# 1998–99 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1998–99 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' 32nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). This was the team's final season at the Great Western Forum before moving to the Staples Center for the 1999–2000 season. The Kings did not qualify for the 1999 playoffs, despite qualifying the previous year.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Pacific Division :
| R | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Dallas Stars | 82 | 51 | 19 | 12 | 236 | 168 | 114 |
| 2 | 4 | Phoenix Coyotes | 82 | 39 | 31 | 12 | 205 | 197 | 90 |
| 3 | 6 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 215 | 206 | 83 |
| 4 | 7 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 31 | 33 | 18 | 196 | 191 | 80 |
| 5 | 11 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 32 | 45 | 5 | 189 | 222 | 69 |
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
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: 4–4–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 3–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 10, 19982–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 12, 19982–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 16, 19982–1 OTBoston Bruins (1998–99)2–1–0Recap
4TOctober 18, 19985–5 OTColorado Avalanche (1998–99)2–1–1Recap
5TOctober 21, 19981–1 OT@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)2–1–2Recap
6LOctober 23, 19982–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)2–2–2Recap
7WOctober 25, 19983–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)3–2–2Recap
8LOctober 27, 19980–1@ New York Islanders (1998–99)3–3–2Recap
9WOctober 28, 19984–0@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)4–3–2Recap
10LOctober 30, 19980–3Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)4–4–2Recap :
November: 2–10–1 (home: 1–6–1; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11LNovember 1, 19980–3Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)4–5–2Recap
12TNovember 5, 19982–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (1998–99)4–5–3Recap
13LNovember 7, 19983–4Dallas Stars (1998–99)4–6–3Recap
14WNovember 9, 19984–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)5–6–3Recap
15LNovember 10, 19984–5 OT@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)5–7–3Recap
16LNovember 12, 19981–3Nashville Predators (1998–99)5–8–3Recap
17LNovember 14, 19983–5Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)5–9–3Recap
18LNovember 16, 19981–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)5–10–3Recap
19LNovember 18, 19984–5@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)5–11–3Recap
20LNovember 19, 19981–5New York Rangers (1998–99)5–12–3Recap
21WNovember 21, 19985–0Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)6–12–3Recap
22LNovember 28, 19980–4Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)6–13–3Recap
23LNovember 30, 19981–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)6–14–3Recap :
December: 6–7–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 3–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
24LDecember 2, 19981–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)6–15–3Recap
25LDecember 3, 19981–3@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)6–16–3Recap
26LDecember 5, 19983–4Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)6–17–3Recap
27WDecember 9, 19982–1Washington Capitals (1998–99)7–17–3Recap
28WDecember 12, 19983–0Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)8–17–3Recap
29LDecember 13, 19980–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)8–18–3Recap
30LDecember 17, 19984–5 OTNew York Islanders (1998–99)8–19–3Recap
31LDecember 19, 19982–5@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)8–20–3Recap
32WDecember 20, 19984–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)9–20–3Recap
33WDecember 22, 19983–0@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)10–20–3Recap
34LDecember 26, 19981–2Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)10–21–3Recap
35WDecember 28, 19984–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)11–21–3Recap
36WDecember 30, 19985–1San Jose Sharks (1998–99)12–21–3Recap :
January: 5–6–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
37WJanuary 2, 19994–2Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)13–21–3Recap
38WJanuary 5, 19994–3 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)14–21–3Recap
39WJanuary 7, 19994–2Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)15–21–3Recap
40TJanuary 9, 19991–1 OTEdmonton Oilers (1998–99)15–21–4Recap
41LJanuary 11, 19990–4@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)15–22–4Recap
42WJanuary 14, 19993–0Calgary Flames (1998–99)16–22–4Recap
43LJanuary 16, 19991–5Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)16–23–4Recap
44LJanuary 19, 19994–5Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)16–24–4Recap
45LJanuary 21, 19992–3New Jersey Devils (1998–99)16–25–4Recap
46LJanuary 27, 19992–3@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)16–26–4Recap
47WJanuary 29, 19996–3@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)17–26–4Recap
48LJanuary 30, 19991–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)17–27–4Recap :
February: 6–6–1 (home: 4–2–0; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
49LFebruary 1, 19992–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)17–28–4Recap
50WFebruary 4, 19993–2Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)18–28–4Recap
51WFebruary 6, 19992–0San Jose Sharks (1998–99)19–28–4Recap
52LFebruary 10, 19990–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)19–29–4Recap
53WFebruary 11, 19994–3Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)20–29–4Recap
54LFebruary 13, 19992–3Dallas Stars (1998–99)20–30–4Recap
55LFebruary 15, 19991–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)20–31–4Recap
56WFebruary 18, 19993–2Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)21–31–4Recap
57TFebruary 20, 19992–2 OT@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)21–31–5Recap
58LFebruary 22, 19991–5@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)21–32–5Recap
59WFebruary 24, 19993–2 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)22–32–5Recap
60WFebruary 26, 19992–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)23–32–5Recap
61LFebruary 28, 19990–1@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)23–33–5Recap :
March: 5–8–0 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62LMarch 3, 19991–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)23–34–5Recap
