The 1971–72 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 55th season of operation in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). It was also the 40th anniversary season of the opening of

Maple Leaf Gardens Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church and Wellesley, Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hoc ...

. The Maple Leafs finished fourth, and qualified for the playoffs, losing in the first round to the eventual

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...

champion

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

Offseason

In June, team president

Stafford Smythe Conn Stafford Smythe (March 15, 1921 – October 13, 1971) was the son of Conn Smythe and president of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1961–1969 and from 1970 until his death. Early years Born in Toronto, ...

and vice-president

Harold Ballard Harold Edwin Ballard (born Edwin Harold Ballard, July 30, 1903 – April 11, 1990) was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple ...

were arrested for theft and fraud involving funds of Maple Leaf Gardens. They were charged jointly on the theft of $146,000 of funds and securities and Smythe was further charged for defrauding Maple Leaf Gardens of $249,000.

Regular season

On October 13, just after the start of the season, Smythe died of complications from a bleeding ulcer. The Leaf's home opener, scheduled for that night was postponed, only the second postponement in Maple Leaf Gardens history.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , W, , October 8, 1971, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–0–0 , - , 2, , T, , October 10, 1971, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

California Golden Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967–68 NHL season, 1967 to 1975–76 NHL season, 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oa ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–0–1 , - , 3, , L, , October 16, 1971, , 3–5 , , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–1–1 , - , 4, , T, , October 17, 1971, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 1–1–2 , - , 5, , L, , October 20, 1971, , 2–7 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–2–2 , - , 6, , L, , October 22, 1971, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–3–2 , - , 7, , W, , October 23, 1971, , 5–3 , , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1971–72) , , 2–3–2 , - , 8, , T, , October 27, 1971, , 0–0 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 2–3–3 , - , 9, , T, , October 30, 1971, , 1–1 , , align="left",

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1971–72) , , 2–3–4 , - , 10, , T, , October 31, 1971, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 2–3–5 , - , - , 11, , W, , November 1, 1971, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 3–3–5 , - , 12, , L, , November 3, 1971, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 3–4–5 , - , 13, , W, , November 6, 1971, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1971–72) , , 4–4–5 , - , 14, , L, , November 7, 1971, , 1–8 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 4–5–5 , - , 15, , L, , November 10, 1971, , 2–5 , , align="left",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1971–72) , , 4–6–5 , - , 16, , T, , November 13, 1971, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 4–6–6 , - , 17, , T, , November 14, 1971, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 4–6–7 , - , 18, , W, , November 17, 1971, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 5–6–7 , - , 19, , W, , November 20, 1971, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 6–6–7 , - , 20, , W, , November 21, 1971, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 7–6–7 , - , 21, , W, , November 24, 1971, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1971–72) , , 8–6–7 , - , 22, , T, , November 27, 1971, , 3–3 , , align="left",

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1971–72) , , 8–6–8 , - , 23, , L, , November 28, 1971, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 8–7–8 , - , - , 24, , W, , December 1, 1971, , 4–2 , , align="left",

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1971–72) , , 9–7–8 , - , 25, , L, , December 4, 1971, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 9–8–8 , - , 26, , W, , December 8, 1971, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 10–8–8 , - , 27, , L, , December 11, 1971, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 10–9–8 , - , 28, , W, , December 12, 1971, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 11–9–8 , - , 29, , W, , December 14, 1971, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 12–9–8 , - , 30, , W, , December 15, 1971, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 13–9–8 , - , 31, , W, , December 18, 1971, , 8–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 14–9–8 , - , 32, , W, , December 19, 1971, , 4–0 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 15–9–8 , - , 33, , L, , December 22, 1971, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 15–10–8 , - , 34, , W, , December 25, 1971, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 16–10–8 , - , 35, , L, , December 26, 1971, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 16–11–8 , - , 36, , W, , December 28, 1971, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 17–11–8 , - , 37, , L, , December 29, 1971, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 17–12–8 , - , - , 38, , W, , January 1, 1972, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 18–12–8 , - , 39, , L, , January 5, 1972, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 18–13–8 , - , 40, , T, , January 8, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 18–13–9 , - , 41, , W, , January 9, 1972, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 19–13–9 , - , 42, , T, , January 12, 1972, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 19–13–10 , - , 43, , W, , January 15, 1972, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 20–13–10 , - , 44, , L, , January 16, 1972, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 20–14–10 , - , 45, , L, , January 19, 1972, , 0–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–15–10 , - , 46, , L, , January 22, 1972, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–16–10 , - , 47, , L, , January 23, 1972, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–17–10 , - , 48, , L, , January 26, 1972, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–18–10 , - , 49, , L, , January 28, 1972, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–19–10 , - , 50, , L, , January 29, 1972, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–20–10 , - , - , 51, , L, , February 1, 1972, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–21–10 , - , 52, , W, , February 2, 1972, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 21–21–10 , - , 53, , L, , February 5, 1972, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 21–22–10 , - , 54, , T, , February 6, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 21–22–11 , - , 55, , W, , February 8, 1972, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 22–22–11 , - , 56, , L, , February 9, 1972, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 22–23–11 , - , 57, , W, , February 12, 1972, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 23–23–11 , - , 58, , L, , February 13, 1972, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 23–24–11 , - , 59, , L, , February 16, 1972, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 23–25–11 , - , 60, , W, , February 19, 1972, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 24–25–11 , - , 61, , L, , February 20, 1972, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 24–26–11 , - , 62, , L, , February 22, 1972, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 24–27–11 , - , 63, , W, , February 23, 1972, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 25–27–11 , - , 64, , W, , February 26, 1972, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 26–27–11 , - , - , 65, , W, , March 1, 1972, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 27–27–11 , - , 66, , W, , March 4, 1972, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 28–27–11 , - , 67, , W, , March 8, 1972, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 29–27–11 , - , 68, , W, , March 11, 1972, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 30–27–11 , - , 69, , T, , March 12, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 30–27–12 , - , 70, , L, , March 15, 1972, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 30–28–12 , - , 71, , T, , March 18, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 30–28–13 , - , 72, , L, , March 19, 1972, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 30–29–13 , - , 73, , T, , March 22, 1972, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 30–29–14 , - , 74, , L, , March 24, 1972, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 30–30–14 , - , 75, , W, , March 25, 1972, , 4–0 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 31–30–14 , - , 76, , W, , March 29, 1972, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 32–30–14 , - , - , 77, , W, , April 1, 1972, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 33–30–14 , - , 78, , L, , April 2, 1972, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 33–31–14 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Awards and records

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season.

Trades

Intra-league draft

Expansion draft

Reverse draft

Free agents

Draft picks

Toronto's draft picks at the

1971 NHL amateur draft The 1971 NHL amateur draft was the ninth NHL entry draft. It was held on June 10, 1971, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Larry Robinson, who retired after the 1991� ...

held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth () is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in Canada after the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Lo ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1971-72 Toronto Maple Leafs season Toronto Maple Leafs season, 1971-72 Toronto Maple Leafs seasons

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

1971 in Toronto 1972 in Toronto

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades

Intra-league draft

Expansion draft

Reverse draft

Free agents

Draft picks

See also

References