2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs season

2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division5th Northeast
Conference12th Eastern
2008–09 record34–35–13
Home record16–16–9
Road record18–19–4
Goals for219
Goals against257
Team information
General managerCliff Fletcher (Sept–Nov) interim
Brian Burke (Nov–Apr)
CoachRon Wilson
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsNik Antropov (Oct.–Mar.)
Tomas Kaberle
Pavel Kubina
Brad May (Mar.–Apr.)
Jamal Mayers
Dominic Moore (Oct.–Mar.)
ArenaAir Canada Centre
Average attendance19,243 (102%)
Team leaders
GoalsJason Blake (25)
AssistsMatt Stajan (35)
PointsJason Blake (57)
Penalty minutesPavel Kubina (79)
Plus/minusAlexei Ponikarovsky (+6)
WinsVesa Toskala (22)
Goals against averageVesa Toskala (3.26)

The 2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the franchise's 92nd, and their 82nd as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Offseason

The Leafs faced an off-season challenge to hire a general manager. Brian Burke was a favourite for the position held by interim general manager Cliff Fletcher, but Burke opted to stay with the Anaheim Ducks. He was not given permission to talk to the Leafs about their vacancy by Ducks owner Henry Samueli.[1] Burke had one more year left on his contract as the general manager of the Ducks, and those close to him say he was interested in the Maple Leafs' job. [citation needed]

On May 7, the Leafs fired head coach Paul Maurice, along with two assistant coaches, after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.[2] On May 8, the Leafs asked the Vancouver Canucks permission to speak to Dave Nonis about hiring him for a position with the club.[3]

In mid-May, there were rumours that Wayne Gretzky was in the running for a position with the Maple Leafs. Gretzky responded to the rumours linking him to the Toronto Maple Leafs by stating that his focus was on the Phoenix Coyotes and developing their young talent.[4]

On June 10, Ron Wilson was hired as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Wilson was fired in May by the San Jose Sharks after the Sharks lost to the Dallas Stars in the second round of the NHL playoffs. Wilson has also coached the Anaheim Ducks and the Washington Capitals. The former U.S. college player spent parts of three NHL seasons with the Leafs in the 1970s.[5]

The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Al Coates as their player-personnel director on June 16.[6] Coates comes to Toronto after spending the previous six seasons with Anaheim. Coates has spent more than 30 years in pro hockey and has been part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams (2007 with the Anaheim Ducks and 1989 with the Calgary Flames).

The move perpetuated speculation that Anaheim general manager Brian Burke would become the Maple Leafs' GM once his deal with the Ducks expired in 2009. The fact that new head coach Ron Wilson played hockey with Burke at the Providence College sparked further rumors about Burke potentially joining the club.

Former NHL star Joe Nieuwendyk was named as general manager Cliff Fletcher's special assistant on July 8.[7] While playing for the Florida Panthers, Nieuwendyk gained experience as a special consultant to GM Jacques Martin.

Throughout the off-season, the Maple Leafs have been involved in numerous transactions. On June 24, the Toronto Maple Leafs put goaltender Andrew Raycroft and forward Kyle Wellwood on waivers.[8] Moreover, interim GM Cliff Fletcher informed Darcy Tucker that he is to be bought out of his three-year contract; however, this decision was not made official until June 25.[9]

The Maple Leafs bought out goaltender Andrew Raycroft on June 28, making him eligible for free agency on July 1. When the free agent signing period began on July 1, Toronto signed defenceman Jeff Finger, goaltender Curtis Joseph and former Dallas Stars forward Niklas Hagman. Another transaction was made on July 3 when Toronto traded for former Montreal Canadiens forward Mikhail Grabovski in exchange for the rights to Greg Pateryn and a second-round draft pick in 2010. The Leafs also re-signed forwards Dominic Moore, John Mitchell and Greg Scott. On July 14, the Maple Leafs acquired forward Ryan Hollweg in a trade with the New York Rangers for a fifth-round draft pick in 2009.

