The 1996–97

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 Toronto's 80th season in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

(NHL). The Maple Leafs entered the 1996–97 NHL season with the hopes of making the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Mike Murphy was hired prior to the season as the head coach replacing interim coach Nick Beverley. The team played poorly for most of the season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992. This season would be Cliff Fletcher's last as general manager of the Maple Leafs. In one of his final moves, Fletcher traded captain

Doug Gilmour Douglas Robert Gilmour (born June 25, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for seven different teams. Gilmour was a seventh round selection, 134th overall, of the St. ...

to the New Jersey Devils in February.

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

Schedule and results

, - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1, , W, , October 5, 1996, , 4–1 , , align="left",

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: * ''Mighty'' (The Planet Smashers album) * ''Mighty'' (Kristene DiMarco album) * ''The Mighty'' (1929 film), a 1929 American action film *'' The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy-drama film * ''The Mighty'' (comics), a DC Comics title * ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–0–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2, , L, , October 8, 1996, , 2–4 , , align="left",

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–1–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 3, , L, , October 12, 1996, , 4–7 , , align="left",

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–2–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 4, , L, , October 15, 1996, , 1–3 , , align="left",

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–3–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 5, , L, , October 17, 1996, , 1–6 , , 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 in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–4–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 6, , L, , October 19, 1996, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and were founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minne ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–5–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 7, , W, , October 22, 1996, , 4–3 , , align="left",

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...

( 1996–97) , , 2–5–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 8, , W, , October 24, 1996, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 3–5–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 9, , W, , October 26, 1996, , 5–2 , , align="left", Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 4–5–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 10, , L, , October 29, 1996, , 2–5 , , align="left",

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...

( 1996–97) , , 4–6–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 11, , W, , October 31, 1996, , 5–3 , , align="left", @ New York Islanders ( 1996–97) , , 5–6–0 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 12, , W, , November 2, 1996, , 6–2 , , align="left", Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 6–6–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 13, , W, , November 5, 1996, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 7–6–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 14, , L, , November 7, 1996, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...

( 1996–97) , , 7–7–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 15, , W, , November 9, 1996, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 8–7–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 16, , L, , November 10, 1996, , 1–3 , , 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. The team plays its home games in Well ...

( 1996–97) , , 8–8–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 17, , L, , November 13, 1996, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 8–9–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 18, , L, , November 14, 1996, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 8–10–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 19, , L, , November 16, 1996, , 2–3 , , align="left", @ Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 8–11–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 20, , W, , November 19, 1996, , 4–3 , , 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 in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

( 1996–97) , , 9–11–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 21, , L, , November 21, 1996, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 9–12–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 22, , L, , November 23, 1996, , 3–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 9–13–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 23, , W, , November 26, 1996, , 3–2 , , align="left",

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

( 1996–97) , , 10–13–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 24, , L, , November 27, 1996, , 2–5 , , align="left", @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 10–14–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 25, , L, , November 30, 1996, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 10–15–0 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 26, , W, , December 3, 1996, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 11–15–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 27, , L, , December 6, 1996, , 5–6 , , align="left", @

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

( 1996–97) , , 11–16–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 28, , L, , December 7, 1996, , 0–4 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 11–17–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 29, , W, , December 9, 1996, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 12–17–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 30, , L, , December 10, 1996, , 2–5 , , align="left", New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 12–18–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 31, , L, , December 14, 1996, , 3–5 , , align="left", Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 12–19–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 32, , L, , December 15, 1996, , 1–3 , , align="left", @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 12–20–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 33, , W, , December 17, 1996, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 13–20–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 34, , L, , December 20, 1996, , 2–5 , , align="left", @ Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 13–21–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 35, , W, , December 21, 1996, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The Avalanche play thei ...

