1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1997–98
Year:	1997
Team:	Toronto Maple Leafs
Conferencerank:	12th
Divisionrank:	6th
Record:	30–43–9
Homerecord:	16–20–5
Roadrecord:	14–23–4
Goalsfor:	194
Goalsagainst:	237
Altcaptain:	Wendel Clark Jamie Macoun Vacant
Attendance:	15,707
Goalsleader:	Mats Sundin (33)
Assistsleader:	Mats Sundin (41)
Pointsleader:	Mats Sundin (74)
Pimleader:	Tie Domi (365)
Plusminusleader:	Todd Warriner (+5)
Winsleader:	Felix Potvin (26)
Gaaleader:	Felix Potvin (2.73)

The 1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 81st season in the National Hockey League (NHL), their last full season playing at Maple Leaf Gardens, and their last season playing in the Western Conference. Just a few days before the season's start, Mats Sundin became their 17th captain and their first European captain in their 80-year history. The Maple Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|1||L||October 1, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||0–1–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|2||L||October 4, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||0–2–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|3||W||October 7, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||1–2–0 || |- style="text-align:center;"|4||T||October 9, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||1–2–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|5||L||October 11, 1997||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||1–3–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|6||L||October 14, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||1–4–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|7||W||October 15, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||2–4–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|8||L||October 18, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||2–5–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|9||L||October 22, 1997||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||2–6–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|10||W||October 25, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||3–6–1 || |- style="text-align:center;"|11||T||October 28, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||3–6–2 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|12||L||November 1, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||3–7–2 || |- style="text-align:center;"|13||T||November 4, 1997||0–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||3–7–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|14||W||November 5, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||4–7–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|15||L||November 8, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||4–8–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|16||W||November 11, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||5–8–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|17||W||November 13, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||6–8–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|18||L||November 15, 1997||0–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||6–9–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|19||L||November 17, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||6–10–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|20||W||November 19, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||7–10–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|21||L||November 21, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||7–11–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|22||L||November 22, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||7–12–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|23||W||November 25, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||8–12–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|24||L||November 29, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||8–13–3 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|25||T||December 2, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||8–13–4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|26||L||December 4, 1997||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||8–14–4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|27||W||December 6, 1997||7–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||9–14–4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|28||W||December 8, 1997||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||10–14–4 || |- style="text-align:center;"|29||T||December 10, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||10–14–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|30||L||December 13, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||10–15–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|31||L||December 15, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||10–16–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|32||W||December 17, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||11–16–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|33||L||December 18, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||11–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|34||W||December 20, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||12–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|35||W||December 23, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||13–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|36||L||December 26, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||13–18–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|37||L||December 27, 1997||1–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||13–19–5 || |- style="text-align:center;"|38||T||December 31, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||13–19–6 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|39||T||January 1, 1998||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||13–19–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|40||L||January 3, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||13–20–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|41||L||January 6, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||13–21–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|42||W||January 7, 1998||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||14–21–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|43||L||January 10, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||14–22–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|44||L||January 12, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||14–23–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|45||L||January 14, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||14–24–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|46||W||January 21, 1998||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||15–24–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|47||W||January 22, 1998||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||16–24–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|48||W||January 24, 1998||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||17–24–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|49||L||January 26, 1998||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||17–25–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|50||L||January 29, 1998||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||17–26–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|51||L||January 31, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||17–27–7 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|52||L||February 2, 1998||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||17–28–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|53||W||February 4, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||18–28–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|54||L||February 5, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||18–29–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|55||W||February 7, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||19–29–7 || |- style="text-align:center;"|56||T||February 25, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||19–29–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|57||L||February 26, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||19–30–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|58||W||February 28, 1998||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||20–30–8 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|59||L||March 2, 1998||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||20–31–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|60||L||March 4, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||20–32–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|61||W||March 7, 1998||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||21–32–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|62||L||March 9, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||21–33–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|63||W||March 11, 1998||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||22–33–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|64||W||March 12, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||23–33–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|65||W||March 14, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||24–33–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|66||L||March 16, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||24–34–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|67||L||March 18, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||24–35–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|68||L||March 19, 1998||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||24–36–8 || |- style="text-align:center;"|69||T||March 21, 1998||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||24–36–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|70||L||March 24, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||24–37–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|71||W||March 26, 1998||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||25–37–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|72||W||March 28, 1998||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||26–37–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|73||L||March 30, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||26–38–9 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|74||L||April 1, 1998||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||26–39–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|75||L||April 4, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||26–40–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|76||L||April 6, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||26–41–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|77||W||April 7, 1998||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||27–41–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|78||L||April 9, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||27–42–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|79||W||April 11, 1998||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||28–42–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|80||W||April 15, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||29–42–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|81||L||April 18, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||29–43–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|82||W||April 19, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||30–43–9 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.

