NHL hockey team 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 .
Offseason [ edit ]
NHL draft [ edit ]
Regular season [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
[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.
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
Adams Division record vs. opponents
Vs. Wales Conference [ edit ]
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records[7]
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Boston
—
2–1–1
2–2
4–0
4–0
12–3–1
Buffalo
1–2–1
—
2–1–1
3–1
4–0
10–4–2
Minnesota
2–2
1–2–1
—
2–1–1
2–2
7–7–2
Quebec
0–4
1–3
1–2–1
—
3–1
5–10–1
Toronto
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–3
—
3–13–0
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Boston
2–1–1
2–1–1
2–1–1
1–3
2–2
9–8–3
Buffalo
3–1
3–1
3–0–1
1–1–2
4–0
14–3–3
Minnesota
1–2–1
4–0
0–2–2
1–3
3–1
9–8–3
Quebec
1–2–1
1–1–2
1–3
1–2–1
2–2
6–10–4
Toronto
4–0
2–2
0–3–1
1–3
2–2
9–10–1
Vs. Campbell Conference [ edit ]
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Boston
4–0
3–1
2–2
1–1–2
2–1–1
12–5–3
Buffalo
3–0–1
2–1–1
2–1–1
0–3–1
4–0
11–5–4
Minnesota
1–1–2
2–0–2
2–1–1
1–3
3–0–1
9–5–6
Quebec
0–3–1
0–4
1–2–1
0–3–1
1–1–2
2–13–5
Toronto
3–1
1–3
2–2
1–1–2
3–1
10–8–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
2−2
2−1−1
4−0
1−1−2
1−0−3
3−1
13−5−6
Buffalo
1−1−2
3−1
2−1−1
2−2
1−0−3
3−0−1
12−5−7
Minnesota
1−2−1
3−1
1−1−2
3−1
1−2−1
2−1−1
11−8−5
Quebec
1−2−1
3−1
2−2
2−2
2−2
2−2
12−11−1
Toronto
0−4
3−0−1
1−2−1
2−2
3−1
4−0
13−9−2
Schedule and results [ edit ]
1979–80 Game log
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
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
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
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
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
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
Maple Leaf Gardens
5 – 3
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
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
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
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
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
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
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
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
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
1979–80 Schedule
Transactions [ edit ]
Player statistics [ edit ]
Regular season [ edit ]
Scoring
Goaltending
Playoffs [ edit ]
Scoring
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
GA
GAA
SO
Jiri Crha
121
2
0
2
10
4.96
0
Mike Palmateer
60
1
0
1
7
7.00
0
Team:
181
3
0
3
17
5.64
0
[9]
Playoffs [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1979-80 season.
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 [ edit ]
Free agents [ edit ]
Awards and records [ edit ]
Farm teams [ edit ]
The Maple Leafs were affiliated with the New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League .
References [ edit ]
^ "Lanny McDonald trade has Sittler in tears," Jim Kernaghan, Toronto Star , December 29, 1979, p. 1.
^ a b c Foster, p. 103
^ Foster, p. 102.
^ Foster, p. 101.
^ Foster, p. 104.
^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 . Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225 .
^ "All-Time NHL Results" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 25, 2023 .
^ Legends of Hockey – Spotlight – One on One with Lanny McDonald Archived 2010-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
^ "1979-80 Toronto Maple Leafs Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com" . hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009 .
^ Toronto Maple Leafs 1979-80 Game Log and Scores Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
^ NHL Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222.
Bibliography [ edit ]
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 .
External links [ edit ]
Patrick Adams Norris Smythe See also
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