The 1998–99 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks' eighth season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). Under second-year head coach Darryl Sutter, the Sharks reached the playoffs for a second consecutive season. While the team won three fewer games than it had during the prior season, it became the first in franchise history to score more goals (196) than it allowed (191).

During the campaign, general manager Dean Lombardi continued to add to the Sharks' roster. During the 1998 preseason, both goaltender Steve Shields and All-Star defenseman Gary Suter were acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively, in exchange for low-level draft picks and prospects. While neither played a major role during the 1998–99 season, both would make key contributions to the Sharks' success the following season. Indeed, Lombardi's most notable addition was that of veteran forward Vincent Damphousse. Damphousse, acquired in a midseason trade with the Montreal Canadiens, would experience immediate success in San Jose; he would ultimately remain with the Sharks until the conclusion of the 2003–04 season. The 1998–99 season also saw the continued development of several highly-touted prospects. Most notably, the campaign saw second-year forwards Patrick Marleau and Marco Sturm emerge as consistent scoring threats. Additionally, the season also saw the debut of promising young defenseman (and future NHL All-Star) Scott Hannan. These players, along with established forward Jeff Friesen and defenseman Mike Rathje, would drive much of the team's success over the following five years.

Despite their losing record, the Sharks reached the postseason for a second consecutive season. In the first round of the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Sharks were matched against the Northwest Division champion Colorado Avalanche. Due to the Columbine High School Massacre, the first two games of the series were played in San Jose; the heavily favored Avalanche won both. As had been the case one year prior, the Sharks won their next two games in Denver to even the series at two games apiece. The Avalanche responded by routing the Sharks in Game Five to take a 3–2 series lead. The Sharks managed to push the Avalanche to overtime in Game Six; a goal by Colorado rookie Milan Hejduk, however, spelled the end of the Sharks' season. As of the 2017–18 NHL season, the 1998–99 San Jose Sharks (along with the 1998–99 Edmonton Oilers) are the last team to have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a losing record.

Off-season
Forward Owen Nolan was named team captain.

