1999–2000 New York Rangers season

The 1999–2000 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 74th season. In the regular season, the Rangers finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 29–38–12–3 record.^[1] New York failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third straight season.^[2]

1999–2000 New York Rangers
Division	4th Atlantic
Conference	11th Eastern
1999–2000 record	29–38–12–3
Home record	15–20–5–1
Road record	14–18–7–2
Goals for	218
Goals against	246
Team information
General manager	Neil Smith (Oct.–Mar.)
Coach	John Muckler (Oct.–Mar.) John Tortorella (Mar.–Apr.)
Captain	Brian Leetch
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Average attendance	18,200
Minor league affiliate(s)	Hartford Wolf Pack Charlotte Checkers
Team leaders
Goals	Mike York (26)
Assists	Theoren Fleury (49)
Points	Petr Nedved (68)
Penalty minutes	Mathieu Schneider (78)
Plus/minus	Jan Hlavac (+3)
Wins	Mike Richter (22)
Goals against average	Mike Richter (2.87)
← 1998–99 2000–01 →

For the second time in three seasons, the Rangers fired their head coach during the regular season. John Muckler, who took the position after Colin Campbell's firing in 1997–98, was himself fired with four games left in the season.^[3][4] General manager Neil Smith was also fired, bringing an end to his tenure which had seen the Rangers win the Stanley Cup but also fall on hard times.^[4]

Regular season

Final standings

Atlantic Division^[5]

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	1	Philadelphia Flyers	82	45	22	12	3	237	179	105
2	4	New Jersey Devils	82	45	24	8	5	251	203	103
3	7	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	37	31	8	6	241	236	88
4	11	New York Rangers	82	29	38	12	3	218	246	73
5	13	New York Islanders	82	24	48	9	1	194	275	58

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL=Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PIM=Penalties in Minutes; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern Conference^[6]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	z – Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	45	22	12	3	237	179	105
2	y – Washington Capitals	SE	82	44	24	12	2	227	194	102
3	y – Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	45	27	7	3	246	222	100
4	New Jersey Devils	AT	82	45	24	8	5	251	203	103
5	Florida Panthers	SE	82	43	27	6	6	244	209	98
6	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	41	28	11	2	244	210	95
7	Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	37	31	8	6	241	236	88
8	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	35	32	11	4	213	204	85
8.5
9	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	37	35	10	0	217	216	84
10	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	35	34	9	4	196	194	83
11	New York Rangers	AT	82	29	38	12	3	218	246	73
12	Boston Bruins	NE	82	24	33	19	6	210	248	73
13	New York Islanders	AT	82	24	48	9	1	194	275	58
14	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	19	47	9	7	204	310	54
15	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	14	57	7	4	170	313	39

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs; z – Won conference; y – Won division

