1991–92 Toronto Maple Leafs season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1991–92
Year:	1991
Team:	Toronto Maple Leafs
Conferencerank:	10th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	30–43–7
Homerecord:	21–16–3
Roadrecord:	9–27–4
Goalsfor:	234
Goalsagainst:	294
Goalsleader:	Glenn Anderson (24)
Assistsleader:	Doug Gilmour (34)
Pointsleader:	Glenn Anderson (57)
Pimleader:	Bob Halkidis (145)
Plusminusleader:	Doug Gilmour (+13)
Winsleader:	Grant Fuhr (25)
Gaaleader:	Felix Potvin (2.29)

The 1991–92 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 75th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Off-season

Forward Wendel Clark is named team captain, following the departure of defenceman Rob Ramage to the Minnesota North Stars.

NHL draft

Round		Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
3	47	Yanic Perreault		Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
4	69	Terry Chitaroni		Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
5	102	Alexei Kudashov		Krylya Sovetov (USSR)
6	113	Jeff Perry		Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
6	120	Alexander Kuzminski		Sokil Kiev (USSR)
7	135	Martin Prochazka		Poldi SONP Kladno (Czechoslovakia)
8	160	Dmitri Mironov		Krylya Sovetov (USSR)
8	164	Robb McIntyre		Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
8	167	Tomas Kucharcik		Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia)
9	179	Guy Lehoux		Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
10	201	Gary Miller		North Bay Centennials (OHL)
11	223	Jonathan Kelley		Arlington Catholic High School (USHS-MA)
12	245	Chris O'Rourke		University of Alaska Fairbanks (NCAA Independent)
S	3	Patrick McGarry		Dalhousie University (CIAU)
S	9	Joe McCarthy		University of Vermont (Hockey East)

• Grant Fuhr was traded by Oilers with RW/LW Glenn Anderson and LW Craig Berube to the Toronto Maple Leafs for LW Vincent Damphousse, D Luke Richardson, G Peter Ing, C Scott Thornton and future considerations, September 19, 1991.

Regular season

After starting the season with a 2–1 record, a loss to the Washington Capitals on October 9 began what would become a seven-game losing streak. As the losses piled up, two intrepid Leafs fans from Wilfrid Laurier University went so far as to camp out on their Waterloo rooftop in hopes of inspiring the team to finally win. Enduring poor weather and the scorn of non-Leafs fans across their campus, Brian Gear and Fab Antonelli became minor media celebrities during their quixotic quest. After a disheartening loss to the Detroit Red Wings on October 25, the weary pair were finally able to return to their own beds when the Leafs defeated the Red Wings 6–1 on October 26.^[1]

On February 5, 1992, the Leafs scored just 18 seconds into the overtime period to win by a score of 3–2 over the Minnesota North Stars.^[2] It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1991–92 regular season.^[3]

The Maple Leafs were still in the playoff race with the Minnesota North Stars by mid March, but a 3–5–0 finish to the season ended any playoff hopes. Despite finishing with fewer wins than Toronto, the North Stars clinched the final playoff spot over the Leafs, costing head coach Tom Watt his job.

During the regular season, the Maple Leafs tied the Montreal Canadiens for the fewest short-handed goals allowed, with just five.^[4]

The Doug Gilmour trade

Several months after the Maple Leafs hired Cliff Fletcher to be their new general manager, Fletcher made a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames (where he had previously been general manager). On January 2, 1992, the Maple Leafs acquired Doug Gilmour, along with Jamie Macoun, Ric Nattress, Kent Manderville and Rick Wamsley, in exchange for Gary Leeman, Alexander Godynyuk, Jeff Reese, Michel Petit and Craig Berube. The ten-player trade was the largest in NHL history and, statistically speaking, one of the most lopsided.

