1998–99 New York Rangers season

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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%)
Team leaders
GoalsAdam Graves (38)
AssistsWayne Gretzky (53)
PointsWayne Gretzky (62)
Penalty minutesUlf Samuelsson (93)
WinsMike Richter (27)
Goals against averageMike Richter (2.63)
Wayne Gretzky's Farewell Game at Madison Square Garden

The 1998–99 New York Rangers season was the 73rd season for the franchise. 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 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 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 Game Log
October: 3-4-3 (Home: 3-3-1; Road: 0-1-2)
November: 3-5-4 (Home: 1-1-1; Road: 2-4-3)
December: 7-6-0 (Home: 3-2-0; Road: 4-4-0)
January: 6-7-0 (Home: 3-4-0; Road: 3-3-0)
February: 6-6-0 (Home: 4-4-0; Road: 2-2-0)
March: 6-5-3 (Home: 2-3-3; Road: 4-2-0)
April: 2-5-1 (Home: 1-2-0; Road: 1-3-1)

Playoffs

The Rangers failed to qualify for the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs, missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO
Mike Richter 68 3878 27 30 8 170 2.63 1897 .910 4
Dan Cloutier 22 1097 6 8 3 49 2.68 570 .914 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

[6]

Draft picks

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

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)

Awards and honors

References

Bibliography
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  • Rangers on Hockey Database
  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 24 November 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". hockeydb.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
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