2014–15 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 2014–15 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 98th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on November 22, 1917.[2] This was the second year of the new alignment and schedule format. Toronto again played every team in their own division at least four times, every team in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference three times, and every team from the Western Conference twice. To complete the 82-game schedule, they played both Ottawa and Detroit five times.

2014–15 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division7th Atlantic
Conference15th Eastern
2014–15 record30–44–8
Home record22–17–2
Road record8–27–6
Goals for211
Goals against262
Team information
General managerDave Nonis
CoachRandy Carlyle (Oct.–Jan.)
Peter Horachek (interim, Jan.–Apr.)
CaptainDion Phaneuf
Alternate captainsJoffrey Lupul
Stephane Robidas[a]
ArenaAir Canada Centre
Average attendance19,076 (94.1%)[1]
(36 games)
Team leaders
GoalsJames van Riemsdyk (27)
AssistsPhil Kessel (36)
PointsPhil Kessel (61)
Penalty minutesDion Phaneuf (108)
Plus/minusDaniel Winnik (+14)
WinsJonathan Bernier (21)
Goals against averageJonathan Bernier (2.87)

On March 23, 2015, a 13-year long sellout streak ended; only 18,336 fans showed up for the evening match against the Minnesota Wild.[3] Ticket prices for the game were reduced earlier in the day.

Despite remaining in the playoff hunt for the first half of the season, the Leafs finished the season with only 68 points, tied for the fewest earned since the NHL began playing 82 games per season in the 1995-96 season. The day after the regular season ended, April 12, 2015, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan kept good on his promise of a scorched earth rebuild, as general manager Dave Nonis and interim head coach Peter Horachek were terminated from their positions. Also terminated were coaches Steve Spott, Chris Dennis and Rick St. Croix; director of player development Jim Hughes and director of pro scouting Steve Kasper, as well as Rob Cowie and 18 other scouts.[4][5][6][7] Later in the day, strength and conditioning coach Anthony Belzawas fired.

On May 20, 2015, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Mike Babcock would be the team's new head coach, signing him to an eight-year, $50 million contract.[8]

Off-season

On May 8, 2014, general manager Dave Nonis announced that Randy Carlyle had accepted a contract extension to continue as head coach through the 2016–17 season, however Carlyle's assistant coaches, Greg Cronin, Scott Gordon and Dave Farrish were all released by the team.[9]

On July 22, 2014, Brendan Shanahan let go former assistant general managers Claude Loiselle and Dave Poulin and named Kyle Dubas as the new assistant general manager. At the time of the hire, Dubas was 28 years old. He was formerly the general manager of the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.[10]

Many players were signed, lost and traded during free agency. See Transactions for a list of lost and acquired players.

Standings

Atlantic Division
PosTeamGPWLOTLROWGFGAGDPts
1y – Montreal Canadiens8250221043221189+32110
2x – Tampa Bay Lightning825024847262211+51108
3x – Detroit Red Wings8243251439235221+14100
4x – Ottawa Senators8243261337238215+2399
5Boston Bruins8241271437213211+296
6Florida Panthers8238291530206223−1791
7Toronto Maple Leafs823044825211262−5168
8Buffalo Sabres822351815161274−11354
Source: National Hockey League
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division
Eastern Conference Wild Card
PosDivTeamGPWLOTLROWGFGAGDPts
1ATx – Ottawa Senators8243261337238215+2399
2MEx – Pittsburgh Penguins8243271239221210+1198
3ATBoston Bruins8241271437213211+296
4ATFlorida Panthers8238291530206223−1791
5MEColumbus Blue Jackets824235533236250−1489
6MEPhiladelphia Flyers8233311830215234−1984
7MENew Jersey Devils8232361427181216−3578
8MECarolina Hurricanes8230411125188226−3871
9ATToronto Maple Leafs823044825211262−5168
10ATBuffalo Sabres822351815161274−11354
Source: National Hockey League
x – Clinched playoff spot