( 1996–97) , , 14–21–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 36, , L, , December 23, 1996, , 5–6 , , align="left",

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

( 1996–97) , , 14–22–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 37, , W, , December 27, 1996, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 15–22–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 38, , W, , December 28, 1996, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 16–22–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 39, , W, , December 30, 1996, , 2–0 , , align="left", New York Islanders ( 1996–97) , , 17–22–0 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 40, , L, , January 3, 1997, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 17–23–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 41, , L, , January 4, 1997, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 17–24–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 42, , L, , January 7, 1997, , 3–4 OT, , align="left", @

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

( 1996–97) , , 17–25–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 43, , L, , January 11, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 17–26–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 44, , L, , January 13, 1997, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 17–27–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 45, , L, , January 15, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 17–28–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 46, , L, , January 20, 1997, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to ...

( 1996–97) , , 17–29–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 47, , W, , January 22, 1997, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 18–29–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 48, , W, , January 24, 1997, , 2–1 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 19–29–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 49, , L, , January 25, 1997, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 19–30–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 50, , L, , January 27, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 19–31–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 51, , L, , January 29, 1997, , 0–4 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 19–32–0 , , , - align="center" , 52, , T, , January 31, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @ New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 19–32–1 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 53, , L, , February 1, 1997, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 19–33–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 54, , W, , February 5, 1997, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 20–33–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 55, , W, , February 8, 1997, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 21–33–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 56, , L, , February 12, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–34–1 , , , - align="center" , 57, , T, , February 13, 1997, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–34–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 58, , L, , February 15, 1997, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–35–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 59, , W, , February 18, 1997, , 6–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 22–35–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 60, , L, , February 19, 1997, , 5–6 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 22–36–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 61, , W, , February 22, 1997, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 23–36–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 62, , L, , February 26, 1997, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 23–37–2 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 63, , W, , March 1, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 24–37–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 64, , W, , March 3, 1997, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 25–37–2 , , , - align="center" , 65, , T, , March 5, 1997, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 25–37–3 , , , - align="center" , 66, , T, , March 8, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 25–37–4 , , , - align="center" , 67, , T, , March 10, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 25–37–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 68, , L, , March 12, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 25–38–5 , , , - align="center" , 69, , T, , March 15, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @ Florida Panthers ( 1996–97) , , 25–38–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 70, , W, , March 16, 1997, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 26–38–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 71, , L, , March 19, 1997, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 26–39–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 72, , L, , March 20, 1997, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 26–40–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 73, , L, , March 22, 1997, , 0–3 , , align="left", Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 26–41–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 74, , W, , March 26, 1997, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 27–41–6 , , , - align="center" , 75, , T, , March 27, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", @ Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 27–41–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 76, , W, , March 29, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 28–41–7 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 77, , W, , April 2, 1997, , 3–1 , , align="left", Florida Panthers ( 1996–97) , , 29–41–7 , , , - align="center" , 78, , T, , April 3, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 29–41–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 79, , L, , April 5, 1997, , 2–4 , , align="left", Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 29–42–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 80, , L, , April 9, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 29–43–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 81, , L, , April 10, 1997, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 29–44–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 82, , W, , April 12, 1997, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 30–44–8 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C =

Centre Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics * Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentri ...

; D =

Defence Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense indus ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near t ...

; LW = Left wing; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics describes the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this pos ...

'' * '' = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.'' * '' = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.''

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season.

Trades

Waivers

Free agents

Draft picks

Toronto's picks at the

1996 NHL Entry Draft The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was the 34th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996. The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Zdeno Chára, who retired after the 2021–22 season. ...

held at the

Kiel Center Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland pe ...

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

Farm teams

The Maple Leafs farm team was the

St. John's Maple Leafs The St. John's Maple Leafs were a minor ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, at Memorial Stadium from 1991 to 2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001 to 2005. The team was ...

, based in St. John's, Newfoundland.

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 Toronto Maple Leafs season Toronto Maple Leafs seasons Toronto Maple Leafs season, 1996-97

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 ...