2020–21 Toronto Maple Leafs season

National Hockey League team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2020–21 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 104th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on November 22, 1917.[1]

Division1st North
2020–21 record35–14–7
Home record18–7–3
Road record17–7–4
Quick facts Toronto Maple Leafs, Division ...
2020–21 Toronto Maple Leafs
North Division champions
Division1st North
2020–21 record35–14–7
Home record18–7–3
Road record17–7–4
Goals for187
Goals against148
Team information
General managerKyle Dubas
CoachSheldon Keefe
CaptainJohn Tavares
Alternate captainsMitch Marner
Auston Matthews
Morgan Rielly
ArenaScotiabank Arena
Minor league affiliatesToronto Marlies (AHL)
Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsAuston Matthews (41)
AssistsMitch Marner (47)
PointsMitch Marner (67)
Penalty minutesZach Bogosian (49)
Plus/minusT. J. Brodie (+23)
WinsJack Campbell (17)
Goals against averageJack Campbell (2.15)
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Due to the Canada–U.S. border restrictions brought in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maple Leafs were re-aligned with the other six Canadian franchises into the newly formed North Division. The league's 56-game season was played entirely within the new divisions, meaning that Toronto and the other Canadian teams played an all-Canadian schedule for the 2020–21 regular season as well as the first two rounds of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The team saw tremendous success during the course of the regular season, clinching a playoff berth for the fifth year in a row on April 28 after a 4–1 win against the Montreal Canadiens, one of the first teams in the league to do so.[2] Then on May 8, again versus Montreal, they clinched the North Division with a 3–2 win, which was their first division championship since 2000.[3] Auston Matthews recorded a league high 41 goals, becoming the first player in team history to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, and was also named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league's most outstanding player as voted on by players. Additionally, Mitch Marner and Matthews both finished top five in league scoring (placing fourth and fifth, respectively). The team however disappointed in the playoffs; after going up 3–1 in their First Round series against the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto was defeated in seven games.[4] It was the fifth consecutive year that the Maple Leafs lost in the opening round of the postseason and the fourth consecutive year they were eliminated in the final, winner-take-all game.

This season was featured in the Amazon Studios All or Nothing series, released in October 2021.[5]

Standings

Divisional standings

More information Pos, GP ...
North Division
Pos Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Toronto Maple Leafs 56 35 14 7 29 187 148 +39 77
2 x – Edmonton Oilers 56 35 19 2 31 183 154 +29 72
3 x – Winnipeg Jets 56 30 23 3 24 170 154 +16 63
4 x – Montreal Canadiens 56 24 21 11 20 159 168 −9 59
5 Calgary Flames 56 26 27 3 22 156 161 −5 55
6 Ottawa Senators 56 23 28 5 18 157 190 −33 51
7 Vancouver Canucks 56 23 29 4 17 151 188 −37 50
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Source: National Hockey League[6]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Schedule and results

