Recap
54February 15, 1999@ Nashville Predators7–421–26–7Recap
55February 17, 1999Montreal Canadiens6–321–27–7Recap
56February 19, 1999Pittsburgh Penguins6–122–27–7Recap
57February 21, 1999@ Edmonton Oilers2–1 OT23–27–7Recap
58February 22, 1999@ Calgary Flames6–223–28–7Recap
59February 26, 1999Phoenix Coyotes3–024–28–7Recap
60February 28, 1999Philadelphia Flyers6–525–28–7Recap
March: 6–5–3 (home: 2–3–3; road: 4–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
61March 2, 1999Dallas Stars2–2 OT25–28–8Recap
62March 4, 1999@ Washington Capitals4–226–28–8Recap
63March 7, 1999@ Boston Bruins3–127–28–8Recap
64March 8, 1999Toronto Maple Leafs3–2 OT28–28–8Recap
65March 10, 1999Ottawa Senators3–028–29–8Recap
66March 12, 1999Boston Bruins5–428–30–8Recap
67March 14, 1999@ New York Islanders3–2 OT29–30–8Recap
68March 15, 1999Washington Capitals1–1 OT29–30–9Recap
69March 19, 1999Buffalo Sabres3–2 OT29–31–9Recap
70March 21, 1999Pittsburgh Penguins2–2 OT29–31–10Recap
71March 22, 1999@ Tampa Bay Lightning6–329–32–10Recap
72March 24, 1999@ Florida Panthers2–130–32–10Recap
73March 27, 1999@ Philadelphia Flyers3–130–33–10Recap
74March 29, 1999New York Islanders3–131–33–10Recap
April: 2–5–1 (home: 1–2–0; road: 1–3–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
75April 2, 1999Mighty Ducks of Anaheim4–131–34–10Recap
76April 4, 1999@ New Jersey Devils4–131–35–10Recap
77April 5, 1999@ Philadelphia Flyers5–132–35–10Recap
78April 8, 1999@ Chicago Blackhawks6–232–36–10Recap
79April 9, 1999@ Dallas Stars3–132–37–10Recap
80April 12, 1999Tampa Bay Lightning2–133–37–10Recap
81April 15, 1999@ Ottawa Senators2–2 OT33–37–11Recap
82April 18, 1999Pittsburgh Penguins2–1 OT33–38–11Recap
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.
Regular season
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM
99Wayne GretzkyC7095362−2314
15John MacLeanRW82282755546
2Brian LeetchD82134255−742
9Adam GravesLW82381553−1247
93Petr Nedved†C56202747−650
33Marc SavardC7093645−738
17Kevin StevensLW81232043−1064
24Niklas SundstromLW81133043−220
22Mike KnubleRW82152035−726
25Mathieu Schneider†D75102434−1971
20Todd HarveyRW37111728−172
6Manny MalhotraC738816−213
5Ulf Samuelsson‡D674812693
37Brent FedykLW674610−1130
23Jeff BeukeboomD45099−260
27Alexei Kovalev‡RW14347−612
21Scott FraserRW28246−1214
4[lower-alpha 1]Chris Tamer†D52156−1292
34Peter PopovicD68145−1240
12Rich BrennanD24134−423
36Rumun Ndur†D31134−246
28Eric Lacroix†LW30213−54
32Sean Pronger†‡C14033−34
10Esa TikkanenLW32033−538
8Jan MertzigD23022−58
25Alexander Karpovtsev‡D210110
18Derek ArmstrongC300000
39Dan CloutierG220002
14Christian DubeC600000
26Jeff Finley‡D2000−10
19Darren LangdonLW44000−380
26Mike Maneluk†RW4000−14
3Stan Neckar†‡D18000−18
35Mike RichterG680000
14Geoff Smith‡D4000−52
28P. J. StockLW5000−16
14Johan WitehallLW400000
32Harry York‡C5000−14

Goaltending
Regular season
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
35Mike Richter682730818971702.63.91043878
39Dan Cloutier22683570492.68.91401097

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[lower-alpha 2] [9]
Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves [10]
"Crumb Bum" Award Rod Gilbert [10]
Frank Boucher Trophy Mike Richter [10]
Good Guy Award Kevin Stevens [10]
Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Manny Malhotra [10]
Players' Player Award Adam Graves [10]
Rangers MVP Brian Leetch [10]
Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Adam Graves [10]

Milestones
Milestone Player Date Ref
1,000th game played John MacLean November 11, 1998 [11]
Ulf Samuelsson January 13, 1999 [12]

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York at the Marine Midland Arena.[13]

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. Cole, Stephen (2004). The Best of Hockey Night in Canada. Toronto: McArthur & Company. p. 133. ISBN 1-55278-408-8.
  5. 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. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1999". NHL.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  10. 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. pp. 349–352.
  11. "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.
  12. 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.
  13. "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
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