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
The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...
'', 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 due to the presence of the
Quebec Nordiques, a refugee from the WHA, in the
Adams Division.
Offseason
NHL draft
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
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fie ...
) 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
Events
January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 5
** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...
, 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. 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. 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 Borje Salming, and Salming refused to pass Brewer the puck. During the season, Brewer would only play in twenty contests.
]
Season standings
Schedule and results
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, 1 , , 10/10/1979 , , New York Rangers , , 3-6 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 0-1-0
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, 2 , , 10/13/1979, , Colorado Rockies , , 2 - 1 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 1-1-0
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, 3 , , 10/14/1979 , , at Philadelphia Flyers , , 3 - 4, , The Spectrum , , 1-2-0
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, 4 , , 10/17/1979 , , Minnesota North Stars , , 6 - 2 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 2-2-0
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, 5 , , 10/19/1979 , , at Washington Capitals , , 5 - 3 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 3-2-0
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, 6 , , 10/20/1979 , , Vancouver Canucks , , 2 - 0 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 4-2-0
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, 7 , , 10/24/1979 , , at Vancouver Canucks , , 1 - 5 , , The Pacific Coliseum , , 4-3-0
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, 8 , , 10/26/1979 , , at Colorado Rockies , , 2 - 2 , , McNichols Sports Arena , , 4-3-1
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, 9 , , 10/27/1979 , , at Los Angeles Kings , , 5 - 7 , , The Forum , , 4-4-1
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, 10 , , 10/31/1979 , , Hartford Whalers , , 2 - 4 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 4-5-1
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, 11 , , 11/2/1979 , , at Hartford Whalers , , 3 - 5 , , Springfield Civic Center , , 4-6-1
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, 12 , , 11/3/1979 , , Buffalo Sabres , , 3 – 4 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 4-7-1
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, 13 , , 11/7/1979 , , at St. Louis Blues , , 7 - 4 , , , , 5-7-1
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, 14 , , 11/10/1979 , , at Winnipeg Jets , , 8 - 4 , , , , 6-7-1
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, 15, , 11/11/1979 , , at Edmonton Oilers , , 6 - 3 , , , , 7-7-1
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, 16 , , 11/14/1979 , , St. Louis Blues , , 7 - 2 , , , , 8-7-1
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, 17 , , 11/17/1979 , , Boston Bruins , , 0 - 2 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 8-8-1
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, 18 , , 11/18/1979 , , at Quebec Nordiques , , 2 - 4 , , Le Colisée , , 8-9-1
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, 19 , , 11/21/1979 , , Edmonton Oilers , , 4 - 4 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 8-9-2
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, 20 , , 11/24/1979 , , Chicago Blackhawks , , 1 - 2, , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 8-10-2
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, 21, , 11/25/1979 , , at New York Rangers , , 4 - 3, , Madison Square Garden, , 9-10-2
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, 22 , , 11/27/1979 , , at Atlanta Flames , , 5 - 3, , , , 10-10-2
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, 23 , , 11/28/1979 , , at Washington Capitals , , 4 - 2 , , , , 11-10-2
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, 24 , , 12/1/1979, , Philadelphia Flyers, , 4-4 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 11-10-3
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, 25 , , 12/5/1979 , , Montreal Canadiens , , 3 – 2 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 12-10-3
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, 26 , , 12/7/1979 , , New York Islanders , , 1 - 6 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 12-11-3
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, 27 , , 12/12/1979 , , Colorado Rockies , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 5 – 3 , , 13-11-3
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, 28 , , 12/15/1979 , , Atlanta Flames , , 8 - 1, , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 14-11-3
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, 29 , , 12/17/1979 , , at Minnesota North Stars , , 1 - 5 , , , , 14-12-3
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, , 30 , , 12/19/1979 , , Los Angeles Kings , , 4 - 4 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 14-12-4
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, 31 , , 12/20/1979 , , at Boston Bruins , , 0 – 10 , , Boston Garden , , 14-13-4
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, 32 , , 12/22/1979 , , Detroit Red Wings , , 2 – 1 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 15-13-4
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, 33 , , 12/23/1979 , , at Montreal Canadiens , , 4 - 8 , , Montreal Forum , , 15-14-4
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, 34 , , 12/26/1979 , , Washington Capitals , , 2 - 8 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 15-15-4
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, 35 , , 12/27/1979 , , at Buffalo Sabres , , 3 - 5 , , War Memorial Auditorium , , 15-16-4
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, 36 , , 12/29/1979 , , Winnipeg Jets , , 6 - 1 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 16-16-4
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, 37 , , 1/2/1980 , , New York Islanders , , 1-3 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 16-17-4
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, 38 , , 1/5/1980 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3 - 7 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 16-18-4
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, 39 , , 1/7/1980 , , Pittsburgh Penguins , , 9 - 5 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 17-18-4
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, 40 , , 1/9/1980 , , Montreal Canadiens, , 3 - 5 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 17-19-4
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, 41 , , 1/12/1980 , , Vancouver Canucks, , 6 - 4 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 18-19-4
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, , 42 , , 1/16/1980 , , at Pittsburgh Penguins , , 4 - 6 , , , , 18-20-4
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, , 43 , , 1/17/1980 , , at New York Islanders , , 6 - 9 , , , , 18-21-4
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, 44 , , 1/19/1980 , , at Montreal Canadiens , , 2 - 7 , , Montreal Forum , , 18-22-4
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, 45 , , 1/22/1980 , , at Atlanta Flames , , 4 - 2 , , , , 19-22-4
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, 46 , , 1/24/1980 , , at Los Angeles Kings , , 4 - 5 , , Los Angeles Forum
Kia Forum (formerly The Forum) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States, adjacent to Los Angeles. Located between West Manchester Boulevard, across Pincay Drive and Kareem Court, it is north of SoFi Stadium and t ...
