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."Lanny McDonald trade has Sittler in tears", Jim Kernaghan, Toronto Star, December 29, 1979, p. 1. The McDonald trade sent the Leafs into a downward spiral. They finished five games under .500 and only made the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year due to the presence of the Quebec Nordiques, a refugee from the WHA, in the Adams Division.
Offseason
NHL draft Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team1 9 Laurie Boschman (C) Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)351Normand Aubin (C) Verdun Eperviers (QMJHL)472Vincent Tremblay (G) Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)593Frank Nigro (C) London Knights (OMJHL)6114Bill McCreary Jr. (RW) Colgate 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.Foster, p. 103 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; ironically, he hired Neilson as an assistant coach), 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.Foster, p. 102. Sittler was unhappy that Imlach publicly criticized him and Mike Palmateer. Another point of tension for Sittler was 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.Foster, p. 101. 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.
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. In Brewer's first game, many of his teammates were openly hostile to him. Brewer's defense partner was Börje Salming, and Salming refused to pass Brewer the puck.Foster, p. 104. During the season, Brewer would only play in twenty contests.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 ||10/10/1979 ||New York Rangers || 3-6 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 0–1–0
| 2 || 10/13/1979||Colorado Rockies || 2 – 1 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 1–1–0
| 3 ||10/14/1979 || at Philadelphia Flyers || 3 – 4|| The Spectrum || 1–2–0
| 4 || 10/17/1979 || Minnesota North Stars || 6 – 2 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 2–2–0
| 5 || 10/19/1979 || at Washington Capitals || 5 – 3 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 3–2–0
| 6 ||10/20/1979 || Vancouver Canucks || 2 – 0 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 4–2–0
| 7 ||10/24/1979 || at Vancouver Canucks ||1 – 5 || The Pacific Coliseum || 4–3–0
| 8 ||10/26/1979 || at Colorado Rockies || 2 – 2 || McNichols Sports Arena || 4–3–1
| 9 || 10/27/1979 || at Los Angeles Kings || 5 – 7 || The Forum || 4–4–1
| 10 || 10/31/1979 || Hartford Whalers || 2 – 4 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 4–5–1
|11 ||11/2/1979 || at Hartford Whalers ||3 – 5 || Springfield Civic Center || 4–6–1
|12 || 11/3/1979 || Buffalo Sabres || 3 – 4 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 4–7–1
|13 || 11/7/1979 || at St. Louis Blues || 7 – 4 || || 5–7–1
|14 || 11/10/1979 || at Winnipeg Jets || 8 – 4 || || 6–7–1
|15 || 11/11/1979 || at Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 3 || || 7–7–1
|16 || 11/14/1979 || St. Louis Blues || 7 – 2 || || 8–7–1
|17 || 11/17/1979 || Boston Bruins || 0 – 2 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 8–8–1
|18 || 11/18/1979 ||at Quebec Nordiques ||2 – 4 ||Le Colisée || 8–9–1
|19 ||11/21/1979 ||Edmonton Oilers ||4 – 4 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 8–9–2
|20 ||11/24/1979 ||Chicago Blackhawks ||1 – 2||Maple Leaf Gardens || 8–10–2
|21||11/25/1979 ||at New York Rangers ||4 – 3||Madison Square Garden|| 9–10–2
|22 ||11/27/1979 ||at Atlanta Flames ||5 – 3|| || 10–10–2
|23 ||11/28/1979 ||at Washington Capitals ||4 – 2 || || 11–10–2
