1940–41 NHL season

Professional ice hockey league season August 2023 1940–41 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey November 2, 1940 – April 12, 1941 Regular season 48 7 Season champion Boston Bruins Bill Cowley (Bruins) Hart Memorial Trophy Bill Cowley (Bruins) Stanley Cup 1941 Stanley Cup Finals Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings 1941–42 NHL season 1939–40 NHL season 1941–42 1939–40 NHL The 1940–41 NHL season was the 24th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). Seven teams played 48 games each. The Boston Bruins were the Stanley Cup winners as they swept the Detroit Red Wings four games to none in the final series. League business In September 1940, International Ice Hockey Association president W. G. Hardy announced a new one-year agreement was reached with the NHL, who agreed to pay $250 for signing an amateur and another $250 if the amateur played in the NHL.N.H.L. Will Pay I.H.A. $500 Cash For Signing Up Amateur Players September 13, 1940 Lethbridge Herald Lethbridge, Alberta 16 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-13-1940-1471668/ NHL president Frank Calder signed the new professional-amateur agreement in October 1940.Clubs Will Share Reimbursement Under This Plan October 18, 1940 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 20 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-oct-18-1940-1471816/ The agreement also included allowing the NHL to sign a limited number of junior age players.Close Co-Operation Exists Between Hockey Organizations January 2, 1941 Winnipeg Tribune Winnipeg, Manitoba 12 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-02-1941-1472056/ Regular season The Montreal Canadiens had hit the bottom in 1939–40, and were in financial trouble. Frank Patrick decided to become an investor and governor for the team, and Tommy Gorman was hired as general manager. He hired recently released Toronto coach Dick Irvin to run the team. One of the first things Gorman and Irvin did was scout for players, and the Canadiens came up with Johnny Quilty, Joe Benoit, Elmer Lach and defenceman Ken Reardon. Bert Gardiner would be used in goal, replacing Claude Bourque and Wilf Cude. Murph Chamberlain was bought from Toronto to bolster the offence. Quilty and Benoit came through, as did Toe Blake, but the Habs had a long way to go, finishing sixth. Quilty won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. In fact, before the season started, Coach Irvin handed a sealed envelope to a reporter of his guess who would win the Calder Trophy, and when the season ended, the reporter opened the envelope: Johnny Quilty was the choice Irvin made. The Boston Bruins set a record 23 straight unbeaten games en route to a strong first-place finish at the end of the schedule. The Rangers, finished fourth after the previous year's Stanley Cup win and Dave Kerr was not up to his usual form in goal. Final standings Playoffs Playoff bracket The top six teams in the league qualified for the playoffs. The top two teams played in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal series. The third-place team then met the fourth-place team in one best-of-five series, and the fifth-place team faced the sixth-place team in another best-of-five series, to determine the participants for the other best-of-five semifinal series. The semifinal winners then met in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each series). 2 Quarterfinals Semifinals Stanley Cup Finals 3 Detroit 2 4 NY Rangers 1 5 Chicago 2 6 Montreal 1 1 Boston 4 2 Toronto 3 3 Detroit 2 5 Chicago 0 1 Boston 4 3 Detroit 0 Quarterfinals (3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) New York Rangers New York Rangers Detroit Red Wings Madison Square Garden III Olympia Stadium March 20 1–2 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-det/1941/03/20/1940030121#game=1940030121,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 14:39 – Carl Liscombe (1) Lynn Patrick (1) – pp – 04:33 No scoring No scoring 12:01 – Gus Giesebrecht (1) Dave Kerr Johnny Mowers March 23 1–3 2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-nyr/1941/03/23/1940030122#game=1940030122,game_state=final 18:38 – pp – Babe Pratt (1) No scoring 11:30 – Alex Shibicky (1) Don Grosso (1) – 03:02 19:31 – Mac Colville (1) No scoring Dave Kerr Johnny Mowers March 25 2–3 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-det/1941/03/25/1940030123#game=1940030123,game_state=final Kilby MacDonald (1) – 15:25 11:38 – Bill Jennings (1)19:48 – Jack Stewart (1) No scoring No scoring Neil Colville (1) – 19:51 09:39 – pp – Mud Bruneteau (1) Dave Kerr Johnny Mowers Detroit won series 2–1 (5) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens Chicago Black Hawks Montreal Forum Chicago Stadium March 20 1–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1941/03/20/1940030131#game=1940030131,game_state=final Elmer Lach (1) – 08:14 16:21 – George Allen (1) No scoring No scoring No scoring 07:57 – Max Bentley (1) Bert Gardiner Sam LoPresti March 22 3–4 2 2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1941/03/22/1940030132#game=1940030132,game_state=final 08:01 – Joe Benoit (1)14:02 – pp – Joe Benoit (2) Cully Dahlstrom (1) – pp – 02:33 10:51 – Joe Benoit (3) Joe Cooper (1) – 03:13 No scoring Mush March (1) – 10:13 14:03 – Charlie Sands (1) No scoring Bert Gardiner Sam LoPresti March 25 2–3 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1941/03/25/1940030133#game=1940030133,game_state=final No scoring 14:56 – George Allen (2) Joe Benoit (4) – 18:37Ray Getliffe (1) – 18:58 12:11 – Cully Dahlstrom (2) No scoring 03:31 – Cully Dahlstrom (3) Bert Gardiner Sam LoPresti Chicago won series 2–1 Semifinals (1) Boston Bruins vs. (2) Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins Maple Leaf Gardens Boston Garden March 20 0–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-bos/1941/03/20/1940030111#game=1940030111,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 15:33 – Flash Hollett (1) No scoring 18:21 – Terry Reardon (1)19:24 – Eddie Wiseman (1) Turk Broda Frank Brimsek March 22 5–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-bos/1941/03/22/1940030112#game=1940030112,game_state=final No scoring 08:13 – Eddie Wiseman (2)09:47 – Milt Schmidt (1) Gordie Drillon (1) – 02:33Reg Hamilton (1) – pp – 07:30Nick Metz (1) – 15:00Nick Metz (2) – 15:47 No scoring Don Metz (1) – 01:44 04:00 – Eddie Wiseman (3) Turk Broda Frank Brimsek March 25 2–7 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-tor/1941/03/25/1940030113#game=1940030113,game_state=final 18:03 – Sweeney Schriner (1) Milt Schmidt (2) – pp – 13:35 06:59 – Syl Apps (1)12:46 – pp – Bucko McDonald (1)17:36 – pp – Syl Apps (2) Herb Cain (1) – 05:07 05:26 – Sweeney Schriner (2)16:43 – Syl Apps (3)17:05 – Nick Metz (3) No scoring Turk Broda Frank Brimsek March 27 2–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-tor/1941/03/27/1940030114#game=1940030114,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 10:30 – Gordie Drillon (2) Woody Dumart (1) – 07:15 No scoring Herb Cain (2) – 08:13 Turk Broda Frank Brimsek March 29 2–1 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-bos/1941/03/29/1940030115#game=1940030115,game_state=final Lex Chisholm (1) – 04:58 14:16 – Pat McReavy (1) No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Pete Langelle (1) – 17:37 No scoring Turk Broda Frank Brimsek April 1 2–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-tor/1941/04/01/1940030116#game=1940030116,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring 09:48 – Gordie Drillon (3) Bobby Bauer (1) – 10:39Herb Cain (3) – 12:00 Turk Broda Frank Brimsek April 3 1–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-bos/1941/04/03/1940030117#game=1940030117,game_state=final Bucko McDonald (2) – 13:28 14:32 – Flash Hollett (2) No scoring No scoring No scoring 14:17 – Mel Hill (1) Turk Broda Frank Brimsek Boston won series 4–3 (3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Black Hawks Detroit Red Wings Chicago Stadium Olympia Stadium March 27 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-det/1941/03/27/1940030141#game=1940030141,game_state=final No scoring 19:59 – pp – Sid Abel (1) No scoring 10:15 – Carl Liscombe (2) Mush March (2) – 05:15 15:28 – Joe Fisher (1) Sam LoPresti Johnny Mowers March 30 2–1 2 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-chi/1941/03/30/1940030142#game=1940030142,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 04:02 – pp – Doug Bentley (1) Alex Motter (1) – pp – 01:25 No scoring No scoring No scoring Gus Giesebrecht (2) – 09:52 Sam LoPresti Johnny Mowers Detroit won series 2–0 Stanley Cup Finals 1941 Stanley Cup Finals Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins Olympia Stadium Boston Garden April 6 2–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1941/04/06/1940030211#game=1940030211,game_state=final No scoring 13:26 – Eddie Wiseman (4) No scoring 14:45 – Milt Schmidt (3) Carl Liscombe (3) – 10:55Syd Howe (1) – 17:45 09:16 – Pat McReavy (2) Johnny Mowers Frank Brimsek April 8 1–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1941/04/08/1940030212#game=1940030212,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Mud