# 1970–71 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1970–71 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 54th season of the franchise, 44th as the Maple Leafs. Norm Ullman ranked sixth in the league in the scoring with 85 points. The Leafs placed fourth in the East to qualify for the playoffs. The Leafs lost to the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| = NHL All-Star | = Hall of Famer |
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 8 | Darryl Sittler | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 2 | 22 | Errol Thompson | Canada | Charlottetown Royals (NBSHL) |
| 3 | 36 | Gerry O'Flaherty | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 4 | 50 | Bob Gryp | Canada | Boston University (ECAC) |
| 5 | 64 | Luc Simard | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 78 | Cal Booth | Canada | Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) |
| 7 | 91 | Paul Larose | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 103 | Ron Low | Canada | Dauphin Kings (MJHL) |

## Regular season

In February, the Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers swung a large trade. Toronto picked up Bernie Parent and a second-round draft choice for Bruce Gamble, Mike Walton and a first-round draft choice.

### Season standings

East Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 57 | 14 | 7 | 399 | 207 | +192 | 121 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 78 | 49 | 18 | 11 | 259 | 177 | +82 | 109 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 42 | 23 | 13 | 291 | 216 | +75 | 97 |
| 4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 37 | 33 | 8 | 248 | 211 | +37 | 82 |
| 5 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 24 | 39 | 15 | 217 | 291 | −74 | 63 |
| 6 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 24 | 46 | 8 | 229 | 296 | −67 | 56 |
| 7 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 22 | 45 | 11 | 209 | 308 | −99 | 55 |

### Record vs. opponents
## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 11, 1970 | 3–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 14, 1970 | 7–3 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 17, 1970 | 2–6 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 18, 1970 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 21, 1970 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | L | October 24, 1970 | 0–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 1–5–0 |
| 7 | W | October 28, 1970 | 6–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | L | October 31, 1970 | 1–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 2–6–0 |
| 9 | W | November 1, 1970 | 5–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 3–6–0 |
| 10 | L | November 4, 1970 | 2–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 3–7–0 |
| 11 | L | November 6, 1970 | 4–8 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 3–8–0 |
| 12 | L | November 7, 1970 | 2–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 3–9–0 |
| 13 | L | November 11, 1970 | 2–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 3–10–0 |
| 14 | W | November 14, 1970 | 3–2 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 4–10–0 |
| 15 | L | November 15, 1970 | 2–4 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 4–11–0 |
| 16 | L | November 18, 1970 | 2–7 | Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 4–12–0 |
| 17 | L | November 19, 1970 | 1–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 4–13–0 |
| 18 | W | November 21, 1970 | 5–3 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 5–13–0 |
| 19 | T | November 24, 1970 | 4–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 5–13–1 |
| 20 | L | November 26, 1970 | 0–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 5–14–1 |
| 21 | W | November 28, 1970 | 9–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 6–14–1 |
| 22 | L | November 29, 1970 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 6–15–1 |
| 23 | W | December 2, 1970 | 7–0 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 7–15–1 |
| 24 | L | December 5, 1970 | 0–1 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 7–16–1 |
| 25 | L | December 6, 1970 | 2–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 7–17–1 |
| 26 | L | December 8, 1970 | 0–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 7–18–1 |
| 27 | W | December 9, 1970 | 4–0 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 8–18–1 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1970 | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 9–18–1 |
| 29 | W | December 13, 1970 | 4–0 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 10–18–1 |
| 30 | W | December 16, 1970 | 4–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 11–18–1 |
| 31 | W | December 19, 1970 | 2–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 12–18–1 |
| 32 | W | December 20, 1970 | 4–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 13–18–1 |
| 33 | W | December 23, 1970 | 7–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 14–18–1 |
| 34 | L | December 25, 1970 | 3–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 14–19–1 |
| 35 | W | December 26, 1970 | 9–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 15–19–1 |
| 36 | W | December 30, 1970 | 3–1 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 16–19–1 |
| 37 | W | January 2, 1971 | 13–0 | Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 17–19–1 |
| 38 | W | January 5, 1971 | 2–0 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 18–19–1 |
| 39 | T | January 6, 1971 | 4–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 18–19–2 |
| 40 | W | January 9, 1971 | 5–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 19–19–2 |
| 41 | W | January 10, 1971 | 3–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 20–19–2 |
| 42 | T | January 13, 1971 | 1–1 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 20–19–3 |
| 43 | L | January 14, 1971 | 0–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 20–20–3 |
| 44 | W | January 16, 1971 | 8–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 21–20–3 |
| 45 | L | January 17, 1971 | 1–9 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 21–21–3 |
| 46 | W | January 20, 1971 | 5–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 22–21–3 |
| 47 | L | January 22, 1971 | 2–5 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 22–22–3 |
| 48 | L | January 23, 1971 | 2–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 22–23–3 |
| 49 | L | January 27, 1971 | 1–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 22–24–3 |
| 50 | W | January 30, 1971 | 5–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 23–24–3 |
| 51 | W | February 3, 1971 | 6–2 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 24–24–3 |
| 52 | W | February 6, 1971 | 4–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 25–24–3 |
| 53 | W | February 7, 1971 | 4–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 26–24–3 |
| 54 | T | February 9, 1971 | 3–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 26–24–4 |
| 55 | W | February 10, 1971 | 3–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 27–24–4 |
| 56 | W | February 13, 1971 | 8–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 28–24–4 |
| 57 | L | February 14, 1971 | 1–5 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 28–25–4 |
| 58 | W | February 17, 1971 | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 29–25–4 |
| 59 | W | February 20, 1971 | 3–1 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 30–25–4 |
| 60 | W | February 21, 1971 | 4–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 31–25–4 |
| 61 | T | February 25, 1971 | 1–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 31–25–5 |
| 62 | W | February 27, 1971 | 2–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 32–25–5 |
| 63 | L | February 28, 1971 | 3–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 32–26–5 |
| 64 | W | March 3, 1971 | 3–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 33–26–5 |
| 65 | L | March 5, 1971 | 1–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 33–27–5 |
| 66 | T | March 6, 1971 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 33–27–6 |
| 67 | W | March 10, 1971 | 2–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 34–27–6 |
| 68 | L | March 13, 1971 | 2–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 34–28–6 |
| 69 | L | March 14, 1971 | 0–1 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 34–29–6 |
| 70 | L | March 18, 1971 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 34–30–6 |
| 71 | W | March 20, 1971 | 3–1 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 35–30–6 |
| 72 | T | March 21, 1971 | 1–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 35–30–7 |
| 73 | W | March 24, 1971 | 6–0 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 36–30–7 |
| 74 | L | March 25, 1971 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 36–31–7 |
| 75 | L | March 28, 1971 | 1–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 36–32–7 |
| 76 | T | March 31, 1971 | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 36–32–8 |
| 77 | L | April 3, 1971 | 3–8 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 36–33–8 |
| 78 | W | April 4, 1971 | 3–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 37–33–8 |

