2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs season

2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division 4th Northeast
Conference 13th Eastern
2011–12 record 35–37–10
Team information
General Manager Brian Burke
Coach Ron Wilson (Oct–Mar)
Randy Carlyle (Mar–Apr)
Captain Dion Phaneuf
Alternate captains Colby Armstrong
Mikhail Grabovski
Phil Kessel (Oct–Feb)
Mike Komisarek
Arena Air Canada Centre
Average attendance 19,484 (103.53%)
Team leaders
Goals Phil Kessel (37)
Assists Phil Kessel (45)
Points Phil Kessel (82)
Penalties in minutes Dion Phaneuf (90)
Plus/minus Joey Crabb (+3)
Wins Jonas Gustavsson (17)
Goals against average Jonas Gustavsson (2.92)
<2010–11 2012–13>

The 2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 95th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on November 22, 1917.[1] The team failed to make the playoffs for the 7th straight season.

Off-season

At the 2011 NHL Draft, General Manager Brian Burke fulfilled his pledge to trade up in the first round, trading the 30th (Rickard Rakell) and 39th (John Gibson) picks to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the 22nd pick, which was used to select Tyler Biggs. The Leafs also selected Stuart Percy with the 25th pick.

The Leafs made two key free agent additions, adding centers Tim Connolly from the Buffalo Sabres and Philippe Dupuis from the Colorado Avalanche. The Leafs also added to their blue line by trading Brett Lebda and prospect Robert Slaney to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Cody Franson and center Matthew Lombardi.

The Leafs suffered no major losses during the off-season, however Tim Brent, who had an impressive season with the Leafs, was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes and veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche. Other Leafs to depart the team included Danny Richmond (to the Washington Capitals), Christian Hanson, (to Washington) and Fabian Brunnstrom (to the Detroit Red Wings).

On October 4, the Leafs traded their fourth round pick at the 2012 NHL Draft to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for centre Dave Steckel.

Prior to the beginning of the regular season, the Leafs unveiled new alternate jerseys, similar to the ones they used when they last won the Stanley Cup in 1967.

Pre-season

The Maple Leafs went 4–4 in pre-season play.

Regular season

The Maple Leafs got off to a fast start, winning their first three games and seven of their first ten, finishing October in first place in the Northeast Division, second in the Conference. Phil Kessel was the NHL's leading points scorer with 18, and leading goal scorer with 10. James Reimer was the starting goaltender for the first five games, but was injured in his next start when the Montreal Candiens' Brian Gionta struck Reimer in the jaw while fighting for the puck. Early in the season, the Leafs' power play has dramatically improved, with a 21.6% conversion rate, good for third in the league as of December 17, 2011. However, when short-handed, they had been less efficient, with a 73.0% kill rate, the worst in the NHL.

On February 9, 2012, the NHL announced that the Leafs would play the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium for the 2013 NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2013. It would later be postponed to 2014 due to the lockout.

With the Leafs falling out of the playoff race and in the midst of losing 10 of their last 11 games, including a six-game losing streak, head coach Ron Wilson was fired and replaced by Randy Carlyle on March 2, 2012.[2] The Leafs went 6–9–3 under Carlyle to end the season.

Playoffs

The Maple Leafs attempted to finally qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2003–04 season. The Hockey News predicted that the Leafs will place tenth and miss the playoffs.[3] The Maple Leafs were ultimately eliminated from playoff contention.

Standings

Northeast Division[4]
GP W L OTL ROW GF GA Pts
1 y – Boston Bruins 82 49 29 4 40 269 202 102
2 Ottawa Senators 82 41 31 10 35 249 240 92
3 Buffalo Sabres 82 39 32 11 32 218 230 89
4 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 35 37 10 31 231 264 80
5 Montreal Canadiens 82 31 35 16 26 212 226 78
Eastern Conference[5]
R Div GP W L OTL ROW GF GA Pts
1 z – New York Rangers AT 82 51 24 7 47 226 187 109
2 y – Boston Bruins NE 82 49 29 4 40 269 202 102
3 y – Florida Panthers SE 82 38 26 18 32 203 227 94
4 Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 51 25 6 42 282 221 108
5 Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 47 26 9 43 264 232 103
6 New Jersey Devils AT 82 48 28 6 36 228 209 102
7 Washington Capitals SE 82 42 32 8 38 222 230 92
8 Ottawa Senators NE 82 41 31 10 35 249 240 92
8.5
9 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 39 32 11 32 218 230 89
10 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 38 36 8 35 235 281 84
11 Winnipeg Jets SE 82 37 35 10 33 225 246 84
12 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 33 33 16 32 213 243 82
13 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 35 37 10 31 231 264 80
14 New York Islanders AT 82 34 37 11 27 203 255 79
15 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 31 35 16 26 212 226 78