Bruneteau (2) – 02:41 13:35 – Terry Reardon (2)17:35 – Roy Conacher (1) Johnny Mowers Frank Brimsek April 10 4–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1941/04/10/1940030213#game=1940030213,game_state=final 03:15 – Bill Jennings (2)07:45 – Sid Abel (2) Eddie Wiseman (5) – 03:57Milt Schmidt (4) – 14:07 No scoring Milt Schmidt (5) – 00:59 No scoring Art Jackson (1) – pp – 17:20 Johnny Mowers Frank Brimsek April 12 3–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1941/04/12/1940030214#game=1940030214,game_state=final 10:14 – pp – Carl Liscombe (4) No scoring No scoring Flash Hollett (3) – pp – 07:42Bobby Bauer – pp – 08:43Eddie Wiseman (6) – 19:32 No scoring No scoring Johnny Mowers Frank Brimsek Boston won series 4–0 Awards Calder Trophy:(Best first-year player) Johnny Quilty, Montreal CanadiensHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Bill Cowley, Boston BruinsLady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Bobby Bauer, Boston BruinsO'Brien Cup:(Stanley Cup runners-up) Detroit Red WingsPrince of Wales Trophy:(Top regular season record) Boston BruinsVezina Trophy:(Fewest goals allowed) Turk Broda, Toronto Maple Leafs All-Star teams First Team   Position   Second TeamTurk Broda, Toronto Maple Leafs GFrank Brimsek, Boston BruinsDit Clapper, Boston Bruins DEarl Seibert, Chicago Black HawksWally Stanowski, Toronto Maple Leafs DOtt Heller, New York RangersBill Cowley, Boston Bruins CSyl Apps, Toronto Maple LeafsBryan Hextall, New York Rangers RWBobby Bauer, Boston BruinsSweeney Schriner, Toronto Maple Leafs LWWoody Dumart, Boston BruinsCooney Weiland, Boston Bruins CoachDick Irvin, Montreal Canadiens Player statistics Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes PLAYER TEAM GP G A PTS PIM Bill Cowley Boston Bruins 46 17 45 62 16 Bryan Hextall New York Rangers 48 26 18 44 16 Gordie Drillon Toronto Maple Leafs 42 23 21 44 2 Syl Apps Toronto Maple Leafs 41 20 24 44 6 Syd Howe Detroit Red Wings 48 20 24 44 8 Lynn Patrick New York Rangers 48 20 24 44 12 Neil Colville New York Rangers 48 14 28 42 28 Eddie Wiseman Boston Bruins 47 16 24 40 10 Bobby Bauer Boston Bruins 48 17 22 39 2 Roy Conacher Boston Bruins 41 24 14 38 7 Source: NHLDinger 2011 148 Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts Player Team GP MIN GA GAA W L T SOTurk Broda Toronto Maple Leafs 48 2970 99 2.00 28 14 6 5Frank Brimsek Boston Bruins 48 3040 102 2.01 27 8 13 6Johnny Mowers Detroit Red Wings 48 3040 102 2.01 21 16 11 4Dave Kerr New York Rangers 48 3010 125 2.49 21 19 8 2Paul Goodman Chicago Black Hawks 21 1320 55 2.50 7 10 4 2Bert Gardiner Montreal Canadiens 42 2600 119 2.75 13 23 6 2Sam LoPresti Chicago Black Hawks 27 1670 84 3.02 9 15 3 1Chuck Rayner N.Y. Americans 12 773 44 3.42 2 7 3 0Earl Robertson N.Y. Americans 36 2260 142 3.77 6 22 8 1 Coaches Boston Bruins: Cooney Weiland Chicago Black Hawks: Paul Thompson Detroit Red Wings: Jack Adams Montreal Canadiens: Dick Irvin New York Americans: Red Dutton New York Rangers: Frank Boucher Toronto Maple Leafs: Hap Day Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1940–41 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Max Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks John Mariucci, Chicago Black Hawks Joe Carveth, Detroit Red Wings Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens Ken Reardon, Montreal Canadiens John Quilty, Montreal Canadiens Chuck Rayner, New York Americans Bill Juzda, New York Rangers Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1940–41 (listed with their last team): Paul Haynes, Montreal Canadiens Georges Mantha, Montreal Canadiens Hooley Smith, New York Americans Charlie Conacher, New York Americans Dave Kerr, New York Rangers See also 1940–41 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions 1940 in sports 1941 in sports References Total Hockey Diamond, Dan Total Sports 2000 1-892129-85-X Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 registration https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 Dryden Steve Century of hockey McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Toronto, ON 2000 0-7710-4179-9 Fischler Stan Fischler Shirley Hughes Morgan Romain Joseph Duplacey James 2003 The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League Publications International Inc. 0-7853-9624-1 Fischler 2003 McFarlane Brian The Story of the National Hockey League Pagurian Press New York 1973 0-684-13424-1 registration https://archive.org/details/storyofnationalh0000mcfa Notes External links Hockey Database NHL.com 1940 Category:1940–41 in Canadian ice hockey by league Category:1940–41 in American ice hockey by league