Schedule and results

1999–2000 regular season[7]
October: 4–7–2–0 (home: 3–5–0–0; road: 1–2–2–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Record Recap 1 October 1, 1999 @ Edmonton Oilers 1–1 OT T 0–0–1–0 Recap 2 October 2, 1999 @ Vancouver Canucks 2–1 L 0–1–1–0 Recap 3 October 5, 1999 Ottawa Senators 2–1 L 0–2–1–0 Recap 4 October 8, 1999 Carolina Hurricanes 3–1 W 1–2–1–0 Recap 5 October 10, 1999 Phoenix Coyotes 4–2 W 2–2–1–0 Recap 6 October 11, 1999 @ New York Islanders 4–2 W 3–2–1–0 Recap 7 October 14, 1999 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 L 3–3–1–0 Recap 8 October 17, 1999 Atlanta Thrashers 4–1 W 4–3–1–0 Recap 9 October 19, 1999 San Jose Sharks 2–1 L 4–4–1–0 Recap 10 October 20, 1999 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5–0 L 4–5–1–0 Recap 11 October 22, 1999 Philadelphia Flyers 2–0 L 4–6–1–0 Recap 12 October 24, 1999 Vancouver Canucks 3–0 L 4–7–1–0 Recap 13 October 30, 1999 @ Montreal Canadiens 2–2 OT T 4–7–2–0 Recap
November: 3–5–1–1 (home: 0–2–1–0; road: 3–3–0–1) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Record Recap 14 November 3, 1999 New York Islanders 3–3 OT T 4–7–3–0 Recap 15 November 5, 1999 @ Colorado Avalanche 4–1 L 4–8–3–0 Recap 16 November 7, 1999 @ Chicago Blackhawks 3–1 W 5–8–3–0 Recap 17 November 10, 1999 Ottawa Senators 4–3 L 5–9–3–0 Recap 18 November 11, 1999 @ Washington Capitals 5–4 OT W 6–9–3–0 Recap 19 November 13, 1999 Boston Bruins 5–2 L 6–10–3–0 Recap 20 November 18, 1999 @ Boston Bruins 5–3 L 6–11–3–0 Recap 21 November 20, 1999 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 OT OTL 6–11–3–1 Recap 22 November 24, 1999 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 6–3 W 7–11–3–1 Recap 23 November 26, 1999 @ Florida Panthers 6–2 L 7–12–3–1 Recap
December: 5–3–3–2 (home: 5–1–1–1; road: 0–2–2–1) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Record Recap 24 December 1, 1999 @ New Jersey Devils 3–2 L 7–13–3–1 Recap 25 December 3, 1999 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 W 8–13–3–1 Recap 26 December 4, 1999 @ Buffalo Sabres 1–1 OT T 8–13–4–1 Recap 27 December 6, 1999 Calgary Flames 3–2 OT W 9–13–4–1 Recap 28 December 8, 1999 Edmonton Oilers 2–1 OT W 10–13–4–1 Recap 29 December 15, 1999 Los Angeles Kings 8–3 W 11–13–4–1 Recap 30 December 17, 1999 Washington Capitals 3–2 OT OTL 11–13–4–2 Recap 31 December 19, 1999 Tampa Bay Lightning 5–4 OT W 12–13–4–2 Recap 32 December 21, 1999 Buffalo Sabres 3–1 L 12–14–4–2 Recap 33 December 23, 1999 @ New York Islanders 4–2 L 12–15–4–2 Recap 34 December 26, 1999 New Jersey Devils 3–3 OT T 12–15–5–2 Recap 35 December 28, 1999 @ Phoenix Coyotes 2–2 OT T 12–15–6–2 Recap 36 December 29, 1999 @ Dallas Stars 4–3 OT OTL 12–15–6–3 Recap
January: 10–4–1–0 (home: 4–2–0–0; road: 6–2–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Record Recap 37 January 2, 2000 @ Montreal Canadiens 2–2 OT T 12–15–7–3 Recap 38 January 3, 2000 St. Louis Blues 5–2 L 12–16–7–3 Recap 39 January 5, 2000 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 OT W 13–16–7–3 Recap 40 January 8, 2000 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 5–3 W 14–16–7–3 Recap 41 January 9, 2000 @ Carolina Hurricanes 1–0 L 14–17–7–3 Recap 42 January 15, 2000 @ New York Islanders 5–2 W 15–17–7–3 Recap 43 January 16, 2000 Atlanta Thrashers 6–3 W 16–17–7–3 Recap 44 January 18, 2000 Carolina Hurricanes 3–2 W 17–17–7–3 Recap 45 January 20, 2000 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4–1 W 18–17–7–3 Recap 46 January 22, 2000 @ St. Louis Blues 4–1 W 19–17–7–3 Recap 47 January 24, 2000 @ Atlanta Thrashers 6–3 W 20–17–7–3 Recap 48 January 25, 2000 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 W 21–17–7–3 Recap 49 January 27, 2000 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 L 21–18–7–3 Recap 50 January 29, 2000 @ Ottawa Senators 3–2 L 21–19–7–3 Recap 51 January 31, 2000 Nashville Predators 5–1 W 22–19–7–3 Recap
