1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1979–80 1979 Toronto Maple Leafs Wales 5th Adams 4th 35–40–5 17–19–4 18–21–1 304 327 Punch Imlach Floyd Smith Dick Duff Punch Imlach Darryl Sittler (Oct-Dec) vacant (Dec-Apr) None Maple Leaf Gardens Darryl Sittler (40) Darryl Sittler (57) Darryl Sittler (97) Tiger Williams (197) Mike Palmateer (16) Jiri Crha (3.61) 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."Lanny McDonald trade has Sittler in tears", Jim Kernaghan, Toronto Star, 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 for the seventh consecutive year due to the presence of the Quebec Nordiques, a refugee from the WHA, in the Adams Division. 2 Offseason NHL draft Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team1 9 Laurie Boschman (C) Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)351Normand Aubin (C) Canada Verdun Eperviers (QMJHL)472Vincent Tremblay (G) Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)593Frank Nigro (C) Canada London Knights (OMJHL)6114Bill McCreary Jr. (RW) United States Colgate University (ECAC) 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, 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.Foster, p. 103 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; ironically, he hired Neilson as an assistant coach), 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.Foster, p. 102. Sittler was unhappy that Imlach publicly criticized him and Mike Palmateer. Another point of tension for Sittler was 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.Foster, p. 101. 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. 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. In Brewer's first game, many of his teammates were openly hostile to him. Brewer's defense partner was Börje Salming, and Salming refused to pass Brewer the puck.Foster, p. 104. During the season, Brewer would only play in twenty contests. Season standings TOR TOR Record vs. opponents TOR Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid; 1979–80 regular season1979-80 Toronto Maple Leafs Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TOR/1980_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 4, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; October 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; November 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; December 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 ||5 – 3 ||Maple Leaf Gardens || 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; January 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; February 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; March 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; April 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 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid; 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid; Preliminary round vs. (6) Minnesota North Stars – North Stars win 3–0 Game Date Opponent Score Series |- |1 ||April 8, 1980 ||at Minnesota North Stars ||3 – 6 ||Stars lead series 1–0 |- |2 ||April 9, 1980 ||at Minnesota North Stars ||2 – 7 ||Stars lead series 2–0 |- |3 ||April 11, 1980 ||Minnesota North Stars ||3 – 4 (OT) ||Stars win series 3–0 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Darryl Sittler C 73 40 57 97 6231715 Borje Salming Börje Salming D 74 19 52 71 944401 John Anderson John Anderson (ice hockey, born 1957) RW 74 25 28 53 225305 Wilf Paiement RW 41 20 28 48 721802 Laurie Boschman C 80 16 32 48 782204 Rocky Saganiuk RW/C 75 24 23 47 52-5304 Walt McKechnie C 54 7 36 43 4-6100 Tiger Williams LW 55 22 18 40 197-13501 Ian Turnbull Ian Turnbull (ice hockey) D 75 11 28 39 90-23300 Pat Hickey Pat Hickey (ice hockey) LW 45 22 16 38 161603 Dan Maloney LW 71 17 16 33 102-13101 Lanny McDonald RW 35 15 15 30 10-1602 Paul Gardner Paul Gardner (ice hockey) C 45 11 13 24 10-8401 Ron Ellis RW 59 12 11 23 6-9012 Terry Martin Terry Martin (ice hockey) LW 37 6 15 21 26102 Dave Burrows D 80 3 16 19 420000 Bill Derlago C 23 5 12 17 13-6100 Rick Vaive RW 22 9 7 16 77-4201 Jerry Butler Jerry Butler (ice hockey) RW 55 7 8 15 29-3001 Greg Hotham D 46 3 10 13 10-4000 Richard Mulhern D 26 0 10 10 11-1000 Dave Farrish D 20 1 8 9 305000 Mike Kaszycki C 25 4 4 8 10-4000 Dave Hutchison Dave Hutchison (ice hockey) D 31 1 6 7 281000 Joel Quenneville D 32 1 4 5 24-2100 Carl Brewer Carl