Record vs opponents

Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
Atlantic DivisionMetropolitan DivisionCentral DivisionPacific Division
TeamHomeAwayTeamHomeAwayTeamHomeAwayTeamHomeAway
Boston1–46–14–3*1–2*Carolina1–41–41–2Chicago3–20–4Anaheim6–20–4
Buffalo4–04–3*2–63–4Columbus5–24–10–5Colorado3–2*3–4*Arizona1–32–3
Detroit1–44–14–10–1*2–1*New Jersey3–51–2*1–4Dallas5–34–0Calgary4–13–6
Florida2–31–44–63–2N.Y. Islanders3–4*5–22–3Minnesota1–21–3Edmonton5–11–4
Montreal3–43–4*1–2*0–4N.Y. Rangers5–44–56–3Nashville2–93–4Los Angeles4–3*0–2
Ottawa4–3*3–2*5–33–43–5Philadelphia4–73–20–1St. Louis1–60–3San Jose1–41–3
Tampa Bay5–23–12–32–4Pittsburgh2–51–23–4*Winnipeg4–3*1–5Vancouver5–21–4
Washington6–22–60–4
Records9–5–14–8–34–7–13–7–24–3–01–5–15–2–00–7–0
Division13–13–47–14–35–8–15–9–0
Conference20–27–7 (Home: 13–12–2; Away: 7–15–5)10–17–1 (Home: 9–5–0; Away: 1–12–1)
Overall30–44–8 (Home: 22–17–2; Away: 8–27–6)

(* game decided in overtime or shoot-out)

Suspensions/fines

PlayerExplanationLengthSalaryDate issued
Carter AshtonViolating the terms of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Performance Enhancing Substances Program.20 games$169,185.00November 6, 2014[11]
Richard PanikDiving/Embellishment during NHL Game No. 939 in Washington on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at 10:57 of the second period.$2,000.00March 5, 2015[12]
Nazem KadriIllegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Fraser during NHL game No. 1039 in Edmonton on Monday, March 16, 2015, at 10:58 of the third period.4 games$141,463.40March 18, 2015[13]

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

2014–15 Game Log: 30–44–8, 68 points (Home: 22–17–2 ; Road: 8–27–6)

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

Overtime statistics

GamesWonLostGame Winning Goal Scorers
Overtime633Kessel (1), van Riemsdyk (1), Brewer (1)
Shootout1055
1688

Player statistics

Final stats[14]

Skaters

Goaltenders

Regular Season
PlayerGPGSTOIWLOTGAGAASASV%SOGAPIM
Jonathan Bernier58553177212871522.871735.9122010
James Reimer352717679161933.161001.9070002

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Maple Leafs. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Notable achievements

Awards

Milestones


Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 2014–15 season.

Trades

Date
Details
June 28, 2014
[16]
To St. Louis Blues
Carl Gunnarsson
Calgary's 4th-round pick in 2014 (Ville Husso)
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Roman Polak
July 1, 2014
[17]
To Columbus Blue Jackets
Jerry D'Amigo
Conditional 7th-round pick in 2015
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Matt Frattin
February 6, 2015
[18]
To Tampa Bay Lightning
David Broll
Carter Ashton
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Conditional 7th-round pick in 2016
February 15, 2015
[19]
To Nashville Predators
Cody Franson
Mike Santorelli
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Olli Jokinen
Brendan Leipsic
1st-round pick in 2015
February 25, 2015
[20]
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Daniel Winnik
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Zach Sill
4th-round pick in 2015
2nd-round pick in 2016
February 26, 2015
[21]
To Chicago Blackhawks
Spencer Abbott
To Toronto Maple Leafs
T. J. Brennan
February 26, 2015
[22]
To Columbus Blue Jackets
David Clarkson
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Nathan Horton
March 2, 2015
[23]
To St. Louis Blues
Olli Jokinen
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Joakim Lindstrom
Conditional 6th-round pick in 2016
March 2, 2015
[24]
To Anaheim Ducks
Korbinian Holzer
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Eric Brewer
5th-round pick in 2016
June 19, 2015
[25]
To Florida Panthers
Greg McKegg
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Zach Hyman
Conditional 7th-round pick in 2017


Free agents lost

DatePlayerNew teamContract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
July 1, 2014T. J. BrennanNew York Islanders1 year, $600,000[33]
July 1, 2014Dave BollandFlorida Panthers5 years, $27.5 million[34]
July 1, 2014Mason RaymondCalgary Flames3 years, $9.5 million[35]
July 1, 2014Drew MacIntyreCarolina Hurricanes1 year, $600,000[36]
July 2, 2014Nikolai KuleminNew York Islanders4 years, $16.75 million[37]
July 2, 2014Jay McClementCarolina Hurricanes1 year, $1 million[38]
July 3, 2014Tim GleasonCarolina Hurricanes1 year, $1.2 million[39]
July 15, 2014Paul RangerGeneve-Servette HC2 years[40]

Lost via waivers

PlayerNew teamDate claimed off waivers

Player signings

DatePlayerContract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
July 3, 2014Troy Bodie1 year, $600,000[27]
July 3, 2014Antoine Bibeau3-year, $1.965 million entry level contract[43]
July 10, 2014Trevor Smith1 year, $550,000[44]
July 10, 2014Rinat Valiev3-year, $2,427,500 entry level contract[44]
July 11, 2014Jamie Devane2 years, $1.15 million[45]
July 16, 2014Peter Holland2 years, $1.55 million[46]
July 16, 2014Carter Ashton1 year, $850,500[47]
July 21, 2014Cody Franson1 year, $3.3 million[48]
July 25, 2014James Reimer2 years, $4.6 million[49]
July 29, 2014Jake Gardiner5 years, $20.25 million[50]
August 18, 2014William Nylander3-year, entry-level contract[51]
September 9, 2014Spencer Abbott1 year[52]
May 25, 2015Sam Carrick1 year[53]
June 4, 2015Andreas Johnsson3 years, entry-level contract[54]
June 4, 2015T. J. Brennan1 year[54]
June 23, 2015Petter Granberg1 year[55]
June 23, 2015Tim Erixon1 year[55]
June 23, 2015Zach Hyman2 years, entry-level contract[55]

Other

NameDateDetails
Peter Horachek[56]July 11, 2014Named as an Assistant Coach
Steve Spott[56]July 11, 2014Named as an Assistant Coach
Kyle Dubas[57]July 22, 2014Named as an Assistant General Manager

Despite the Leafs usual loyal fan base, there have been several occurrences in the 2014–15 season where fans have thrown Leafs jerseys onto the ice to show disgust for horrid team performance. It has been said that this action is "classless" and "disrespectful" by many, as well as dangerous for players who have the potential to get hurt from skating over top of the jerseys. Fans who take part in this action can be faced with a hefty fine as well as being banned from all Air Canada Centre events for one year.[58]

Draft picks

The 2014 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 27–28, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Round#PlayerPosNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
18William Nylander(C/LW) SwedenModo Hockey (SHL)
368Rinat ValievD RussiaKootenay Ice (WHL)
4103[a]J. J. PiccinichRW United StatesYoungstown Phantoms (USHL)
5128Dakota JoshuaC United StatesSioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
6158Nolan VeseyLW United StatesSouth Shore Kings (USPHL Premier)
7188Pierre EngvallLW SwedenFrölunda HC Jr. (SWE)

Draft notes

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks as the result of a trade on November 16, 2013, that sent Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz to Toronto in exchange for Jesse Blacker, Anaheim's seventh round pick in 2014 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[59] The condition – Anaheim would receive a second-round pick in 2014 if Holland played in 25 or more games for the Maple Leafs during the 2013–14 season – was converted on January 18, 2014.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs' fourth-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade June 30, 2013, that sent Dave Bolland to Toronto in exchange for a second-round pick in 2013, Anaheim's fourth round pick in 2013 and this pick.[60]
  • a The Arizona Coyotes' fourth round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on January 16, 2013, that sent Matthew Lombardi to Phoenix in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[61] The condition – If Lombardi did not re-sign with Phoenix for the 2013–14 season, then Toronto would receive a fourth-round pick in 2014 – was converted on August 29, 2013.[62]

Notes

References