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
Division	4th Atlantic
Conference	11th Eastern
1998–99 record	33–38–11
Home record	17–19–5
Road record	16–19–6
Goals for	217
Goals against	227
Team information
General manager	Neil Smith
Coach	John Muckler
Captain	Brian Leetch
Alternate captains	Adam Graves Jeff Beukeboom
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Average attendance	18,200 (100%)
Minor league affiliate(s)	Hartford Wolf Pack Charlotte Checkers
Team leaders
Goals	Adam Graves (38)
Assists	Wayne Gretzky (53)
Points	Wayne Gretzky (62)
Penalty minutes	Ulf Samuelsson (93)
Plus/minus	Ulf Samuelsson (+6)
Wins	Mike Richter (27)
Goals against average	Mike Richter (2.63)
← 1997–98 1999–2000 →

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]	[8]
	NHL Player of the Week	Wayne Gretzky (April 19)	[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
First game	Jan Mertzig	October 9, 1998	[11]
	Manny Malhotra	October 10, 1998
	Johan Witehall	January 30, 1999
1,000th game played	John MacLean	November 11, 1998	[12]
	Ulf Samuelsson	January 13, 1999	[13]

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York at the Marine Midland Arena.^[14]

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.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000045-QINU`"'