1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 63rd season of the franchise, 53rd season as the Maple Leafs. In July 1979, Leafs owner Harold Ballard brought back Punch Imlach, a longtime friend, as general manager. Imlach traded Lanny McDonald to undermine team captain Darryl Sittler's influence on the team.[1] The McDonald trade sent the Leafs into a downward spiral. They finished five games under .500 and only made the playoffs due to the presence of the Quebec Nordiques, a refugee from the WHA, in the Adams Division.

1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division4th Adams
Conference5th Wales
1979–80 record35-40-5
Goals for304
Goals against327
Team information
General managerPunch Imlach
CoachFloyd Smith
Dick Duff
Punch Imlach
CaptainDarryl Sittler (Oct-Dec)
vacant (Dec-Apr)
Alternate captainsNone
Team leaders
GoalsDarryl Sittler (40)
AssistsDarryl Sittler (57)
PointsDarryl Sittler (97)
Penalty minutesTiger Williams (197)
WinsMike Palmateer (16)
Goals against averageJiri Crha (3.61)

Offseason

NHL draft

Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team
19Laurie Boschman (C) CanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
351Normand Aubin (C) CanadaVerdun Eperviers (QMJHL)
472Vincent Tremblay (G) CanadaQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)
593Frank Nigro (C) CanadaLondon Knights (OMJHL)
6114Bill McCreary Jr. (RW) United StatesColgate University (ECAC)

Regular season

The 1979–80 season marked the dismantling of a promising hockey team. The Maple Leafs had stars such as Darryl Sittler, Mike Palmateer, Lanny McDonald, Tiger Williams, Borje Salming and Ian Turnbull. In previous years, the Leafs were always one of the top teams in the league but could not beat the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs. Leafs' owner Harold Ballard fired General Manager Jim Gregory and Head Coach Roger Neilson.[2] After unsuccessfully attempting to hire both former Boston Bruins head coach Don Cherry (who became head coach of the Colorado Rockies) and former Montreal Canadiens head coach Scotty Bowman (who became head coach and general manager of the Buffalo Sabres), Ballard brought back Punch Imlach, who had been the Leafs' coach and general manager when they last won the Stanley Cup in 1967, to be the team's new GM. Imlach subsequently hired Floyd Smith, a former Leaf player who had previously coached for Imlach when he was GM of the Sabres, to be the Leafs' new head coach.

By November 1979, tensions between Imlach and Sittler mounted as Sittler publicly aired his grievances. An article was featured in the Globe and Mail by James Christie, titled Darryl Sittler drops the Gloves.[3] Sittler was unhappy that Imlach publicly criticized him and Mike Palmateer. Another point of tension for Sittler was the fact that Imlach placed Lanny McDonald and Ian Turnbull on waivers.

On December 13, 1979, Imlach announced that Carl Brewer was making another comeback in the NHL.[4] Brewer would play for the New Brunswick Hawks, the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate. In Brewer's first game in Moncton, New Brunswick, King Clancy and Johnny Bower showed up to watch him play.[2]

Brewer returned to the Maple Leafs on December 26, 1979, for the Maple Leafs game against the Washington Capitals. Many players on the Leafs felt that Brewer was a spy for Imlach.[2] In Brewer's first game, many of his teammates were openly hostile to him. Brewer's defense partner was Borje Salming, and Salming refused to pass Brewer the puck.[5] During the season, Brewer would only play in twenty contests.

Season standings

Adams Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Buffalo Sabres80471716318201110
Boston Bruins80462113310234105
Minnesota North Stars8036281631125388
Toronto Maple Leafs803540530432775
Quebec Nordiques8025441124831361

[6]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Campbell Conference

Schedule and results

1979–80 Game log
October
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
110/10/1979New York Rangers3-6Maple Leaf Gardens0-1-0
210/13/1979Colorado Rockies2 - 1Maple Leaf Gardens1-1-0
310/14/1979at Philadelphia Flyers3 - 4The Spectrum1-2-0
410/17/1979Minnesota North Stars6 - 2Maple Leaf Gardens2-2-0
510/19/1979at Washington Capitals5 - 3Maple Leaf Gardens3-2-0
610/20/1979Vancouver Canucks2 - 0Maple Leaf Gardens4-2-0
710/24/1979at Vancouver Canucks1 - 5The Pacific Coliseum4-3-0
810/26/1979at Colorado Rockies2 - 2McNichols Sports Arena4-3-1
910/27/1979at Los Angeles Kings5 - 7The Forum4-4-1
1010/31/1979Hartford Whalers2 - 4Maple Leaf Gardens4-5-1
November
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
1111/2/1979at Hartford Whalers3 - 5Springfield Civic Center4-6-1
1211/3/1979Buffalo Sabres3 – 4Maple Leaf Gardens4-7-1
1311/7/1979at St. Louis Blues7 - 45-7-1
1411/10/1979at Winnipeg Jets8 - 46-7-1
1511/11/1979at Edmonton Oilers6 - 37-7-1
1611/14/1979St. Louis Blues7 - 28-7-1
1711/17/1979Boston Bruins0 - 2Maple Leaf Gardens8-8-1
1811/18/1979at Quebec Nordiques2 - 4Le Colisée8-9-1
1911/21/1979Edmonton Oilers4 - 4Maple Leaf Gardens8-9-2
2011/24/1979Chicago Blackhawks1 - 2Maple Leaf Gardens8-10-2
2111/25/1979at New York Rangers4 - 3Madison Square Garden9-10-2
2211/27/1979at Atlanta Flames5 - 310-10-2
2311/28/1979at Washington Capitals4 - 211-10-2
December
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
2412/1/1979Philadelphia Flyers4-4Maple Leaf Gardens11-10-3
2512/5/1979Montreal Canadiens3 – 2Maple Leaf Gardens12-10-3
2612/7/1979New York Islanders1 - 6Maple Leaf Gardens12-11-3
2712/12/1979Colorado RockiesMaple Leaf Gardens5 – 313-11-3
2812/15/1979Atlanta Flames8 - 1Maple Leaf Gardens14-11-3
2912/17/1979at Minnesota North Stars1 - 514-12-3
3012/19/1979Los Angeles Kings4 - 4Maple Leaf Gardens14-12-4
3112/20/1979at Boston Bruins0 – 10Boston Garden14-13-4
3212/22/1979Detroit Red Wings2 – 1Maple Leaf Gardens15-13-4
3312/23/1979at Montreal Canadiens4 - 8Montreal Forum15-14-4
3412/26/1979Washington Capitals2 - 8Maple Leaf Gardens15-15-4
3512/27/1979at Buffalo Sabres3 - 5War Memorial Auditorium15-16-4
3612/29/1979Winnipeg Jets6 - 1Maple Leaf Gardens16-16-4
January
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
371/2/1980New York Islanders1-3Maple Leaf Gardens16-17-4
381/5/1980Quebec Nordiques3 - 7Maple Leaf Gardens16-18-4
391/7/1980Pittsburgh Penguins9 - 5Maple Leaf Gardens17-18-4
401/9/1980Montreal Canadiens3 - 5Maple Leaf Gardens17-19-4
411/12/1980Vancouver Canucks6 - 4Maple Leaf Gardens18-19-4
421/16/1980at Pittsburgh Penguins4 - 618-20-4
431/17/1980at New York Islanders6 - 918-21-4
441/19/1980at Montreal Canadiens2 - 7Montreal Forum18-22-4
451/22/1980at Atlanta Flames4 - 219-22-4
461/24/1980at Los Angeles Kings4 - 5Los Angeles Forum19-23-4
471/26/1980at Edmonton Oilers3 - 8Northlands Coliseum19-24-4
481/27/1980at Vancouver Canucks5 - 220-24-4
491/30/1980Detroit Red Wings6 - 4Maple Leaf Gardens21-24-4
February
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
502/2/1980Chicago Blackhawks4-5Maple Leaf Gardens21-25-4
512/3/1980at Chicago Blackhawks2 - 4Chicago Stadium21-26-4
522/7/1980at Boston Bruins6 - 8Boston Garden21-27-4
532/9/1980Los Angeles Kings2 - 7Maple Leaf Gardens21-28-4
542/10/1980at Detroit Red Wings4 - 122-28-4
552/13/1980Pittsburgh Penguins2 - 4Maple Leaf Gardens22-29-4
562/16/1980Hartford Whalers5 - 3Maple Leaf Gardens23-29-4
572/17/1980at New York Rangers6 - 4Madison Square Garden24-29-4
582/19/1980at New York Islanders6 - 425-29-4
592/20/1980at Chicago Blackhawks2 - 4Chicago Stadium25-30-4
602/23/1980at Winnipeg Jets9 - 326-30-4
612/26/1980at St. Louis Blues2 – 526-31-4
622/27/1980at Colorado Rockies4 - 327-31-4
March
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
633/1/1980Philadelphia Flyers3 - 3Maple Leaf Gardens27-31-5
643/2/1980at Detroit Red Wings6 - 328-31-5
653/5/1980at Pittsburgh Penguins5 - 329-31-5
663/8/1980Quebec Nordiques3 - 230-31-5
673/9/1980at Quebec Nordiques4 - 5Le Colisée30-32-5
683/12/1980St. Louis Blues2 - 3Maple Leaf Gardens30-33-5
693/15/1980New York Rangers4 - 8Maple Leaf Gardens30-34-5
703/17/1980Atlanta Flames1 - 5Maple Leaf Gardens30-35-5
713/19/1980Winnipeg Jets9 - 1Maple Leaf Gardens31-35-5
723/20/1980at Philadelphia Flyers3 - 032-35-5
733/22/1980Buffalo Sabres1 - 5Maple Leaf Gardens32-36-5
743/24/1980Washington Capitals6 - 1Maple Leaf Gardens33-36-5
753/25/1980at Minnesota North Stars2 - 733-37-5
763/29/1980Edmonton Oilers5 – 8Maple Leaf Gardens33-38-5
April
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
774/1/1980at Hartford Whalers5-434-38-5
784/2/1980Boston Bruins2-5Maple Leaf Gardens34-39-5
794/5/1980Minnesota North Stars2-1Maple Leaf Gardens35-39-5
804/6/1980at Buffalo Sabres3-7Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium35-40-5
1979–80 Schedule