Regular season

More information Game, Date ...
2020–21 game log: 35–14–7, 77 points (Home: 18–7–3; Road: 17–7–4)
January: 7–2–1, 15 points (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 4–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1January 13Montreal Canadiens5–4OTAndersen (1–0–0)Scotiabank Arena01–0–02[7]
2January 15@ Ottawa Senators3–5Andersen (1–1–0)Canadian Tire Centre01–1–02[8]
3January 16@ Ottawa Senators3–2Campbell (1–0–0)Canadian Tire Centre02–1–04[9]
4January 18Winnipeg Jets3–1Andersen (2–1–0)Scotiabank Arena03–1–06[10]
5January 20Edmonton Oilers1–3Andersen (2–2–0)Scotiabank Arena03–2–06[11]
6January 22Edmonton Oilers4–2Andersen (3–2–0)Scotiabank Arena04–2–08[12]
7January 24@ Calgary Flames3–2Campbell (2–0–0)Scotiabank Saddledome05–2–010[13]
8January 26@ Calgary Flames4–3Andersen (4–2–0)Scotiabank Saddledome06–2–012[14]
9January 28@ Edmonton Oilers4–3Andersen (5–2–0)Rogers Place07–2–014[15]
10January 30@ Edmonton Oilers3–4OTAndersen (5–2–1)Rogers Place07–2–115[16]
February: 9–2–1, 19 points (Home: 6–2–1; Road: 3–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
11February 4Vancouver Canucks7–3Andersen (6–2–1)Scotiabank Arena08–2–117[17]
12February 6Vancouver Canucks5–1Andersen (7–2–1)Scotiabank Arena09–2–119[18]
13February 8Vancouver Canucks3–1Andersen (8–2–1)Scotiabank Arena010–2–121[19]
14February 10@ Montreal Canadiens4–2Andersen (9–2–1)Bell Centre011–2–123[20]
15February 13Montreal Canadiens1–2Andersen (9–3–1)Scotiabank Arena011–3–123[21]
16February 15Ottawa Senators5–6OTAndersen (9–3–2)Scotiabank Arena011–3–224[22]
17February 17Ottawa Senators2–1Andersen (10–3–2)Scotiabank Arena012–3–226[23]
18February 18Ottawa Senators7–3Hutchinson (1–0–0)Scotiabank Arena013–3–228[24]
19February 20@ Montreal Canadiens5–3Andersen (11–3–2)Bell Centre014–3–230[25]
20February 22Calgary Flames0–3Hutchinson (1–1–0)Scotiabank Arena014–4–230[26]
21February 24Calgary Flames2–1OTHutchinson (2–1–0)Scotiabank Arena015–4–232[27]
22February 27@ Edmonton Oilers4–0Campbell (3–0–0)Rogers Place016–4–234[28]
March: 7–6–1, 15 points (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 4–3–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
23March 1@ Edmonton Oilers3–0Hutchinson (3–1–0)Rogers Place017–4–236[29]
24March 3@ Edmonton Oilers6–1Andersen (12–3–2)Rogers Place018–4–238[30]
25March 4@ Vancouver Canucks1–3Hutchinson (3–2–0)Rogers Arena018–5–238[31]
26March 6@ Vancouver Canucks2–4Andersen (12–4–2)Rogers Arena018–6–238[32]
27March 9Winnipeg Jets3–4Andersen (12–5–2)Scotiabank Arena018–7–238[33]
28March 11Winnipeg Jets4–3OTAndersen (13–5–2)Scotiabank Arena019–7–240[34]
29March 13Winnipeg Jets2–5Andersen (13–6–2)Scotiabank Arena019–8–240[35]
30March 14@ Ottawa Senators3–4Andersen (13–7–2)Canadian Tire Centre019–9–240[36]
31March 19Calgary Flames3–4Andersen (13–8–2)Scotiabank Arena019–10–240[37]
32March 20Calgary Flames2–0Campbell (4–0–0)Scotiabank Arena020–10–242[38]
33March 25@ Ottawa Senators3–2OTCampbell (5–0–0)Canadian Tire Centre021–10–244[39]
34March 27Edmonton Oilers4–3OTCampbell (6–0–0)Scotiabank Arena022–10–246[40]
35March 29Edmonton Oilers2–3OTHutchinson (3–2–1)Scotiabank Arena022–10–347[41]
36March 31@ Winnipeg Jets3–1Campbell (7–0–0)Bell MTS Place023–10–349[42]
April: 9–3–2, 20 points (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 6–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
37April 2@ Winnipeg Jets2–1SOCampbell (8–0–0)Bell MTS Place024–10–351[43]
38April 4@ Calgary Flames4–2Hutchinson (4–2–1)Scotiabank Saddledome025–10–353[44]
39April 5@ Calgary Flames5–3Campbell (9–0–0)Scotiabank Saddledome026–10–355[45]
40April 7Montreal Canadiens3–2Campbell (10–0–0)Scotiabank Arena027–10–357[46]
41April 10Ottawa Senators6–5Campbell (11–0–0)Scotiabank Arena028–10–359[47]
42April 12@ Montreal Canadiens2–4Campbell (11–1–0)Bell Centre028–11–359[48]
43April 13Calgary Flames2–3OTRittich (0–0–1)Scotiabank Arena028–11–460[49]
44April 15Winnipeg Jets2–5Campbell (11–2–0)Scotiabank Arena028–12–460[50]
—April 17@ Vancouver Canucks–Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 18.[51]
45April 18@ Vancouver Canucks2–3OTCampbell (11–2–1)Rogers Arena028–12–561[52]
—April 19@ Vancouver Canucks–Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 20.[51]
46April 20@ Vancouver Canucks3–6Rittich (0–1–1)Rogers Arena028–13–561[53]
47April 22@ Winnipeg Jets5–3Campbell (12–2–1)Bell MTS Place029–13–563[54]
48April 24@ Winnipeg Jets4–1Campbell (13–2–1)Bell MTS Place030–13–565[55]
49April 28@ Montreal Canadiens4–1Campbell (14–2–1)Bell Centre031–13–567[56]
50April 29Vancouver Canucks4–1Rittich (1–1–1)Scotiabank Arena032–13–569[57]
May: 3–1–2, 8 points (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 0–1–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
51May 1Vancouver Canucks5–1Campbell (15–2–1)Scotiabank Arena033–13–571[58]
52May 3@ Montreal Canadiens2–3OTCampbell (15–2–2)Bell Centre033–13–672[59]
53May 6Montreal Canadiens5–2Campbell (16–2–2)Scotiabank Arena034–13–674[60]
54May 8Montreal Canadiens3–2Campbell (17–2–2)Scotiabank Arena035–13–676[61]
55May 12@ Ottawa Senators3–4OTAndersen (13–8–3)Canadian Tire Centre035–13–777[62]
56May 14@ Winnipeg Jets2–4Campbell (17–3–2)Bell MTS Place035–14–777[63]
2020–21 schedule

  Win (2 Points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

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Playoffs

Main article: 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
More information 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, Game ...
2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
North Division First Round vs. (N4) Montreal Canadiens: Montreal won 4–3
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 20Montreal Canadiens1–2Campbell (0–1)Scotiabank Arena00–1[64]
2May 22Montreal Canadiens5–1Campbell (1–1)Scotiabank Arena01–1[65]
3May 24@ Montreal Canadiens2–1Campbell (2–1)Bell Centre02–1[66]
4May 25@ Montreal Canadiens4–0Campbell (3–1)Bell Centre03–1[67]
5May 27Montreal Canadiens3–4OTCampbell (3–2)Scotiabank Arena03–2[68]
6May 29@ Montreal Canadiens2–3OTCampbell (3–3)Bell Centre5,112[a]3–3[69]
7May 31Montreal Canadiens1–3Campbell (3–4)Scotiabank Arena550[b]3–4[71]
  Win   Loss
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Player statistics

Skaters

More information Player, GP ...
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Goaltenders

More information Player, GP ...
Regular season[74]
Player GP GS TOI W L OTL GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Jack Campbell22221,284:241732462.15585.9212000
Frederik Andersen24231,420:071383702.96668.8950010
Michael Hutchinson88421:52421172.42211.9191000
David Rittich(p)43220:41111102.7289.8880000
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More information Player, GP ...
Playoffs[75]
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Jack Campbell77430:5134131.81197.9341000
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(M) Player currently playing for the minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies of the AHL
(X) Player is no longer with the Maple Leafs organization
(p) Player previously played with another team in the current season before being acquired by Toronto
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 2020–21 season.

Trades

More information Date, Details ...
DateDetailsRef
October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) To New Jersey Devils
Andreas Johnsson		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Joey Anderson		 [76]
February 15, 2021 (2021-02-15) To Carolina Hurricanes
Egor Korshkov
David Warsofsky		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Alex Galchenyuk		 [77]
March 12, 2021 (2021-03-12) To Columbus Blue Jackets
Mikko Lehtonen		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Veini Vehvilainen		 [78]
April 9, 2021 (2021-04-09) To Columbus Blue Jackets
Conditional 7th-round pick in 2022		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Riley Nash		 [79]
April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11) To Columbus Blue Jackets
1st-round pick in 2021
4th-round pick in 2022		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Nick Foligno		 [80]
April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11) To San Jose Sharks
4th-round pick in 2021		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Stefan Noesen		 [80]
April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11) To Calgary Flames
3rd-round pick in 2022		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
David Rittich		 [81]
April 12, 2021 (2021-04-12) To San Jose Sharks
Alexander Barabanov		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Antti Suomela		 [82]
April 12, 2021 (2021-04-12) To Anaheim Ducks
5th-round pick in 2022		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Ben Hutton		 [83]
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Free agents signed

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTeamContract termRef
October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)Wayne SimmondsBuffalo Sabres1-year[84]
October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)T. J. BrodieCalgary Flames4-year[85]
October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)Travis BoydWashington Capitals1-year[86]
October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)Zach BogosianTampa Bay Lightning1-year[87]
October 11, 2020 (2020-10-11)Jimmy VeseyBuffalo Sabres1-year[88]
October 13, 2020 (2020-10-13)Aaron DellSan Jose Sharks1-year[89]
October 16, 2020 (2020-10-16)Joe ThorntonSan Jose Sharks1-year[90]
October 30, 2020 (2020-10-30)Michael HutchinsonColorado Avalanche2-year[91]
February 7, 2021 (2021-02-07)Scott SabourinToronto Marlies1-year[92]
March 28, 2021 (2021-03-28)Alex SteevesNotre Dame Fighting Irish3-year[93]
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Free agents lost

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTeamContract termRef
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Waivers

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTeamRef
January 18, 2021 (2021-01-18)Aaron Dellto New Jersey Devils[94]
March 17, 2021 (2021-03-17)Jimmy Veseyto Vancouver Canucks[95]
March 23, 2021 (2021-03-23)Travis Boydto Vancouver Canucks[96]
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Contract terminations

