1998–99 New York Rangers season

Regular season

Final standings

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." 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. 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. He recounted:

Schedule and results

|- | 1 || October 9, 1998 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–0 || 0–1–0 || |- | 2 || October 10, 1998 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 7–1 || 0–2–0 || |- | 3 || October 12, 1998 || St. Louis Blues || 4–2 || 0–3–0 || |- | 4 || October 16, 1998 || New Jersey Devils || 2–1 || 0–4–0 || |- | 5 || October 17, 1998 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || 0–4–1 || |- | 6 || October 20, 1998 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–2 || 1–4–1 || |- | 7 || October 22, 1998 || New York Islanders || 3–2 || 2–4–1 || |- | 8 || October 24, 1998 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 OT || 2–4–2 || |- | 9 || October 27, 1998 || Buffalo Sabres || 0–0 OT || 2–4–3 || |- | 10 || October 30, 1998 || Carolina Hurricanes || 1–0 || 3–4–3 ||

| Legend:

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.*

Goaltending

Awards and honors

Awards

Milestones

Draft picks

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

Notes

References

References

1. Brady, Erik. (April 19, 1999). "He loved 'every part of the game'". USA Today.
2. Cole, Stephen. (2004). "The Best of Hockey Night in Canada". McArthur & Company.
3. Morrison, Scott. (2008). "Hockey Night in Canada: My Greatest Day". Key Porter Books.
4. "1998-99 New York Rangers Schedule".
5. "Lady Byng Memorial Trophy".
6. (October 2, 2004). "Wayne Gretzky at the All-Star Game".
7. "1999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters".
8. (April 19, 1999). "Gretzky Named Player of the Week".
9. (2014). "2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide". New York Rangers.
10. "1998-99 NHL Debuts".
11. (November 14, 1998). "Bruins Rally To Tie Rangers - CBS News".
12. (January 16, 1999). "HOCKEY; Last-Place Blackhawks Too Good for Rangers".
13. "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com".