Division 5th Southeast 1999–2000 record 14–57–7–4 Road record 5-31-5 | Conference 15th Eastern Home record 9-26-6 Goals for 170 | |
The 1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers season was the inaugural season of the franchise that would play in Atlanta for 11 seasons.
Contents
The Thrashers managed only 14 wins during their first season in the National Hockey League. It was the worst season in the history of the franchise, and as of right now stands as the lowest point total for any team since the beginning of the "three point" NHL standings system in 1999–2000.
NHL draft
Atlanta's picks at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
Expansion draft
These results are numbered 1–26 for aesthetic purposes, but the players were not necessarily chosen in this order. As the Thrashers were the only team participating in the draft, the order is inconsequential.
Regular season
The newly formed Thrashers selected Patrik Stefan with the first overall selection in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. They played their first game on October 2, 1999, losing 4–1 to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the New Jersey Devils. Captain Kelly Buchberger scored the franchise's first goal in the loss. The Thrashers would not get their first win until two weeks later. Damian Rhodes blanked the New York Islanders 2–0 on the road. The Thrashers would not get their first victory in Atlanta until October 23 when they beat the Calgary Flames in their return to Atlanta 2–1. Andrew Brunette led the team in scoring with 50 points as the Thrashers finished last in the Southeast Division with a NHL worst record of 14–57–7–4.
In addition to being shut out a league-high 12 times, the Thrashers struggled offensively and defensively, scoring the fewest goals (170) and allowing the most goals (313) out of all 28 teams. They also tied the Chicago Blackhawks for most short-handed goals allowed, with 13.
Final standings
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.
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot
Regular season
Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goalsMin, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
Free agents
The Atlanta Thrashers signed the following free agents in the 1999-2000 season. Unrestricted free agents chosen in the expansion draft later signed by the Thrashers are included in the list.
Nelson Emerson (July 20), Dean Sylvester (July 21), Chris Tamer (July 21), Steve Staios (July 22), Sergei Vyshedkevich (July 28), Ray Ferraro (Aug 2), Herbert Vasilyev (Sept 9)