1967–68 Toronto Maple Leafs season
| 1967–68 Toronto Maple Leafs | |
|---|---|
Stanley Cup champions | |
| Division | 5th East |
| 1967–68 record | 33–31–10 |
| Goals for | 209 |
| Goals against | 176 |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Punch Imlach |
| Coach | Punch Imlach |
| Captain | George Armstrong |
| Alternate captains | Bob Pulford Allan Stanley |
| Arena | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Mike Walton (30) |
| Assists | Dave Keon (37) |
| Points | Mike Walton (59) |
| Penalty minutes | Tim Horton, Pete Stemkowski (82) |
| Wins | Bruce Gamble (19) |
| Goals against average | Johnny Bower (2.25) |
The Maple Leafs entered the season as defending Stanley Cup champions. The franchise hosted the 21st National Hockey League National Hockey League All-Star Game. It was played at Maple Leaf Gardens on January 16, 1968. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated an all-star team by a score of 4–3. The Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since 1958 with a record of 33–31–10 for 76 points for a fifth place in the East Division. The Leafs finished with a better record than any of the six expansion teams that season.
Offseason[edit]
NHL Draft[edit]
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 16 | J. Bob Kelly |  Canada |
Port Arthur Marrs (TBJHL) |
Players lost in Expansion Draft[edit]
The following Maple Leafs were lost to various franchises in the Expansion Draft.
| Player | Position | Drafted to |
|---|---|---|
| Al Arbour | (D) | St. Louis Blues |
| Bob Baun | (D) | Oakland Seals |
| Don Blackburn | (W) | Philadelphia Flyers |
| John Brenneman | (LW) | St. Louis Blues |
| Terry Clancy | (W) | Oakland Seals |
| Mike Corrigan | (LW) | Los Angeles Kings |
| Kent Douglas | (D) | Oakland Seals |
| Darryl Edestrand | (D) | St. Louis Blues |
| Aut Erickson | (D) | Oakland Seals |
| Bill Flett | (RW) | Los Angeles Kings |
| Pat Hannigan | (LW) | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Fred Hucul | (D) | St. Louis Blues |
| Larry Jeffrey | (LW) | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Ed Joyal | (C) | Los Angeles Kings |
| Larry Keenan | (LW) | St. Louis Blues |
| Mike Laughton | (W) | Oakland Seals |
| Lowell MacDonald | (LW) | Los Angeles Kings |
| Terry Sawchuk | (G) | Los Angeles Kings |
| Brit Selby | (W) | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Gary Smith | (G) | Oakland Seals |
| Gary Veneruzzo | (LW) | St. Louis Blues |
Regular season[edit]
Called up from the London Nationals of the Ontario Hockey Association, Garry Unger played his first NHL game on November 4, 1967 in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers. The November 6, 1967 match versus Boston saw a bench clearing brawl at 5:28 of the second period. With the Bruins leading 1-0 on a Bobby Orr Power play goal, Leafs Brian Conacher was killing a penalty and dumped the puck into the Bruins zone as Orr approached him. Conacher's stick came up and broke Orr's nose. John McKenzie starting pummeling Conacher, who fell to the ice. Orr then joined in on beating Conacher, which resulted in the Leafs bench clearing, followed by the Bruins. It was the first bench clearing brawl in the league since December 6, 1963. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.
J. P. Parisé played his only game for the Maple Leafs on November 15, 1967 in a 4-2 win over the Bruins and recorded an assist. Having signed a contract with Toronto, Garry Unger was given a regular shift with Pete Stemkowski and Jim Pappin for the November 18, 1967 game versus the Chicago Blackhawks. Trailing 1-0 early in the second period, Stemkowski dug the puck out of the corner and his centering pass caromed to Unger who whacked in his first NHL goal past Denis DeJordy.
Disaster struck during the December 9, 1967 Bruins-Leafs game in Toronto. In the first period while killing a penalty to Skip Krake, Bobby Orr began to carry the puck from in front of the Bruins net. He was hit with a clean check by Frank Mahovlich which broke his left collarbone. Amazingly, Orr played another penalty-killing shift before leaving the game. Later, a Mahovlich slap shot hit Ted Green above the knee and he was forced to leave the game. Green's injury caused him to miss only two games, but Orr was out until Christmas.
Mike Byers played his first NHL game on December 30, 1967 in an 8-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. The Maple Leafs hosted the 21st National Hockey League All-Star Game at Maple Leaf Gardens on January 16, 1968. Toronto beat a team of All-Stars by a score of 4-3. Mike Pelyk and André Hinse were both called up for their first NHL game, a 3-2 loss to Chicago Black Hawks on February 7, 1968. Hinse played three more games, his only in the NHL, while Pelyk became a regular, his first of nine seasons for the Maple Leafs.
