1998–99 NHL season

The 1998–99 NHL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Hockey League. The league expanded to 27 teams with the addition of the Nashville Predators. The Dallas Stars finished first in regular season play, and won the Stanley Cup championship over the Buffalo Sabres on a triple overtime goal by Brett Hull.

1998–99 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 9, 1998 – June 19, 1999
Number of games82
Number of teams27
Draft
Top draft pickVincent Lecavalier
Picked byTampa Bay Lightning
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyDallas Stars
Season MVPJaromir Jagr (Penguins)
Top scorerJaromir Jagr (Penguins)
Playoffs
Eastern championsBuffalo Sabres
  Eastern runners-upToronto Maple Leafs
Western championsDallas Stars
  Western runners-upColorado Avalanche
Playoffs MVPJoe Nieuwendyk (Stars)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsDallas Stars
  Runners-upBuffalo Sabres

League business

With the addition of the expansion Nashville Predators, the NHL realigned this year to a strictly geographic six-division structure (three per conference), erasing the last vestiges of the traditional Adams/Patrick/Norris/Smythe four-division structure abandoned in 1993–94. Other than the reassignment of Colorado to the Western Conference in 1995 due to its move from Quebec, the divisions' membership had remained static for five years although several franchises had relocated. As part of this realignment, the Toronto Maple Leafs moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference. This put three of the Original Six teams in the Northeast Division (Boston, Montreal, and Toronto), and the three original cities of the NHL in the Northeast (Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto).

The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the most goals by a player in a season made its debut this year. The first winner was Teemu Selanne of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Uniform Changes

Anaheim: The third and fourth jerseys from 1997 got new socks.

Boston: The team wore a 75th-anniversary patch for their 75th season.

Calgary: New Black Alternates introduced. Crest has its alternate Flaming-Horse Logo.

Colorado: No updates in the regular season, but in the 1999 Playoffs, the Avalanche wore a CHS patch for the victims of the Columbine High School massacre on their left sleeve just above the number. The patch remained on the jerseys throughout the playoffs.

Florida: The names on the back become vertically arched, and a navy blue alternate jersey is introduced. On that jersey, the panther is breaking a stick in half.

Los Angeles: Jerseys Redesigned, Purple is Reintroduced.

Nashville: white jerseys include a Blue triangle for the Crest, and the blue ones do not. The team wore an Inaugural season patch that would later become the team's alternate logo.

New York Islanders: In part two of making things right with Islanders fans, the team returned to their original design in 1998, keeping navy blue as its primary color. The jerseys feature a patch on the right shoulder featuring four diagonal stripes, symbolizing the team's four Stanley Cup titles in the 1980s.

New York Rangers: White Lady Liberty Jerseys.

Phoenix: The Coyotes introduce a new green alternate jersey, complete with a desertscape at the bottom and the sleeve ends

St Louis: Alternates are retired and adopt a new color scheme

San Jose: Alternates are retired and become the basis of the team's new uniforms.

Tampa Bay: All-Star Game Patches for the 1999 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa.

Toronto: Team wore alternate throwbacks and a patch to commemorate their final season at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Washington: For the first few games, the Capitals wore a patch celebrating their 25th season in the NHL. The patch was worn on the upper right chest.

Regular season

The 1998–99 season marked the retirement of Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer, who played his final three NHL seasons with the New York Rangers.[1]

This was the final season that Fox televised NHL games in the United States. It was also the final season for the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens, before moving to the Air Canada Centre in February and marked Toronto's first post-season appearance since the 1995–96 season. 1998–99 was also the final year that the Carolina Hurricanes played at Greensboro Coliseum; they moved to the brand-new Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh for the next season. The Colorado Avalanche played their fourth and final season at McNichols Sports Arena and would move to Pepsi Center the following season. The Los Angeles Kings played their final season at the Great Western Forum after 32 seasons before moving to the Staples Center for the next season.

In an effort to reduce the number of disallowed goals due to the skate-in-the-crease violation, the goal crease shape and size was significantly reduced. In spite of this, goaltenders and defensive systems continued to dominate the league, as only two teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils,[2] averaged more than three goals scored per game. In addition, no player reached the 50-goal plateau.[3] A total of 160 shutouts were recorded for the second-straight regular season.[4]

Final standings

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11New Jersey Devils82472411248196105
25Philadelphia Flyers8237261923119693
38Pittsburgh Penguins8238301424222590
410New York Rangers8233381121722777
513New York Islanders8224481019424458

[5]

Northeast Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
12Ottawa Senators82442315239179892103
24Toronto Maple Leafs8245307268231109597
36Boston Bruins82393013214181118291
47Buffalo Sabres82372817207175156191
511Montreal Canadiens82323911184209129975