Season standings

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 3, 1991	3–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)	0–1–0
2	W	October 5, 1991	8–5	Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	1–1–0
3	W	October 7, 1991	3–0	St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	2–1–0
4	L	October 9, 1991	4–5	Washington Capitals (1991–92)	2–2–0
5	L	October 12, 1991	1–2	Vancouver Canucks (1991–92)	2–3–0
6	L	October 15, 1991	1–5	@ St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	2–4–0
7	L	October 17, 1991	4–6	@ Calgary Flames (1991–92)	2–5–0
8	L	October 19, 1991	2–4	@ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92)	2–6–0
9	L	October 21, 1991	1–4	@ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92)	2–7–0
10	L	October 25, 1991	0–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	2–8–0
11	W	October 26, 1991	6–1	Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	3–8–0
12	T	October 28, 1991	1–1 OT	St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	3–8–1
13	L	November 1, 1991	0–4	@ Washington Capitals (1991–92)	3–9–1
14	L	November 2, 1991	2–5	Los Angeles Kings (1991–92)	3–10–1
15	W	November 4, 1991	4–1	San Jose Sharks (1991–92)	4–10–1
16	W	November 6, 1991	4–3	Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	5–10–1
17	T	November 8, 1991	3–3 OT	@ New York Rangers (1991–92)	5–10–2
18	L	November 9, 1991	1–6	Calgary Flames (1991–92)	5–11–2
19	L	November 12, 1991	0–7	@ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	5–12–2
20	L	November 14, 1991	0–3	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	5–13–2
21	T	November 16, 1991	2–2 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	5–13–3
22	L	November 17, 1991	1–3	Hartford Whalers (1991–92)	5–14–3
23	L	November 20, 1991	2–5	@ St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	5–15–3
24	W	November 22, 1991	3–1	@ San Jose Sharks (1991–92)	6–15–3
25	T	November 26, 1991	4–4 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92)	6–15–4
26	W	November 29, 1991	3–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	7–15–4
27	L	November 30, 1991	3–4	Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	7–16–4
28	W	December 4, 1991	3–0	@ Hartford Whalers (1991–92)	8–16–4
29	W	December 7, 1991	6–3	Vancouver Canucks (1991–92)	9–16–4
30	L	December 9, 1991	1–4	Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)	9–17–4
31	L	December 11, 1991	4–5	New York Islanders (1991–92)	9–18–4
32	T	December 12, 1991	1–1 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92)	9–18–5
33	L	December 14, 1991	3–4	@ Boston Bruins (1991–92)	9–19–5
34	L	December 18, 1991	5–7	Edmonton Oilers (1991–92)	9–20–5
35	L	December 20, 1991	3–4	@ Washington Capitals (1991–92)	9–21–5
36	L	December 21, 1991	1–4	Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)	9–22–5
37	W	December 23, 1991	3–1	Winnipeg Jets (1991–92)	10–22–5
38	L	December 26, 1991	1–12	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92)	10–23–5
39	L	December 28, 1991	4–5	Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	10–24–5
40	L	December 30, 1991	2–5	@ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)	10–25–5
41	L	January 3, 1992	4–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	10–26–5
42	L	January 4, 1992	2–4	Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	10–27–5
43	W	January 6, 1992	3–2 OT	St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	11–27–5
44	L	January 9, 1992	0–2	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	11–28–5
45	W	January 11, 1992	4–3	@ New Jersey Devils (1991–92)	12–28–5
46	L	January 16, 1992	0–4	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	12–29–5
47	L	January 22, 1992	2–5	Boston Bruins (1991–92)	12–30–5
48	W	January 23, 1992	4–3	@ New York Islanders (1991–92)	13–30–5
49	W	January 25, 1992	6–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92)	14–30–5
50	W	January 29, 1992	5–2	Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)	15–30–5
51	W	February 1, 1992	6–4	New Jersey Devils (1991–92)	16–30–5
52	L	February 3, 1992	2–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	16–31–5
53	W	February 5, 1992	3–2 OT	Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	17–31–5
54	W	February 7, 1992	4–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	18–31–5
55	W	February 8, 1992	6–4	Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)	19–31–5
56	W	February 11, 1992	4–3	Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	20–31–5
57	L	February 15, 1992	1–3	Winnipeg Jets (1991–92)	20–32–5
58	W	February 16, 1992	7–5	Edmonton Oilers (1991–92)	21–32–5
59	L	February 18, 1992	1–7	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92)	21–33–5
60	L	February 20, 1992	2–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)	21–34–5
61	L	February 22, 1992	3–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	21–35–5
62	T	February 25, 1992	5–5 OT	New Jersey Devils (1991–92)	21–35–6
63	L	February 27, 1992	2–4	@ Boston Bruins (1991–92)	21–36–6
64	W	February 29, 1992	6–5 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	22–36–6
65	W	March 1, 1992	6–2	Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	23–36–6
66	W	March 4, 1992	5–2	@ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92)	24–36–6
67	T	March 5, 1992	5–5 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1991–92)	24–36–7
68	L	March 8, 1992	1–4	@ San Jose Sharks (1991–92)	24–37–7
69	L	March 9, 1992	1–4	@ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92)	24–38–7
70	W	March 11, 1992	3–0	@ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)	25–38–7
71	W	March 14, 1992	6–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92)	26–38–7
72	W	March 17, 1992	4–3 OT	Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)	27–38–7
73	L	March 21, 1992	1–3	Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	27–39–7
74	W	March 23, 1992	3–2	St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	28–39–7
75	L	March 25, 1992	2–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)	28–40–7
76	W	March 28, 1992	3–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1991–92)	29–40–7
77	L	March 29, 1992	1–5	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)	29–41–7
78	L	April 12, 1992	2–6	New York Islanders (1991–92)	29–42–7
79	L	April 13, 1992	2–6	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92)	29–43–7
80	W	April 15, 1992	4–2	New York Rangers (1991–92)	30–43–7

