1996–97 Toronto Maple Leafs season

1996–97 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division	6th Central
Conference	11th Western
1996–97 record	30–44–8
Team information
General manager	Cliff Fletcher
Coach	Mike Murphy
Captain	Doug Gilmour (Oct-Feb) Vacant (Feb-Apr)
Arena	Maple Leaf Gardens
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The 1996–97 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 80th season in the National Hockey League (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 to the New Jersey Devils in February.

Offseason[]

NHL Draft[]

Round	#	Name	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team
2	36	Marek Posmyk	Czech Republic	Dukla Jihlava (Czech Republic)
2	50	Francis Larivee	Canada	Laval Titan (QMJHL)
3	66	Mike Lankshear	Canada	Guelph Storm (OHL)
3	68	Konstantin Kalmikov	Ukraine	Detroit Falcons (CoHL)
4	86	Jason Sessa	United States	Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
4	103	Vladimir Antipov	Russia	Torpedo Yaroslavl (Russia)
5	110	Peter Cava	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
5	111	Brandon Sugden	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
6	140	Dmytro Yakushyn	Ukraine	Pembroke Lumber Kings (COJHL)
6	148	Chris Bogas	United States	Michigan State University (CCHA)
6	151	Lucio DeMartinis	Canada	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
7	178	Reggie Berg	United States	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
8	204	Tomas Kaberle	Czech Republic	HC Kladno (Czech Republic)
9	230	Jared Hope	Canada	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

^[1]

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Central Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	2	Dallas Stars	82	48	26	8	252	198	104
2	3	Detroit Red Wings	82	38	26	18	253	197	94
3	5	Phoenix Coyotes	82	38	37	7	240	243	83
4	6	St. Louis Blues	82	36	35	11	236	239	83
5	8	Chicago Blackhawks	82	34	35	13	223	210	81
6	11	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	30	44	8	230	273	68

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference^[2]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	49	24	9	277	205	107
2	Dallas Stars	CEN	82	48	26	8	252	198	104
3	Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	38	26	18	253	197	94
4	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	36	33	13	245	233	85
5	Phoenix Coyotes	CEN	82	38	37	7	240	243	83
6	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	36	35	11	236	239	83
7	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	36	37	9	252	247	81
8	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	34	35	13	223	210	81
9	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	35	40	7	257	273	77
10	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	32	41	9	214	239	73
11	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	30	44	8	230	273	68
12	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	28	43	11	214	268	67
13	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	27	47	8	211	278	62

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results[]

