1931–32 NHL season

The 1931–32 NHL season was the 15th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Quakers suspended operations, leaving eight teams to play 48 games each. In the Stanley Cup final, the Toronto Maple Leafs swept the New York Rangers in three games to win the franchise's third Stanley Cup championship.
==League business==
At the September 26, 1931, NHL meeting, the requests of the Philadelphia Quakers and the Ottawa Senators to suspend their franchises for the season were granted. The eight remaining teams divided up the Ottawa and Philadelphia players, whose contracts were leased from Ottawa and Philadelphia. (The Quakers would not return) The players went to other teams, but their contracts were intended to revert to the original clubs. Ottawa received an offer of $300,000 for the team, on the condition that it could move to Chicago and play in the new Chicago Stadium but the owners of the Chicago Blackhawks refused to allow the new team within their territory. The Detroit Falcons were bankrupt and went into receivership.
Meanwhile, the American Hockey Association, which had become the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1930–31 and declared itself a major league, was condemned as an outlaw league by NHL president Frank Calder. Among the reasons Calder cited for his actions was that the AHL had put a franchise in Chicago, which had an NHL franchise, and a franchise in Buffalo where the NHL had a minor league affiliate. The AHL proposed as Stanley Cup challenge, and the Stanley Cup trustees ordered the NHL to play off. However, the Buffalo team collapsed and Calder entered into negotiations to merge the Chicago Shamrocks, owned by James Norris, with the Detroit Falcons, now bankrupt. The AHL signed an agreement with the NHL to become its minor league affiliate.
==Regular season==
Howie Morenz was as effective as ever for the Montreal Canadiens and won the Hart Trophy again, as the Habs once again finished first. The Rangers finished first in the American Division. But it was to be the year of Toronto, with the NHL's leading scorer Harvey "Busher" Jackson leading the way. The Maple Leaf Gardens was built and opened in November 1931, a remarkable achievement. At one point, the whole project was near collapse, but when Conn Smythe and Frank Selke convinced the unions to accept stock in the Gardens as partial payment of wages, Maple Leaf Gardens was built. Chicago spoiled the home opener with a 2–1 win and it was the Black Hawks Mush March who scored the Gardens first goal.
The Montreal Maroons were very interested in obtaining Eddie Shore from Boston. James Strachan, president of the Maroons, said he was willing to pay up to $40,000 for his contract. However, there was no deal. As Boston had fallen to the bottom of the league, it was doubtful that the Bruins would part with their ace defenceman.
===Final standings===
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in green.
Canadian Division 	GP	W 	L 	T	Pts	GF 	GA 	PIM
Montreal Canadiens 	48	25	16	7	57 	128	111	450
Toronto Maple Leafs	48	23	18	7	53 	155	127	625
Montreal Maroons 	48	19	22	7	45 	142	139	593
New York Americans 	48	16	24	8	40 	95 	142	596
American Division 	GP	W 	L 	T 	Pts	GF 	GA 	PIM
New York Rangers 	48	23	17	8 	54 	134	112	511
Chicago Black Hawks	48	18	19	11	47 	86 	101	464
Detroit Falcons 	48	18	20	10	46 	95 	108	415
Boston Bruins 	48	15	21	12	42 	122	117	373
==Playoffs==
The Montreal Canadiens were favored for a third straight Cup, but injuries to Pit Lepine and Aurel Joliat dashed that dream. With Joliat half throttle and Lepine out, the Canadiens were no match for the speedy Rangers. Toronto broke through Chuck Gardiner's goaltending to polish Chicago off, then they beat the Montreal Maroons.
=== First round ===
{| class="wikitable" 	Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers 	Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers 	Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers 	Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers 	Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers 	Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers 	Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers
Date 	Away Team 	Away Team 	Home Team 	Home Team 	Notes 	 	
March 24 	NY Rangers 	3 	4 	Mtl. Canadiens 	 	 	
March 26 	NY Rangers 	4 	3 	Mtl. Canadiens 	3OT 	 	
March 27 	Mtl. Canadiens 	0 	1 	NY Rangers 	 	 	
March 30 	Mtl. Canadiens 	2 	5 	NY Rangers 	 	 	
NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.	NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.	NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.	NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.	NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.	NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.	NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.	