February: 4–7–2–0 (home: 2–4–1–0; road: 2–3–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Record Recap 52 February 2, 2000 New Jersey Devils 3–1 L 22–20–7–3 Recap 53 February 3, 2000 @ Atlanta Thrashers 6–3 W 23–20–7–3 Recap 54 February 8, 2000 New Jersey Devils 2–2 OT T 23–20–8–3 Recap 55 February 9, 2000 @ New Jersey Devils 4–1 L 23–21–8–3 Recap 56 February 11, 2000 Boston Bruins 5–2 W 24–21–8–3 Recap 57 February 13, 2000 New York Islanders 4–2 L 24–22–8–3 Recap 58 February 15, 2000 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 2–2 OT T 24–22–9–3 Recap 59 February 16, 2000 @ Florida Panthers 3–0 L 24–23–9–3 Recap 60 February 18, 2000 Colorado Avalanche 4–2 L 24–24–9–3 Recap 61 February 20, 2000 Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 L 24–25–9–3 Recap 62 February 22, 2000 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 W 25–25–9–3 Recap 63 February 25, 2000 @ Buffalo Sabres 6–3 W 26–25–9–3 Recap 64 February 26, 2000 @ Ottawa Senators 4–2 L 26–26–9–3 Recap
March: 3–9–2–0 (home: 1–4–2–0; road: 2–5–0–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Record Recap 65 March 1, 2000 Buffalo Sabres 3–3 OT T 26–26–10–3 Recap 66 March 3, 2000 Florida Panthers 4–2 W 27–26–10–3 Recap 67 March 6, 2000 @ San Jose Sharks 2–1 L 27–27–10–3 Recap 68 March 8, 2000 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4–3 OT W 28–27–10–3 Recap 69 March 9, 2000 @ Los Angeles Kings 3–1 L 28–28–10–3 Recap 70 March 11, 2000 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 L 28–29–10–3 Recap 71 March 13, 2000 Dallas Stars 4–3 L 28–30–10–3 Recap 72 March 15, 2000 Tampa Bay Lightning 4–4 OT T 28–30–11–3 Recap 73 March 18, 2000 @ Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 W 29–30–11–3 Recap 74 March 19, 2000 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 L 29–31–11–3 Recap 75 March 21, 2000 Florida Panthers 4–3 L 29–32–11–3 Recap 76 March 23, 2000 Washington Capitals 4–1 L 29–33–11–3 Recap 77 March 26, 2000 @ Detroit Red Wings 8–2 L 29–34–11–3 Recap 78 March 27, 2000 Detroit Red Wings 6–0 L 29–35–11–3 Recap
April: 0–3–1–0 (home: 0–2–0–0; road: 0–1–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Record Recap 79 April 1, 2000 @ Boston Bruins 2–2 OT T 29–35–12–3 Recap 80 April 3, 2000 @ Washington Capitals 4–1 L 29–36–12–3 Recap 81 April 5, 2000 Montreal Canadiens 3–0 L 29–37–12–3 Recap 82 April 9, 2000 Philadelphia Flyers 4–1 L 29–38–12–3 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)   Overtime loss (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
93	Petr Nedved	C	76	24	44	68	2	40
14	Theoren Fleury	RW	80	15	49	64	−4	68
18	Mike York	C	82	26	24	50	−17	18
27	Jan Hlavac	LW	67	19	23	42	3	16
15	John MacLean	RW	77	18	24	42	−2	52
9	Adam Graves	LW	77	23	17	40	−15	14
20	Radek Dvorak†	RW	46	11	22	33	0	10
13	Valeri Kamensky	LW	65	14	20	34	−18	36
21	Mathieu Schneider	D	80	10	20	30	−6	78
12	Alexandre Daigle†	RW	58	8	18	26	−5	23
2	Brian Leetch	D	50	7	19	26	−16	20
4	Kevin Hatcher	D	74	4	19	23	−10	38
3	Kim Johnsson	D	76	6	15	21	−13	46
26	Tim Taylor	C	76	9	11	20	−4	72
5	Stephane Quintal	D	75	2	14	16	−10	77
22	Mike Knuble‡	RW	59	9	5	14	−5	18
28	Eric Lacroix	LW	70	4	8	12	−12	24
24	Sylvain Lefebvre	D	82	2	10	12	−13	43
17	Kevin Stevens	LW	38	3	5	8	−7	43
10	Todd Harvey‡	RW	31	3	3	6	−9	62
16	Rob DiMaio†	RW	12	1	3	4	−8	8
47	Rich Pilon†	D	45	0	4	4	0	36
29	Johan Witehall	LW	9	1	1	2	0	2
22	Jason Dawe†	RW	3	0	1	1	0	2
25	Jason Doig	D	7	0	1	1	−2	22
19	Darren Langdon	LW	21	0	1	1	−2	26
30	Kirk McLean	G	22	0	1	1		2
32[a]	P. J. Stock	C	11	0	1	1	1	11
37	Derek Armstrong	C	1	0	0	0	0	0
39	Daniel Goneau	LW	1	0	0	0	−1	0
32	Milan Hnilicka	G	2	0	0	0		0
29	Chris Kenady	RW	2	0	0	0	−1	0
31	Jean-Francois Labbe	G	1	0	0	0		0
6	Manny Malhotra	C	27	0	0	0	−6	4
45	Dale Purinton	D	1	0	0	0	−1	7
35	Mike Richter	G	61	0	0	0		4
36	Alexei Vasiliev	D	1	0	0	0	−1	2
32	Terry Virtue	D	1	0	0	0	−2	0