Retirement

Signings

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerContract termRef
October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)Denis Malgin1-year[97]
October 5, 2020 (2020-10-05)Jason Spezza1-year[98]
October 20, 2020 (2020-10-20)Ilya Mikheyev2-year[99]
October 23, 2020 (2020-10-23)Travis Dermott1-year[100]
October 30, 2020 (2020-10-30)Joey Anderson3-year[101]
April 15, 2021 (2021-04-15)Rodion Amirov3-year[102]
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Draft picks

See also: List of Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks

Below are the Toronto Maple Leafs' selections at the 2020 NHL entry draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held October 6–7, 2020 virtually via video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

The Leafs held on to three of their own seven picks (rounds 4, 5, 6). In June 2019 they had traded way their first and seventh round picks along with Patrick Marleau to the Carolina Hurricanes mainly to clear cap space. On draft day they exchanged their second round pick for two lower picks from the Ottawa Senators. Their third round pick went to the Colorado Avalanche in July 2019 in the Nazem Kadri for Tyson Barrie and Alexander Kerfoot trade. They acquired an additional nine picks this year through various trades.

More information Round, # ...
Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
11 15 Rodion Amirov C  Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
22 59 Roni Hirvonen C  Finland Ässät (Liiga)
33 64 Topi Niemela D  Finland Oulun Kärpät (Liiga)
4 106 Artur Akhtyamov G  Russia Irbis Kazan (MHL)
44 122 Willam Villeneuve D  Canada Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
55 137 Dmitri Ovchinnikov C  Russia Novosibirsk 2 (Junior Hockey League (Russia) (MHL)
6 168 Veeti Miettinen RW  Finland K-Espoo U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)
66 177 Axel Rindell D  Finland Jukurit (Liiga)
67 180 Joe Miller C  United States Chicago Steel (USHL)
78 189 John Fusco D  United States Harvard Crimson (ECAC)
79 195 Wyatt Schingoethe C  United States Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
710 213 Ryan Tverberg C  Canada Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)
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Notes

  1. The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on August 25, 2020, that sent Kasperi Kapanen, Pontus Aberg and Jesper Lindgren to Pittsburgh in exchange for Evan Rodrigues, Filip Hallander, David Warsofsky and this pick.[103]
  2. The New York Islanders' second-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on October 7, 2020, that sent a 2020 second-round pick (44th overall) to Ottawa in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick (64th overall) and this pick.[104]
    Ottawa previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 24, 2020, that sent Jean-Gabriel Pageau to New York in exchange for a conditional 2020 first-round pick, a conditional third-round pick in 2022 and this pick.[105]
  3. The Ottawa Senators' third-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on October 7, 2020, that sent a 2020 second-round pick (44th overall) to Ottawa in exchange for the Islanders' 2020 second-round pick (59th overall) and this pick.[104]
  4. The Vegas Golden Knights' fourth-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on July 23, 2019, that sent Garret Sparks to Vegas in exchange for David Clarkson and this pick.[106]
  5. The Toronto Maple Leafs' fifth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on October 7, 2020, that sent Vegas' fifth-round pick and St. Louis' seventh-round pick both in 2020 (153rd and 212th overall) to Florida in exchange for this pick.[107]
    Florida previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 29, 2018, that sent Michael Hutchinson to Toronto in exchange for this pick.[108]
  6. The Carolina Hurricanes' sixth-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on June 22, 2019, that sent Patrick Marleau, a conditional 2020 first-round pick and a 2020 seventh-round pick to Carolina in exchange for this pick.[109]
  7. The Colorado Avalanche's sixth-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on July 1, 2019, that sent Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosén and a 2020 third-round pick to Colorado in exchange for Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot and this pick.[110]
  8. The San Jose Sharks' seventh-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on February 20, 2018, that sent Eric Fehr to San Jose in exchange for this pick.[111]
  9. The Winnipeg Jets' seventh-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on May 30, 2019, that sent Fedor Gordeev to Minnesota in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[112] The condition – Toronto will receive Winnipeg's 2020 seventh-round pick if Gordeev signs with the Wild before June 1, 2019 – was converted on May 30, 2019.[113]
    Minnesota previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 25, 2019, that sent Matt Hendricks to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick.[114]
  10. The Boston Bruins' seventh-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on October 7, 2020, that sent a seventh-round pick in 2021 to Boston in exchange for this pick.[115]

Notes

  1. [a]
    Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.
  2. [b]
    Approximately 550 health care workers were in attendance,[70] but the exact number was not reported.

References

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