{| class="wikitable" 	Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs	Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs	Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs	Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs	Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs	Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Date 	Away Team 	Away Team 	Home Team 	Home Team 	 	
March 27 	Toronto 	0 	1 	Chicago 	 	
March 29 	Chicago 	1 	6 	Toronto 	 	
Toronto won the series 6-2 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 6-2 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 6-2 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 6-2 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 6-2 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 6-2 in total goals.	
=== Second round ===
{| class="wikitable" 	Montreal Maroons vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 	Montreal Maroons vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 	Montreal Maroons vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 	Montreal Maroons vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 	Montreal Maroons vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 	Montreal Maroons vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 	Montreal Maroons vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Date 	Away Team 	Away Team 	Home Team 	Home Team 	Notes 	 	
March 30 	Toronto 	1 	1 	Mtl. Maroons 	 	 	
April 2 	Mtl. Maroons 	2 	3 	Toronto 	OT 	 	
Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.	Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.	
===Finals===
The Toronto Maple Leafs swept the best-of-five series against the New York Rangers three games to none. The first two games were to be played in New York City but because the circus was in town, the second game was played in Boston. The third and final game was played in Toronto. It was called the "Tennis Series", because the Leafs scored 6 goals in each game. The Rangers scored 4 times in their own building, twice at Boston Garden, and four more in Toronto.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Rangers
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 5	Toronto Maple Leafs	6 	New York Rangers 	4 	
April 7	Toronto Maple Leafs	6 	New York Rangers 	2 	(played in Boston)
April 9	New York Rangers 	4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	6 	
Toronto wins best-of-five series 3–0.
==Awards==
1931–32 NHL awards 	1931–32 NHL awards
O'Brien Cup:(Canadian Division champion) 	Montreal Canadiens
Prince of Wales Trophy:(American Division champion)	New York Rangers
Hart Trophy:(Most valuable player) 	Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens
Lady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) 	Joe Primeau, Toronto Maple Leafs
Vezina Trophy:(Fewest goals allowed) 	Chuck Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks
==Player statistics==
===Leading scorers===
Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Busher Jackson 	Toronto Maple Leafs	48	28	25	53 	63
Joe Primeau 	Toronto Maple Leafs	46	13	37	50 	25
Howie Morenz 	Montreal Canadiens 	48	24	25	49 	46
Charlie Conacher	Toronto Maple Leafs	44	34	14	48 	66
Bill Cook 	New York Rangers 	48	34	14	48 	33
Dave Trottier 	Montreal Maroons 	48	26	18	44 	94
Hooley Smith 	Montreal Maroons 	43	11	33	44 	49
Babe Siebert 	Montreal Maroons 	48	21	18	39 	64
Dit Clapper 	Boston Bruins 	48	17	22	39 	21
Aurel Joliat 	Montreal Canadiens 	48	15	24	39 	46
Source: NHL.
===Leading goaltenders===
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Player 	Team 	GP	W 	L 	T 	Mins	GA 	SO	GAA
Charlie Gardiner 	Chicago Black Hawks	48	18	19	11	2989	92 	4 	1.85
Alec Connell 	Detroit Falcons 	48	18	20	10	3050	108	6 	2.12
George Hainsworth	Montreal Canadiens 	48	25	16	7 	2998	110	6 	2.20
John Ross Roach 	New York Rangers 	48	23	17	8 	3020	112	9 	2.23
Tiny Thompson 	Boston Bruins 	43	13	19	11	2698	103	9 	2.29
Lorne Chabot 	Toronto Maple Leafs	44	22	16	6 	2698	106	4 	2.36
Source: NHL.
==Team Photos==
31-32BosBru.jpg|Boston Bruins
31-32Chibh.jpg|Chicago Black Hawks
31-32DetFal.jpg|Detroit Falcons
31-32MtlCdn.jpg|Montreal Canadiens
31-32MtlMar.jpg|Montreal Maroons
31-32NYR.jpg|New York Rangers
31-32TorML.jpg|Toronto Maple Leafs
==References==
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;Notes
==External links==
*Hockey Database
*NHL.com
Category:1931 in ice hockey
Category:1932 in ice hockey