|24 || 12/1/1979|| Philadelphia Flyers|| 4-4 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 11–10–3
|25 ||12/5/1979 ||Montreal Canadiens ||3 – 2 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 12–10–3
|26 ||12/7/1979 ||New York Islanders ||1 – 6 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 12–11–3
|27 ||12/12/1979 ||Colorado Rockies ||5 – 3 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 13–11–3
|28 ||12/15/1979 ||Atlanta Flames ||8 – 1|| Maple Leaf Gardens || 14–11–3
|29 ||12/17/1979 ||at Minnesota North Stars ||1 – 5 || || 14–12–3
|30 ||12/19/1979 ||Los Angeles Kings ||4 – 4 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 14–12–4
|31 ||12/20/1979 ||at Boston Bruins ||0 – 10 || Boston Garden || 14–13–4
|32 ||12/22/1979 ||Detroit Red Wings ||2 – 1 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 15–13–4
|33 ||12/23/1979 ||at Montreal Canadiens || 4 – 8 ||Montreal Forum || 15–14–4
|34 ||12/26/1979 ||Washington Capitals ||2 – 8 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 15–15–4
|35 ||12/27/1979 ||at Buffalo Sabres ||3 – 5 ||War Memorial Auditorium || 15–16–4
|36 ||12/29/1979 ||Winnipeg Jets || 6 – 1 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 16–16–4
|37 ||1/2/1980 || New York Islanders || 1-3 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 16–17–4
|38 ||1/5/1980 ||Quebec Nordiques ||3 – 7 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 16–18–4
|39 ||1/7/1980 ||Pittsburgh Penguins ||9 – 5 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 17–18–4
|40 ||1/9/1980 ||Montreal Canadiens|| 3 – 5 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 17–19–4
|41 ||1/12/1980 ||Vancouver Canucks|| 6 – 4 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 18–19–4
|42 ||1/16/1980 ||at Pittsburgh Penguins ||4 – 6 || || 18–20–4
|43 ||1/17/1980 ||at New York Islanders ||6 – 9 || || 18–21–4
|44 ||1/19/1980 ||at Montreal Canadiens ||2 – 7 || Montreal Forum || 18–22–4
|45 ||1/22/1980 ||at Atlanta Flames ||4 – 2 || || 19–22–4
|46 ||1/24/1980 ||at Los Angeles Kings ||4 – 5 ||Los Angeles Forum || 19–23–4
|47 ||1/26/1980 ||at Edmonton Oilers ||3 – 8 ||Northlands Coliseum || 19–24–4
|48 ||1/27/1980 ||at Vancouver Canucks ||5 – 2 || || 20–24–4
|49 ||1/30/1980 ||Detroit Red Wings ||6 – 4 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 21–24–4
|50 ||2/2/1980 || Chicago Blackhawks || 4-5||Maple Leaf Gardens || 21–25–4
|51 ||2/3/1980 ||at Chicago Blackhawks ||2 – 4 ||Chicago Stadium || 21–26–4
|52 ||2/7/1980 ||at Boston Bruins ||6 – 8 ||Boston Garden || 21–27–4
|53 ||2/9/1980 ||Los Angeles Kings ||2 – 7 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 21–28–4
|54 ||2/10/1980 ||at Detroit Red Wings ||4 – 1 || || 22–28–4
|55 ||2/13/1980 ||Pittsburgh Penguins ||2 – 4||Maple Leaf Gardens || 22–29–4
|56 ||2/16/1980 ||Hartford Whalers ||5 – 3 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 23–29–4
|57 ||2/17/1980 ||at New York Rangers ||6 – 4 ||Madison Square Garden || 24–29–4
|58 ||2/19/1980 ||at New York Islanders ||6 – 4 || || 25–29–4
|59 ||2/20/1980 ||at Chicago Blackhawks ||2 – 4 ||Chicago Stadium || 25–30–4
|60 ||2/23/1980 ||at Winnipeg Jets ||9 – 3 || || 26–30–4
|61 ||2/26/1980 ||at St. Louis Blues ||2 – 5 || || 26–31–4
|62 ||2/27/1980 ||at Colorado Rockies ||4 – 3|| || 27–31–4
|63|| 3/1/1980 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3 – 3 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 27–31–5
|64 || 3/2/1980 || at Detroit Red Wings || 6 – 3 || || 28–31–5