Regular season

With a young roster, the Maple Leafs were expected to have a lacklustre season. This proved to be correct, as they fell out of the playoff race relatively early and showed little sign of recovery. However, they showed signs of improvement in February and March 2009, during which they had a stretch of seven consecutive games that went into overtime. The Leafs lost the first two in shootouts, then won four in a row with two overtime wins and two shootout wins, followed by an overtime loss.

In November 2008, Brian Burke obtained his release from the Anaheim Ducks and joined the Maple Leafs as president and general manager.

The Maple Leafs were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs on March 31, 2009, with six games remaining in the season.

The Maple Leafs finished the season with 286 goals allowed (excluding seven shootout goals), the most out of all 30 teams. The Maple Leafs also struggled on the penalty kill, finishing 30th overall in penalty-kill percentage, at 74.68%.[10][11]

Divisional standings

Northeast Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 z – Boston Bruins 82 53 19 10 274 196 116
2 Montreal Canadiens 82 41 30 11 249 247 93
3 Buffalo Sabres 82 41 32 9 250 234 91
4 Ottawa Senators 82 36 35 11 217 237 83
5 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 34 35 13 250 293 81

Conference standings

Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 z – Boston Bruins NE 82 53 19 10 274 196 116
2 y – Washington Capitals SE 82 50 24 8 272 245 108
3 y – New Jersey Devils AT 82 51 27 4 244 209 106
4 Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 45 28 9 264 239 99
5 Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 44 27 11 264 238 99
6 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 45 30 7 239 226 97
7 New York Rangers AT 82 43 30 9 210 218 95
8 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 41 30 11 249 247 93
8.5
9 Florida Panthers SE 82 41 30 11 234 231 93
10 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 41 32 9 250 234 91
11 Ottawa Senators NE 82 36 35 11 217 237 83
12 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 34 35 13 250 293 81
13 Atlanta Thrashers SE 82 35 41 6 257 280 76
14 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 24 40 18 210 279 66
15 New York Islanders AT 82 26 47 9 201 279 61

