# 1998–99 Florida Panthers season

The 1998–99 Florida Panthers season was their sixth season in the National Hockey League. Though they made a major move in acquiring star forward Pavel Bure during the season, the Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Southeast Division :
| R | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| 1 | 3 | Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 34 | 30 | 18 | 210 | 202 | 1158 | 86 |
| 2 | 9 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 30 | 34 | 18 | 210 | 228 | 1522 | 78 |
| 3 | 12 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 31 | 45 | 6 | 200 | 218 | 1381 | 68 |
| 4 | 14 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 19 | 54 | 9 | 179 | 292 | 1316 | 47 |
Eastern Conference :
| 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

## Schedule and results

1998–99 regular season :
October: 3–3–3 (home: 1–2–1; road: 2–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 9, 19984–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)1–0–0Recap
2WOctober 10, 19981–0@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)2–0–0Recap
3TOctober 16, 19982–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)2–0–1Recap
4TOctober 21, 19981–1 OTLos Angeles Kings (1998–99)2–0–2Recap
5LOctober 23, 19980–5Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)2–1–2Recap
6TOctober 24, 19982–2 OT@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)2–1–3Recap
7LOctober 28, 19982–7Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)2–2–3Recap
8WOctober 30, 19987–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)3–2–3Recap
9LOctober 31, 19981–3@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)3–3–3Recap :
November: 5–5–2 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
10LNovember 2, 19982–6@ New York Islanders (1998–99)3–4–3Recap
11WNovember 4, 19982–1Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)4–4–3Recap
12LNovember 7, 19983–4New Jersey Devils (1998–99)4–5–3Recap
13WNovember 11, 19984–1New York Rangers (1998–99)5–5–3Recap
14WNovember 12, 19982–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)6–5–3Recap
15LNovember 14, 19980–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)6–6–3Recap
16TNovember 19, 19985–5 OT@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)6–6–4Recap
17TNovember 21, 19983–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)6–6–5Recap
18LNovember 22, 19981–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1998–99)6–7–5Recap
19LNovember 25, 19980–1Boston Bruins (1998–99)6–8–5Recap
20WNovember 27, 19982–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)7–8–5Recap
21WNovember 28, 19986–2Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)8–8–5Recap :
December: 5–5–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 1–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
22LDecember 1, 19984–5 OT@ New York Rangers (1998–99)8–9–5Recap
23LDecember 2, 19981–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)8–10–5Recap
24TDecember 5, 19983–3 OTCarolina Hurricanes (1998–99)8–10–6Recap
25WDecember 9, 19986–5Ottawa Senators (1998–99)9–10–6Recap
26LDecember 12, 19982–4Calgary Flames (1998–99)9–11–6Recap
27WDecember 16, 19984–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)10–11–6Recap
28WDecember 19, 19983–1Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)11–11–6Recap
29LDecember 23, 19980–4Washington Capitals (1998–99)11–12–6Recap
30WDecember 26, 19983–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)12–12–6Recap
31WDecember 28, 19985–1New York Islanders (1998–99)13–12–6Recap
32LDecember 30, 19984–7@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)13–13–6Recap :
January: 5–4–6 (home: 2–3–2; road: 3–1–4)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
33TJanuary 1, 19993–3 OTCarolina Hurricanes (1998–99)13–13–7Recap
34LJanuary 2, 19992–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)13–14–7Recap
35TJanuary 5, 19992–2 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)13–14–8Recap
36TJanuary 6, 19992–2 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)13–14–9Recap
37TJanuary 8, 19991–1 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)13–14–10Recap
38WJanuary 10, 19992–1@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)14–14–10Recap
39TJanuary 13, 19993–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)14–14–11Recap
40LJanuary 14, 19992–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)14–15–11Recap
41WJanuary 16, 19991–0New York Islanders (1998–99)15–15–11Recap
42LJanuary 18, 19990–4Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)15–16–11Recap
43WJanuary 20, 19995–2@ New York Islanders (1998–99)16–16–11Recap
44WJanuary 21, 19992–1@ New York Rangers (1998–99)17–16–11Recap
45TJanuary 26, 19993–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)17–16–12Recap
46WJanuary 27, 19992–1Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)18–16–12Recap
47LJanuary 30, 19992–5Dallas Stars (1998–99)18–17–12Recap :
February: 4–5–4 (home: 3–1–1; road: 1–4–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
48WFebruary 3, 19995–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)19–17–12Recap
49LFebruary 5, 19990–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)19–18–12Recap
50TFebruary 6, 19993–3 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)19–18–13Recap
51LFebruary 8, 19994–5St. Louis Blues (1998–99)19–19–13Recap
52WFebruary 11, 19993–1@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)20–19–13Recap
53LFebruary 13, 19990–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)20–20–13Recap
54TFebruary 15, 19992–2 OTSan Jose Sharks (1998–99)20–20–14Recap
55LFebruary 17, 19991–2@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)20–21–14Recap
56TFebruary 18, 19990–0 OT@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)20–21–15Recap
57WFebruary 20, 19997–1Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)21–21–15Recap
58WFebruary 24, 19995–3Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)22–21–15Recap
59TFebruary 26, 19995–5 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)22–21–16Recap
60LFebruary 27, 19991–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)22–22–16Recap :
March: 5–6–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 3–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
61LMarch 3, 19995–7Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)22–23–16Recap
62TMarch 6, 19992–2 OTCarolina Hurricanes (1998–99)22–23–17Recap