Goaltending

No.	Player	Regular season
		GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
35	Mike Richter	61	22	31	8	1988	173	2.87	.905	0	3622
30	Kirk McLean	22	7	8	4	616	58	2.89	.896	0	1206
32	Milan Hnilicka	2	0	1	0	49	5	3.49	.886	0	86
31	Jean-Francois Labbe	1	0	1	0	25	3	3.00	.864	0	60

Sources:^[1][8]

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL All-Rookie Team	Mike York (Forward)	[9]
	NHL Foundation Player Award	Adam Graves	[10]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Mike Richter	[11]
	NHL Player of the Week	Mike Richter (January 24)	[12]
Team	Ceil Saidel Memorial Award	Adam Graves	[13]
	Frank Boucher Trophy	Mike Richter	[13]
	Good Guy Award	Tim Taylor	[14]
	Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award	Kim Johnsson	[14]
	Players' Player Award	Mike Richter	[13]
	Rangers MVP	Mike Richter	[13]
	Rookie of the Year	Mike York	[13]
	Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award	Adam Graves	[13]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Kim Johnsson	October 1, 1999	[15]
	Mike York
	Jan Hlavac	October 2, 1999
	Milan Hnilicka	October 14, 1999
	Jean-Francois Labbe	April 5, 2000
	Alexei Vasiliev
	Dale Purinton	April 9, 2000
500th game played	Mike Richter	October 30, 1999	[16]
400th goal	John MacLean	January 20, 2000	[17]

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft in Boston, Massachusetts, at the FleetCenter.^[18][19]

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	4	Pavel Brendl	RW	Czech Republic	Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
1	9	Jamie Lundmark	C	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
2	59	David Inman	LW	Canada	University of Notre Dame (CCHA)
3	79	Johan Asplund	G	Sweden	Brynäs IF (Sweden)
3	90	Patrick Aufiero	D	United States	Boston University (Hockey East)
5	137	Garret Bembridge	RW	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
6	177	Jay Dardis	C	United States	Proctor Academy (USHS–NH)
7	197	Arto Laatikainen	D	Finland	Blues (Finland)
8	226	Yevgeni Gusakov	LW	Russia	Lada Togliatti-2 (Russia)
9	251	Petter Henning	RW	Sweden	Modo Hockey (Sweden)
9	254	Alexei Bulatov	LW	Russia	Dinamo-Energija Yekaterinburg (Russia)

See also

• 1999–2000 NHL season

Notes

1. Stock wore number 20 in his first five games.

References

1. "1999–00 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
2. Diamos, Jason (April 9, 2000). "On The Rangers; No Reward for the $61 Million Risk". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
3. "Veteran Muckler Hired To Coach N.Y. Rangers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 20, 1998. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
4. Diamos, Jason (March 29, 2000). "Hockey – Woeful Rangers Fire Smith and Muckler". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
5. "1999-2000 NHL Hockey Standings". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
6. "1999–2000 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
7. "1999–00 New York Rangers Schedule and Results". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
8. "New York Rangers 1999–00 roster and statistics". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
9. "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
10. "NHL Foundation Player Award". records.nhl.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
11. "2000 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
12. "Richter Named Player of Week". NHL.com. January 24, 2000. Archived from the original on June 5, 2000. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
13. "Rangers 1999–2000 End of Season Awards". NHL.com. April 10, 2000. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
14. 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. pp. 349–352.
15. "1999–00 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
16. "Mike Richter Reaches 500 Game Plateau". NHL.com. November 1, 1999. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
17. "NY Rangers 4, Carolina 1". United Press International. January 20, 2000. Retrieved June 7, 2023. John MacLean scored twice, including the 400th goal of his career
18. "1999 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
19. "NHL Draft History". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 28, 2001. Retrieved June 16, 2017.