Playoffs

The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
	72	24	33	57	100
	40	15	34	49	32
	64	16	33	49	26
	43	19	21	40	123
	59	10	21	31	48
	65	14	14	28	40
	63	15	11	26	76
	72	9	15	24	72
	47	14	10	24	58
	34	7	13	20	44
	54	8	11	19	39
	64	6	9	15	102
	33	6	8	14	50

Defencemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
	79	18	33	51	95
	79	3	19	22	97
	74	2	15	17	91
	36	2	14	16	32
	39	3	13	16	18
	34	1	13	14	85
	48	2	8	10	23
	31	3	6	9	59
	46	3	3	6	145
	7	1	0	1	0
	1	0	0	0	0
	2	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

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

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season.

Trades

July 26, 1991	To Philadelphia Flyers 3rd round pick in 1993 (Vaclav Prospal)	To Toronto Maple Leafs Mike Bullard
September 19, 1991	To Edmonton Oilers Vincent Damphousse Peter Ing Scott Thornton Luke Richardson Cash	To Toronto Maple Leafs Glenn Anderson Grant Fuhr Craig Berube
October 7, 1991	To Edmonton Oilers Cash	To Toronto Maple Leafs Ken Linseman
December 18, 1991	To Vancouver Canucks Tom Fergus	To Toronto Maple Leafs Cash
December 26, 1991	To New York Rangers Mike Stevens	To Toronto Maple Leafs Guy Larose
January 2, 1992	To Calgary Flames Craig Berube Alexander Godynyuk Gary Leeman Michel Petit Jeff Reese	To Toronto Maple Leafs Doug Gilmour Jamie Macoun Ric Nattress Rick Wamsley Kent Manderville
February 27, 1992	To Washington Capitals Cash	To Toronto Maple Leafs Mark Ferner
March 10, 1992	To Buffalo Sabres Dave Hannan	To Toronto Maple Leafs 5th round pick in 1992 (Chris DeRuiter)
March 10, 1992	To New York Islanders Daniel Marois Claude Loiselle	To Toronto Maple Leafs Ken Baumgartner Dave McLlwain
March 10, 1992	To Winnipeg Jets Lucien DeBlois	To Toronto Maple Leafs Mark Osborne
June 2, 1992	To Calgary Flames Todd Gillingham	To Toronto Maple Leafs Cash
June 5, 1992	To Detroit Red Wings Future Considerations	To Toronto Maple Leafs Brad Marsh
June 15, 1992	To San Jose Sharks Cash	To Toronto Maple Leafs Jarmo Myllys
June 20, 1992	To New York Islanders 1st round pick in 1992 (Darius Kasparaitis)	To Toronto Maple Leafs 1st round pick in 1992 (Brandon Convery) 2nd round pick in 1992 (Jim Carey)
June 20, 1992	To Washington Capitals 2nd round pick in 1992 (Jim Carey) 3rd round pick in 1992 (Stefan Ustorf) 4th round pick in 1993 (John Jakopin)	To Toronto Maple Leafs 1st round pick in 1992 (Grant Marshall) 4th round pick in 1992 (Mike Raitar)

Expansion Draft

June 18, 1992	To Tampa Bay Lightning Brian Bradley
June 18, 1992	To Tampa Bay Lightning Keith Osborne

Free agents

Player Former Team Los Angeles Kings Edmonton Oilers Undrafted Free Agent Detroit Red Wings Calgary Flames

Player New Team Winnipeg Jets Boston Bruins

Awards and records

• Grant Fuhr, Molson Cup (Most game star selections for Toronto Maple Leafs)

Farm teams

• The Toronto Maple Leafs farm team was based in the American Hockey League. The farm team relocated from Newmarket, Ontario to St. John's, Newfoundland. The St. John's Maple Leafs were coached by Marc Crawford and qualified for the 1992 Calder Cup Finals. The St. John's team played the Adirondack Red Wings in the finals. Said finals lasted seven games and each game was won by the home team. Adirondack prevailed in the finals and were led by former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Allan Bester, who would go on to win the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy.

References

• Maple Leafs on Hockey Database
• Game log at Database Hockey

Notes and References

1. Web site: TheCord.ca - the tie that binds Wilfrid Laurier University . 2009-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706204818/http://thecord.ca/articles/21611 . 2011-07-06 . dead .
2. Web site: Minnesota North Stars at Toronto Maple Leafs Box Score — February 5, 1992.
3. Web site: 1991-92 NHL Schedule and Results.
4. Web site: 1991-92 NHL Summary.