63WMarch 8, 19995–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)23–23–17Recap
64LMarch 9, 19990–2@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)23–24–17Recap
65WMarch 11, 19992–1@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)24–24–17Recap
66WMarch 13, 19991–0Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)25–24–17Recap
67LMarch 17, 19992–4@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)25–25–17Recap
68LMarch 20, 19993–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)25–26–17Recap
69WMarch 21, 19995–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)26–26–17Recap
70LMarch 24, 19991–2New York Rangers (1998–99)26–27–17Recap
71WMarch 26, 19994–1Nashville Predators (1998–99)27–27–17Recap
72TMarch 28, 19992–2 OTNew Jersey Devils (1998–99)27–27–18Recap
73LMarch 31, 19993–5New York Islanders (1998–99)27–28–18Recap :
April: 3–6–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 1–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74LApril 1, 19993–5@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)27–29–18Recap
75LApril 3, 19994–6Ottawa Senators (1998–99)27–30–18Recap
76LApril 5, 19990–3Washington Capitals (1998–99)27–31–18Recap
77LApril 7, 19992–5Boston Bruins (1998–99)27–32–18Recap
78LApril 9, 19991–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)27–33–18Recap
79LApril 10, 19991–9@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)27–34–18Recap
80WApril 12, 19992–0@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)28–34–18Recap
81WApril 14, 19993–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1998–99)29–34–18Recap
82WApril 17, 19996–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)30–34–18Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## 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 Panthers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 14 | Ray Whitney | LW | 81 | 26 | 38 | 64 | −3 | 18 |
| 44 | Rob Niedermayer | C | 82 | 18 | 33 | 51 | −13 | 50 |
| 25 | Viktor Kozlov | C | 65 | 16 | 35 | 51 | 13 | 24 |
| 27 | Scott Mellanby | RW | 67 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 5 | 85 |
| 19 | Radek Dvorak | RW | 82 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 7 | 29 |
| 21 | Mark Parrish | RW | 73 | 24 | 13 | 37 | −6 | 25 |
| 24 | Robert Svehla | D | 80 | 8 | 29 | 37 | −13 | 83 |
| 11 | Bill Lindsay | RW | 75 | 12 | 15 | 27 | −1 | 92 |
| 16 | Oleg Kvasha | LW | 68 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 5 | 45 |
| 29 | Johan Garpenlov | LW | 64 | 8 | 9 | 17 | −9 | 42 |
| 10 | Pavel Bure† | RW | 11 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 4 |
| 55 | Ed Jovanovski‡ | D | 41 | 3 | 13 | 16 | −4 | 82 |
| 9 | Kirk Muller | LW | 82 | 4 | 11 | 15 | −11 | 49 |
| 8 | Jaroslav Spacek | D | 63 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 28 |
| 15 | Dave Gagner‡ | C | 36 | 4 | 10 | 14 | −7 | 39 |
| 2 | Terry Carkner | D | 62 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 54 |
| 4 | Bret Hedican† | D | 25 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −2 | 17 |
| 3 | Paul Laus | D | 75 | 1 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 218 |
| 28 | Peter Worrell | LW | 62 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 258 |
| 26 | Dan Boyle | D | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| 22 | Dino Ciccarelli | RW | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | −1 | 27 |
| 5 | Gord Murphy | D | 51 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 16 |
| 7 | Rhett Warrener‡ | D | 48 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −1 | 64 |
| 18 | Alex Hicks† | LW | 51 | 0 | 6 | 6 | −4 | 58 |
| 31 | Sean Burke | G | 59 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | 27 |
| 12 | Marcus Nilson | LW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | Peter Ratchuk | D | 24 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 10 |
| 23 | Chris Wells | C | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −4 | 31 |
| 17 | Ryan Johnson | C | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Filip Kuba | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | David Nemirovsky‡ | RW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | Jeff Ware† | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −6 | 6 |
| 12 | Chris Allen | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | Vyacheslav Butsayev‡ | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 12 | Dwayne Hay | LW | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 15 | John Jakopin | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 1 | Kirk McLean | G | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 6 | Jeff Norton‡ | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 37 | Herberts Vasiljevs | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 17 | Steve Washburn‡ | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 |
| 7 | Mike Wilson† | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 31 | Sean Burke | 59 | 21 | 24 | 14 | 1624 | 151 | 2.66 | .907 | 3 | 3402 |
| 1 | Kirk McLean | 30 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 727 | 73 | 2.74 | .900 | 2 | 1597 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Viktor Kozlov | |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Mark Parrish (October) | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Oleg Kvasha | October 9, 1998 |
| First game | Mark Parrish | October 9, 1998 |
| First game | Jaroslav Spacek | October 9, 1998 |
| First game | Peter Ratchuk | December 16, 1998 |
| First game | Marcus Nilson | January 6, 1999 |
| First game | Dan Boyle | February 18, 1999 |
| First game | Filip Kuba | April 9, 1999 |
| First game | Herberts Vasiljevs | April 9, 1999 |
| 500th game played | Sean Burke | January 18, 1999 |

## Draft picks

Florida's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 30 | Kyle Rossiter | Canada | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 3 | 61 | Joe DiPenta | Canada | Boston University (Hockey East) |
| 3 | 63 | Lance Ward | Canada | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
| 4 | 89 | Ryan Jardine | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 5 | 117 | Jaroslav Spacek | Czech Republic | Färjestads BK (Sweden) |
| 6 | 148 | Chris Ovington | Canada | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
| 7 | 176 | B. J. Ketcheson | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 8 | 203 | Ian Jacobs | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 9 | 231 | Adrian Wichser | Switzerland | EHC Kloten (Switzerland) |