|65 || 3/5/1980 || at Pittsburgh Penguins || 5 – 3 || || 29–31–5
|66 || 3/8/1980 || Quebec Nordiques || 3 – 2 || || 30–31–5
|67 || 3/9/1980 || at Quebec Nordiques || 4 – 5 || Le Colisée || 30–32–5
|68 || 3/12/1980 || St. Louis Blues || 2 – 3 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 30–33–5
|69 ||3/15/1980 ||New York Rangers ||4 – 8 ||Maple Leaf Gardens|| 30–34–5
|70||3/17/1980 ||Atlanta Flames ||1 – 5 ||Maple Leaf Gardens|| 30–35–5
|71 ||3/19/1980 ||Winnipeg Jets ||9 – 1 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 31–35–5
|72 ||3/20/1980 ||at Philadelphia Flyers ||3 – 0|| || 32–35–5
|73 ||3/22/1980 ||Buffalo Sabres ||1 – 5 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 32–36–5
|74 ||3/24/1980 ||Washington Capitals ||6 – 1 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 33–36–5
|75 ||3/25/1980 ||at Minnesota North Stars ||2 – 7 || || 33–37–5
|76 ||3/29/1980 ||Edmonton Oilers ||5 – 8 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 33–38–5
|77 ||4/1/1980 ||at Hartford Whalers ||5-4 || || 34–38–5
|78 ||4/2/1980 ||Boston Bruins ||2-5 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 34–39–5
|79 ||4/5/1980 ||Minnesota North Stars ||2-1 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 35–39–5
|80 ||4/6/1980 ||at Buffalo Sabres ||3-7 ||Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium || 35–40–5
Legend:
Playoffs
|1 ||April 8, 1980 ||at Minnesota North Stars ||3 – 6 ||Stars lead series 1–0
|2 ||April 9, 1980 ||at Minnesota North Stars ||2 – 7 ||Stars lead series 2–0
|3 ||April 11, 1980 ||Minnesota North Stars ||3 – 4 (OT) ||Stars win series 3–0
Legend:
Player statistics
Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 73 40 57 97 6231715 D 74 19 52 71 944401 RW 74 25 28 53 225305 RW 41 20 28 48 721802 C 80 16 32 48 782204 RW/C 75 24 23 47 52-5304 C 54 7 36 43 4-6100 LW 55 22 18 40 197-13501 D 75 11 28 39 90-23300 LW 45 22 16 38 161603 LW 71 17 16 33 102-13101 RW 35 15 15 30 10-1602 C 45 11 13 24 10-8401 RW 59 12 11 23 6-9012 LW 37 6 15 21 26102 D 80 3 16 19 420000 C 23 5 12 17 13-6100 RW 22 9 7 16 77-4201 RW 55 7 8 15 29-3001 D 46 3 10 13 10-4000 D 26 0 10 10 11-1000 D 20 1 8 9 305000 C 25 4 4 8 10-4000 D 31 1 6 7 281000 D 32 1 4 5 24-2100 D 20 0 5 5 2-5000 RW 14 2 2 4 4-7000 C/RW 32 0 4 4 17-6000 G 38 0 3 3 60000 D 13 0 2 2 8-9000 D 5 0 2 2 2-2000 C 2 1 0 1 20000 D 2 0 1 1 0-1000 G 30 0 1 1 40000 C 2 0 0 0 20000 G 15 0 0 0 40000 RW 1 0 0 0 0-1000 D 5 0 0 0 0-4000 G 3 0 0 0 20000 G 10 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 2039 38 16 14 3 125 3.68 2 1492 30 9 17 2 110 4.42 0 830 15 8 7 0 50 3.61 0 329 10 2 1 0 28 5.11 0 110 3 0 1 0 8 4.36 0 Team: 4800 80 35 40 5 321 4.01 2
Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG C 3 1 2 3 10100 D 3 1 2 3 2100 D 3 0 3 3 2000 LW 3 2 0 2 7000 RW 3 1 1 2 0000 C 3 1 1 2 18100 D 3 1 1 2 2100 RW 3 0 2 2 17000 RW 3 1 0 1 11000 D 3 0 1 1 2000 D 2 0 0 0 0000 G 2 0 0 0 0000 C 3 0 0 0 4000 RW 3 0 0 0 0000 D 3 0 0 0 10000 LW 3 0 0 0 2000 C 2 0 0 0 2000 D 1 0 0 0 0000 G 1 0 0 0 2000 RW/C 3 0 0 0 10000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO 121 2 0 2 10 4.96 0 60 1 0 1 7 7.00 0 Team: 181 3 0 3 17 5.64 0
Awards and records Borje Salming, runner-up, Norris TrophyNHL Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222. Borje Salming was voted to the Second Team All-Stars (a rarity in that usually the runner-up for the Norris joins the Norris winner on the First Team All-Stars).
Transactions The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1979–80 season.
Trades