# 1981–82 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1981–82 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the Toronto Maple Leafs 65th season of the franchise, 55th season as the Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since 1973.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 6 | Jim Benning | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 2 | 24 | Gary Yaremchuk | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 3 | 55 | Ernie Godden | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
| 5 | 90 | Normand Lefrancois | Canada | Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 102 | Barry Brigley | Canada | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) |
| 7 | 132 | Andrew Wright | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
| 8 | 153 | Richard Turmel | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 174 | Greg Barber | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 10 | 195 | Marc Magnan | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 37 | 23 | 20 | 346 | 288 | 94 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 33 | 33 | 14 | 319 | 332 | 80 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 32 | 40 | 8 | 315 | 349 | 72 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 30 | 38 | 12 | 332 | 363 | 72 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 20 | 44 | 16 | 298 | 380 | 56 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 21 | 47 | 12 | 270 | 351 | 54 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
Chicago
—3−3−13−3−12−4−13−42−3−213−17−5
Detroit
3−3−1—1−62−53−3−12−3−211−20−4
Minnesota
3−3−16−1—3−3−14−0−33−3−119−10−6
St. Louis
4−2−15−23−3−1—5−21−4−218−13−4
Toronto
4−33−3−10−4−32−5—2−4−111−19−5
Winnipeg
3−2−23−2−23−3−14−1−24−2−1—17−10−8
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
Chicago
2−0−11−21−1−13−01−28−5−2
Detroit
1−1−13−00−2−11−21−1−16−6−3
Minnesota
1−0−21−0−20−2−12−0−11−1−15−3−7
St. Louis
2−12−10−31−22−17−8−0
Toronto
0−1−21−0−21−22−10−2−14−6−5
Winnipeg
2−12−11−23−01−29−6−0
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Chicago
2−11−21−1−10−2−11−25−8−2
Detroit
0−2−10−30−2−11−20−31−12−2
Minnesota
2−11−1−12−10−1−22−0−17−4−4
St. Louis
1−1−11−21−20−2−11−24−9−2
Toronto
0−30−2−10−30−2−11−1−11−11−3
Winnipeg
0−30−1−21−20−1−20−2−11−9−5
Vs. Patrick Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
0−30−31−1−11−0−22−14−8−3
Detroit
0−31−20−2−12−10−1−23−9−3
Minnesota
0−2−11−21−1−12−12−0−16−6−3
St. Louis
0−2−10−2−10−32−11−23−10−2
Toronto
0−31−1−11−21−0−21−24−8−3
Winnipeg
1−21−1−12–11–21−26–8–1 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 6, 1981 | 6–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | T | October 8, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | W | October 10, 1981 | 9–8 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | L | October 14, 1981 | 1–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | L | October 17, 1981 | 4–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | T | October 21, 1981 | 4–4 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 2–2–2 |
| 7 | L | October 23, 1981 | 2–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 2–3–2 |
| 8 | L | October 24, 1981 | 3–5 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 2–4–2 |
| 9 | L | October 27, 1981 | 5–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 2–5–2 |
| 10 | W | October 28, 1981 | 5–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 3–5–2 |
| 11 | L | October 31, 1981 | 5–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 3–6–2 |
| 12 | L | November 1, 1981 | 4–9 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 3–7–2 |
| 13 | L | November 4, 1981 | 4–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 3–8–2 |
| 14 | T | November 6, 1981 | 4–4 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 3–8–3 |
| 15 | W | November 7, 1981 | 9–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 4–8–3 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1981 | 3–4 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 4–9–3 |
| 17 | W | November 14, 1981 | 4–0 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 5–9–3 |
| 18 | L | November 18, 1981 | 5–8 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 5–10–3 |
| 19 | T | November 20, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 5–10–4 |
| 20 | L | November 21, 1981 | 3–5 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 5–11–4 |
| 21 | L | November 24, 1981 | 3–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 5–12–4 |
| 22 | T | November 25, 1981 | 3–3 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 5–12–5 |
| 23 | T | November 28, 1981 | 4–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 5–12–6 |
| 24 | W | November 29, 1981 | 6–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 6–12–6 |
| 25 | L | December 2, 1981 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 6–13–6 |
| 26 | W | December 5, 1981 | 9–4 | Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 7–13–6 |
| 27 | T | December 9, 1981 | 3–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 7–13–7 |
| 28 | L | December 11, 1981 | 2–11 | @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 7–14–7 |
| 29 | L | December 12, 1981 | 2–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 7–15–7 |
| 30 | T | December 16, 1981 | 6–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 7–15–8 |
| 31 | W | December 19, 1981 | 8–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 8–15–8 |
| 32 | W | December 20, 1981 | 3–1 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 9–15–8 |
| 33 | T | December 23, 1981 | 4–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 9–15–9 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1981 | 8–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 10–15–9 |
| 35 | L | December 27, 1981 | 3–7 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 10–16–9 |
| 36 | L | December 30, 1981 | 4–6 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 10–17–9 |
| 37 | W | December 31, 1981 | 5–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 11–17–9 |
| 38 | L | January 2, 1982 | 2–6 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 11–18–9 |
| 39 | T | January 6, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 11–18–10 |
| 40 | T | January 7, 1982 | 4–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 11–18–11 |
| 41 | W | January 9, 1982 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 12–18–11 |
| 42 | L | January 11, 1982 | 2–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 12–19–11 |
| 43 | W | January 13, 1982 | 2–1 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 13–19–11 |
| 44 | L | January 15, 1982 | 2–8 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 13–20–11 |
| 45 | W | January 16, 1982 | 7–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 14–20–11 |
| 46 | W | January 18, 1982 | 6–2 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 15–20–11 |
| 47 | T | January 20, 1982 | 4–4 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 15–20–12 |
| 48 | L | January 21, 1982 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 15–21–12 |
| 49 | L | January 23, 1982 | 2–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 15–22–12 |
| 50 | L | January 25, 1982 | 2–9 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 15–23–12 |
| 51 | L | January 27, 1982 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 15–24–12 |
| 52 | T | January 30, 1982 | 2–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 15–24–13 |
| 53 | W | January 31, 1982 | 5–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 16–24–13 |
| 54 | L | February 3, 1982 | 1–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 16–25–13 |
| 55 | L | February 6, 1982 | 1–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 16–26–13 |
| 56 | L | February 7, 1982 | 2–8 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 16–27–13 |
| 57 | L | February 10, 1982 | 1–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 16–28–13 |
| 58 | L | February 13, 1982 | 4–6 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 16–29–13 |
| 59 | T | February 15, 1982 | 3–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 16–29–14 |
| 60 | T | February 17, 1982 | 3–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 16–29–15 |
| 61 | L | February 18, 1982 | 3–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 16–30–15 |
| 62 | W | February 20, 1982 | 8–5 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 17–30–15 |
| 63 | L | February 23, 1982 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 17–31–15 |
| 64 | L | February 24, 1982 | 5–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 17–32–15 |
| 65 | T | February 27, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 17–32–16 |
| 66 | L | March 1, 1982 | 5–9 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 17–33–16 |
| 67 | L | March 3, 1982 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 17–34–16 |
| 68 | L | March 4, 1982 | 1–10 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 17–35–16 |
| 69 | L | March 6, 1982 | 1–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 17–36–16 |
| 70 | L | March 10, 1982 | 6–7 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 17–37–16 |
| 71 | L | March 13, 1982 | 2–10 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 17–38–16 |
| 72 | W | March 17, 1982 | 6–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 18–38–16 |
| 73 | L | March 20, 1982 | 0–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 18–39–16 |
| 74 | W | March 22, 1982 | 8–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 19–39–16 |
| 75 | W | March 24, 1982 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 20–39–16 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1982 | 1–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 20–40–16 |
| 77 | L | March 28, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 20–41–16 |
| 78 | L | March 30, 1982 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 20–42–16 |
| 79 | L | April 3, 1982 | 4–6 | Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 20–43–16 |
| 80 | L | April 4, 1982 | 1–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 20–44–16 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Rick Vaive | RW | 77 | 54 | 35 | 89 | 157 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 6 |
| Bill Derlago | C | 75 | 34 | 50 | 84 | 42 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Wilf Paiement | RW | 69 | 18 | 40 | 58 | 203 | -21 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| John Anderson | RW | 69 | 31 | 26 | 57 | 30 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Borje Salming | D | 69 | 12 | 44 | 56 | 170 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Manno | D | 72 | 9 | 41 | 50 | 67 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Terry Martin | LW | 72 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 39 | -18 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Darryl Sittler | C | 38 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 24 | -14 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Rene Robert | RW | 55 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 37 | -11 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Rocky Saganiuk | RW/C | 65 | 17 | 16 | 33 | 49 | -16 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Benning | D | 74 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 46 | -27 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Laurie Boschman | C | 54 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 150 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Norm Aubin | C | 43 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 22 | -16 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Dan Maloney | LW | 44 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 71 | -11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fred Boimistruck | D | 57 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 32 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Stew Gavin | LW | 38 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 29 | -6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob McGill | D | 68 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 263 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miroslav Frycer | RW | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 31 | -7 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Don Luce | C | 39 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 32 | -7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ron Zanussi | RW | 43 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 14 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walt Poddubny | LW | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Melrose | D | 64 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 186 | -26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fred Perlini | C | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Marshall | LW | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Trevor Johansen | D | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | -16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Korn | D/LW | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | G | 50 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Yaremchuk | C | 18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Harris | RW | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ernie Godden | C | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce Boudreau | C | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Gibson | D | 27 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 67 | -13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vincent Tremblay | G | 40 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ian Turnbull | D | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Hickey | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Higgins | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Hotham | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darwin McCutcheon | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Muni | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Parent | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Michel Larocque | 2647 | 50 | 10 | 24 | 8 | 207 | 4.69 | 0 |
| Vincent Tremblay | 2033 | 40 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 153 | 4.52 | 1 |
| Bob Parent | 120 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 6.50 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 20 | 44 | 16 | 373 | 4.66 | 1 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1981-82 season.

### Trades

| August 10, 1981 | To Los Angeles KingsBob Gladney 6th round pick in 1983 - Kevin Stevens | To Toronto Maple LeafsDon Luce |
| September 11, 1981 | To Pittsburgh PenguinsPaul Harrison | To Toronto Maple Leafs4th round pick in 1982 - Vladimir Ruzicka |
| October 16, 1981 | To New York RangersPat Hickey | To Toronto Maple Leafs5th round pick in 1982 - Sylvain Charland |
| November 11, 1981 | To Los Angeles KingsIan Turnbull (ice hockey) | To Toronto Maple LeafsBilly Harris John Gibson |
| January 20, 1982 | To Philadelphia FlyersDarryl Sittler | To Toronto Maple LeafsRich Costello Ken Strong 2nd round pick in 1982 - Peter Ihnacak |
| February 3, 1982 | To Pittsburgh PenguinsGreg Hotham | To Toronto Maple Leafs6th round pick in 1982 - Craig Kales 5th round pick in 1983 - Dan Hodgson |
| March 8, 1982 | To Detroit Red Wings4th round pick in 1982 - Craig Coxe 5th round pick in 1983 - Joey Kocur | To Toronto Maple LeafsJim Korn |
| March 8, 1982 | To Edmonton OilersLaurie Boschman | To Toronto Maple LeafsPhil Drouillard Walt Poddubny |
| March 9, 1982 | To Quebec NordiquesWilf Paiement | To Toronto Maple LeafsMiroslav Frycer 7th round pick in 1982 - Jeff Triano |

### Waivers

| February 19, 1982 | From Los Angeles KingsTrevor Johansen |

### Free agents

| Player | Former Team |
| Dave Logan | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Rick Blight | Vancouver Canucks |
| Bob Manno | Vancouver Canucks |
| Player | New Team |
| Tim Coulis | Vancouver Canucks |