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

bold - qualified for playoffs, y – Clinched division, z – Clinched conference (and division)

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

2011–12 Game Log: 35–37–10, 80 Points (Home: 18–16–7; Road: 17–21–3)

Overtime statistics

Games Won Lost Game Winning Goal Scorers
Overtime 10 5 5 Grabovski (1), Connolly (2), MacArthur (1), Phaneuf (1)
Shootout 9 4 5 Lupul (2), Kessel (1), Kadri (1)
19 9 10

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Kessel, PhilPhil Kessel 82 37 45 82 −10 20
Lupul, JoffreyJoffrey Lupul 66 25 42 67 1 48
Grabovski, MikhailMikhail Grabovski 74 23 28 51 0 51
Bozak, TylerTyler Bozak 73 18 29 47 −7 22
Phaneuf, DionDion Phaneuf 82 12 32 44 −10 92
MacArthur, ClarkeClarke MacArthur 73 20 23 43 3 37
Connolly, TimTim Connolly 70 13 23 36 −14 40
Gardiner, JakeJake Gardiner 75 7 23 30 −2 18
Kulemin, NikolaiNikolai Kulemin 70 7 21 28 2 6
Liles, John-MichaelJohn-Michael Liles 66 7 20 27 −14 20
Crabb, JoeyJoey Crabb 67 11 15 26 1 33
Schenn, LukeLuke Schenn 79 2 20 22 −6 62
Franson, CodyCody Franson 57 5 16 21 −1 22
Gunnarsson, CarlCarl Gunnarsson 76 4 15 19 −9 20
Lombardi, MatthewMatthew Lombardi 62 8 10 18 −19 10
Frattin, MattMatt Frattin 56 8 7 15 −4 25
Steckel, DavidDavid Steckel 76 8 5 13 −14 10
Kadri, NazemNazem Kadri 21 5 2 7 2 8
Komisarek, MikeMike Komisarek 45 1 4 5 −13 41
Colborne, JoeJoe Colborne 10 1 4 5 2 4
Brown, MikeMike Brown 50 2 2 4 −8 74
Armstrong, ColbyColby Armstrong 29 1 2 3 −8 9
Boyce, DarrylDarryl Boyce‡ 17 1 1 2 −3 16
Aulie, KeithKeith Aulie‡ 17 0 2 2 −2 16
Orr, ColtonColton Orr 5 1 0 1 1 5
Hamilton, RyanRyan Hamilton 2 0 1 1 −1 2
Dupuis, PhilippePhilippe Dupuis 30 0 0 0 −2 16
Rosehill, JayJay Rosehill 31 0 0 0 −4 60
Ashton, CarterCarter Ashton 15 0 0 0 −10 13

Goaltenders

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA Sv% SO G A PIM
Gustavsson, JonasJonas Gustavsson 42 2301 17 17 4 112 2.92 1147 .902 4 0 1 4
Reimer, JamesJames Reimer 34 1879 14 14 4 97 3.10 974 .900 3 0 0 0
Scrivens, BenBen Scrivens 12 672 4 5 2 35 3.13 359 .903 0 0 0 4
Rynnas, JussiJussi Rynnas 2 99 0 1 0 7 4.24 40 .825 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.

Note:

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;

Awards and records

Awards

Regular Season
Player Award Reached
Phil Kessel[6] NHL First Star of the Week October 17, 2011
Phil Kessel[7] NHL First Star of the Month October 2011
Joffrey Lupul[8] NHL Third Star of the Month November 2011
Dion Phaneuf[9] NHL All-Star Game 2012
Phil Kessel[10] NHL All-Star Game 2012
Joffrey Lupul[10] NHL All-Star Game 2012
Joffrey Lupul[11] NHL Second Star of the Week January 9, 2012
Mikhail Grabovski[12] NHL First Star of the Week January 30, 2012
James Reimer[13] NHL Third Star of the Week February 6, 2012

Milestones

Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached
Jake Gardiner 1st Career NHL Game October 6, 2011
Jake Gardiner 1st Career NHL Assist
1st Career NHL Point 		October 20, 2011
Matt Frattin 1st Career NHL Assist
1st Career NHL Point 		October 24, 2011
Mike Brown 200th Career NHL Game October 24, 2011
Clarke MacArthur 300th Career NHL Game November 3, 2011
Ben Scrivens 1st Career NHL Game
1st Career NHL Win 		November 3, 2011
Philippe Dupuis 100th Career NHL Game November 10, 2011
Matt Frattin 1st Career NHL Goal November 19, 2011
Tim Connolly 400th Career NHL Point November 19, 2011
Joe Colborne 1st Career NHL Goal November 23, 2011
Phil Kessel 400th Career NHL Game December 3, 2011
Dion Phaneuf 500th Career NHL Game December 13, 2011
Joey Crabb 100th Career NHL Game December 22, 2011
Dion Phaneuf 200th Career NHL Assist December 23, 2011
Keith Aulie 1st Career NHL Assist January 3, 2012
Joffrey Lupul 300th Career NHL Point January 3, 2012
Mikhail Grabovski 100th Career NHL Assist January 13, 2012
Jake Gardiner 1st Career NHL Goal January 25, 2012
Joffrey Lupul 500th Career NHL Game February 1, 2012
Phil Kessel 300th Career NHL Point February 6, 2012
Dion Phaneuf 300th Career NHL Point February 6, 2012
Clarke MacArthur 100th Career NHL Assist February 18, 2012
Mikhail Grabovski 300th Career NHL Game February 23, 2012
Mike Komisarek 500th Career NHL Game February 28, 2012
Jonas Gustavsson 100th Career NHL Game March 3, 2012
Carter Ashton 1st Career NHL Game March 7, 2012
Nikolai Kulemin 300th Career NHL Game March 7, 2012
John-Michael Liles 300th Career NHL Point March 15, 2012
Luke Schenn 300th Career NHL Game March 17, 2012
Tyler Bozak 100th Career NHL Point March 20, 2012
Matthew Lombardi 500th Career NHL Game March 20, 2012
Ryan Hamilton 1st Career NHL Game
1st Career NHL Assist
1st Career NHL Point 		March 23, 2012
Jussi Rynnas 1st Career NHL Game March 27, 2012
Mikhail Grabovski 200th Career NHL Point March 29, 2012
Tim Connolly 300th Career NHL Assist April 3, 2012

Final roster

Updated March 27, 2012.[14]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
9 Canada Armstrong, ColbyColby Armstrong (A) RW R 32 2010 Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
37 Canada Ashton, CarterCarter Ashton RW L 24 2012 Winnipeg, Manitoba
42 Canada Bozak, TylerTyler Bozak C R 29 2009 Regina, Saskatchewan
18 United States Brown, MikeMike Brown RW R 29 2010 Northbrook, Illinois
12 United States Connolly, TimTim Connolly C R 33 2011 Baldwinsville, New York
46 United States Crabb, JoeyJoey Crabb RW R 32 2010 Anchorage, Alaska
4 Canada Franson, CodyCody Franson D R 27 2011 Salmon Arm, British Columbia
39 Canada Frattin, MattMatt Frattin RW R 27 2007 Edmonton, Alberta
51 United States Gardiner, JakeJake Gardiner D L 24 2011 Minneapolis, Minnesota
84 Belarus Grabovski, MikhailMikhail Grabovski (A)  C L 31 2008 Potsdam, East Germany
36 Sweden Gunnarsson, CarlCarl Gunnarsson  D L 28 2007 Örebro, Sweden
50 Sweden Gustavsson, JonasJonas Gustavsson G L 30 2009 Danderyd, Sweden
81 United States Kessel, PhilPhil Kessel RW R 27 2009 Madison, Wisconsin
8 United States Komisarek, MikeMike Komisarek (A) D R 33 2009 West Islip, New York
41 Russia Kulemin, NikolaiNikolai Kulemin LW L 28 2006 Magnitogorsk, Soviet Union
24 United States Liles, John-MichaelJohn-Michael Liles D L 34 2011 Indianapolis, Indiana
15 Canada Lombardi, MatthewMatthew Lombardi C L 33 2011 Montreal, Quebec
19 Canada Lupul, JoffreyJoffrey Lupul RW R 31 2011 Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
16 Canada MacArthur, ClarkeClarke MacArthur LW L 30 2010 Lloydminster, Alberta
3 Canada Phaneuf, DionDion Phaneuf (C) D L 30 2010 Edmonton, Alberta
34 Canada Reimer, JamesJames Reimer G L 27 2006 Morweena, Manitoba
38 Canada Rosehill, JayJay Rosehill LW L 29 2009 Olds, Alberta
40 Finland Rynnas, JussiJussi Rynnas G L 27 2010 Pori, Finland
2 Canada Schenn, LukeLuke Schenn D R 25 2008 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
20 United States Steckel, DavidDavid Steckel C L 33 2011 West Bend, Wisconsin

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 2011–12 season.

