1998–99 record 33–38–11 Road record 16–19–6 | Home record 17–19–5 Goals for 217 | |
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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.
Contents
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, and his final game was a 2–1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins which had Jaromir Jagr, the 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." "The Star-Spangled Banner," sung by John Amirante, was changed 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.
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, along with other representatives of the great Edmonton Oilers dynasty of the 1980s, attended the game. Gretzky's final game was considered a "national retirement party" in Canada, and Bryan Adams's 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. He recounted:
Playoffs
The Rangers failed to qualify for the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs, missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
Player statistics
†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.
Draft picks
New York's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York at the Marine Midland Arena.