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division


Schedule and results

2008–09 Game Log
October 4–3–3 (Home 1–2–2, Road 3–1–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record Points
1 October 9, 2008 @ Detroit Red Wings 3–2 Joe Louis Arena 20,066 1–0–0 2
2 October 11, 2008 Montreal Canadiens 1–6 Air Canada Centre 19,370 1–1–0 2
3 October 13, 2008 St. Louis Blues 4–5 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,045 1–1–1 3
4 October 17, 2008 @ New York Rangers 0–1 (SO) Madison Square Garden 18,200 1–1–2 4
5 October 18, 2008 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Mellon Arena 17,033 1–2–2 4
6 October 21, 2008 Anaheim Ducks 2–3 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,222 1–2–3 5
7 October 23, 2008 @ Boston Bruins 4–2 TD Banknorth Garden 12,274 2–2–3 7
8 October 25, 2008 Ottawa Senators 3–2 Air Canada Centre 19,232 3–2–3 9
9 October 28, 2008 Tampa Bay Lightning 2–3 Air Canada Centre 19,348 3–3–3 9
10 October 29, 2008 @ New Jersey Devils 6–5 (SO) Prudential Center 14,119 4–3–3 11
November 4–6–3 (Home 3–2–2, Road 1–4–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record Points
11 November 1, 2008 New York Rangers 5–2 Air Canada Centre 19,179 5–3–3 13
12 November 2, 2008 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4–6 RBC Center 15,635 5–4–3 13
13 November 4, 2008 Carolina Hurricanes 4–5 (OT) Air Canada Centre 19,266 5–4–4 14
14 November 6, 2008 @ Boston Bruins 2–5 TD Banknorth Garden 15,391 5–5–4 14
15 November 8, 2008 † Montreal Canadiens 6–3 Air Canada Centre 19,512 6–5–4 16
16 November 11, 2008 @ Calgary Flames 3–4 Pengrowth Saddledome 19,289 6–6–4 16
17 November 13, 2008 @ Edmonton Oilers 5–2 Rexall Place 16,839 7–6–4 18
18 November 15, 2008 @ Vancouver Canucks 2–4 General Motors Place 18,630 7–7–4 18
19 November 17, 2008 Boston Bruins 2–3 Air Canada Centre 19,410 7–8–4 18
20 November 22, 2008 Chicago Blackhawks 4–5 (OT) Air Canada Centre 19,474 7–8–5 19
21 November 25, 2008 Atlanta Thrashers 3–6 Air Canada Centre 19,297 7–9–5 19
22 November 27, 2008 @ Ottawa Senators 1–2 (SO) Scotiabank Place 19,703 7–9–6 20
23 November 29, 2008 Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 Air Canada Centre 19,387 8–9–6 22
December 7–7–0 (Home 3–2–0, Road 4–5–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record Points
24 December 1, 2008 @ Los Angeles Kings 3–1 Staples Center 15,052 9–9–6 24
25 December 2, 2008 @ San Jose Sharks 2–5 HP Pavilion at San Jose 17,496 9–10–6 24
26 December 4, 2008 @ Phoenix Coyotes 3–6 Jobing.com Arena 13,777 9–11–6 24
27 December 6, 2008 Washington Capitals 1–2 Air Canada Centre 19,416 9–12–6 24
28 December 8, 2008 New York Islanders 4–2 Air Canada Centre 19,309 10–12–6 26
29 December 12, 2008 @ Buffalo Sabres 2–1 HSBC Arena 18,211 11–12–6 28
30 December 16, 2008 New Jersey Devils 3–2 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,315 12–12–6 30
31 December 18, 2008 @ Boston Bruins 5–8 TD Banknorth Garden 17,565 12–13–6 30
32 December 20, 2008 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 Mellon Arena 17,053 13–13–6 32
33 December 22, 2008 @ Atlanta Thrashers 6–2 Philips Arena 16,413 14–13–6 34
34 December 23, 2008 Dallas Stars 2–8 Air Canada Centre 19,269 14–14–6 34
35 December 26, 2008 @ New York Islanders 1–4 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 15,173 14–15–6 34
36 December 28, 2008 @ Washington Capitals 1–4 Verizon Center 18,277 14–16–6 34
37 December 30, 2008 Atlanta Thrashers 4–3 (OT) Air Canada Centre 19,260 15–16–6 36
January 4–7–2 (Home 2–4–1, Road 2–3–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record Points
38 January 1, 2009 Buffalo Sabres 1–4 Air Canada Centre 19,176 15–17–6 36
39 January 3, 2009 Ottawa Senators 3–1 Air Canada Centre 19,406 16–17–6 38
40 January 6, 2009 Florida Panthers 2–4 Air Canada Centre 19,197 16–18–6 38
41 January 8, 2009 @ Montreal Canadiens 2–6 Bell Centre 21,273 16–19–6 38
42 January 10, 2009 @ Philadelphia Flyers 1–4 Wachovia Center 19,787 16–20–6 38
43 January 13, 2009 Nashville Predators 0–2 Air Canada Centre 19,223 16–21–6 38
44 January 15, 2009 @ Carolina Hurricanes 6–4 RBC Center 18,037 17–21–6 40
45 January 16, 2009 @ Atlanta Thrashers 3–4 (OT) Philips Arena 15,619 17–21–7 41
46 January 19, 2009 Carolina Hurricanes 0–2 Air Canada Centre 19,018 17–22–7 41
47 January 21, 2009 Boston Bruins 3–4 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,258 17–22–8 42
48 January 27, 2009 @ Minnesota Wild 1–6 Xcel Energy Center 18,568 17–23–8 42
49 January 29, 2009 @ Colorado Avalanche 7–4 Pepsi Center 15,216 18–23–8 44
50 January 31, 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Air Canada Centre 19,570 19–23–8 46
February 6–3–4 (Home 2–1–3, Road 4–2–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record Points
51 February 3, 2009 Florida Panthers 3–4 (OT) Air Canada Centre 19,095 19–23–9 47
52 February 4, 2009 @ Buffalo Sabres 0–5 HSBC Arena 17,355 19–24–9 47
53 February 7, 2009 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Bell Centre 21,273 20–24–9 49
54 February 10, 2009 @ Florida Panthers 4–5 (OT) BankAtlantic Center 13,764 20–24–10 50
55 February 12, 2009 @ Tampa Bay 4–6 St. Pete Times Forum 16,526 20–25–10 50
56 February 14, 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–2 Air Canada Centre 19,365 21–25–10 52
57 February 17, 2009 Buffalo Sabres 1–4 Air Canada Centre 19,287 21–26–10 52
58 February 19, 2009 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–4 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,179 21–26–11 53
59 February 21, 2009 Vancouver Canucks 2–3 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,504 21–26–12 54
60 February 22, 2009 @ New York Rangers 3–2 (OT) Madison Square Garden 18,200 22–26–12 56
61 February 25, 2009 New York Rangers 2–1 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,383 23–26–12 58
62 February 26, 2009 @ New York Islanders 5–4 (SO) Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,201 24–26–12 60
63 February 28, 2009 @ Ottawa Senators 4–3 (OT) Scotiabank Place 20,050 25–26–12 62
March 6–6–1 (Home 3–3–1, Road 3–3–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record Points
64 March 3, 2009 New Jersey Devils 2–3 (OT) Air Canada Centre 19,389 25–26–13 63
65 March 5, 2009 @ Washington Capitals 2–1 Verizon Center 18,277 26–26–13 65
66 March 7, 2009 Edmonton Oilers 1–4 Air Canada Centre 19,364 26–27–13 65
67 March 9, 2009 @ Ottawa Senators 1–2 Scotiabank Place 18,898 26–28–13 65
68 March 10, 2009 New York Islanders 3–2 (OT) Air Canada Centre 19,041 27–28–13 67
69 March 12, 2009 Tampa Bay Lightning 1–4 Air Canada Centre 19,209 27–29–13 67
70 March 14, 2009 Calgary Flames 8–6 Air Canada Centre 19,356 28–29–13 69
71 March 17, 2009 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 4–3 (SO) St. Pete Times Forum 18,793 29–29–13 71
72 March 19, 2009 @ Florida Panthers 1–3 BankAtlantic Center 15,467 29–30–13 71
73 March 21, 2009 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Bell Centre 21,273 30–30–13 73
74 March 24, 2009 Washington Capitals 3–2 (SO) Air Canada Centre 19,362 31–30–13 75
75 March 27, 2009 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–5 HSBC Arena 18,620 31–31–13 75
76 March 28, 2009 Boston Bruins 5–7 Air Canada Centre 19,360 31–32–13 75
April 3–3–0 (Home 2–2–0, Road 1–1–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Location Attendance Record Points
77 April 1, 2009 Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 Air Canada Centre 19,340 32–32–13 77
78 April 3, 2009 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5–8 Wachovia Center 19,727 32–33–13 77
79 April 4, 2009 Montreal Canadiens 2–6 Air Canada Centre 19,516 32–34–13 77
80 April 7, 2009 @ New Jersey Devils 4–1 Prudential Center 15,046 33–34–13 79
81 April 8, 2009 Buffalo Sabres 1–3 Air Canada Centre 19,516 33–35–13 79
82 April 11, 2009 Ottawa Senators 5–2 Air Canada Centre 19,370 34–35–13 81
† Hockey Hall of Fame Game
Schedule