[5]

Southeast Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
13Carolina Hurricanes82343018210202115886
29Florida Panthers82303418210228152278
312Washington Capitals8231456200218138168
414Tampa Bay Lightning8219549179292131647

[5]

Eastern Conference[6]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1y – New Jersey DevilsATL82472411248196105
2y – Ottawa SenatorsNE82442315239179103
3y – Carolina HurricanesSE8234301821020286
4Toronto Maple LeafsNE824530726823197
5Philadelphia FlyersATL8237261923119693
6Boston BruinsNE8239301321418191
7Buffalo SabresNE8237281720717591
8Pittsburgh PenguinsATL8238301424222590
9Florida PanthersSE8230341821022878
10New York RangersATL8233381121722777
11Montreal CanadiensNE8232391118420975
12Washington CapitalsSE823145620021868
13New York IslandersATL8224481019424458
14Tampa Bay LightningSE821954917929247

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division

Western Conference
Central Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
13Detroit Red Wings8243327245202120293
25St. Louis Blues82373213237209130887
310Chicago Blackhawks82294112202248180770
412Nashville Predators8228477190261142063

[5]

Northwest Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
12Colorado Avalanche82442810239205161998
28Edmonton Oilers82333712230226137378
39Calgary Flames82304012211234138972
413Vancouver Canucks82234712192258176458

[5]

Pacific Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11Dallas Stars82511912236168114
24Phoenix Coyotes8239311220519790
36Mighty Ducks of Anaheim8235341321520683
47San Jose Sharks8231331819619180
511Los Angeles Kings823245518922269

[5]

Western Conference[7]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Dallas StarsPAC82511912236168114
2y – Colorado AvalancheNW8244281023920598
3y – Detroit Red WingsCEN824332724520293
4Phoenix CoyotesPAC8239311220519790
5St. Louis BluesCEN8237321323720987
6Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC8235341321520683
7San Jose SharksPAC8231331819619180
8Edmonton OilersNW8233371223022678
9Calgary FlamesNW8230401221123472
10Chicago BlackhawksCEN8229411220224870
11Los Angeles KingsPAC823245518922269
12Nashville PredatorsCEN822847719026163
13Vancouver CanucksNW8223471219225858

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific, NW – Northwest

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy; y – Won division

Playoffs
Main article: 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs

Stanley Cup Final
Main article: 1999 Stanley Cup Finals

The teams split the first two games, held in Dallas, then split the following two games in Buffalo. In the fifth game, Dallas shut out Buffalo to put the Sabres on the brink of elimination. Game six was held in Buffalo and it went to triple-overtime before being decided on a goal scored by Brett Hull. Joe Nieuwendyk of Dallas was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player.

Dallas Stars vs. Buffalo Sabres
DateAwayScoreHomeOT
June 8Buffalo3 – 2DallasOT
June 10Buffalo2 – 4Dallas
June 12Dallas2 – 1Buffalo
June 15Dallas1 – 2Buffalo
June 17Buffalo0 – 2Dallas
June 19Dallas2 – 1Buffalo3OT

Playoff bracket
  Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Final
                                     
1 New Jersey 3     4 Toronto 4  
8 Pittsburgh 4     8 Pittsburgh 2  
2 Ottawa 0 Eastern Conference
7 Buffalo 4  
    4 Toronto 1  
  7 Buffalo 4  
3 Carolina 2  
6 Boston 4  
4 Toronto 4   6 Boston 2
5 Philadelphia 2     7 Buffalo 4  
  E7 Buffalo 2
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  W1 Dallas 4
1 Dallas 4     1 Dallas 4
8 Edmonton 0     5 St. Louis 2  
2 Colorado 4
7 San Jose 2  
  1 Dallas 4
  2 Colorado 3  
3 Detroit 4  
6 Anaheim 0   Western Conference
4 Phoenix 3   2 Colorado 4
5 St. Louis 4     3 Detroit 2  
  • During the first three rounds home ice is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. In the Finals the team with the better regular season record has home ice.