63LMarch 4, 19993–4Nashville Predators (1998–99)23–35–5Recap
64LMarch 6, 19991–4Calgary Flames (1998–99)23–36–5Recap
65WMarch 9, 19994–2Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)24–36–5Recap
66WMarch 13, 19993–1Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)25–36–5Recap
67WMarch 15, 19994–0Ottawa Senators (1998–99)26–36–5Recap
68LMarch 18, 19992–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)26–37–5Recap
69WMarch 20, 19994–3Florida Panthers (1998–99)27–37–5Recap
70LMarch 21, 19991–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)27–38–5Recap
71LMarch 25, 19991–2Dallas Stars (1998–99)27–39–5Recap
72LMarch 28, 19992–7@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)27–40–5Recap
73WMarch 30, 19992–1 OT@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)28–40–5Recap
74LMarch 31, 19991–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)28–41–5Recap :
April: 4–4–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
75LApril 3, 19992–3@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)28–42–5Recap
76LApril 5, 19991–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)28–43–5Recap
77WApril 8, 19993–2San Jose Sharks (1998–99)29–43–5Recap
78LApril 11, 19992–6@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)29–44–5Recap
79WApril 12, 19994–3@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)30–44–5Recap
80WApril 15, 19994–3 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)31–44–5Recap
81WApril 16, 19992–0@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)32–44–5Recap
82LApril 18, 19992–3St. Louis Blues (1998–99)32–45–5Recap :
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 Kings only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 20 | Luc Robitaille | LW | 82 | 39 | 35 | 74 | −1 | 54 |
| 10 | Donald Audette† | RW | 49 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 7 | 51 |
| 4 | Rob Blake | D | 62 | 12 | 23 | 35 | −7 | 128 |
| 15 | Jozef Stumpel | C | 64 | 13 | 21 | 34 | −18 | 10 |
| 27 | Glen Murray | RW | 61 | 16 | 15 | 31 | −14 | 36 |
| 26 | Ray Ferraro | C | 65 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 0 | 59 |
| 44 | Yanic Perreault‡ | C | 64 | 10 | 17 | 27 | −3 | 30 |
| 9 | Vladimir Tsyplakov | LW | 69 | 11 | 12 | 23 | −7 | 32 |
| 28 | Steve Duchesne‡ | D | 60 | 4 | 19 | 23 | −6 | 22 |
| 12 | Olli Jokinen | C | 66 | 9 | 12 | 21 | −10 | 44 |
| 23 | Craig Johnson | LW | 69 | 7 | 12 | 19 | −12 | 32 |
| 19 | Russ Courtnall | RW | 57 | 6 | 13 | 19 | −9 | 19 |
| 3 | Garry Galley | D | 60 | 4 | 12 | 16 | −9 | 30 |
| 55 | Pavel Rosa | RW | 29 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Doug Bodger | D | 65 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 34 |
| 6 | Sean O'Donnell | D | 80 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 186 |
| 22 | Ian Laperriere | RW | 72 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −5 | 138 |
| 43 | Philippe Boucher | D | 45 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −12 | 32 |
| 14 | Mattias Norstrom | D | 78 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −10 | 36 |
| 45 | Sandy Moger | C | 42 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −9 | 26 |
| 24 | Nathan LaFayette | C | 33 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 35 |
| 21 | Josh Green | LW | 27 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −5 | 8 |
| 48 | Mark Visheau | D | 28 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −7 | 107 |
| 17 | Matt Johnson | LW | 49 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −5 | 131 |
| 44 | Dave Babych† | D | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −2 | 2 |
| 11 | Jason Blake† | C | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Steve McKenna | LW | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 36 |
| 54 | Jan Nemecek | D | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 29 | Eric Lacroix†‡ | LW | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −5 | 12 |
| 32 | Manny Legace | G | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 |
| 33 | Jaroslav Modry | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Sean Pronger† | C | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1 | Jamie Storr | G | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 6 |
| 31 | Ryan Bach† | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 42 | Dan Bylsma | RW | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 11 | Brandon Convery† | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 |
| 35 | Stephane Fiset | G | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 28 | Jason Podollan† | RW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 5 |
| 29 | Roman Vopat‡ | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings 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 |
| 35 | Stephane Fiset | 42 | 18 | 21 | 1 | 1217 | 104 | 2.60 | .915 | 3 | 2403 |
| 1 | Jamie Storr | 28 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 724 | 61 | 2.40 | .916 | 4 | 1525 |
| 32 | Manny Legace | 17 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 439 | 39 | 2.60 | .911 | 0 | 899 |
| 31 | Ryan Bach† | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 8 | 4.44 | .879 | 0 | 108 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Jamie Storr (Goaltender) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Rob Blake |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mattias Norstrom |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Luc Robitaille |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Olli Jokinen (November) |
| Team | Best Newcomer | Donald Audette |
| Team | Bill Libby Memorial Award | Luc Robitaille |
| Team | Defensive Player | Ian Laperriere |
| Team | Jim Fox Community Service | Rob Blake |
| Team | Jim Fox Community Service | Sean O'Donnell |
| Team | Leading Scorer | Luc Robitaille |
| Team | Most Inspirational | Mattias Norstrom |
| Team | Most Popular Player | Luc Robitaille |
| Team | Outstanding Defenseman | Mattias Norstrom |
| Team | Unsung Hero | Mattias Norstrom |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Josh Green | October 10, 1998 |
| First game | Manny Legace | October 21, 1998 |
| First game | Ryan Bach | October 23, 1998 |
| First game | Jan Nemecek | November 7, 1998 |
| First game | Pavel Rosa | December 17, 1998 |
| First game | Jason Blake | April 18, 1999 |
| 1,000th game played | Doug Bodger | October 25, 1998 |
| 1,000th game played | Garry Galley | February 1, 1999 |
| 1,000th game played | Russ Courtnall | February 10, 1999 |
| 1,000th game played | Ray Ferraro | February 28, 1999 |

## Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1998–99 season.

### Trades

| May 29, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsFuture considerations | To Nashville PredatorsMarian Cisar |
| June 18, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsDoug Bodger | To New Jersey Devils4th round pick in 1998 - Pierre Dagenais |
| June 26, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsPredators promise to not select Garry Galley in 1998 NHL Expansion Draft | To Nashville PredatorsJan Vopat Kimmo Timonen |
| July 7, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsFuture considerations | To Nashville PredatorsVitali Yachmenev |
| July 29, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsManny Legace | To Carolina HurricanesFuture considerations |
| September 3, 1998 | To Los Angeles Kings3rd round pick in 1999 - Frantisek Kaberle | To Chicago BlackhawksDoug Zmolek |
| October 22, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsRyan Bach | To Detroit Red Wings6th round pick in 2000 - Par Backer |
| October 29, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsEric Lacroix | To Colorado AvalancheRoman Vopat 6th round pick in 1999 - Martin Prusek |
| December 18, 1998 | To Los Angeles KingsDonald Audette | To Buffalo Sabres2nd round pick in 1999 - Milan Bartovic |
| February 12, 1999 | To Los Angeles KingsSean Pronger | To New York RangersEric Lacroix |
| March 23, 1999 | To Los Angeles KingsDave Babych 5th round pick in 2000 - Nathan Marsters | To Philadelphia FlyersSteve Duchesne |
| March 23, 1999 | To Los Angeles KingsJason Podollan 3rd round pick in 1999 - Cory Campbell | To Toronto Maple LeafsYanic Perreault |

### Free agent signings

| July 2, 1998 | From St. Louis BluesSteve Duchesne (3 years, $11.25 million) |
| April 17, 1999 | From University of North Dakota (WCHA)Jason Blake |

### Free agents lost

| July 22, 1998 | To Boston BruinsChris Taylor (1 year, $350,000) |
| August 18, 1998 | To New York IslandersSteve Valiquette |
| August 26, 1998 | To Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL)Jeff Shevalier |

### Expansion draft

| June 26, 1998 | To Nashville PredatorsFrederic Chabot |

### Waivers

| July 17, 1998 | From Nashville PredatorsFrederic Chabot |
| October 5, 1998 | To Montreal CanadiensFrederic Chabot |
| November 19, 1998 | From Vancouver CanucksBrandon Convery |

## Draft picks

Los Angeles'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) |
| 1 | 21 | Mathieu Biron | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 46 | Justin Papineau | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 3 | 76 | Aleksei Volkov | Russia | Krylya Sovetov-2 (Russia) |
| 4 | 103 | Kip Brennan | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 5 | 133 | Joe Rullier | Canada | Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 163 | Tomas Zizka | Czech Republic | ZPS Zlín (Czech Republic) |
| 7 | 190 | Tommi Hannus | Finland | TPS Jr. (Finland) |
| 8 | 217 | Jim Henkel | United States | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 9 | 248 | Matthew Yeats | Canada | Olds Grizzlys (AJHL) |