Regular season
The Sharks tied the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues for the fewest short-handed goals allowed, with 4.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- align="center" 
|1||T||October 9, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||0–0–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|2||L||October 10, 1998||3–5 || align="left"|  Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||0–1–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|3||L||October 18, 1998||0–3 || align="left"|  Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||0–2–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|4||L||October 20, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||0–3–1 || 
|- align="center" 
|5||T||October 22, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||0–3–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|6||L||October 24, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||0–4–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|7||L||October 28, 1998||2–4 || align="left"|  Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||0–5–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|8||L||October 29, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||0–6–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|9||W||October 31, 1998||6–1 || align="left"|  Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||1–6–2 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|10||W||November 4, 1998||4–0 || align="left"|  Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||2–6–2 || 
|- align="center" 
|11||T||November 6, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||2–6–3 || 
|- align="center" 
|12||T||November 7, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"|  St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||2–6–4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|13||L||November 10, 1998||2–4 || align="left"|  Nashville Predators (1998–99) ||2–7–4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|14||W||November 12, 1998||3–0 || align="left"|  Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||3–7–4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|15||W||November 18, 1998||5–4 || align="left"|  Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||4–7–4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|16||L||November 20, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"|  Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||4–8–4 || 
|- align="center" 
|17||T||November 21, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"|  New York Rangers (1998–99) ||4–8–5 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|18||L||November 23, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||4–9–5 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|19||L||November 25, 1998||0–3 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||4–10–5 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|20||W||November 27, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||5–10–5 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|21||L||November 29, 1998||1–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||5–11–5 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|22||L||December 2, 1998||0–3 || align="left"|  Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||5–12–5 || 
|- align="center" 
|23||T||December 4, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"|  Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||5–12–6 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|24||L||December 6, 1998||1–2 || align="left"|  Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||5–13–6 || 
|- align="center" 
|25||T||December 9, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||5–13–7 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|26||L||December 10, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| @ Nashville Predators (1998–99) ||5–14–7 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|27||W||December 12, 1998||2–1 || align="left"|  Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||6–14–7 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|28||L||December 15, 1998||0–1 || align="left"|  New York Islanders (1998–99) ||6–15–7 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|29||W||December 17, 1998||3–1 || align="left"|  Nashville Predators (1998–99) ||7–15–7 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|30||W||December 19, 1998||2–1 || align="left"|  Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||8–15–7 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|31||W||December 23, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||9–15–7 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|32||W||December 26, 1998||2–0 || align="left"|  Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||10–15–7 || 
|- align="center" 
|33||T||December 28, 1998||1–1 OT|| align="left"|  Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||10–15–8 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|34||L||December 30, 1998||1–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||10–16–8 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|35||W||January 2, 1999||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1998–99) ||11–16–8 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|36||L||January 4, 1999||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1998–99) ||11–17–8 || 
|- align="center" 
|37||T||January 5, 1999||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||11–17–9 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|38||W||January 7, 1999||4–3 || align="left"| @ Nashville Predators (1998–99) ||12–17–9 || 
|- align="center" 
|39||T||January 9, 1999||2–2 OT|| align="left"|  Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||12–17–10 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|40||W||January 11, 1999||4–0 || align="left"|  Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||13–17–10 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|41||L||January 13, 1999||1–2 || align="left"|  Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||13–18–10 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|42||W||January 15, 1999||3–2 || align="left"|  Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) ||14–18–10 || 
|- align="center" 
|43||T||January 16, 1999||3–3 OT|| align="left"|  Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||14–18–11 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|44||W||January 18, 1999||3–1 || align="left"|  New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||15–18–11 || 
|- align="center" 
|45||T||January 21, 1999||3–3 OT|| align="left"|  Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||15–18–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|46||L||January 26, 1999||0–3 || align="left"|  St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||15–19–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|47||L||January 30, 1999||0–5 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||15–20–12 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|48||W||February 1, 1999||5–1 || align="left"|  Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||16–20–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|49||L||February 4, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||16–21–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|50||L||February 6, 1999||0–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||16–22–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|51||W||February 8, 1999||3–0 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||17–22–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|52||W||February 10, 1999||5–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||18–22–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|53||W||February 11, 1999||5–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||19–22–12 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|54||W||February 13, 1999||3–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||20–22–12 || 
|- align="center" 
|55||T||February 15, 1999||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||20–22–13 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|56||L||February 17, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||20–23–13 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|57||L||February 19, 1999||2–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||20–24–13 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|58||L||February 20, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||20–25–13 || 
|- align="center" 
|59||T||February 24, 1999||1–1 OT|| align="left"|  Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||20–25–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|60||L||February 26, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||20–26–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|61||L||February 27, 1999||1–4 || align="left"|  Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||20–27–14 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|62||W||March 1, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||21–27–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|63||W||March 3, 1999||4–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||22–27–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|64||L||March 6, 1999||0–4 || align="left"|  Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||22–28–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|65||W||March 9, 1999||4–2 || align="left"|  Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||23–28–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|66||W||March 12, 1999||2–0 || align="left"|  Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||24–28–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|67||W||March 13, 1999||3–2 || align="left"|  Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||25–28–14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|68||W||March 17, 1999||4–2 || align="left"|  Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||26–28–14 || 
|- align="center" 
|69||T||March 20, 1999||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||26–28–15 || 
|- align="center" 
|70||T||March 22, 1999||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) ||26–28–16 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|71||W||March 24, 1999||8–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) ||27–28–16 || 
|- align="center" 
|72||T||March 26, 1999||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||27–28–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|73||L||March 28, 1999||2–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||27–29–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|74||L||March 31, 1999||2–3 || align="left"|  Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||27–30–17 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|75||W||April 2, 1999||7–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||28–30–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|76||W||April 3, 1999||5–2 || align="left"|  Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||29–30–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|77||W||April 6, 1999||1–0 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||30–30–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|78||L||April 8, 1999||2–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||30–31–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|79||W||April 9, 1999||4–1 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||31–31–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|80||L||April 12, 1999||4–5 OT|| align="left"|  Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||31–32–17 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|81||L||April 16, 1999||0–2 || align="left"|  Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||31–33–17 || 
|- align="center" 
|82||T||April 17, 1999||3–3 OT|| align="left"|  Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||31–33–18 || 
|-

|-
| Legend:

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" 
| 1 ||L|| April 24, 1999 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche lead 1–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" 
| 2 ||L|| April 26, 1999 || 1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche lead 2–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
| 3 ||W|| April 28, 1999 || 4–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche lead 2–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
| 4 ||W|| April 30, 1999 || 7–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Series tied 2–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" 
| 5 ||L|| May 1, 1999 || 2–6 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche lead 3–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" 
| 6 ||L|| May 3, 1999 || 2–3 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche win 4–2 || 
|-

|-
| 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 Sharks only.
  = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

Draft picks
San Jose's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.

See also
1998–99 NHL season

Notes

References

 

S
S
San Jose Sharks seasons
San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks