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2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs season

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2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division5th Northeast
Conference12th Eastern
2007–08 record36–35–11
Home record18–17–6
Road record18–18–5
Goals for231
Goals against260
Team information
General managerJohn Ferguson Jr. (To Jan. 22)
Cliff Fletcher (interim)
CoachPaul Maurice
CaptainMats Sundin
Alternate captainsTomas Kaberle
Bryan McCabe
ArenaAir Canada Centre
Average attendance19,434 (103.3%)
Team leaders
GoalsMats Sundin (32)
AssistsMats Sundin (46)
PointsMats Sundin (78)
Penalty minutesPavel Kubina (116)
Plus/minusMats Sundin (+17)
WinsVesa Toskala (33)
Goals against averageVesa Toskala (2.74)

The 2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs season began October 4, 2007. It is the 91st season of the franchise, 81st season as the Maple Leafs.

In an effort to return to the playoffs in 2007–08, the Leafs made two significant moves during the off-season. The first was to acquire goaltender Vesa Toskala (along with Mark Bell) from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for three draft picks.[1] Toronto also signed free agent Jason Blake to a five-year, $20 million contract. Blake reached the 40-goal mark for the first time in 2006–07.[2]

With the Leafs struggling in the Northeast Division, the future of John Ferguson Jr.'s tenure as general manager has been widely debated after club president Richard Peddie admitted that hiring Ferguson was "a mistake".[3] According to TSN, the Leafs asked former Toronto general manager Cliff Fletcher to serve as interim general manager early in January.[4] On January 22, it was announced that Ferguson's time with the club had ended, as the board of directors at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment voted to make a change. Fletcher was named interim general manager of the team.[5]

Defenceman Tomas Kaberle was selected to represent the Maple Leafs and the Eastern Conference at the 2008 All-Star Game in Atlanta, Georgia.[6] He hit all four targets in four shots to become the winner of the accuracy competition.

Regular season

[edit]

On October 8, 2007, newly acquired winger Jason Blake announced that he had chronic myelogenous leukemia, a treatable form of cancer. He continued playing during treatment.

In mid-November 2007, Jiri Tlusty was caught in a scandal when nude photos of him appeared on the Internet. Tlusty apologized for this incident and admitted that he made a mistake.

The Maple Leafs struggled on the penalty kill during the regular season, allowing an NHL-high 77 power-play goals.[7]

Divisional standings

[edit]
Northeast Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 82 47 25 10 262 222 104
2 Ottawa Senators 82 43 31 8 261 247 94
3 Boston Bruins 82 41 29 12 212 222 94
4 Buffalo Sabres 82 39 31 12 255 242 90
5 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 36 35 11 231 260 83

Conference standings

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Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 z – Montreal Canadiens NE 82 47 25 10 262 222 104
2 y – Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 47 27 8 247 216 102
3 y – Washington Capitals SE 82 43 31 8 242 231 94
4 New Jersey Devils AT 82 46 29 7 206 197 99
5 New York Rangers AT 82 42 27 13 213 199 97
6 Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 42 29 11 248 233 95
7 Ottawa Senators NE 82 43 31 8 261 247 94
8 Boston Bruins NE 82 41 29 12 212 222 94
8.5
9 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 43 33 6 252 249 92
10 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 39 31 12 255 242 90
11 Florida Panthers SE 82 38 35 9 216 226 85
12 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 36 35 11 231 260 83
13 New York Islanders AT 82 35 38 9 194 243 79
14 Atlanta Thrashers SE 82 34 40 8 216 272 76
15 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 31 42 9 223 267 71

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

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

Playoffs

[edit]

For the third straight year, the Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs.

Schedule and results

[edit]

October

[edit]

Record: 5–5–3; Home: 3–4–2; Road: 2–1–1

Game # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points
1 October 3 Ottawa 4–3 Toronto OT Raycroft 19,476 0–0–1 1
2 October 4 Toronto 2–3 Ottawa Toskala 19,857 0–1–1 1
3 October 6 Montreal 3–4 Toronto OT Toskala 19,476 1–1–1 3
4 October 9 Carolina 7–1 Toronto Toskala 19,224 1–2–1 3
5 October 11 N.Y. Islanders 1–8 Toronto Raycroft 19,319 2–2–1 5
6 October 13 Pittsburgh 6–4 Toronto Toskala 19,479 2–3–1 5
7 October 15 Toronto 4–5 Buffalo OT Raycroft 18,217 2–3–2 6
8 October 18 Florida 2–3 Toronto Toskala 19,349 3–3–2 8
9 October 20 Chicago 6–4 Toronto Raycroft 19,314 3–4–2 8
10 October 23 Atlanta 5–4 Toronto SO Toskala 19,210 3–4–3 9
11 October 25 Toronto 5–2 Pittsburgh Toskala 17,051 4–4–3 11
12 October 27 Toronto 4–1 N.Y. Rangers Toskala 18,200 5–4–3 13
13 October 29 Washington 7–1 Toronto Toskala 19,316 5–5–3 13

November

[edit]

Record: 4–6–3; Home: 1–1–3; Road: 3–5–0

Game # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points
14 November 2 Toronto 2–3 New Jersey Toskala 14,523 5–6–3 13
15 November 3 Toronto 3–2 Montreal Toskala 21,273 6–6–3 15
16 November 6 Toronto 1–5 Ottawa Toskala 19,613 6–7–3 15
17 November 9 Toronto 3–0 Buffalo Raycroft 18,690 7–7–3 17
18 November 10 † N.Y. Rangers 3–2 Toronto SO Toskala 19,503 7–7–4 18
19 November 13 Montreal 4–3 Toronto OT Raycroft 19,595 7–7–5 19
20 November 15 Toronto 2–5 Boston Raycroft 16,373 7–8–5 19
21 November 17 Ottawa 0–3 Toronto Toskala 19,596 8–8–5 21
22 November 20 Boston 4–2 Toronto Toskala 19,441 8–9–5 21
23 November 23 Toronto 1–3 Dallas Toskala 18,409 8–10–5 21
24 November 24 Toronto 1–5 Phoenix Raycroft 17,190 8–11–5 21
25 November 27 Montreal 4–3 Toronto SO Toskala 19,608 8–11–6 22
26 November 29 Toronto 4–2 Atlanta Toskala 14,031 9–11–6 24

December

[edit]

Record: 6–5–2; Home: 3–2–0; Road: 3–3–2

Game # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points
27 December 1 Pittsburgh 2–4 Toronto Toskala 19,534 10–11–6 26
28 December 4 Nashville 1–3 Toronto Toskala 19,400 11–11–6 28
29 December 6 Toronto 6–2 N.Y. Rangers Toskala 18,200 12–11–6 30
30 December 8 Boston 2–1 Toronto Toskala 19,441 12–12–6 30
31 December 10 Tampa Bay 1–6 Toronto Toskala 19,454 13–12–6 32
32 December 14 Toronto 4–0 Atlanta Toskala 16,424 14–12–6 34
33 December 15 Toronto 1–4 Montreal Toskala 21,273 14–13–6 34
34 December 18 Toronto 2–3 Carolina OT Toskala 17,045 14–13–7 35
35 December 20 Toronto 1–2 Tampa Bay Toskala 19,131 14–14–7 35
36 December 22 Toronto 2–1 Florida OT Toskala 18,500 15–14–7 37
37 December 26 Toronto 3–4 N.Y. Islanders OT Raycroft 15,301 15–14–8 38
38 December 27 Toronto 1–4 Philadelphia Raycroft 19,727 15–15–8 38
39 December 29 N.Y. Rangers 6–1 Toronto Raycroft 19,408 15–16–8 38

January

[edit]

Record:5–8–1 ; Home: 4–2–0; Road: 1–6–1

Game # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points
40 January 1 Tampa Bay 3–4 Toronto SO Clemmensen 19,347 16–16–8 40
41 January 3 Toronto 2–6 Pittsburgh Clemmensen 17,074 16–17–8 40
42 January 5 Philadelphia 3–2 Toronto Raycroft 19,412 16–18–8 40
43 January 9 Toronto 0–5 Anaheim Toskala 17,174 16–19–8 40
44 January 10 Toronto 2–5 Los Angeles Raycroft 18,118 16–20–8 40
45 January 12 Toronto 2–3 San Jose Toskala 17,496 16–21–8 40
46 January 15 Carolina 4–5 Toronto Toskala 19,444 17–21–8 42
47 January 17 Toronto 3–2 Boston SO Toskala 13,907 18–21–8 44
48 January 19 Buffalo 2–4 Toronto Toskala 19,436 19–21–8 46
49 January 20 Toronto 2–3 New Jersey Raycroft 15,291 19–22–8 46
50 January 23 Washington 2–3 Toronto Toskala 19,479 20–22–8 48
51 January 24 Toronto 1–2 Washington Toskala 14,094 20–23–8 48
52 January 29 St. Louis 3–2 Toronto Toskala 19,363 20–24–8 48
53 January 31 Toronto 2–3 Carolina OT Toskala 15,159 20–24–9 49

February

[edit]

Record: 8–4–1 ; Home: 5–3–0 ; Road: 3–1–1

Game # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points
54 February 2 Ottawa 2–4 Toronto Toskala 19,543 21–24–9 51
55 February 5 Florida 8–0 Toronto Toskala 19,430 21–25–9 51
56 February 7 Toronto 4–2 Montreal Toskala 21,273 22–25–9 53
57 February 9 Detroit 2–3 Toronto OT Toskala 19,510 23–25–9 55
58 February 13 Toronto 0–1 Buffalo Toskala 18,690 23–26–9 55
59 February 14 NY Islanders 5–4 Toronto Toskala 19,227 23–27–9 55
60 February 16 Boston 3–4 Toronto OT Toskala 19,481 24–27–9 57
61 February 19 Columbus 1–3 Toronto Toskala 19,347 25–27–9 59
62 February 21 Buffalo 5–1 Toronto Toskala 19,467 25–28–9 59
63 February 23 Atlanta 1–3 Toronto Toskala 19,390 26–28–9 61
64 February 25 Toronto 5–0 Ottawa Toskala 19,861 27–28–9 63
65 February 27 Toronto 4–3 Florida SO Toskala 14,557 28–28–9 65
66 February 29 Toronto 2–3 Tampa Bay OT Toskala 20,641 28–28–10 66

March

[edit]

Record: 8–5–0; Home: 2–4–0; Road: 6–1–0

Game # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points
67 March 1 Toronto 3–2 Washington Toskala 18,277 29–28–10 68
68 March 4 New Jersey 4–1 Toronto Toskala 19,507 29–29–10 68
69 March 6 Toronto 8–2 Boston Toskala 15,483 30–29–10 70
70 March 8 New Jersey 2–1 Toronto Toskala 19,469 30–30–10 70
71 March 11 Philadelphia 3–4 Toronto OT Toskala 19,507 31–30–10 72
72 March 12 Toronto 3–2 Philadelphia Toskala 19,642 32–30–10 74
73 March 15 Buffalo 6–2 Toronto Toskala 19,462 32–31–10 74
74 March 18 Toronto 3–1 NY Islanders Toskala 13,134 33–31–10 76
75 March 21 Toronto 4–1 Buffalo Toskala 18,690 34–31–10 78
76 March 22 Toronto 5–4 Ottawa Toskala 20,183 35–31–10 80
77 March 25 Boston 6–2 Toronto Toskala 19,562 35–32–10 80
78 March 27 Toronto 2–4 Boston Toskala 16,659 35–33–10 80
79 March 29 Montreal 2–4 Toronto Toskala 19,584 36–33–10 82

April

[edit]

Record: 0–2–1; Home: 0–1–1; Road: 0–1–0

Game # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points
80 April 1 Buffalo 4–3 Toronto SO Raycroft 19,288 36–33–11 83
81 April 3 Ottawa 8–2 Toronto Toskala 19,466 36–34–11 83
82 April 5 Toronto 1–3 Montreal Raycroft 21,273 36–35–11 83

Playoffs

[edit]

On March 27, 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated from postseason contention for the third straight season following a 4–2 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Player statistics

[edit]

Final stats[8]

Skaters

[edit]

Goaltenders

[edit]
Regular Season
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Vesa Toskala 66 64 3837 33 25 6 175 2.74 1824 .904 3 0 5 4
Andrew Raycroft 19 16 965 2 9 5 63 3.92 509 .876 1 0 0 0
Scott Clemmensen 3 2 154 1 1 0 10 3.90 62 .839 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

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Records

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  • On October 11, 2007, in an 8–1 victory over the New York Islanders, Mats Sundin scored his 390th goal as a Leaf, and earned his 917th point in a Leaf uniform breaking Darryl Sittler's team record as the all-time points and goals leader.

Milestones

[edit]
Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached
Tomas Kaberle 600th NHL Game October 3, 2007
Darcy Tucker 1,200th NHL PIM October 9, 2007
Matt Stajan 100th NHL Point October 11, 2007
Andy Wozniewski 1st NHL Goal October 11, 2007
Bryan McCabe 1,500th NHL PIM October 13, 2007
Mats Sundin 1,000th NHL PIM October 13, 2007
Nik Antropov 200th NHL Point October 18, 2007
Pavel Kubina 600th NHL Game October 18, 2007
Wade Belak 400th NHL Game October 20, 2007
Chad Kilger 100th NHL Goal October 20, 2007
Anton Stralman 1st NHL Game October 23, 2007
Jiri Tlusty 1st NHL Game
1st NHL Goal
1st NHL Point		 October 25, 2007
Ian White 100th NHL Game October 27, 2007
Jason Blake 300th NHL Point November 2, 2007
Jiri Tlusty 1st NHL Assist November 2, 2007
Mats Sundin 400th Goal with the Leafs November 27, 2007
Scott Clemmensen 1st NHL Win with the Leafs January 1, 2008
Anton Stralman 1st NHL Goal March 21, 2008

Transactions

[edit]

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

[edit]
June 22, 2007 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Vesa Toskala
Mark Bell 		To San Jose Sharks
1st round pick in 2007 (Lars Eller)
2nd round pick in 2007 (Aaron Palushaj)
4th round pick in 2009 (Craig Smith)
February 26, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
5th round pick in 2008 (Jerome Flaake) 		To Florida Panthers
Wade Belak
February 26, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
3rd round pick in 2008 (James Livingston) 		To Florida Panthers
Chad Kilger
February 26, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs
2nd round pick in 2008 (Jimmy Hayes)
5th round pick in 2009 (Andy Bathgate) 		To Pittsburgh Penguins
Hal Gill

Free agents

[edit]
Player Former team Contract Terms
Jason Blake New York Islanders 5-year, $20 million
Scott Clemmensen New Jersey Devils 1 year, $500,000
Player New team
Yanic Perreault Chicago Blackhawks

Claimed from waivers

[edit]
Player Former team Date claimed off waivers
Dominic Moore Minnesota Wild January 11, 2008

Draft picks

[edit]

Toronto's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.[9]

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
3 74 Dale Mitchell RW  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHL)
4 99 Matt Frattin RW  Canada Fort Saskatchewan Traders (AJHL)
4 104 Ben Winnett LW  Canada Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)
5 134 Juraj Mikus D  Slovakia Dukla Trenčín (Slovak Extraliga)
6 164 Chris DiDomenico C  Canada Saint John Sea Dogs (QJHML)
7 194 Carl Gunnarsson D  Sweden Linköpings HC (Elitserien)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Leafs get Toskala and Bell from Sharks, TSN.ca, June 22, 2007
  2. ^ https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212474&hubname, TSN.ca, July 1, 2007
  3. ^ Peddie: Hiring Ferguson was a mistake, TSN.ca, November 27, 2007
  4. ^ McKenzie, Bob, Leafs ask Fletcher about interim GM job, TSN.ca, January 14, 2008
  5. ^ Sources: Ferguson's tenure as GM over, TSN.ca, January 22, 2008
  6. ^ 2008 Eastern Conference All-Stars Archived July 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, NHL.com
  7. ^ "2007-08 NHL Summary".
  8. ^ "2007–2008 Regular Season Stats – Points – Toronto Maple Leafs – Statistics". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  9. ^ 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com [dead link‍]
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