1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs season

1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division	6th Central
Conference	12th Western
1997–98 record	30–43–9
Home record	16–20–5
Road record	14–23–4
Goals for	194
Goals against	237
Team information
General manager	Ken Dryden
Coach	Mike Murphy
Captain	Mats Sundin
Alternate captains	Wendel Clark Jamie Macoun (Oct-Mar) Vacant (Mar-Apr)
Arena	Maple Leaf Gardens
Average attendance	15,707
Minor league affiliate(s)	St. John's Maple Leafs
Team leaders
Goals	Mats Sundin (33)
Assists	Mats Sundin (41)
Points	Mats Sundin (74)
Penalty minutes	Tie Domi (365)
Plus/minus	Todd Warriner (+5)
Wins	Felix Potvin (26)
Goals against average	Felix Potvin (2.73)

The 1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 81st season in the National Hockey League (NHL), their last full season playing at Maple Leaf Gardens, and their last season playing in the Western Conference. Just a few days before the season's start, Mats Sundin became their 17th captain and their first European captain in their 80-year history. The Maple Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Regular season

Final standings

Central Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	1	Dallas Stars	82	49	22	11	242	167	109
2	3	Detroit Red Wings	82	44	23	15	250	196	103
3	4	St. Louis Blues	82	45	29	8	256	204	98
4	6	Phoenix Coyotes	82	35	35	12	224	227	82
5	9	Chicago Blackhawks	82	30	39	13	192	199	73
6	10	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	30	43	9	194	237	69

Western Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Dallas Stars	CEN	82	49	22	11	242	167	109
2	x – Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	39	26	17	231	205	95
3	Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	44	23	15	250	196	103
4	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	45	29	8	256	204	98
5	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	38	33	11	227	225	87
6	Phoenix Coyotes	CEN	82	35	35	12	224	227	82
7	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	35	37	10	215	224	80
8	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	34	38	10	210	216	78
9	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	30	39	13	192	199	73
10	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	30	43	9	194	237	69
11	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	26	41	15	217	252	67
12	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	26	43	13	205	261	65
13	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	25	43	14	224	273	64

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won Division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results