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 5, 1996	4-1	Anaheim Ducks (1996–97)	1–0–0
2	L	October 8, 1996	2-4	Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	1–1–0
3	L	October 12, 1996	4-7	Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)	1–2–0
4	L	October 15, 1996	1-3	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	1–3–0
5	L	October 17, 1996	1–6	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	1–4–0
6	L	October 19, 1996	0–2	@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)	1–5–0
7	W	October 22, 1996	4–3	San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	2–5–0
8	W	October 24, 1996	2–1	@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)	3–5–0
9	W	October 26, 1996	5–2	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	4–5–0
10	L	October 29, 1996	2–5	Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	4–6–0
11	W	October 31, 1996	5–3	@ New York Islanders (1996–97)	5–6–0
12	W	November 2, 1996	6–2	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	6–6–0
13	W	November 5, 1996	6–3	St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	7–6–0
14	L	November 7, 1996	2–6	@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)	7–7–0
15	W	November 9, 1996	7–3	Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	8–7–0
16	L	November 10, 1996	1–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)	8–8–0
17	L	November 13, 1996	2–3	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	8–9–0
18	L	November 14, 1996	1–4	@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	8–10–0
19	L	November 16, 1996	2–3	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	8–11–0
20	W	November 19, 1996	4–3	Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)	9–11–0
21	L	November 21, 1996	3–6	@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)	9–12–0
22	L	November 23, 1996	3–4	Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)	9–13–0
23	W	November 26, 1996	3–2	Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	10–13–0
24	L	November 27, 1996	2–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	10–14–0
25	L	November 30, 1996	2–5	@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)	10–15–0
26	W	December 3, 1996	2–0	St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	11–15–0
27	L	December 6, 1996	5–6	@ New York Rangers (1996–97)	11–16–0
28	L	December 7, 1996	0–4	New York Rangers (1996–97)	11–17–0
29	W	December 9, 1996	3–1	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	12–17–0
30	L	December 10, 1996	2–5	New Jersey Devils (1996–97)	12–18–0
31	L	December 14, 1996	3–5	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	12–19–0
32	L	December 15, 1996	1–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	12–20–0
33	W	December 17, 1996	6–3	@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	13–20–0
34	L	December 20, 1996	2–5	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	13–21–0
35	W	December 21, 1996	6–2	@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	14–21–0
36	L	December 23, 1996	5–6	Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)	14–22–0
37	W	December 27, 1996	3–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	15–22–0
38	W	December 28, 1996	5–4	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	16–22–0
39	W	December 30, 1996	2–0	New York Islanders (1996–97)	17–22–0
40	L	January 3, 1997	3–4	@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	17–23–0
41	L	January 4, 1997	3–7	@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	17–24–0
42	L	January 7, 1997	3–4 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)	17–25–0
43	L	January 11, 1997	2–3	Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	17–26–0
44	L	January 13, 1997	3–6	@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)	17–27–0
45	L	January 15, 1997	2–3	Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	17–28–0
46	L	January 20, 1997	1–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)	17–29–0
47	W	January 22, 1997	5–3	Calgary Flames (1996–97)	18–29–0
48	W	January 24, 1997	2–1 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	19–29–0
49	L	January 25, 1997	1–5	Dallas Stars (1996–97)	19–30–0
50	L	January 27, 1997	2–5	Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	19–31–0
51	L	January 29, 1997	0–4	St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	19–32–0
52	T	January 31, 1997	3–3 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)	19–32–1
53	L	February 1, 1997	1–2	Ottawa Senators (1996–97)	19–33–1
54	W	February 5, 1997	4–2	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	20–33–1
55	W	February 8, 1997	4–2	Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	21–33–1
56	L	February 12, 1997	2–5	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	21–34–1
57	T	February 13, 1997	4–4 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	21–34–2
58	L	February 15, 1997	0–3	@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)	21–35–2
59	W	February 18, 1997	6–5	@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	22–35–2
60	L	February 19, 1997	5–6	@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	22–36–2
61	W	February 22, 1997	5–1	@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)	23–36–2
62	L	February 26, 1997	1–3	Washington Capitals (1996–97)	23–37–2
63	W	March 1, 1997	3–2	San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	24–37–2
64	W	March 3, 1997	4–2	Boston Bruins (1996–97)	25–37–2
65	T	March 5, 1997	4–4 OT	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	25–37–3
66	T	March 8, 1997	1–1 OT	Hartford Whalers (1996–97)	25–37–4
67	T	March 10, 1997	3–3 OT	Dallas Stars (1996–97)	25–37–5
68	L	March 12, 1997	2–3	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	25–38–5
69	T	March 15, 1997	3–3 OT	@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)	25–38–6
70	W	March 16, 1997	3–1	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)	26–38–6
71	L	March 19, 1997	3–6	Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)	26–39–6
72	L	March 20, 1997	3–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)	26–40–6
73	L	March 22, 1997	0–3	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	26–41–6
74	W	March 26, 1997	2–1	@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	27–41–6
75	T	March 27, 1997	1–1 OT	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	27–41–7
76	W	March 29, 1997	3–2	@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	28–41–7
77	W	April 2, 1997	3–1	Florida Panthers (1996–97)	29–41–7
78	T	April 3, 1997	2–2 OT	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	29–41–8
79	L	April 5, 1997	2–4	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	29–42–8
80	L	April 9, 1997	2–3	@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)	29–43–8
81	L	April 10, 1997	1–5	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	29–44–8
82	W	April 12, 1997	4–1	Calgary Flames (1996–97)	30–44–8

Player statistics[]

Forwards[]

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
Mats Sundin	82	41	53	94	59
Doug Gilmour	61	15	45	60	46
Wendel Clark	65	30	19	49	75
Sergei Berezin	73	25	16	41	2
Kirk Muller	66	20	17	37	85
Todd Warriner	75	12	21	33	41
Ralph Intranuovo	3	0	1	1	0
Scott Pearson	1	0	0	0	2
Kelly Chase	2	0	0	0	27
Shayne Toporowski	3	0	0	0	7
Brian Wiseman	5	0	0	0	0
John Craighead	5	0	0	0	10
Mark Kolesar	7	0	0	0	0
		0	0	0

^[3]

Defencemen[]

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
Larry Murphy	69	7	32	39	20
Dave Ellett	56	4	10	14	34
Dmitri Yushkevich	74	4	10	14	56
Rob Zettler	48	2	12	14	51
D. J. Smith	8	0	1	1	7
Greg Smyth	2	0	0	0	0
Yannick Tremblay	5	0	0	0	0
Jeff Ware	13	0	0	0	6

Goaltending[]

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Player	GP	MIN	W	L	T	SO	GAA
Felix Potvin	74	4271	27	36	7	0	3.15
Marcel Cousineau	13	566	3	5	1	1	3.29
Don Beaupre	3	110	0	3	0	0	5.45

Transactions[]

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

Trades[]

October 10, 1996	To New York Islanders 5th round pick in 1998 (Jiri Dopita)	To Toronto Maple Leafs Darby Hendrickson
January 31, 1997	To Tampa Bay Lightning 3rd round pick in 1998 (Alex Henry)	To Toronto Maple Leafs Craig Wolanin
February 25, 1997	To New Jersey Devils Doug Gilmour Dave Ellett 3rd round pick in 1999 (Andre Lakos)	To Toronto Maple Leafs Jason Smith Alyn McCauley Steve Sullivan
March 18, 1997	To Detroit Red Wings Larry Murphy	To Toronto Maple Leafs Future Considerations
March 18, 1997	To Florida Panthers Kirk Muller	To Toronto Maple Leafs Jason Podollan
March 18, 1997	To Hartford Whalers 8th round pick in 1998 (Jaroslav Svoboda)	To Toronto Maple Leafs Kelly Chase
June 12, 1997	To Florida Panthers	To Toronto Maple Leafs Per Gustafsson

Waivers[]

September 30, 1996	From Edmonton Oilers Ralph Intranuovo
October 25, 1996	To Edmonton Oilers Ralph Intranuovo

Free agents[]

Player Former Team John Craighead Detroit Vipers (IHL) Scott Pearson Buffalo Sabres Brian Wiseman Chicago Wolves (IHL) Daniel Marois Dallas Stars Greg Smyth Los Angeles Ice Dogs (IHL) David Cooper Buffalo Sabres Tom Pederson San Jose Sharks Mike Johnson Undrafted free agent

Player New Team Paul DiPietro Los Angeles Kings

Playoffs[]

• The Maple Leafs failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1991–92 season.

Roster[]

1996–97 Toronto Maple Leafs
Goaltenders 29 – Felix Potvin  31 – Marcel Cousineau  33 – Don Beaupre		Defensemen 2 – Rob Zettler  3 – Matt Martin  4 – Dave Ellett  4 – D.J. Smith  23 – Jeff Ware  24 – Tom Pederson  25 – Jason Smith  25 – Greg Smyth  26 – Jamie Heward  26 – Craig Wolanin  34 – Jamie Macoun  36 – Dmitri Yushkevich  38 – Yannick Tremblay  42 – David Cooper  43 – Nathan Dempsey  55 – Larry Murphy  72 – Mathieu Schneider		Wingers 7 – Jason Podollan  8 – Todd Warriner  9 – Mike Craig  10 – Zdenek Nedved  17 – Wendel Clark  19 – Fredrik Modin  20 – Mike Johnson  21 – Kirk Muller  22 – Scott Pearson  27 – Ralph Intranuovo  28 – Tie Domi  32 – Nick Kypreos  39 – Kelly Chase  41 – Shayne Toporowski  44 – John Craighead  94 – Sergei Berezin		Centres 7 – Kelly Fairchild  11 – Steve Sullivan  12 – Brandon Convery  13 – Mats Sundin  14 – Darby Hendrickson  15 – Brian Wiseman  16 – Jamie Baker  37 – Mark Kolesar  93 – Doug Gilmour  – C GM: Cliff Fletcher Coach: Mike Murphy

Awards and records[]

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Farm teams[]

The Maple Leafs farm team was the St. John's Maple Leafs, based in St. John's, Newfoundland.

References[]

• Maple Leafs on Hockey Database