Transactions

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Darryl SittlerC734057976231715
Borje SalmingD74195271944401
John AndersonRW74252853225305
Wilf PaiementRW41202848721802
Laurie BoschmanC80163248782204
Rocky SaganiukRW/C7524234752-5304
Walt McKechnieC54736434-6100
Tiger WilliamsLW55221840197-13501
Ian TurnbullD7511283990-23300
Pat HickeyLW45221638161603
Dan MaloneyLW71171633102-13101
Lanny McDonaldRW3515153010-1602
Paul GardnerC4511132410-8401
Ron EllisRW591211236-9012
Terry MartinLW376152126102
Dave BurrowsD8031619420000
Bill DerlagoC235121713-6100
Rick VaiveRW22971677-4201
Jerry ButlerRW55781529-3001
Greg HothamD463101310-4000
Richard MulhernD260101011-1000
Dave FarrishD20189305000
Mike KaszyckiC2544810-4000
Dave HutchisonD31167281000
Joel QuennevilleD3214524-2100
Carl BrewerD200552-5000
Bob StephensonRW142244-7000
Pat BoutetteC/RW3204417-6000
Mike PalmateerG3803360000
Pat RibbleD130228-9000
Ron WilsonD50222-2000
Mark KirtonC210120000
Larry CarriereD20110-1000
Paul HarrisonG3001140000
Bruce BoudreauC200020000
Jiri CrhaG1500040000
Jimmy JonesRW10000-1000
Daryl MaggsD50000-4000
Curt RidleyG300020000
Vincent TremblayG1000000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Mike Palmateer203938161431253.682
Paul Harrison14923091721104.420
Jiri Crha83015870503.610
Vincent Tremblay32910210285.110
Curt Ridley110301084.360
Team:480080354053214.012