Trades

Date
Details
June 24, 2011[15] To Colorado Avalanche
2nd-round pick in 2012 (Mike Winther)		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
John-Michael Liles
June 24, 2011[16] To Anaheim Ducks
1st-round pick (#30 overall) in 2011 (Rickard Rakell)
2nd-round pick (#39 overall) in 2011 (John Gibson)		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
1st-round pick (#22 overall) in 2011 (Tyler Biggs)
June 24, 2011[17] To Anaheim Ducks
6th-round pick (#160 overall) in 2011 (Josh Manson)		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
6th-round pick in 2012 (Ryan Rupert)
July 3, 2011[18] To Nashville Predators
Brett Lebda
Robert Slaney
Conditional 4th-round pick in 2013 (Zach Pochiro)		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthew Lombardi
Cody Franson
Conditional 4th-round pick in 2013
October 4, 2011[19] To New Jersey Devils
4th-round pick in 2012 (Ben Thomson)		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
David Steckel
January 3, 2012[20] To Anaheim Ducks
Luca Caputi		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Nicolas Deschamps
February 27, 2012 [21] To Tampa Bay Lightning
Keith Aulie		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Carter Ashton
February 27, 2012 [22] To Anaheim Ducks
Dale Mitchell		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Mark Fraser

Free agents acquired

Player Former team Contract terms
Tim Connolly[23] Buffalo Sabres 2 years, $9.5 million
Philippe Dupuis[24] Colorado Avalanche 1 year, $650,000
Spencer Abbott[25] University of Maine 1 year, $925,000 entry-level contract

Free agents lost

Player New team Contract terms
Alex Foster[26] HC Sparta Praha 1 year
Tim Brent[27] Carolina Hurricanes 2 years, $1.5 million
Jean-Sebastien Giguere[28] Colorado Avalanche 2 years, $2.5 million
Danny Richmond[29] Washington Capitals 1 year, $525,000
Christian Hanson[30] Washington Capitals 1 year, $525,000
Fredrik Sjostrom[31] Farjestad BK undisclosed
Brett Lebda[32] Springfield Falcons Professional Try-Out

Claimed via waivers

Player Former team Date claimed off waivers

Lost via waivers

Player New team Date claimed off waivers
Darryl Boyce[33] Columbus Blue Jackets February 25, 2012

Lost via retirement

Player

Player signings

Player Date Contract terms
Kenny Ryan[34] May 26, 2011 3 years, $2.07 million entry-level contract
James Reimer[35] June 9, 2011 3 years, $5.4 million
Carl Gunnarsson[36] June 14, 2011 2 years, $2.65 million
Luca Caputi[37] June 28, 2011 1 year, $525,000
Jay Rosehill[38] June 30, 2011 1 year, $600,000
Ben Scrivens[39] June 30, 2011 1 year, $600,000
Clarke MacArthur[40] July 5, 2011 2 years, $6.5 million
Tyler Bozak[41] July 6, 2011 2 years, $3 million
Matt Lashoff[24] July 7, 2011 1 year, $600,000
Mike Zigomanis[42] July 12, 2011 1 year, $650,000
Darryl Boyce[43] July 14, 2011 1 year, $700,000
Joey Crabb[44] July 19, 2011 1 year, $750,000
David Broll[45] July 29, 2011 3 years, $1.8675 million entry-level contract
Luke Schenn[46] September 16, 2011 5 years, $18 million
Stuart Percy[47] November 22, 2011 3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract
John-Michael Liles[48] January 25, 2012 4 years, $15.5 million contract extension
Mikhail Grabovski[49] March 6, 2012 5 years, $27.5 million contract extension
Brad Ross[50] March 20, 2012 3 years, $2.12 million entry-level contract
Sam Carrick[51] March 31, 2012 3 years, $1.895 million entry-level contract