Following expansion of the NHL from six teams to 12 for the 1967–68 season, the Leafs struggled for most of the season and Imlach responded by pulling off another big trade. In February 1968, he sent Frank Mahovlich, Garry Unger, Pete Stemkowski, Gary Smith, Andrew Bathgate, and the rights to Carl Brewer, to the Detroit Red Wings for Paul Henderson, James Rzeznik, Norm Ullman, Doug Barrie, Boise Taylor, and Floyd Smith. The teams met less than a week later on March 9 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Detroit took a 4-0 lead, led by Mahovlich's goal and two assists. However, Ullman and Taylor both turned the tide with two goals and an assist as Toronto came back to win 7-5. Despite excellent performances from the additions of Ullman, Taylor, Rzeznik, Barrie, Smith and Henderson for the rest of the season, both teams missed the playoffs.
Standings[edit]
Season standings[edit]
Template:1967–68 NHL East Division standings
Record vs. opponents[edit]
Template:1967–68 NHL Record vs. opponents (East)
Schedule and results[edit]
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W | October 14, 1967 | 5–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 15, 1967 | 5–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 18, 1967 | 2–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 19, 1967 | 0–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 21, 1967 | 3–5 | New York Rangers (1967–68) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | W | October 25, 1967 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1967–68) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | W | October 28, 1967 | 5–2 | Oakland Seals (1967–68) | 4–3–0 |
| 8 | L | October 29, 1967 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1967–68) | 4–4–0 |
| 9 | W | November 1, 1967 | 5–0 | Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 5–4–0 |
| 10 | W | November 2, 1967 | 9–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 6–4–0 |
| 11 | W | November 4, 1967 | 4–2 | New York Rangers (1967–68) | 7–4–0 |
| 12 | T | November 5, 1967 | 2–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 7–4–1 |
| 13 | W | November 8, 1967 | 6–1 | @ Oakland Seals (1967–68) | 8–4–1 |
| 14 | L | November 9, 1967 | 1–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1967–68) | 8–5–1 |
| 15 | L | November 11, 1967 | 1–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1967–68) | 8–6–1 |
| 16 | W | November 15, 1967 | 4–2 | Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 9–6–1 |
| 17 | T | November 18, 1967 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 9–6–2 |
| 18 | L | November 19, 1967 | 2–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 9–7–2 |
| 19 | W | November 22, 1967 | 3–0 | Minnesota North Stars (1967–68) | 10–7–2 |
| 20 | W | November 25, 1967 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 11–7–2 |
| 21 | W | November 29, 1967 | 2–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 12–7–2 |
| 22 | T | November 30, 1967 | 3–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 12–7–3 |
| 23 | W | December 2, 1967 | 3–0 | Oakland Seals (1967–68) | 13–7–3 |
| 24 | T | December 6, 1967 | 1–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1967–68) | 13–7–4 |
| 25 | T | December 9, 1967 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 13–7–5 |
| 26 | L | December 10, 1967 | 1–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1967–68) | 13–8–5 |
| 27 | L | December 13, 1967 | 1–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1967–68) | 13–9–5 |
| 28 | W | December 16, 1967 | 4–2 | New York Rangers (1967–68) | 14–9–5 |
| 29 | L | December 17, 1967 | 0–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 14–10–5 |
| 30 | L | December 20, 1967 | 0–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 14–11–5 |
| 31 | W | December 23, 1967 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 15–11–5 |
| 32 | W | December 25, 1967 | 3–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 16–11–5 |
| 33 | T | December 27, 1967 | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 16–11–6 |
| 34 | W | December 30, 1967 | 8–1 | St. Louis Blues (1967–68) | 17–11–6 |
| 35 | L | December 31, 1967 | 0–4 | @ New York Rangers (1967–68) | 17–12–6 |
| 36 | T | January 3, 1968 | 1–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 17–12–7 |
| 37 | T | January 6, 1968 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 17–12–8 |
| 38 | L | January 7, 1968 | 2–6 | @ New York Rangers (1967–68) | 17–13–8 |
| 39 | W | January 10, 1968 | 2–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 18–13–8 |
| 40 | L | January 12, 1968 | 3–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1967–68) | 18–14–8 |
| 41 | W | January 13, 1968 | 7–0 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1967–68) | 19–14–8 |