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Darryl SittlerC312310100
Ron WilsonD31232100
Ian TurnbullD30332000
Terry MartinLW32027000
John AndersonRW31120000
Laurie BoschmanC311218100
Borje SalmingD31122100
Wilf PaiementRW302217000
Rick VaiveRW310111000
Dave BurrowsD30112000
Larry CarriereD20000000
Jiri CrhaG20000000
Bill DerlagoC30004000
Ron EllisRW30000000
Dave FarrishD300010000
Pat HickeyLW30002000
Mike KaszyckiC20002000
Richard MulhernD10000000
Mike PalmateerG10002000
Rocky SaganiukRW/C300010000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Jiri Crha121202104.960
Mike Palmateer6010177.000
Team:181303175.640

[9]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Playoffs

Date Opponent Score Series lead
April 8, 1980 at Minnesota North Stars 3 - 6 Stars lead series 1-0
April 9, 1980 at Minnesota North Stars 2 - 7 Stars lead series 2-0
April 11, 1980 Minnesota North Stars 3 - 4 (OT) Stars win series 3-0

[10]

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1979-80 season.

Trades

August 22, 1979 To Edmonton Oilers
6th round pick in 1981 - Steve Smith
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Reg Thomas
December 13, 1979 To Quebec Nordiques
Reg Thomas
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Farrish
Terry Martin
December 24, 1979 To Hartford Whalers
Pat Boutette
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Bob Stephenson
December 29, 1979 To Colorado Rockies
Lanny McDonald
Joel Quenneville
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Pat Hickey
Wilf Paiement
January 10, 1980 To Chicago Black Hawks
Dave Hutchison
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Pat Ribble
February 10, 1980 To Vancouver Canucks
Cash
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Curt Ridley
February 16, 1980 To Washington Capitals
Pat Ribble
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Mike Kaszycki
February 18, 1980 To Vancouver Canucks
Tiger Williams
Jerry Butler
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Rick Vaive
Bill Derlago
March 3, 1980 To Colorado Rockies
Walt McKechnie
To Toronto Maple Leafs
3rd round pick in 1980 - Fred Boimistruck
June 10, 1980 To Calgary Flames
2nd round pick in 1980 - Kevin LaVallee
To Toronto Maple Leafs
David Shand
3rd round pick in 1980 - Torrie Robertson
June 11, 1980 To Washington Capitals
Mike Palmateer
3rd round pick in 1980 - Torrie Robertson
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Tim Coulis
Robert Picard
2nd round pick in 1980 - Bob McGill

Waivers

February 10, 1980 From Los Angeles Kings
Richard Mulhern

Free agents

PlayerFormer Team
Daryl MaggsCincinnati Stingers (WHA)
Carl BrewerToronto Toros (WHA)
Jiri CrhaHC Pardubice (Czech.)
Larry CarriereBuffalo Sabres
PlayerNew Team
Greg HubickVancouver Canucks
Roy SommerEdmonton Oilers

Awards and records

Farm teams

The Maple Leafs were affiliated with the New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League.

References

Notes

  1. "Lanny McDonald trade has Sittler in tears," Jim Kernaghan, Toronto Star, December 29, 1979, p. 1.
  2. Foster, p. 103
  3. Foster, p. 102.
  4. Foster, p. 101.
  5. Foster, p. 104.
  6. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  7. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  8. Legends of Hockey – Spotlight – One on One with Lanny McDonald Archived 2010-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "1979-80 Toronto Maple Leafs Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  10. Toronto Maple Leafs 1979-80 Game Log and Scores Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  11. NHL Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222.

Bibliography

  • The Power of Two: Carl Brewer's Battle with Hockey's Power Brokers, Susan Foster with notes by Carl Brewer, Fenn Publishing Company Ltd., Bolton, Ontario, 2006, ISBN 978-1-55168-313-3 (paperback).
  • National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5.
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