1998–99 New York Rangers season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1998–99 1998 New York Rangers Eastern 11th Atlantic 4th 33–38–11 17–19–5 16–19–6 217 227 Neil Smith John Muckler Brian Leetch Adam GravesJeff Beukeboom Madison Square Garden 18,200 (100%) Hartford Wolf PackCharlotte Checkers Adam Graves (38) Wayne Gretzky (53) Wayne Gretzky (62) Ulf Samuelsson (93) Ulf Samuelsson (+6) Mike Richter (27) Mike Richter (2.63) 1999–2000 The 1998–99 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 73rd season. The Rangers missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season for the first time since the 1975–76 season and the 1976–77 season in what was Wayne Gretzky's final season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Regular season Final standings NYR NYR The Great One retires thumb|Wayne Gretzky's Farewell Game at Madison Square Garden Wayne Gretzky's last NHL game in Canada was on April 15, 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."Erik Brady https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/gretzky/full38.htm He loved 'every part of the game' USA Today April 19, 1999 24 November 2007 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.Cole Stephen The Best of Hockey Night in Canada 2004 McArthur & Company Toronto 133 1-55278-408-8 Gretzky's final game was considered a "national retirement party" in Canada, and Bryan Adams' rendition of "O Canada" was like a "lullaby." 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, as there would be "No Regretzkys." Gretzky told Scott Morrison that the final game of his career was his greatest day.Morrison Scott Hockey Night in Canada: My Greatest Day 2008 Key Porter Books Toronto 66 978-1-55470-086-8 registration https://archive.org/details/mygreatestday50p0000morr/page/66 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. Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid; 1998–99 regular season1998-99 New York Rangers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1999_games.html Hockey-Reference.com June 11, 2023 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; 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 || 1998020001 L |- | 2 || October 10, 1998 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 7–1 || 0–2–0 || 1998020006 L |- | 3 || October 12, 1998 || St. Louis Blues || 4–2 || 0–3–0 || 1998020019 L |- | 4 || October 16, 1998 || New Jersey Devils || 2–1 || 0–4–0 || 1998020035 L |- | 5 || October 17, 1998 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || 0–4–1 || 1998020044 T |- | 6 || October 20, 1998 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–2 || 1–4–1 || 1998020056 W |- | 7 || October 22, 1998 || New York Islanders || 3–2 || 2–4–1 || 1998020068 W |- | 8 || October 24, 1998 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 OT || 2–4–2 || 1998020081 T |- | 9 || October 27, 1998 || Buffalo Sabres || 0–0 OT || 2–4–3 || 1998020094 T |- | 10 || October 30, 1998 || Carolina Hurricanes || 1–0 || 3–4–3 || 1998020111 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; 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 || 1998020135 L |- | 12 || November 4, 1998 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || 3–6–3 || 1998020139 L |- | 13 || November 7, 1998 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–6 OT || 3–6–4 || 1998020155 T |- | 14 || November 10, 1998 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 10–2 || 4–6–4 || 1998020174 W |- | 15 || November 11, 1998 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–1 || 4–7–4 || 1998020181 L |- | 16 || November 13, 1998 || Boston Bruins || 3–3 OT || 4–7–5 || 1998020194 T |- | 17 || November 18, 1998 || @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–1 || 4–8–5 || 1998020220 L |- | 18 || November 19, 1998 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5–1 || 5–8–5 || 1998020228 W |- | 19 || November 21, 1998 || @ San Jose Sharks || 2–2 OT || 5–8–6 || 1998020246 T |- | 20 || November 25, 1998 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || 5–9–6 || 1998020256 L |- | 21 || November 27, 1998 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 OT || 5–9–7 || 1998020270 T |- | 22 || November 29, 1998 || Nashville Predators || 5–1 || 6–9–7 || 1998020285 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; 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 || 1998020293 W |- | 24 || December 2, 1998 || @ New York Islanders || 3–2 || 8–9–7 || 1998020299 W |- | 25 || December 5, 1998 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–1 || 9–9–7 || 1998020317 W |- | 26 || December 7, 1998 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–2 || 10–9–7 || 1998020329 W |- | 27 || December 9, 1998 