, , 19-23-4
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, 47 , , 1/26/1980 , , at Edmonton Oilers , , 3 - 8 , , Northlands Coliseum , , 19-24-4
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, 48 , , 1/27/1980 , , at Vancouver Canucks , , 5 - 2 , , , , 20-24-4
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, 49 , , 1/30/1980 , , Detroit Red Wings , , 6 - 4 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 21-24-4
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, 50 , , 2/2/1980 , , Chicago Blackhawks , , 4-5, , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 21-25-4
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, 51 , , 2/3/1980 , , at Chicago Blackhawks , , 2 - 4 , , Chicago Stadium , , 21-26-4
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, 52 , , 2/7/1980 , , at Boston Bruins , , 6 - 8 , , Boston Garden , , 21-27-4
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, 53 , , 2/9/1980 , , Los Angeles Kings , , 2 - 7 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 21-28-4
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, 54 , , 2/10/1980 , , at Detroit Red Wings , , 4 - 1 , , , , 22-28-4
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, 55 , , 2/13/1980 , , Pittsburgh Penguins , , 2 - 4, , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 22-29-4
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, 56 , , 2/16/1980 , , Hartford Whalers , , 5 - 3 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 23-29-4
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, 57 , , 2/17/1980 , , at New York Rangers , , 6 - 4 , , Madison Square Garden , , 24-29-4
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, 58 , , 2/19/1980 , , at New York Islanders , , 6 - 4 , , , , 25-29-4
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, 59 , , 2/20/1980 , , at Chicago Blackhawks , , 2 - 4 , , Chicago Stadium , , 25-30-4
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, 60 , , 2/23/1980 , , at Winnipeg Jets , , 9 - 3 , , , , 26-30-4
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, 61 , , 2/26/1980 , , at St. Louis Blues , , 2 – 5 , , , , 26-31-4
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, 62 , , 2/27/1980 , , at Colorado Rockies , , 4 - 3, , , , 27-31-4
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, 63, , 3/1/1980 , , Philadelphia Flyers , , 3 - 3 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 27-31-5
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, 64 , , 3/2/1980 , , at Detroit Red Wings , , 6 - 3 , , , , 28-31-5
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, 65 , , 3/5/1980 , , at Pittsburgh Penguins , , 5 - 3 , , , , 29-31-5
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, 66 , , 3/8/1980 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 3 - 2 , , 30-31-5
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, 67 , , 3/9/1980 , , at Quebec Nordiques , , 4 - 5 , , Le Colisée , , 30-32-5
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, 68 , , 3/12/1980 , , St. Louis Blues , , 2 - 3 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 30-33-5
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, 69 , , 3/15/1980 , , New York Rangers , , 4 - 8 , , Maple Leaf Gardens, , 30-34-5
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, 70, , 3/17/1980 , , Atlanta Flames , , 1 - 5 , , Maple Leaf Gardens, , 30-35-5
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, 71 , , 3/19/1980 , , Winnipeg Jets , , 9 - 1 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 31-35-5
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, 72 , , 3/20/1980 , , at Philadelphia Flyers , , 3 - 0, , , , 32-35-5
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, 73 , , 3/22/1980 , , Buffalo Sabres , , 1 - 5 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 32-36-5
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, 74 , , 3/24/1980 , , Washington Capitals , , 6 - 1 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 33-36-5
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, 75 , , 3/25/1980 , , at Minnesota North Stars , , 2 - 7 , , , , 33-37-5
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, 76 , , 3/29/1980 , , Edmonton Oilers , , 5 – 8 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 33-38-5
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, 77 , , 4/1/1980 , , at Hartford Whalers , , 5-4 , , , , 34-38-5
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, 78 , , 4/2/1980 , , Boston Bruins , , 2-5 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 34-39-5
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, 79 , , 4/5/1980 , , Minnesota North Stars , , 2-1 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , 35-39-5
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, 80 , , 4/6/1980 , , at Buffalo Sabres , , 3-7 , , Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium , , 35-40-5
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1979–80 Schedule
Transactions
* On December 29, 1979: The Maple Leafs traded Lanny McDonald and Joel Quenneville to the Colorado Rockies for Wilf Paiement and Pat Hickey Patrick Hickey may refer to:
* Patrick Hickey (artist) (1927–1998), Irish visual artist
* Pat Hickey (ice hockey) (born 1953), Canadian ice hockey player
* Pat Hickey (footballer) (1871–1946), Australian rules footballer
* Pat Hickey (politicia ...
.
* February 18, 1980: Tiger Williams was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Rick Vaive and Bill Derlago
William Anthony Derlago (born August 25, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1978 to 1987 with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets and Quebe ...
.
Player statistics
Regular season
;Scoring
;Goaltending
Playoffs
;Scoring
;Goaltending
Playoffs
Transactions
The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1979-80 season.
Trades
Waivers
Free agents
Awards and records
* Borje Salming, runner-up, Norris Trophy[NHL 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).
Farm teams
The Maple Leafs were affiliated with the New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League.
References
Notes
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, (paperback).
*National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, .
External links
Maple Leafs on Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1979-80 Toronto Maple Leafs Season
Toronto Maple Leafs seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs season, 1979-80
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Toronto Maple Leafs