1988–89 Toronto Maple Leafs season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1988–89
Year:	1988
Team:	Toronto Maple Leafs
Conferencerank:	10th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	28–46–6
Homerecord:	15–20–5
Roadrecord:	13–26–1
Goalsfor:	259
Goalsagainst:	342
Coach:	John Brophy (fired) George Armstrong (interim)
Captain:	Vacant
Goalsleader:	Eddie Olczyk (38)
Assistsleader:	Eddie Olczyk (52)
Pointsleader:	Eddie Olczyk (90)
Plusminusleader:	Dave Reid (+12)
Pimleader:	Brian Curran and John Kordic (185)
Winsleader:	Allan Bester (17)
Gaaleader:	Allan Bester (3.80)

The 1988–89 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 72nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Toronto made a late season push for the playoffs under interim head coach (and former captain) George Armstrong but an overtime loss in the final regular season game at the Chicago Blackhawks kept them out of the postseason for the first time since 1984–85.

Off-season

NHL Draft

See also: 1988 NHL Entry Draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team
1	6	Scott Pearson (LW)		Kingston Canadians (OHL)
2	27	Tie Domi (RW)		Peterborough Petes (OHL)
3	48	Peter Ing (G)		Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
4	69	Ted Crowley (D)		Lawrence Academy (USHS-MA)
5	86	Len Esau (D)		Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
7	132	Matt Mallgrave (C)		St. Paul's School (USHS-NH)
8	153	Roger Elvenes (C)		Rögle BK (Sweden)
9	174	Mike DeLay (D)		Canterbury School (USHS-CT)
10	195	David Sacco (C)		Medford High School (USHS-MA)
11	216	Mike Gregorio (G)		Cushing Academy (USHS-MA)
12	237	Peter DeBoer (RW)		Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
S	11	Dean Anderson (G)		University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

Regular season

The 1988–89 Maple Leafs season was a disastrous one that saw John Brophy fired as head coach midway through the season. Interim head coach George Armstrong led the Leafs close to the playoffs, but they eventually missed out after losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the final game of the regular season. The Leafs needed a win against Chicago to clinch a playoff berth, but a Troy Murray overtime goal ended Toronto's season.

The Maple Leafs finished the regular season last in the NHL in power play goals scored (56), power play opportunities (334), power play percentage (16.77%) and penalty-killing percentage (72.70%).^[1]

• November 7, 1988 – The Maple Leafs traded RW Russ Courtnall to Montreal for RW John Kordic and a 6th-round choice (Michael Doers)
• Ken Wregget was traded by Maple Leafs to Philadelphia Flyers for two first-round picks (RW Rob Pearson and D Steve Bancroft) in 1989 draft, March 6, 1989.

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 6, 1988	1–2	@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)	0–1–0
2	W	October 8, 1988	7–4	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	1–1–0
3	W	October 9, 1988	8–4	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	2–1–0
4	L	October 12, 1988	2–4	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	2–2–0
5	W	October 14, 1988	3–1	@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)	3–2–0
6	L	October 15, 1988	3–5	Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	3–3–0
7	W	October 17, 1988	6–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	4–3–0
8	W	October 19, 1988	4–2	Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	5–3–0
9	W	October 21, 1988	4–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	6–3–0
10	T	October 22, 1988	3–3 OT	Calgary Flames (1988–89)	6–3–1
11	W	October 25, 1988	4–3	@ New York Islanders (1988–89)	7–3–1
12	W	October 26, 1988	3–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	8–3–1
13	L	October 29, 1988	2–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	8–4–1
14	L	November 2, 1988	2–7	Boston Bruins (1988–89)	8–5–1
15	L	November 5, 1988	4–6	Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	8–6–1
16	L	November 10, 1988	1–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	8–7–1
17	L	November 12, 1988	2–6	Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	8–8–1
18	L	November 14, 1988	4–5	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	8–9–1
19	W	November 16, 1988	8–5	Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	9–9–1
20	L	November 18, 1988	0–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	9–10–1
21	L	November 19, 1988	1–9	@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	9–11–1
22	W	November 21, 1988	4–0	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	10–11–1
23	W	November 23, 1988	4–3	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	11–11–1
24	L	November 25, 1988	3–5	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	11–12–1
25	L	November 26, 1988	3–6	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	11–13–1
26	L	December 1, 1988	3–9	@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	11–14–1
27	L	December 3, 1988	0–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	11–15–1
28	L	December 9, 1988	3–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	11–16–1
29	L	December 10, 1988	2–8	Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	11–17–1
30	T	December 12, 1988	4–4 OT	Calgary Flames (1988–89)	11–17–2
31	L	December 14, 1988	2–8	Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	11–18–2
32	L	December 15, 1988	3–6	@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	11–19–2
33	L	December 17, 1988	1–7	Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	11–20–2
34	W	December 19, 1988	4–3	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	12–20–2
35	L	December 21, 1988	1–6	Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	12–21–2
36	L	December 23, 1988	2–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	12–22–2
37	L	December 26, 1988	3–4	New York Islanders (1988–89)	12–23–2
38	W	December 29, 1988	6–5	@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	13–23–2
39	W	December 31, 1988	6–1	Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	14–23–2
40	T	January 1, 1989	3–3 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	14–23–3
41	L	January 6, 1989	0–3	@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)	14–24–3
42	L	January 7, 1989	1–6	Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	14–25–3
43	W	January 9, 1989	3–0	Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	15–25–3
44	L	January 11, 1989	2–3	Washington Capitals (1988–89)	15–26–3
45	L	January 14, 1989	3–5	Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	15–27–3
46	W	January 16, 1989	5–3	Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	16–27–3
47	T	January 19, 1989	3–3 OT	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	16–27–4
48	L	January 21, 1989	3–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	16–28–4
49	L	January 25, 1989	1–2 OT	Boston Bruins (1988–89)	16–29–4
50	L	January 27, 1989	1–8	@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	16–30–4
51	T	January 28, 1989	1–1 OT	New York Rangers (1988–89)	16–30–5
52	L	January 30, 1989	1–7	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	16–31–5
53	W	February 2, 1989	4–1	@ New York Islanders (1988–89)	17–31–5
54	L	February 4, 1989	1–3	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	17–32–5
55	W	February 11, 1989	4–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	18–32–5
56	L	February 13, 1989	1–8	@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	18–33–5
57	L	February 15, 1989	2–4	Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	18–34–5
58	W	February 17, 1989	10–6	@ New York Rangers (1988–89)	19–34–5
59	W	February 18, 1989	5–3	New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	20–34–5
60	L	February 20, 1989	4–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	20–35–5
61	W	February 22, 1989	4–3 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)	21–35–5
62	L	February 23, 1989	1–2 OT	@ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	21–36–5
63	W	February 25, 1989	4–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	22–36–5
64	L	February 27, 1989	5–7	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	22–37–5
65	L	March 1, 1989	4–7	@ New York Rangers (1988–89)	22–38–5
66	T	March 4, 1989	3–3 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	22–38–6
67	L	March 5, 1989	0–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	22–39–6
68	W	March 7, 1989	6–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	23–39–6
69	L	March 9, 1989	1–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	23–40–6
70	W	March 11, 1989	5–3	Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	24–40–6
71	L	March 12, 1989	7–9	@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	24–41–6
72	W	March 14, 1989	5–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	25–41–6
73	L	March 18, 1989	2–10	Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	25–42–6
74	L	March 19, 1989	6–8	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	25–43–6
75	W	March 22, 1989	5–3	Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	26–43–6
76	L	March 24, 1989	2–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	26–44–6
77	W	March 25, 1989	6–5	Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	27–44–6
78	W	March 29, 1989	3–1	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	28–44–6
79	L	April 1, 1989	3–4 OT	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	28–45–6
80	L	April 2, 1989	3–4 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	28–46–6

^[2]

Playoffs

The Maple Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs.

Player statistics

Forwards

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

Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
	80	38	52	90	75
	61	32	43	75	66
	80	26	42	68	75
	80	22	45	67	48
	76	31	23	54	76
	75	16	30	46	112
	77	9	21	30	22
	66	10	13	23	41
	26	2	16	18	10
	41	9	6	15	65
	40	5	10	15	71
	68	7	5	12	54
	15	7	4	11	66
	16	3	2	5	6
	46	1	2	3	185
	9	1	1	2	4
	11	1	0	1	6
	9	1	0	1	4
	11	1	0	1	2
	9	0	1	1	2
	3	0	1	1	0
	7	0	0	0	0
	4	0	0	0	0
	3	0	0	0	12
	1	0	0	0	2

Defencemen

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

Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
	65	13	20	33	72
	59	11	14	25	72
	63	3	17	20	86
	80	1	15	16	79
	57	1	14	15	44
	37	3	7	10	16
	32	1	9	10	18
	55	2	7	9	106
	47	1	4	5	185
	14	1	3	4	6
	14	0	2	2	12

Goaltending

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

Player	GP	W	L	T	SO	GAA
	43	17	20	3	2	3.80
	32	9	20	2	0	4.42
	10	2	6	1	0	4.94

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions in the 1988–89 season.

Trades

June 21, 1988	To Philadelphia Flyers Mike Stothers	To Toronto Maple Leafs Bill Root
November 7, 1988	To Montreal Canadiens Russ Courtnall	To Toronto Maple Leafs John Kordic 6th round pick in 1989 – Mike Doers
February 7, 1989	To Philadelphia Flyers Al Secord	To Toronto Maple Leafs 5th round pick in 1989 – Keith Carney
February 21, 1989	To New York Rangers Chris McRae	To Toronto Maple Leafs Ken Hammond
February 25, 1989	To Vancouver Canucks Peter DeBoer	To Toronto Maple Leafs Paul Lawless
March 6, 1989	To Philadelphia Flyers Ken Wregget	To Toronto Maple Leafs 1st round pick in 1989 – Rob Pearson 1st round pick in 1989 – Steve Bancroft
June 16, 1989	To Calgary Flames 2nd round pick in 1989 – Kent Manderville	To Toronto Maple Leafs Rob Ramage

Waivers

October 3, 1988	To Los Angeles Kings Dale DeGray
October 3, 1988	From Philadelphia Flyers Brad Marsh

Free agents

Player Former Team Los Angeles Kings New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils Baltimore Skipjacks (AHL)

Awards and records

• Gary Leeman, Molson Cup (Most game star selections for Toronto Maple Leafs)

References

• Maple Leafs on Hockey Database

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1988-89 NHL Summary.
2. Web site: 1988–89 Toronto Maple Leafs Games. Hockey-reference.com . 2009-05-21 .