	Regular season
	Player
13		C	82	33	41	74	−3	49
20		RW	82	15	32	47	−4	24
7		LW	77	21	25	46	−7	43
22		RW	78	17	22	39	−18	22
72		D	76	11	26	37	−12	44
19		RW	74	16	16	32	−5	32
94		LW	68	16	15	31	−3	10
11		C	63	10	18	28	−8	40
17		LW	47	12	7	19	−21	80
18		C	60	6	10	16	−7	6
25		D	81	3	13	16	−5	100
28		RW	80	4	10	14	−5	365
8		LW	45	5	8	13	5	20
14		C	80	8	4	12	−20	67
36		D	72	0	12	12	−13	78
3		D	12	3	6	9	2	6
33		D	19	1	8	9	2	10
55		D	25	2	5	7	0	28
34		D	67	0	7	7	−17	63
2		D	59	0	7	7	−8	108
16		RW	6	3	3	6	1	4
12		LW	82	3	3	6	−13	199
21		LW	29	2	4	6	−1	8
38		D	38	2	4	6	−6	6
24		D	22	1	4	5	−5	10
16		C	13	0	5	5	1	10
33		D	9	0	4	4	2	8
39		RW	13	0	1	1	−2	14
42		C	5	0	0	0	0	7
31		G	2	0	0	0		0
30		G	21	0	0	0		0
29		G	67	0	0	0		8
23		D	2	0	0	0	1	0
26		D	10	0	0	0	−9	6

Goaltending

	Regular season
	Player
29		67	26	33	7	1882	176	2.73	.906	5	3864
30		21	4	10	2	453	53	2.98	.883	0	1068
31		2	0	0	0	9	0	0.00	1.000	0	17

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL All-Rookie Team	Mike Johnson (Forward)	^[1]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Mats Sundin	^[2]
NHL Rookie of the Month	Mike Johnson (December)	^[3]
Team	Molson Cup	Felix Potvin	^[4]

Milestones

Transactions

The Maple Leafs were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.

Trades

September 30, 1997	To St. Louis Blues Kelly Chase	To Toronto Maple Leafs Future Considerations
January 2, 1998	To Carolina Hurricanes 4th round pick in 1999 – Yevgeny Pavlov	To Toronto Maple Leafs Jeff Brown
March 7, 1998	To Vancouver Canucks Brandon Convery	To Toronto Maple Leafs Lonny Bohonos
March 17, 1998	To Ottawa Senators Per Gustafsson	To Toronto Maple Leafs 8th round pick in 1998 – Dwight Wolfe
March 24, 1998	To Dallas Stars Mike Kennedy	To Toronto Maple Leafs 8th round pick in 1998 – Michal Travnicek
March 24, 1998	To Detroit Red Wings Jamie Macoun	To Toronto Maple Leafs 4th round pick in 1998 – Alexei Ponikarovsky
March 24, 1998	To Washington Capitals Jeff Brown	To Toronto Maple Leafs Sylvain Cote
June 27, 1998	To Chicago Blackhawks 1st round pick in 1998 – Mark Bell 4th round pick in 1998 – Matthias Trattnig	To Toronto Maple Leafs 1st round pick in 1998 – Nik Antropov 3rd round pick in 1998 – Jamie Hodson 5th round pick in 1998 – Morgan Warren

Expansion Draft

June 26, 1998	To Nashville Predators Rob Zettler

Free agents

Player	Former Team
	Dallas Stars
	Hartford Whalers
	Phoenix Coyotes
	New York Rangers
	Grand Rapids Griffins (IHL)
	Phoenix Coyotes

Player	New Team
	Philadelphia Flyers
	San Jose Sharks

Draft picks

Toronto's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[6]

Round		Player	College/Junior/Club team
3	57	Jeff Farkas (Centre)	Boston College (Hockey East)
4	84	Adam Mair (Right wing)	Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
5	111	Frantisek Mrazek (Left wing)	HC České Budějovice (Czech Republic)
6	138	Eric Gooldy (Left wing)	Detroit Whalers (OHL)
7	165	Hugo Marchand (Defence)	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
7	190	Shawn Thornton (Right wing)	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
8	194	Russ Bartlett (Centre)	Phillips Exeter Academy (USHS-NH)
9	221	Jonathan Hedstrom (Left wing)	Skellefteå AIK (Sweden)

Farm teams

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

References

Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 6, 2023.
Web site: 1997-98 Toronto Maple Leafs Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 6, 2023.

Notes and References

Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . records.nhl.com . July 9, 2023.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1998 . NHL.com . July 9, 2023.
Web site: NHL Rookies of the Month . Hockey-Reference.com . July 9, 2023.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2015–16 Media Guide, p.373
News: Sicinski . Larry . Macoun to lace up for Game 1,000 . Toronto Star . November 8, 1997 . D2.
Web site: 1997 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 9, 2023.