Brewer (ice hockey) D 20 0 5 5 2-5000 Bob Stephenson Bob Stephenson (ice hockey) RW 14 2 2 4 4-7000 Pat Boutette C/RW 32 0 4 4 17-6000 Mike Palmateer G 38 0 3 3 60000 Pat Ribble D 13 0 2 2 8-9000 Ron Wilson Ron Wilson (ice hockey, born 1955) D 5 0 2 2 2-2000 Mark Kirton C 2 1 0 1 20000 Larry Carriere D 2 0 1 1 0-1000 Paul Harrison Paul Harrison (ice hockey) G 30 0 1 1 40000 Bruce Boudreau C 2 0 0 0 20000 Jiri Crha Jiří Crha G 15 0 0 0 40000 Jimmy Jones Jimmy Jones (ice hockey) RW 1 0 0 0 0-1000 Daryl Maggs D 5 0 0 0 0-4000 Curt Ridley G 3 0 0 0 20000 Vincent Tremblay G 10 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO Mike Palmateer 2039 38 16 14 3 125 3.68 2 Paul Harrison Paul Harrison (ice hockey) 1492 30 9 17 2 110 4.42 0 Jiri Crha Jiří Crha 830 15 8 7 0 50 3.61 0 Vincent Tremblay 329 10 2 1 0 28 5.11 0 Curt Ridley 110 3 0 1 0 8 4.36 0 Team: 4800 80 35 40 5 321 4.01 2 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Darryl Sittler C 3 1 2 3 10100 Ron Wilson Ron Wilson (ice hockey, born 1955) D 3 1 2 3 2100 Ian Turnbull Ian Turnbull (ice hockey) D 3 0 3 3 2000 Terry Martin Terry Martin (ice hockey) LW 3 2 0 2 7000 John Anderson John Anderson (ice hockey, born 1957) RW 3 1 1 2 0000 Laurie Boschman C 3 1 1 2 18100 Borje Salming Börje Salming D 3 1 1 2 2100 Wilf Paiement RW 3 0 2 2 17000 Rick Vaive RW 3 1 0 1 11000 Dave Burrows D 3 0 1 1 2000 Larry Carriere D 2 0 0 0 0000 Jiri Crha Jiří Crha G 2 0 0 0 0000 Bill Derlago C 3 0 0 0 4000 Ron Ellis RW 3 0 0 0 0000 Dave Farrish D 3 0 0 0 10000 Pat Hickey Pat Hickey (ice hockey) LW 3 0 0 0 2000 Mike Kaszycki C 2 0 0 0 2000 Richard Mulhern D 1 0 0 0 0000 Mike Palmateer G 1 0 0 0 2000 Rocky Saganiuk RW/C 3 0 0 0 10000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO Jiri Crha Jiří 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 hockey-reference.com 2009-05-28 1979-80 Toronto Maple Leafs Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TOR/1980.html Awards and records Borje Salming, runner-up, Norris TrophyNHL Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222. Borje Salming 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). Transactions The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1979–80 season. Trades August 22, 1979To Edmonton Oilers6th round pick in 1981 – Steve SmithTo Toronto Maple LeafsReg Thomas December 13, 1979To Quebec NordiquesReg ThomasTo Toronto Maple LeafsDave Farrish Terry Martin December 24, 1979To Hartford WhalersPat BoutetteTo Toronto Maple LeafsBob Stephenson December 29, 1979Legends of Hockey – Spotlight – One on One with Lanny McDonald https://web.archive.org/web/20100703130836/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononep199204.htm 2010-07-03 To Colorado RockiesLanny McDonald Joel QuennevilleTo Toronto Maple LeafsPat Hickey Wilf Paiement January 10, 1980To Chicago Black HawksDave HutchisonTo Toronto Maple LeafsPat Ribble February 10, 1980To Vancouver CanucksCashTo Toronto Maple LeafsCurt Ridley February 16, 1980To Washington CapitalsPat RibbleTo Toronto Maple LeafsMike Kaszycki February 18, 1980To Vancouver CanucksTiger Williams Jerry ButlerTo Toronto Maple LeafsRick Vaive Bill Derlago March 3, 1980To Colorado RockiesWalt McKechnieTo Toronto Maple Leafs3rd round pick in 1980 – Fred Boimistruck June 10, 1980To Calgary Flames2nd round pick in 1980 – Kevin LaValleeTo Toronto Maple LeafsDavid Shand 3rd round pick in 1980 – Torrie Robertson June 11, 1980To Washington CapitalsMike Palmateer 3rd round pick in 1980 – Torrie RobertsonTo Toronto Maple LeafsTim Coulis Robert Picard 2nd round pick in 1980 – Bob McGill Waivers February 10, 1980From Los Angeles KingsRichard Mulhern Free agents Player Former team Daryl Maggs Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) Carl Brewer Toronto Toros (WHA) Jiri Crha HC Pardubice (Czech.) Larry Carriere Buffalo Sabres Player New team Greg Hubick Vancouver Canucks Roy Sommer Edmonton Oilers Farm teams The Maple Leafs were affiliated with the New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League. 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, 978-1-55168-313-3 (paperback). National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 0-920445-98-5. External links Maple Leafs on Hockey Database Category:Toronto Maple Leafs seasons Toronto Maple Leafs season, 1979-80 Toronto Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs