# 1999–2000 New York Rangers season

The 1999–2000 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 74th season. In the regular season, the Rangers finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 29–38–12–3 record. New York failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third straight season.
For the second time in three seasons, the Rangers fired their head coach during the regular season. John Muckler, who took the position after Colin Campbell's firing in 1997–98, was himself fired with four games left in the season. General manager Neil Smith was also fired, bringing an end to his tenure which had seen the Rangers win the Stanley Cup but also fall on hard times.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 45 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 237 | 179 | 105 |
| 2 | 4 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 45 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 251 | 203 | 103 |
| 3 | 7 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 37 | 31 | 8 | 6 | 241 | 236 | 88 |
| 4 | 11 | New York Rangers | 82 | 29 | 38 | 12 | 3 | 218 | 246 | 73 |
| 5 | 13 | New York Islanders | 82 | 24 | 48 | 9 | 1 | 194 | 275 | 58 |
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL=Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PIM=Penalties in Minutes; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | z – Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 45 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 237 | 179 | 105 |
| 2 | y – Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 44 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 227 | 194 | 102 |
| 3 | y – Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 45 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 246 | 222 | 100 |
| 4 | New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 45 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 251 | 203 | 103 |
| 5 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 43 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 244 | 209 | 98 |
| 6 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 2 | 244 | 210 | 95 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 37 | 31 | 8 | 6 | 241 | 236 | 88 |
| 8 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 35 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 213 | 204 | 85 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 0 | 217 | 216 | 84 |
| 10 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 35 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 196 | 194 | 83 |
| 11 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 29 | 38 | 12 | 3 | 218 | 246 | 73 |
| 12 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 24 | 33 | 19 | 6 | 210 | 248 | 73 |
| 13 | New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 24 | 48 | 9 | 1 | 194 | 275 | 58 |
| 14 | Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 19 | 47 | 9 | 7 | 204 | 310 | 54 |
| 15 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 14 | 57 | 7 | 4 | 170 | 313 | 39 |
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs; z – Won conference; y – Won division

