# 1998–99 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1998–99 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 29th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canucks missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

## Regular season

The Canucks led the league in power-play opportunities against, with 450, and short-handed goals, with 17.

### Final standings

Northwest Division :
| R | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 44 | 28 | 10 | 239 | 205 | 1619 | 98 |
| 2 | 8 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 33 | 37 | 12 | 230 | 226 | 1373 | 78 |
| 3 | 9 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 30 | 40 | 12 | 211 | 234 | 1389 | 72 |
| 4 | 13 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 23 | 47 | 12 | 192 | 258 | 1764 | 58 |
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Dallas Stars | PAC | 82 | 51 | 19 | 12 | 236 | 168 | 114 |
| 2 | y – Colorado Avalanche | NW | 82 | 44 | 28 | 10 | 239 | 205 | 98 |
| 3 | y – Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 43 | 32 | 7 | 245 | 202 | 93 |
| 4 | Phoenix Coyotes | PAC | 82 | 39 | 31 | 12 | 205 | 197 | 90 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 237 | 209 | 87 |
| 6 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 215 | 206 | 83 |
| 7 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 31 | 33 | 18 | 196 | 191 | 80 |
| 8 | Edmonton Oilers | NW | 82 | 33 | 37 | 12 | 230 | 226 | 78 |
| 9 | Calgary Flames | NW | 82 | 30 | 40 | 12 | 211 | 234 | 72 |
| 10 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 202 | 248 | 70 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 32 | 45 | 5 | 189 | 222 | 69 |
| 12 | Nashville Predators | CEN | 82 | 28 | 47 | 7 | 190 | 261 | 63 |
| 13 | Vancouver Canucks | NW | 82 | 23 | 47 | 12 | 192 | 258 | 58 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific, NW – Northwest
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy; y – Won division

## Schedule and results

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

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; 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 Canucks only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 19 | Markus Naslund | RW | 80 | 36 | 30 | 66 | −13 | 74 |
| 11 | Mark Messier | C | 59 | 13 | 35 | 48 | −12 | 33 |
| 89 | Alexander Mogilny | RW | 59 | 14 | 31 | 45 | 0 | 58 |
| 17 | Bill Muckalt | RW | 73 | 16 | 20 | 36 | −9 | 98 |
| 2 | Mattias Ohlund | D | 74 | 9 | 26 | 35 | −19 | 83 |
| 6 | Adrian Aucoin | D | 82 | 23 | 11 | 34 | −14 | 77 |
| 20 | Dave Scatchard | C | 82 | 13 | 13 | 26 | −12 | 140 |
| 4 | Bryan McCabe | D | 69 | 7 | 14 | 21 | −11 | 120 |
| 8 | Donald Brashear | LW | 82 | 8 | 10 | 18 | −25 | 209 |
| 9 | Brad May | LW | 66 | 6 | 11 | 17 | −14 | 102 |
| 44 | Todd Bertuzzi | C | 32 | 8 | 8 | 16 | −6 | 44 |
| 27 | Harry York† | C | 49 | 7 | 9 | 16 | −2 | 20 |
| 22 | Peter Zezel‡ | C | 41 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 16 |
| 26 | Trent Klatt† | RW | 73 | 4 | 10 | 14 | −3 | 12 |
| 15 | Dave Gagner† | C | 33 | 2 | 12 | 14 | −9 | 24 |
| 3 | Bret Hedican‡ | D | 42 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 34 |
| 55 | Ed Jovanovski† | D | 31 | 2 | 9 | 11 | −5 | 44 |
| 27 | Brandon Convery‡ | C | 12 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 |
| 29 | Peter Schaefer | LW | 25 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −1 | 8 |
| 23 | Murray Baron | D | 81 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −23 | 115 |
| 21 | Josh Holden | C | 30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −10 | 10 |
| 14 | Darby Hendrickson† | C | 27 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −15 | 22 |
| 18 | Bert Robertsson | D | 39 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −7 | 13 |
| 34 | Jason Strudwick | D | 65 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −19 | 114 |
| 36 | Chris McAllister‡ | D | 28 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −7 | 63 |
| 24 | Matt Cooke | LW | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −12 | 27 |
| 5 | Dana Murzyn | D | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 21 |
| 25 | Steve Staios | RW | 57 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −12 | 54 |
| 3 | Brent Sopel | D | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 7 | Jamie Huscroft‡ | D | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 63 |
| 30 | Garth Snow | G | 65 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 34 |
| 7 | Robb Gordon | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 31 | Corey Hirsch | G | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 28 | Steve Washburn† | C | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | Kevin Weekes† | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
| 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 |
| 30 | Garth Snow | 65 | 20 | 31 | 8 | 1715 | 171 | 2.99 | .900 | 6 | 3501 |
| 31 | Corey Hirsch | 20 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 435 | 48 | 3.13 | .890 | 1 | 919 |
| 35 | Kevin Weekes† | 11 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 257 | 34 | 3.83 | .868 | 0 | 532 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honour | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Markus Naslund |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mattias Ohlund |
| Team | Babe Pratt Trophy | Adrian Aucoin |
| Team | Cyclone Taylor Trophy | Markus Naslund |
| Team | Cyrus H. McLean Trophy | Markus Naslund |
| Team | Fred J. Hume Award | Adrian Aucoin |
| Team | Molson Cup | Garth Snow |
| Team | Most Exciting Player Award | Markus Naslund |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Bill Muckalt | October 12, 1998 |
| First game | Matt Cooke | October 14, 1998 |
| First game | Josh Holden | November 1, 1998 |
| First game | Peter Schaefer | November 7, 1998 |
| First game | Robb Gordon | April 3, 1999 |
| First game | Brent Sopel | April 5, 1999 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| October 19, 1998 | To Vancouver Canucks Trent Klatt | To Philadelphia Flyers 6th round pick in 2000 (Jeff Dwyer) |
| January 18, 1999 | To Vancouver Canucks Ed Jovanovski Dave Gagner Mike Brown rights to Kevin Weekes 1st round pick in 2000 (Nathan Smith) | To Florida Panthers Pavel Bure Bret Hedican the rights to Brad Ference 3rd round pick in 2000 (Robert Fried) |
| March 8, 1999 | To Vancouver Canucks future considerations | To Phoenix Coyotes Jamie Huscroft |

## Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 4 | Bryan Allen (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 2 | 31 | Artem Chubarov (C) | Russia | Vancouver Canucks | Dynamo Moscow (Russia) |
| 3 | 68 | Jarkko Ruutu (W) | Finland | Vancouver Canucks (from New York Islanders) | HIFK (Finland) |
| 3 | 81 | Justin Morrison (RW) | United States | Vancouver Canucks (from Philadelphia Flyers) | Colorado College (WCHA) |
| 4 | 90 | Regan Darby (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |
| 5 | 136 | David Ytfeldt (D) | Sweden | Vancouver Canucks | Leksands IF (Sweden) |
| 5 | 140 | Rick Bertran (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 6 | 149 | Paul Cabana (W) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) |
| 7 | 177 | Vince Malts (RW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 204 | Craig Mischler (C) | United States | Vancouver Canucks (from Boston Bruins) | Northeastern University (Hockey East) |
| 8 | 219 | Curtis Valentine (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 9 | 232 | Jason Metcalfe (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | London Knights (OHL) |

## Farm teams

Syracuse Crunch (AHL)