1987–88 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1987–88 Toronto Maple Leafs season saw the Maple Leafs finish in fourth place in the Norris Division with a record of 21 wins, 49 losses, and 10 ties for 52 points. Despite posting the second-worst record in the league, they qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third year in a row on the last day of the season, in part due to playing in an extremely weak Norris Division; the division champion Detroit Red Wings were the only team in the division with a winning record. Their .325 winning percentage is the third-worst in franchise history and one of the lowest ever for a playoff qualifier (Across all major North American sports leagues). For an NHL team, their .325 percentage is the worst mark to qualify for the playoffs for a team that played at least 70 games. They lost to the Red Wings in six games in the Division Semi-finals, including an embarrassing 8–0 defeat in Game 4.

Regular season The Maple Leafs finished last in power-play goals scored (54), power-play opportunities (347) and power-play percentage (15.56%).

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 8, 1987||7–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||1–0–0

|2||W||October 10, 1987||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||2–0–0

|3||L||October 14, 1987||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||2–1–0

|4||L||October 16, 1987||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||2–2–0

|5||W||October 17, 1987||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||3–2–0

|6||L||October 21, 1987||3–10 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||3–3–0

|7||L||October 24, 1987||4–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||3–4–0

|8||W||October 28, 1987||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1987–88) ||4–4–0

|9||W||October 29, 1987||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||5–4–0

|10||W||October 31, 1987||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||6–4–0

|11||W||November 4, 1987||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||7–4–0

|12||W||November 5, 1987||7–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||8–4–0

|13||L||November 7, 1987||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||8–5–0

|14||L||November 9, 1987||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||8–6–0

|15||L||November 11, 1987||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||8–7–0

|16||W||November 14, 1987||6–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||9–7–0

|17||L||November 15, 1987||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||9–8–0

|18||L||November 18, 1987||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||9–9–0

|19||T||November 19, 1987||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||9–9–1

|20||T||November 21, 1987||6–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||9–9–2

|21||W||November 24, 1987||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1987–88) ||10–9–2

|22||L||November 25, 1987||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1987–88) ||10–10–2

|23||L||November 28, 1987||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||10–11–2

|24||L||December 1, 1987||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||10–12–2

|25||L||December 3, 1987||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||10–13–2

|26||L||December 5, 1987||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||10–14–2

|27||W||December 7, 1987||5–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||11–14–2

|28||W||December 12, 1987||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1987–88) ||12–14–2

|29||L||December 13, 1987||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||12–15–2

|30||W||December 15, 1987||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||13–15–2

|31||L||December 18, 1987||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||13–16–2

|32||L||December 19, 1987||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||13–17–2

|33||T||December 21, 1987||0–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||13–17–3

|34||W||December 23, 1987||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||14–17–3

|35||L||December 26, 1987||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||14–18–3

|36||T||December 28, 1987||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||14–18–4

|37||L||December 30, 1987||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||14–19–4

|38||L||January 2, 1988||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||14–20–4

|39||T||January 4, 1988||7–7 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||14–20–5

|40||T||January 6, 1988||5–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||14–20–6

|41||L||January 8, 1988||3–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||14–21–6

|42||L||January 10, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||14–22–6

|43||T||January 13, 1988||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||14–22–7

|44||L||January 15, 1988||3–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||14–23–7

|45||L||January 16, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||14–24–7

|46||L||January 18, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||14–25–7

|47||L||January 21, 1988||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||14–26–7

|48||L||January 23, 1988||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||14–27–7

|49||L||January 25, 1988||3–11 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||14–28–7

|50||W||January 27, 1988||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||15–28–7

|51||T||January 29, 1988||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||15–28–8

|52||T||January 30, 1988||5–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||15–28–9

|53||L||February 1, 1988||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||15–29–9

|54||L||February 4, 1988||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||15–30–9

|55||L||February 5, 1988||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||15–31–9

|56||L||February 7, 1988||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||15–32–9

|57||W||February 11, 1988||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1987–88) ||16–32–9

|58||W||February 13, 1988||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||17–32–9

|59||L||February 14, 1988||2–7 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||17–33–9

|60||T||February 17, 1988||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||17–33–10

|61||W||February 19, 1988||5–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||18–33–10

|62||L||February 20, 1988||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||18–34–10

|63||L||February 22, 1988||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||18–35–10

|64||W||February 24, 1988||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||19–35–10

|65||L||February 27, 1988||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||19–36–10

|66||L||March 2, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||19–37–10

|67||L||March 3, 1988||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||19–38–10

|68||L||March 5, 1988||1–10 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||19–39–10

|69||L||March 8, 1988||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||19–40–10

|70||L||March 9, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||19–41–10

|71||W||March 12, 1988||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||20–41–10

|72||L||March 15, 1988||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||20–42–10

|73||L||March 16, 1988||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||20–43–10

|74||L||March 19, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1987–88) ||20–44–10

|75||L||March 22, 1988||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||20–45–10

|76||L||March 24, 1988||1–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||20–46–10

|77||L||March 26, 1988||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||20–47–10

|78||L||March 28, 1988||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||20–48–10

|79||L||April 1, 1988||3–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||20–49–10

|80||W||April 2, 1988||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||21–49–10