Awards
Presidents' Trophy:Dallas Stars
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Eastern Conference playoff champion)		Buffalo Sabres
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:
(Western Conference playoff champion)		Dallas Stars
Art Ross Trophy:Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:John Cullen, Tampa Bay Lightning
Calder Memorial Trophy:Chris Drury, Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy:Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars
Frank J. Selke Trophy:Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars
Hart Memorial Trophy:Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jack Adams Award:Jacques Martin, Ottawa Senators
James Norris Memorial Trophy:Al MacInnis, St. Louis Blues
King Clancy Memorial Trophy:Rob Ray, Buffalo Sabres
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers
Lester B. Pearson Award:Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy:Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
NHL Plus/Minus Award:John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers
Vezina Trophy:Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres
William M. Jennings Trophy:Ed Belfour and Roman Turek, Dallas Stars
Lester Patrick Trophy:Harry Sinden

All-Star teams
First team  Position  Second team
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres G Byron Dafoe, Boston Bruins
Al MacInnis, St. Louis Blues D Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings D Eric Desjardins, Philadelphia Flyers
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche C Alexei Yashin, Ottawa Senators
Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins RW Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim LW John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Jaromir JagrPittsburgh Penguins81448312766
Teemu SelanneMighty Ducks of Anaheim75476010730
Paul KariyaMighty Ducks of Anaheim82396210140
Peter ForsbergColorado Avalanche78306797108
Joe SakicColorado Avalanche7341559629
Alexei YashinOttawa Senators8244509454
Eric LindrosPhiladelphia Flyers71405393120
Theoren FleuryCalgary Flames /Colorado Avalanche7540539386
John LeClairPhiladelphia Flyers7643479030
Pavol DemitraSt. Louis Blues8237528916

Source: NHL.[5]

Leading goaltenders

Regular season

Player Team GP MIN GA SO GAA
Ron TugnuttOttawa4325087531.79
Dominik HasekBuffalo64381711991.87
Ed BelfourDallas61353611751.99
Byron DafoeBoston684001133101.99
Roman TurekDallas2613824812.08
Nikolai KhabibulinPhoenix63365713082.13
John VanbiesbrouckPhiladelphia62371213562.18
Steve ShieldsSan Jose3721628042.22
Arturs IrbeCarolina62364313562.22
Mike VernonSan Jose49283110742.27

[8]

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Milestones

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1998–99 (listed with their first team, an asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

The following is a list of players of note who played their last game in the NHL in 1998–99 (listed with their last team):

Trading deadline
  • Trading Deadline: March 23, 1999[9]
  • March 23, 1999: Nashville traded RW Blair Atcheynum to St. Louis for a sixth-round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: Calgary traded D Chris O'Sullivan to NY Rangers for D Lee Sorochan.
  • March 23, 1999: Detroit traded G Kevin Hodson and San Jose's second-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft (previously acquired) to Tampa Bay for LW Wendel Clark and Detroit's sixth-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft (previously acquired).
  • March 23, 1999: Washington traded C Dale Hunter and a third-round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft to Colorado for a second-round pick in the 1999 or 2000 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: Florida traded D Rhett Warrener and a fifth-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft to Buffalo for D Mike Wilson.
  • March 23, 1999: Calgary traded RW Greg Pankewicz to San Jose for future considerations.
  • March 23, 1999: Los Angeles traded C Yanic Perreault to Toronto for C Jason Podollan and a third-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: Edmonton traded RW Kevin Brown to NY Rangers for LW Vladimir Vorobiev.
  • March 23, 1999: Tampa Bay traded G Bill Ranford to Detroit for a conditional draft pick.
  • March 23, 1999: Chicago traded D Chris Chelios to Detroit for 1999 and 2001 first-round draft picks (D Steve McCarthy and G Adam Munro)
  • March 23, 1999: Montreal traded C Vincent Damphousse to San Jose for a fifth-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft and a conditional draft pick or picks in the 2000 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: Vancouver traded C Peter Zezel to Anaheim for future considerations.
  • March 23, 1999: Los Angeles traded D Steve Duchesne to Philadelphia for D Dave Babych and a fifth-round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: NY Rangers trade D Stan Neckar to Phoenix for D Jason Doig and a sixth-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: NY Rangers trade D Ulf Samuelsson to Detroit for a second-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: Toronto traded D Jason Smith to Edmonton for a fourth-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft and a second-round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: Buffalo traded C Derek Plante to Dallas for a second-round pick in the 1999 Entry Draft.
  • March 23, 1999: Washington traded LW Craig Berube to Philadelphia for future considerations.
  • March 23, 1999: Tampa Bay traded D Sami Helenius to Colorado for a conditional draft pick.
  • March 23, 1999: Phoenix traded C Jean-Francois Jomphe to Montreal for future considerations.
  • March 23, 1999: Chicago traded RW Nelson Emerson to Ottawa for RW Chris Murray.
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See also

References
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
Notes
  1. Dryden 2000, p. 101.
  2. "1998-99 NHL Summary - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  3. "1998-99 NHL Leaders - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  4. "1998-99 NHL Goalie Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  5. Dinger 2011, p. 155.
  6. "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  7. "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  8. "1998-99 NHL Leaders - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  9. NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out Archived 2009-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
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