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–1 || 10–10–7 || 1998020337 L |- | 28 || December 11, 1998 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–0 || 10–11–7 || 1998020347 L |- | 29 || December 14, 1998 || Calgary Flames || 5–2 || 11–11–7 || 1998020368 W |- | 30 || December 16, 1998 || @ New Jersey Devils || 6–3 || 11–12–7 || 1998020375 L |- | 31 || December 19, 1998 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–4 || 11–13–7 || 1998020394 L |- | 32 || December 23, 1998 || Carolina Hurricanes || 1–0 || 11–14–7 || 1998020421 L |- | 33 || December 26, 1998 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 6–3 || 12–14–7 || 1998020431 W |- | 34 || December 30, 1998 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 3–1 || 12–15–7 || 1998020459 L |- | 35 || December 31, 1998 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 6–3 || 13–15–7 || 1998020464 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; 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 || 1998020480 W |- | 37 || January 4, 1999 || San Jose Sharks || 4–3 || 15–15–7 || 1998020487 W |- | 38 || January 6, 1999 || New Jersey Devils || 5–2 || 15–16–7 || 1998020497 L |- | 39 || January 7, 1999 || @ Washington Capitals || 5–1 || 15–17–7 || 1998020506 L |- | 40 || January 10, 1999 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–2 || 16–17–7 || 1998020525 W |- | 41 || January 13, 1999 || New York Islanders || 4–3 OT || 17–17–7 || 1998020541 W |- | 42 || January 15, 1999 || Chicago Blackhawks || 3–1 || 17–18–7 || 1998020554 L |- | 43 || January 16, 1999 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–0 || 17–19–7 || 1998020560 L |- | 44 || January 19, 1999 || Ottawa Senators || 2–1 || 17–20–7 || 1998020579 L |- | 45 || January 21, 1999 || Florida Panthers || 2–1 || 17–21–7 || 1998020589 L |- | 46 || January 26, 1999 || @ Washington Capitals || 4–1 || 18–21–7 || 1998020605 W |- | 47 || January 28, 1999 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 3–2 OT || 18–22–7 || 1998020617 L |- | 48 || January 30, 1999 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 3–2 || 19–22–7 || 1998020632 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; 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 || 1998020641 L |- | 50 || February 4, 1999 || Vancouver Canucks || 8–4 || 20–23–7 || 1998020660 W |- | 51 || February 7, 1999 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 20–24–7 || 1998020679 L |- | 52 || February 12, 1999 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || 20–25–7 || 1998020707 L |- | 53 || February 14, 1999 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–2 || 20–26–7 || 1998020722 L |- | 54 || February 15, 1999 || @ Nashville Predators || 7–4 || 21–26–7 || 1998020732 W |- | 55 || February 17, 1999 || Montreal Canadiens || 6–3 || 21–27–7 || 1998020739 L |- | 56 || February 19, 1999 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–1 || 22–27–7 || 1998020750 W |- | 57 || February 21, 1999 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 2–1 OT || 23–27–7 || 1998020769 W |- | 58 || February 22, 1999 || @ Calgary Flames || 6–2 || 23–28–7 || 1998020775 L |- | 59 || February 26, 1999 || Phoenix Coyotes || 3–0 || 24–28–7 || 1998020792 W |- | 60 || February 28, 1999 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–5 || 25–28–7 || 1998020809 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; 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 || 1998020819 T |- | 62 || March 4, 1999 || @ Washington Capitals || 4–2 || 26–28–8 || 1998020831 W |- | 63 || March 7, 1999 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–1 || 27–28–8 || 1998020848 W |- | 64 || March 8, 1999 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 OT || 28–28–8 || 1998020858 W |- | 65 || March 10, 1999 || Ottawa Senators || 3–0 || 28–29–8 || 1998020868 L |- | 66 || March 12, 1999 || Boston Bruins || 5–4 || 28–30–8 || 1998020879 L |- | 67 || March 14, 1999 || @ New York Islanders || 3–2 OT || 29–30–8 || 1998020893 W |- | 68 || March 15, 1999 || Washington Capitals || 1–1 OT || 29–30–9 || 1998020899 T |- | 69 || March 19, 1999 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 OT || 29–31–9 || 1998020918 L |- | 70 || March 21, 1999 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 OT || 29–31–10 || 1998020930 T |- | 71 || March 22, 1999 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 6–3 || 29–32–10 || 1998020940 L |- | 72 || March 24, 1999 || @ Florida Panthers || 2–1 || 30–32–10 || 1998020950 W |- | 73 || March 27, 1999 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || 30–33–10 || 1998020970 L |- | 74 || March 29, 1999 || New York Islanders || 3–1 || 31–33–10 || 1998020983 W |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; 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 || 1998021005 L |- | 76 || April 4, 1999 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–1 || 31–35–10 || 1998021020 L |- | 77 || April 5, 1999 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–1 || 32–35–10 || 1998021025 W |- | 78 || April 8, 1999 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 6–2 || 32–36–10 || 1998021047 L |- | 79 || April 9, 1999 || @ Dallas Stars || 3–1 || 32–37–10 || 1998021052 L |- | 80 || April 12, 1999 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–1 || 33–37–10 || 1998021068 W |- | 81 || April 15, 1999 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–2 OT || 33–37–11 || 1998021084 T |- | 82 || April 18, 1999 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 OT || 33–38–11 || 1998021104 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T 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. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 99 Wayne Gretzky C 70 9 53 62 −23 14 15 John MacLean ice hockey 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 Petr Nedvěd 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 Niklas Sundström 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 ice hockey RW 28 2 4 6 −12 14 4Tamer wore number 3 in his first three games. 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 ice hockey C 3 0 0 0 0 0 39 Dan Cloutier G 22 0 0 0 2 14 Christian Dube Christian Dubé (ice hockey) 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 Stanislav Neckář D 18 0 0 0 −1 8 35 Mike Richter G 68 0 0 0 0 14 Geoff Smith ice hockey 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. Jersey number Player Regular season GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on ice 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 TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Wayne GretzkyLady Byng Memorial Trophy https://records.nhl.com/awards/trophies/lady-byng-memorial-trophy records.nhl.com June 26, 2023 League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Wayne GretzkyGretzky was named the All-Star Game MVP.Wayne Gretzky at the All-Star Game https://www.nhl.com/news/wayne-gretzky-at-the-all-star-game/c-384581 https://web.archive.org/web/20190920145023/https://www.nhl.com/news/wayne-gretzky-at-the-all-star-game/c-384581 dead September 20, 2019 NHL.com June 26, 2023 October 2, 20041999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1999_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 NHL Player of the Week Wayne Gretzky (April 19)Gretzky Named Player of the Week http://www.nhl.com/news/apr/041999gretzkypow.htm NHL.com July 26, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/19991009032224/http://www.nhl.com/news/apr/041999gretzkypow.htm October 9, 1999 April 19, 1999 Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide New York Rangers 2014 349–352 "Crumb Bum" Award Rod Gilbert Frank Boucher Trophy Mike Richter Good Guy Award Kevin Stevens Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Manny Malhotra Players' Player Award Adam Graves Rangers MVP Brian Leetch Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Adam Graves Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Jan Mertzig October 9, 19981998-99 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1999_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 9, 2024 Manny Malhotra October 10, 1998 Johan Witehall January 30, 1999 1,000th game played John MacLean November 11, 1998Bruins Rally To Tie Rangers - CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bruins-rally-to-tie-rangers/ www.cbsnews.com June 27, 2023 November 14, 1998 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. Ulf Samuelsson January 13, 1999Lapointe Joe HOCKEY; Last-Place Blackhawks Too Good for Rangers https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/16/sports/hockey-last-place-blackhawks-too-good-for-rangers.html The New York Times June 27, 2023 January 16, 1999 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. Draft picks New York's picks at the 1998 NHL entry draft in Buffalo, New York at the Marine Midland Arena.1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1998e.html www.hockeydb.com June 28, 2023 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 References New York Rangers 1998-99 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000481999.html www.hockeydb.com June 11, 2023 1998-99 New York Rangers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1999.html Hockey-Reference.com June 11, 2023 Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 Toronto Category:New York Rangers seasons New York Rangers New York Rangers New York Rangers Category:1990s in Manhattan