Legend:

Playoffs

The Toronto Maple Leafs were defeated 4 games to 2 against the Norris Division winning Detroit Red Wings.

Player statistics

Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 80 42 33 75 55-221443 RW 80 30 31 61 62-6600 LW 79 23 37 60 102-3420 D 77 22 30 52 80-21434 C 63 19 31 50 815500 RW 65 23 26 49 47-16631 C 75 12 36 48 402102 LW 74 15 27 42 221-21200 RW 38 12 20 32 418102 C 68 10 20 30 41-6000 D 75 6 22 28 65-12300 D 66 2 24 26 827100 D 65 8 17 25 131-20103 D 56 6 18 24 634101 LW/D 28 12 11 23 80-13401 LW 59 4 16 20 65-6101 C 67 9 8 17 57-7001 RW 40 5 5 10 12-11001 D 78 4 6 10 90-25000 C 16 2 5 7 10-7000 RW 18 3 2 5 2-5001 LW 70 2 3 5 107-8000 G 56 0 5 5 400000 D 21 2 2 4 19-3000 LW 15 0 3 3 100000 G 30 0 3 3 60000 D 7 0 1 1 193000 C 2 0 1 1 01000 D 13 0 1 1 46000 D 18 0 1 1 42-6000 RW 3 0 1 1 9-2000 C 1 0 0 0 00000 RW 5 0 0 0 60000 LW 11 0 0 0 650000 G 5 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SOSASVSV% 3000 56 12 35 4 222 4.44 217121490.870 1607 30 8 12 5 102 3.81 2879777.884 249 5 1 2 1 17 4.10 0128111.867 Team: 4856 80 21 49 10 341 4.21 427192378.875

Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG C 6 5 4 9 2111 D 6 3 4 7 6200 C 6 2 3 5 2010 D 6 1 3 4 20100 LW 6 1 3 4 16001 D 6 1 3 4 8000 RW 6 2 1 3 0000 RW 6 1 2 3 10000 C 5 0 3 3 4000 RW 2 2 0 2 2200 LW 5 0 2 2 4000 C 6 0 2 2 10000 RW 3 1 0 1 0000 LW 6 1 0 1 16000 C 6 0 1 1 10000 D 5 0 1 1 16000 G 5 0 0 0 0000 D 6 0 0 0 41000 C 4 0 0 0 2000 RW 3 0 0 0 6000 D 3 0 0 0 10000 D 1 0 0 0 2000 RW 2 0 0 0 0000 D 2 0 0 0 0000 G 2 0 0 0 2000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SOSASVSV% 253 5 2 3 21 4.98 0135114.844 108 2 0 1 11 6.11 06251.823 Team: 360 6 2 4 32 5.32 0197165.838

Transactions The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1987–88 season.

Trades September 3, 1987To Chicago BlackhawksRick Vaive Steve Thomas Bob McGillTo Toronto Maple LeafsAl Secord Eddie Olczyk September 8, 1987To Hartford WhalersBill RootTo Toronto Maple LeafsDave Semenko September 17, 1987To Calgary Flames5th round pick in 1988 – Scott MatusovichTo Toronto Maple LeafsDale DeGray December 14, 1987To Los Angeles KingsMike AllisonTo Toronto Maple LeafsSean McKenna March 8, 1988To New York Islanders6th round pick in 1988 – Pavel GrossTo Toronto Maple LeafsBrian Curran June 10, 1988To Detroit Red WingsMiroslav FrycerTo Toronto Maple LeafsDarren Veitch

Waivers October 5, 1987To Buffalo SabresKevin Maguire

Free agents Player Former team Mike Blaisdell Pittsburgh Penguins Mark Kirton Vancouver Canucks

Draft picks Toronto's draft picks at the 1987 NHL entry draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Maple Leafs attempted to select Grant Paranica in the second round of the 1987 NHL supplemental draft, but the claim was ruled invalid since Paranica entered school after age 20 and therefore did not meet eligibility requirements.