| 42 | W | January 18, 1968 | 4–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 20–14–8 |
| 43 | W | January 20, 1968 | 5–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1967–68) | 21–14–8 |
| 44 | W | January 21, 1968 | 2–0 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 22–14–8 |
| 45 | L | January 24, 1968 | 1–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1967–68) | 22–15–8 |
| 46 | L | January 27, 1968 | 1–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 22–16–8 |
| 47 | W | January 28, 1968 | 3–1 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 23–16–8 |
| 48 | L | January 30, 1968 | 0–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 23–17–8 |
| 49 | T | February 3, 1968 | 3–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1967–68) | 23–17–9 |
| 50 | L | February 4, 1968 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1967–68) | 23–18–9 |
| 51 | L | February 7, 1968 | 2–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 23–19–9 |
| 52 | L | February 11, 1968 | 3–4 | @ Oakland Seals (1967–68) | 23–20–9 |
| 53 | L | February 12, 1968 | 0–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1967–68) | 23–21–9 |
| 54 | L | February 14, 1968 | 2–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 23–22–9 |
| 55 | L | February 17, 1968 | 2–3 | New York Rangers (1967–68) | 23–23–9 |
| 56 | L | February 21, 1968 | 1–5 | St. Louis Blues (1967–68) | 23–24–9 |
| 57 | W | February 24, 1968 | 1–0 | Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 24–24–9 |
| 58 | L | February 25, 1968 | 1–3 | @ New York Rangers (1967–68) | 24–25–9 |
| 59 | L | February 28, 1968 | 0–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 24–26–9 |
| 60 | L | February 29, 1968 | 1–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 24–27–9 |
| 61 | W | March 2, 1968 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1967–68) | 25–27–9 |
| 62 | W | March 6, 1968 | 7–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1967–68) | 26–27–9 |
| 63 | W | March 9, 1968 | 7–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 27–27–9 |
| 64 | L | March 10, 1968 | 0–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 27–28–9 |
| 65 | T | March 13, 1968 | 3–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1967–68) | 27–28–10 |
| 66 | W | March 16, 1968 | 3–0 | Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 28–28–10 |
| 67 | L | March 17, 1968 | 4–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1967–68) | 28–29–10 |
| 68 | L | March 20, 1968 | 2–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 28–30–10 |
| 69 | W | March 21, 1968 | 5–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1967–68) | 29–30–10 |
| 70 | W | March 23, 1968 | 3–1 | New York Rangers (1967–68) | 30–30–10 |
| 71 | L | March 24, 1968 | 2–4 | @ New York Rangers (1967–68) | 30–31–10 |
| 72 | W | March 27, 1968 | 6–0 | Montreal Canadiens (1967–68) | 31–31–10 |
| 73 | W | March 30, 1968 | 3–0 | Chicago Black Hawks (1967–68) | 32–31–10 |
| 74 | W | March 31, 1968 | 4–1 | @ Boston Bruins (1967–68) | 33–31–10 |
Statistics[edit]
(TBA)
Transactions[edit]
The Maple Leafs were involved in the following transactions during the 1967–68 season.
Trades[edit]
Intra-League Draft[edit]
| June 12, 1968 | To New York Rangers Brian Conacher |
| June 12, 1968 | To Minnesota North Stars Duane Rupp |
| June 12, 1968 | To New York Rangers Larry Hillman |
| June 12, 1968 | From Minnesota North Stars Bill Plager |
| June 12, 1968 | From New York Rangers Larry Mickey |
| June 12, 1968 | From Minnesota North Stars Bill Sutherland |
| June 12, 1968 | From Detroit Red Wings Gary Marsh |
Reverse Draft[edit]
| June 13, 1968 | To Philadelphia Flyers Allan Stanley |
| June 13, 1968 | To Portland Buckaroos (WHL) Rick Foley |
| June 13, 1968 | From Detroit Red Wings George Gardner |
Free agents[edit]
|
|
Awards and records[edit]
- Johnny Bower and Bruce Gamble, Runner-up, Vezina Trophy[2]
- Bruce Gamble, All-Star Game MVP[3]
- Tim Horton, 1967-68 NHL First Team All-Star[4]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Flyers Take Phoenix Star". Tucson Daily Citizen. September 13, 1967. p. 30. Retrieved January 3, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 221, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5 Search this book on
..
- ↑ National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 219, Dan Diamond &
Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5 Search this book on ..
- ↑ Why the Leafs Still Suck and How They Can Be Fixed, Updated Edition, Al Strachan, Harper Collins Publishers, 2011, ISBN 978-1-44340-846-2, p.216
Template:1967–68 NHL season by team Script error: No such module "Navbox ice hockey". Template:Toronto Maple Leafs seasons