Overtime statistics

Games Won Lost Goal scorers
Overtime 10 4 6 Pavel Kubina (2), Niklas Hagman, Mikhail Grabovski
Shootout 13 6 7
23 10 13

Playoffs

The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to qualify for the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Player statistics

Final stats[12]

Skaters

Goaltenders

Regular Season
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Vesa Toskala 53 52 3056 22 17 11 166 3.26 1518 .891 1 0 0 2
Curtis Joseph 21 11 841 5 9 1 50 3.57 383 .869 0 0 0 0
Martin Gerber† 12 12 705 6 5 0 38 3.23 402 .905 0 0 0 0
Justin Pogge 7 6 372 1 4 1 27 4.36 173 .844 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Maple Leafs. Stats reflect time with Maple Leafs only.
‡Traded mid-season.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached

Transactions

On October 6, the team placed Mark Bell on waivers.

Trades

June 19, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Jamal Mayers 		To St. Louis Blues
3rd-round pick in 2008 – James Livingston
June 20, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
1st-round (5th overall) pick in 2008 – Luke Schenn 		To New York Islanders
1st-round (7th overall) pick in 2008 – Colin Wilson
Two conditional picks – Shawn Lalonde and Mat Clark
July 3, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Mikhail Grabovski 		To Montreal Canadiens
Greg Pateryn
2nd-round pick in 2010 – Jared Knight
July 14, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Ryan Hollweg 		To New York Rangers
5th-round pick in 2009 – Andy Bathgate
September 2, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Mike Van Ryn 		To Florida Panthers
Bryan McCabe[13]
4th-round pick in 2010 – Sam Brittain
November 24, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Lee Stempniak 		To St. Louis Blues
Alexander Steen
Carlo Colaiacovo
January 7, 2009 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Brad May 		To Anaheim Ducks
Conditional 6th-round draft pick in 2010 (condition not satisfied)[14]
January 21, 2009 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Ryan Hamilton 		To Minnesota Wild
Robbie Earl
March 4, 2009 To Toronto Maple Leafs
2nd-round draft pick in 2009 – Kenny Ryan
Conditional draft pick 		To New York Rangers
Nik Antropov
March 4, 2009 To Toronto Maple Leafs
2nd-round draft pick in 2009 – Jesse Blacker 		To Buffalo Sabres
Dominic Moore
March 4, 2009 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Olaf Kolzig
Jamie Heward
Andy Rogers
4th-round pick in 2009 		To Tampa Bay Lightning
Richard Petiot

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms
Curtis Joseph Calgary Flames 1 year, $700,000
Jeff Finger Colorado Avalanche 4 years, $14 million
Niklas Hagman Dallas Stars 4 years, $12 million
Christian Hanson University of Notre Dame 2 years, $1.575 million
Tyler Bozak University of Denver 2 years, entry level
Player New team
Darcy Tucker Colorado Avalanche
Andrew Raycroft Colorado Avalanche
Kyle Wellwood Vancouver Canucks
Scott Clemmensen New Jersey Devils
Andy Wozniewski St. Louis Blues

Claimed from waivers

Player Former team Date claimed off waivers
Martin Gerber Ottawa Senators March 4, 2009
Erik Reitz New York Rangers March 4, 2009

Draft picks

Toronto's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft[15] in Ottawa.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Club Team
1 5 Luke Schenn (D)  Canada Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
2 60 (from Pittsburgh) Jimmy Hayes (RW)  United States Lincoln Stars (USHL)
4 98 Mikhail Stefanovich (C)  Belarus Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5 128 Greg Pateryn (D)  United States Ohio Junior Blue Jackets (USHL)
5 129 (from Phoenix) Joel Champagne (C)  Canada Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
5 130 (from Florida) Jerome Flaake (LW)  Germany Kölner Haie (DEL)
6 158 Grant Rollheiser (G)  Canada Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
7 188 Andrew MacWilliam (D)  Canada Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)

See also

Farm teams

References

  1. ^ globeandmail.com: Burke stays put, leaving Leafs in the lurch
  2. ^ Paul Maurice fired as Leafs head coach
  3. ^ CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Leafs' timing questionable[usurped]
  4. ^ Gretzky's focus remains in Phoenix, not Toronto
  5. ^ CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Wilson faces different challenge with Leafs[usurped]
  6. ^ CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Leafs hire Al Coates[usurped]
  7. ^ CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Nieuwendyk brought in as GM's right-hand man[usurped]
  8. ^ Toronto Maple Leafs – Mike Ulmer's Blog: Leafs Begin Promised Overhaul – 24 June 2008 Archived June 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Toronto Maple Leafs – News: Maple Leafs To Buy Out Tucker – 24 June 2008 Archived June 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "2008-09 NHL Summary".
  11. ^ "2008-09 NHL Schedule and Results".
  12. ^ "2008–2009 Regular Season Stats – Points – Toronto Maple Leafs – Statistics". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  13. ^ [1][usurped]
  14. ^ "Tradelog Detail". Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  15. ^ "NHL.com – Stats". June 21, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2008. [dead link‍]