Draft picks

Toronto's picks at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (League)
1 22 (from Anaheim) Tyler Biggs RW  United States USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USHL)
1 25 (from Philadelphia) Stuart Percy D  Canada Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (OHL)
3 86 (from Philadelphia) Josh Leivo LW  Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
4 100 Tom Nilsson D  Sweden Mora IK (Swe-2)
5 130 Tony Cameranesi C  United States Wayzata High School (USHS-MN)
6 152 (from Edmonton) David Broll LW  Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
6 173 (from Anaheim) Dennis Robertson D  Canada Brown University (ECAC)
7 190 Garret Sparks G  United States Guelph Storm (OHL)
7 203 (from Anaheim) Max Everson D  United States Edina High School (USHS-MN)

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
  2. ↑ Carlyle Replaces Wilson As Leafs Head Coach
  3. ↑ "NHL Season Preview: Northeast Division". The Hockey News. October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  4. ↑ "2011–2012 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  5. ↑ "2011–2012 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ Kessel, Tavares, Lehtonen earn 'Three Stars' honors
  7. ↑ Kessel, Lehtonen, Khabibulin are October's stars
  8. ↑ Thomas, Toews, Lupul are November's Three Stars
  9. ↑ "2012 NHL All-Star Game – four Ottawa Senators, one Toronto Maple Leaf, one Boston Bruin – ESPN". Espn.go.com. January 5, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "NHL names remainder of All-Star Game roster – 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game". Nhl.com. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Benn, Lupul, Anderson earn Three Star honors – NHL.com – News". NHL.com. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  12. ↑ Grabovski, Rinne, Alfie named week's 'Three Stars'
  13. ↑ Gagner, Kovalchuk, Reimer named week's 'Three Stars'
  14. ↑ "Toronto Maple Leafs – Team – Roster". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  15. ↑ Leafs Acquire Liles From Avalanche
  16. ↑ Leafs Make Two Selections In First Round
  17. ↑ Defensemen deals highlight draft weekend trades
  18. ↑ Leafs Acquire Lombardi And Franson From Predators
  19. ↑ Leafs Acquire Steckel From Devils
  20. ↑ Leafs Acquire Deschamps From Ducks
  21. ↑ Maple Leafs Obtain Ashton From Lightning
  22. ↑ Leafs Obtain Ashton & Fraser In Two Trades
  23. ↑ "Leafs Sign Tim Connolly".
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Leafs Sign Lashoff And Dupuis".
  25. ↑ "Leafs Sign Spencer Abbott".
  26. ↑ "American and Slovak Bližňák Foster will play for Sparta" (in Czech). HC Sparta Praha. June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Hurricanes Agree to Terms with Tim Brent".
  28. ↑ "Avalanche Signs J.S. Giguere".
  29. ↑ "Capitals Sign Defenseman Danny Richmond".
  30. ↑ Capitals Sign Center Christian Hanson
  31. ↑ "Sjöström klar för Färjestad" (in Swedish). eurosport.se. July 29, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  32. ↑ FALCONS SIGN LEBDA TO PTO CONTRACT
  33. ↑ Columbus Blue Jackets Claim C Darryl Boyce Off Waivers from Toronto Maple Leafs
  34. ↑ Leafs Sign Kenny Ryan To Entry-Level Contract
  35. ↑ Reimer Signs Contract With Leafs
  36. ↑ Leafs Sign Gunnarsson To Two-Year Deal
  37. ↑ Leafs resign Caputi
  38. ↑ Leafs Re-Sign Rosehill
  39. ↑ Leafs Sign Ben Scrivens
  40. ↑ Leafs Sign MacArthur
  41. ↑ Leafs Sign Tyler Bozak
  42. ↑ Leafs Sign Zigomanis To One Year Contract
  43. ↑ Darryl Boyce Signs With Maple Leafs
  44. ↑ Crabb Signs With Maple Leafs
  45. ↑ Maple Leafs Sign David Broll
  46. ↑ Maple Leafs Agree To Terms With Luke Schenn
  47. ↑ Leafs Sign Stuart Percy To Three-Year Deal
  48. ↑ Leafs Sign Liles To Four-Year Extension
  49. ↑ Grabovski Signs Contract Extension With Leafs
  50. ↑ Leafs Sign Brad Ross
  51. ↑ Leafs Sign Carrick To Entry Level Contract