## Schedule and results

1999–2000 regular season :
October: 4–7–2–0 (home: 3–5–0–0; road: 1–2–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreResultRecordRecap
1October 1, 1999@ Edmonton Oilers1–1 OTT0–0–1–0Recap
2October 2, 1999@ Vancouver Canucks2–1L0–1–1–0Recap
3October 5, 1999Ottawa Senators2–1L0–2–1–0Recap
4October 8, 1999Carolina Hurricanes3–1W1–2–1–0Recap
5October 10, 1999Phoenix Coyotes4–2W2–2–1–0Recap
6October 11, 1999@ New York Islanders4–2W3–2–1–0Recap
7October 14, 1999Pittsburgh Penguins5–2L3–3–1–0Recap
8October 17, 1999Atlanta Thrashers4–1W4–3–1–0Recap
9October 19, 1999San Jose Sharks2–1L4–4–1–0Recap
10October 20, 1999@ Philadelphia Flyers5–0L4–5–1–0Recap
11October 22, 1999Philadelphia Flyers2–0L4–6–1–0Recap
12October 24, 1999Vancouver Canucks3–0L4–7–1–0Recap
13October 30, 1999@ Montreal Canadiens2–2 OTT4–7–2–0Recap :
November: 3–5–1–1 (home: 0–2–1–0; road: 3–3–0–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreResultRecordRecap
14November 3, 1999New York Islanders3–3 OTT4–7–3–0Recap
15November 5, 1999@ Colorado Avalanche4–1L4–8–3–0Recap
16November 7, 1999@ Chicago Blackhawks3–1W5–8–3–0Recap
17November 10, 1999Ottawa Senators4–3L5–9–3–0Recap
18November 11, 1999@ Washington Capitals5–4 OTW6–9–3–0Recap
19November 13, 1999Boston Bruins5–2L6–10–3–0Recap
20November 18, 1999@ Boston Bruins5–3L6–11–3–0Recap
21November 20, 1999@ Toronto Maple Leafs4–3 OTOTL6–11–3–1Recap
22November 24, 1999@ Tampa Bay Lightning6–3W7–11–3–1Recap
23November 26, 1999@ Florida Panthers6–2L7–12–3–1Recap :
December: 5–3–3–2 (home: 5–1–1–1; road: 0–2–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreResultRecordRecap
24December 1, 1999@ New Jersey Devils3–2L7–13–3–1Recap
25December 3, 1999Montreal Canadiens3–2W8–13–3–1Recap
26December 4, 1999@ Buffalo Sabres1–1 OTT8–13–4–1Recap
27December 6, 1999Calgary Flames3–2 OTW9–13–4–1Recap
28December 8, 1999Edmonton Oilers2–1 OTW10–13–4–1Recap
29December 15, 1999Los Angeles Kings8–3W11–13–4–1Recap
30December 17, 1999Washington Capitals3–2 OTOTL11–13–4–2Recap
31December 19, 1999Tampa Bay Lightning5–4 OTW12–13–4–2Recap
32December 21, 1999Buffalo Sabres3–1L12–14–4–2Recap
33December 23, 1999@ New York Islanders4–2L12–15–4–2Recap
34December 26, 1999New Jersey Devils3–3 OTT12–15–5–2Recap
35December 28, 1999@ Phoenix Coyotes2–2 OTT12–15–6–2Recap
36December 29, 1999@ Dallas Stars4–3 OTOTL12–15–6–3Recap :
January: 10–4–1–0 (home: 4–2–0–0; road: 6–2–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreResultRecordRecap
37January 2, 2000@ Montreal Canadiens2–2 OTT12–15–7–3Recap
38January 3, 2000St. Louis Blues5–2L12–16–7–3Recap
39January 5, 2000Toronto Maple Leafs3–2 OTW13–16–7–3Recap
40January 8, 2000@ Toronto Maple Leafs5–3W14–16–7–3Recap
41January 9, 2000@ Carolina Hurricanes1–0L14–17–7–3Recap
42January 15, 2000@ New York Islanders5–2W15–17–7–3Recap
43January 16, 2000Atlanta Thrashers6–3W16–17–7–3Recap
44January 18, 2000Carolina Hurricanes3–2W17–17–7–3Recap
45January 20, 2000@ Carolina Hurricanes4–1W18–17–7–3Recap
46January 22, 2000@ St. Louis Blues4–1W19–17–7–3Recap
47January 24, 2000@ Atlanta Thrashers6–3W20–17–7–3Recap
48January 25, 2000@ Pittsburgh Penguins4–3W21–17–7–3Recap
49January 27, 2000Toronto Maple Leafs4–3L21–18–7–3Recap
50January 29, 2000@ Ottawa Senators3–2L21–19–7–3Recap
51January 31, 2000Nashville Predators5–1W22–19–7–3Recap :
February: 4–7–2–0 (home: 2–4–1–0; road: 2–3–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreResultRecordRecap
52February 2, 2000New Jersey Devils3–1L22–20–7–3Recap
53February 3, 2000@ Atlanta Thrashers6–3W23–20–7–3Recap
54February 8, 2000New Jersey Devils2–2 OTT23–20–8–3Recap
55February 9, 2000@ New Jersey Devils4–1L23–21–8–3Recap
56February 11, 2000Boston Bruins5–2W24–21–8–3Recap
57February 13, 2000New York Islanders4–2L24–22–8–3Recap
58February 15, 2000@ Tampa Bay Lightning2–2 OTT24–22–9–3Recap
59February 16, 2000@ Florida Panthers3–0L24–23–9–3Recap
60February 18, 2000Colorado Avalanche4–2L24–24–9–3Recap
61February 20, 2000Philadelphia Flyers3–2L24–25–9–3Recap
62February 22, 2000Pittsburgh Penguins4–3W25–25–9–3Recap
63February 25, 2000@ Buffalo Sabres6–3W26–25–9–3Recap
64February 26, 2000@ Ottawa Senators4–2L26–26–9–3Recap :
March: 3–9–2–0 (home: 1–4–2–0; road: 2–5–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreResultRecordRecap
65March 1, 2000Buffalo Sabres3–3 OTT26–26–10–3Recap
66March 3, 2000Florida Panthers4–2W27–26–10–3Recap
67March 6, 2000@ San Jose Sharks2–1L27–27–10–3Recap
68March 8, 2000@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim4–3 OTW28–27–10–3Recap
69March 9, 2000@ Los Angeles Kings3–1L28–28–10–3Recap
70March 11, 2000@ Pittsburgh Penguins3–1L28–29–10–3Recap
71March 13, 2000Dallas Stars4–3L28–30–10–3Recap
72March 15, 2000Tampa Bay Lightning4–4 OTT28–30–11–3Recap
73March 18, 2000@ Philadelphia Flyers3–2W29–30–11–3Recap
74March 19, 2000@ Pittsburgh Penguins5–4L29–31–11–3Recap
75March 21, 2000Florida Panthers4–3L29–32–11–3Recap
76March 23, 2000Washington Capitals4–1L29–33–11–3Recap
77March 26, 2000@ Detroit Red Wings8–2L29–34–11–3Recap
78March 27, 2000Detroit Red Wings6–0L29–35–11–3Recap :
April: 0–3–1–0 (home: 0–2–0–0; road: 0–1–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreResultRecordRecap
79April 1, 2000@ Boston Bruins2–2 OTT29–35–12–3Recap
80April 3, 2000@ Washington Capitals4–1L29–36–12–3Recap
81April 5, 2000Montreal Canadiens3–0L29–37–12–3Recap
82April 9, 2000Philadelphia Flyers4–1L29–38–12–3Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (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 Rangers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 93 | Petr Nedved | C | 76 | 24 | 44 | 68 | 2 | 40 |
| 14 | Theoren Fleury | RW | 80 | 15 | 49 | 64 | −4 | 68 |
| 18 | Mike York | C | 82 | 26 | 24 | 50 | −17 | 18 |
| 27 | Jan Hlavac | LW | 67 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 3 | 16 |
| 15 | John MacLean | RW | 77 | 18 | 24 | 42 | −2 | 52 |
| 9 | Adam Graves | LW | 77 | 23 | 17 | 40 | −15 | 14 |
| 20 | Radek Dvorak† | RW | 46 | 11 | 22 | 33 | 0 | 10 |
| 13 | Valeri Kamensky | LW | 65 | 14 | 20 | 34 | −18 | 36 |
| 21 | Mathieu Schneider | D | 80 | 10 | 20 | 30 | −6 | 78 |
| 12 | Alexandre Daigle† | RW | 58 | 8 | 18 | 26 | −5 | 23 |
| 2 | Brian Leetch | D | 50 | 7 | 19 | 26 | −16 | 20 |
| 4 | Kevin Hatcher | D | 74 | 4 | 19 | 23 | −10 | 38 |
| 3 | Kim Johnsson | D | 76 | 6 | 15 | 21 | −13 | 46 |
| 26 | Tim Taylor | C | 76 | 9 | 11 | 20 | −4 | 72 |
| 5 | Stephane Quintal | D | 75 | 2 | 14 | 16 | −10 | 77 |
| 22 | Mike Knuble‡ | RW | 59 | 9 | 5 | 14 | −5 | 18 |
| 28 | Eric Lacroix | LW | 70 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −12 | 24 |
| 24 | Sylvain Lefebvre | D | 82 | 2 | 10 | 12 | −13 | 43 |
| 17 | Kevin Stevens | LW | 38 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −7 | 43 |
| 10 | Todd Harvey‡ | RW | 31 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −9 | 62 |
| 16 | Rob DiMaio† | RW | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −8 | 8 |
| 47 | Rich Pilon† | D | 45 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 36 |
| 29 | Johan Witehall | LW | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | Jason Dawe† | RW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | Jason Doig | D | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 22 |
| 19 | Darren Langdon | LW | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 26 |
| 30 | Kirk McLean | G | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| 32 | P. J. Stock | C | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 37 | Derek Armstrong | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Daniel Goneau | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 32 | Milan Hnilicka | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 29 | Chris Kenady | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 31 | Jean-Francois Labbe | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 6 | Manny Malhotra | C | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −6 | 4 |
| 45 | Dale Purinton | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 7 |
| 35 | Mike Richter | G | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 36 | Alexei Vasiliev | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 32 | Terry Virtue | D | 1 | 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 |
| 35 | Mike Richter | 61 | 22 | 31 | 8 | 1988 | 173 | 2.87 | .905 | 0 | 3622 |
| 30 | Kirk McLean | 22 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 616 | 58 | 2.89 | .896 | 0 | 1206 |
| 32 | Milan Hnilicka | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 5 | 3.49 | .886 | 0 | 86 |
| 31 | Jean-Francois Labbe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 3.00 | .864 | 0 | 60 |
Sources:

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Mike York (Forward) |
| League (annual) | NHL Foundation Player Award | Adam Graves |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mike Richter |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Mike Richter (January 24) |
| Team | Ceil Saidel Memorial Award | Adam Graves |
| Team | Frank Boucher Trophy | Mike Richter |
| Team | Good Guy Award | Tim Taylor |
| Team | Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award | Kim Johnsson |
| Team | Players' Player Award | Mike Richter |
| Team | Rangers MVP | Mike Richter |
| Team | Rookie of the Year | Mike York |
| Team | Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award | Adam Graves |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Kim Johnsson | October 1, 1999 |
| First game | Mike York | October 1, 1999 |
| First game | Jan Hlavac | October 2, 1999 |
| First game | Milan Hnilicka | October 14, 1999 |
| First game | Jean-Francois Labbe | April 5, 2000 |
| First game | Alexei Vasiliev | April 5, 2000 |
| First game | Dale Purinton | April 9, 2000 |
| 500th game played | Mike Richter | October 30, 1999 |
| 400th goal | John MacLean | January 20, 2000 |

## Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft in Boston, Massachusetts, at the FleetCenter.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 4 | Pavel Brendl | RW | Czech Republic | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 1 | 9 | Jamie Lundmark | C | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 2 | 59 | David Inman | LW | Canada | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) |
| 3 | 79 | Johan Asplund | G | Sweden | Brynäs IF (Sweden) |
| 3 | 90 | Patrick Aufiero | D | United States | Boston University (Hockey East) |
| 5 | 137 | Garret Bembridge | RW | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 6 | 177 | Jay Dardis | C | United States | Proctor Academy (USHS–NH) |
| 7 | 197 | Arto Laatikainen | D | Finland | Blues (Finland) |
| 8 | 226 | Yevgeni Gusakov | LW | Russia | Lada Togliatti-2 (Russia) |
| 9 | 251 | Petter Henning | RW | Sweden | Modo Hockey (Sweden) |
| 9 | 254 | Alexei Bulatov | LW | Russia | Dinamo-Energija Yekaterinburg (Russia) |