The 1979–80

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

season was the 63rd season of the franchise, 53rd season as the Maple Leafs. In July 1979, Leafs owner

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 ...

brought back

Punch Imlach George "Punch" Imlach (March 15, 1918 – December 1, 1987) was a Canadian ice hockey coach and general manager best known for his association with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and ...

, a longtime friend, as general manager. Imlach traded

Lanny McDonald Lanny King McDonald (born February 16, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year c ...

to undermine team captain

Darryl Sittler Darryl Glen Sittler (born September 18, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1970 until 1985 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Detroit Red Wings. He wa ...

'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 pa ...

'', 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 The Quebec Nordiques (french: Nordiques de Québec, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Quebec City Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the W ...

, a refugee from the WHA, in the

Adams Division The NHL's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honour of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins. It is the forerunner of the ...

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 Michael Scott Palmateer (born January 13, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goalie. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1976 to 1984 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals. Playing career As a yout ...

, Lanny McDonald,

Tiger Williams David James "Tiger" Williams (born February 3, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from the 1974–75 NHL season to the 1987–88 NHL season. He is the NHL's career leader in pe ...

Borje Salming Borje may refer to: * Börje, Swedish name * Börje, a parish in the former Ulleråker Hundred of Sweden * Borje (Foča), village in Bosnia and Herzegovina * Borje, Zagorje ob Savi, small settlement in Slovenia * Borje pri Mlinšah, small settlemen ...

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 Roger Paul Neilson, (June 16, 1934 – June 21, 2003) was a Canadian professional ice hockey coach, most notably in the NHL, where he served with eight teams in a checkered career. Known as Captain Video because of his technological contributi ...

.Foster, p. 103 After unsuccessfully attempting to hire both former

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 in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...

head coach

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...

(who became head coach of the Colorado Rockies) and former

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

head coach

Scotty Bowman William Scott Bowman, OC (born September 18, 1933) is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs and ...

(who became head coach and general manager of the

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 in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

), Ballard brought back

, 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 Floyd Robert Donald Smith (born May 16, 1935, in Perth, Ontario) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and coach. Biography Smith grew up in Galt, Ontario, playing junior hockey with the Galt Black Hawks. He made his National Ho ...

, 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 New Brunswick Hawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. Home games were played at the Moncton Coliseum. They were a member of the American Hockey League (AHL) between 1978 and 1982. The Hawks operated as a mino ...

, the Maple Leafs'

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...

affiliate. In Brewer's first game in

Moncton, New Brunswick Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. The ...

King Clancy Francis Michael "King" Clancy (February 25, 1902 – November 8, 1986) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, referee, coach and executive. Clancy played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto ...

and

Johnny Bower John William Bower (né Kiszkan; November 8, 1924 – December 26, 2017), nicknamed "The China Wall", was a Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender who won four Stanley Cups during his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2017 he was named one ...

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 The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, a ...

. 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

, - , 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 , , 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 Montreal Forum (french: Le Forum de Montréal) is a historic building located facing Cabot Square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by '' Sporting News'', it was an indoor arena which served as the ...

, , 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 , - , -
1979–80 Schedule

Transactions

* On December 29, 1979: The Maple Leafs traded

and

Joel Quenneville Joel Norman Quenneville (born September 15, 1958) is a Canadian–American ice hockey coach and former player in the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Coach Q", he is second in NHL coaching wins at 969 behind Scotty Bowman. Quenneville ac ...

to the Colorado Rockies for

Wilf Paiement Wilfrid Paiement, Jr. (; born October 16, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right wing who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1974 through 1988, for seven different NHL teams. He is the younger brother of former NHL ...

and Pat Hickey. * February 18, 1980:

was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for

Rick Vaive Richard Claude "Rick" Vaive (; born May 14, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the final season of the World Hockey Association (WHA), before playing the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NH ...

and Bill Derlago.

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

, runner-up,

Norris Trophy The James Norris Memorial Trophy, or simply the Norris Trophy, is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top " defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". It is named after Ja ...

NHL Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222. *

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

of the

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

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...