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

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Norm Ullman | 73 | 34 | 51 | 85 | 24 |
| Dave Keon | 76 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 4 |
| Paul Henderson | 72 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 34 |
| Ron Ellis | 78 | 24 | 29 | 53 | 10 |
| Billy MacMillan | 76 | 22 | 19 | 41 | 42 |
| Garry Monahan | 78 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 79 |
| Jim Harrison | 78 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 108 |
| Jim McKenny | 68 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 42 |
| Jim Dorey | 74 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 198 |
| Mike Pelyk | 73 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 54 |
| George Armstrong | 59 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 6 |
| Guy Trottier | 61 | 19 | 5 | 24 | 21 |
| Brian Spencer | 50 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 115 |
| Rick Ley | 76 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 151 |
| Darryl Sittler | 49 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 37 |
| Bob Baun | 58 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 123 |
| Mike Walton | 23 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 21 |
| Brad Selwood | 28 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| Brian Glennie | 54 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 31 |
| Denis Dupere | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Bob Liddington | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Brit Selby | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Doug Brindley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce Gamble | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Marchinko | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murray McLachlan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Murray | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Parent | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Plante | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rene Robert | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johnny Bower | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Errol Thompson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Jacques Plante | 2329 | 40 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 73 | 1.88 | 4 |
| Bernie Parent | 1040 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 46 | 2.65 | 0 |
| Bruce Gamble | 1226 | 23 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 83 | 3.87 | 2 |
| Murray McLachlan | 25 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9.60 | 0 |
| Johnny Bower | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4680 | 78 | 37 | 33 | 8 | 206 | 2.64 | 6 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Paul Henderson | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Dave Keon | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Jim McKenny | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Darryl Sittler | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 31 |
| Billy MacMillan | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Garry Monahan | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ron Ellis | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| George Armstrong | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Rick Ley | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Norm Ullman | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Bob Baun | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| Jim Dorey | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| Jim Harrison | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33 |
| Brian Spencer | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| Denis Dupere | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Glennie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Parent | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Pelyk | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Jacques Plante | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Trottier | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Bernie Parent | 235 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2.30 | 0 |
| Jacques Plante | 134 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.13 | 0 |
| Team: | 369 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 2.60 | 0 |

## Playoffs

* The New York Rangers battled the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs. The Rangers took the series 4 games to 2.

## Awards and records

* Dave Keon, Center, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Dave Keon, Runner up, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
* Jacques Plante, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star

## Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season.

### Trades

| August 1, 1970 | To Vancouver CanucksAndre Hinse | To Toronto Maple LeafsPat Hannigan Ted McCaskill |
| August 31, 1970 | To Buffalo SabresBrent Imlach | To Toronto Maple LeafsCash |
| September 1, 1970 | To Vancouver CanucksCash | To Toronto Maple LeafsLoan of Andre Hinse |
| September 2, 1970 | To Buffalo SabresFloyd Smith | To Toronto Maple LeafsCash |
| September 3, 1970 | To Los Angeles KingsBob Pulford | To Toronto Maple LeafsGarry Monahan Brian Murphy |
| November 13, 1970 | To St. Louis BluesBrit Selby | To Toronto Maple LeafsBob Baun |
| December 23, 1970 | To Montreal CanadiensTerry Clancy | To Toronto Maple LeafsCash |
| January 31, 1971 | To Philadelphia FlyersMike Walton Bruce Gamble 1st round pick in 1971 – Pierre Plante | To Toronto Maple LeafsBernie Parent 2nd round pick in 1971 – Rick Kehoe |
| February 1, 1971 | To Los Angeles KingsNorm Armstrong | To Toronto Maple LeafsDon Westbrooke |
| June 10, 1971 | To Boston BruinsCash | To Toronto Maple Leafs7th round pick in 1971 – Steve Johnson |

### Intra-League Draft

| June 8, 1971 | To Buffalo SabresRene Robert |
| June 8, 1971 | To California Golden SealsFrank Hughes |
| June 8, 1971 | To Buffalo SabresKen Murray |
| June 8, 1971 | From Buffalo SabresDon Marshall |

### Free agents

| Player | Former Team |
| Murray McLachlan | Undrafted Free Agent |
| Player | New Team |
| Brian Murphy | Springfield Kings (AHL) |