1997–98 regular season
October: 3–6–2 (home: 1–4–1; road: 2–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 1 L October 1, 1997 1–4 Washington Capitals (1997–98) 0–1–0 Recap 2 L October 4, 1997 0–3 @ New York Islanders (1997–98) 0–2–0 Recap 3 W October 7, 1997 2–1 @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) 1–2–0 Recap 4 T October 9, 1997 2–2 OT @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 1–2–1 Recap 5 L October 11, 1997 1–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 1–3–1 Recap 6 L October 14, 1997 2–3 Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 1–4–1 Recap 7 W October 15, 1997 4–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 2–4–1 Recap 8 L October 18, 1997 4–5 Dallas Stars (1997–98) 2–5–1 Recap 9 L October 22, 1997 2–6 Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 2–6–1 Recap 10 W October 25, 1997 4–3 Calgary Flames (1997–98) 3–6–1 Recap 11 T October 28, 1997 2–2 OT Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 3–6–2 Recap
November: 5–7–1 (home: 3–4–0; road: 2–3–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 12 L November 1, 1997 1–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 3–7–2 Recap 13 T November 4, 1997 0–0 OT @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 3–7–3 Recap 14 W November 5, 1997 4–3 @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) 4–7–3 Recap 15 L November 8, 1997 0–3 Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 4–8–3 Recap 16 W November 11, 1997 5–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 5–8–3 Recap 17 W November 13, 1997 2–1 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 6–8–3 Recap 18 L November 15, 1997 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 6–9–3 Recap 19 L November 17, 1997 2–3 St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 6–10–3 Recap 20 W November 19, 1997 3–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 7–10–3 Recap 21 L November 21, 1997 1–3 @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 7–11–3 Recap 22 L November 22, 1997 0–2 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 7–12–3 Recap 23 W November 25, 1997 3–1 San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 8–12–3 Recap 24 L November 29, 1997 2–4 Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 8–13–3 Recap
December: 5–6–3 (home: 3–2–3; road: 2–4–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 25 T December 2, 1997 3–3 OT Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 8–13–4 Recap 26 L December 4, 1997 3–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 8–14–4 Recap 27 W December 6, 1997 7–2 Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 9–14–4 Recap 28 W December 8, 1997 3–0 Dallas Stars (1997–98) 10–14–4 Recap 29 T December 10, 1997 2–2 OT Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 10–14–5 Recap 30 L December 13, 1997 0–3 New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 10–15–5 Recap 31 L December 15, 1997 2–3 @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 10–16–5 Recap 32 W December 17, 1997 6–2 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 11–16–5 Recap 33 L December 18, 1997 2–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 11–17–5 Recap 34 W December 20, 1997 3–2 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 12–17–5 Recap 35 W December 23, 1997 5–4 Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 13–17–5 Recap 36 L December 26, 1997 1–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 13–18–5 Recap 37 L December 27, 1997 1–8 Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 13–19–5 Recap 38 T December 31, 1997 2–2 OT Boston Bruins (1997–98) 13–19–6 Recap
January: 4–8–1 (home: 1–3–0; road: 3–5–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 39 T January 1, 1998 3–3 OT @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 13–19–7 Recap 40 L January 3, 1998 2–4 @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 13–20–7 Recap 41 L January 6, 1998 3–5 @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) 13–21–7 Recap 42 W January 7, 1998 5–2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 14–21–7 Recap 43 L January 10, 1998 3–4 Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 14–22–7 Recap 44 L January 12, 1998 2–3 @ New York Rangers (1997–98) 14–23–7 Recap 45 L January 14, 1998 1–4 Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 14–24–7 Recap 46 W January 21, 1998 3–0 @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 15–24–7 Recap 47 W January 22, 1998 3–0 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 16–24–7 Recap 48 W January 24, 1998 5–2 Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 17–24–7 Recap 49 L January 26, 1998 1–5 @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 17–25–7 Recap 50 L January 29, 1998 0–2 @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 17–26–7 Recap 51 L January 31, 1998 2–5 Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 17–27–7 Recap
February: 3–3–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 0–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 52 L February 2, 1998 1–5 Dallas Stars (1997–98) 17–28–7 Recap 53 W February 4, 1998 3–2 St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 18–28–7 Recap 54 L February 5, 1998 2–3 @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 18–29–7 Recap 55 W February 7, 1998 3–2 Florida Panthers (1997–98) 19–29–7 Recap 56 T February 25, 1998 2–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 19–29–8 Recap 57 L February 26, 1998 2–5 New York Rangers (1997–98) 19–30–8 Recap 58 W February 28, 1998 4–0 Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 20–30–8 Recap
March: 6–8–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 3–5–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 59 L March 2, 1998 1–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 20–31–8 Recap 60 L March 4, 1998 3–5 Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 20–32–8 Recap 61 W March 7, 1998 4–1 Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 21–32–8 Recap 62 L March 9, 1998 2–3 @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 21–33–8 Recap 63 W March 11, 1998 3–1 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 22–33–8 Recap 64 W March 12, 1998 2–1 @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 23–33–8 Recap 65 W March 14, 1998 2–1 Calgary Flames (1997–98) 24–33–8 Recap 66 L March 16, 1998 1–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 24–34–8 Recap 67 L March 18, 1998 2–5 Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 24–35–8 Recap 68 L March 19, 1998 0–4 @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) 24–36–8 Recap 69 T March 21, 1998 1–1 OT Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 24–36–9 Recap 70 L March 24, 1998 2–4 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 24–37–9 Recap 71 W March 26, 1998 1–0 @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 25–37–9 Recap 72 W March 28, 1998 4–3 OT New York Islanders (1997–98) 26–37–9 Recap 73 L March 30, 1998 2–3 Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 26–38–9 Recap
April: 4–5–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 2–3–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 74 L April 1, 1998 4–6 St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 26–39–9 Recap 75 L April 4, 1998 3–5 San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 26–40–9 Recap 76 L April 6, 1998 2–4 @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 26–41–9 Recap 77 W April 7, 1998 3–1 @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) 27–41–9 Recap 78 L April 9, 1998 2–5 @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 27–42–9 Recap 79 W April 11, 1998 5–1 Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 28–42–9 Recap 80 W April 15, 1998 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 29–42–9 Recap 81 L April 18, 1998 3–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 29–43–9 Recap 82 W April 19, 1998 2–1 @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 30–43–9 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.

			Regular season
No.	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
13	Mats Sundin	C	82	33	41	74	−3	49
20	Mike Johnson	RW	82	15	32	47	−4	24
7	Derek King	LW	77	21	25	46	−7	43
22	Igor Korolev	RW	78	17	22	39	−18	22
72	Mathieu Schneider	D	76	11	26	37	−12	44
19	Fredrik Modin	RW	74	16	16	32	−5	32
94	Sergei Berezin	LW	68	16	15	31	−3	10
11	Steve Sullivan	C	63	10	18	28	−8	40
17	Wendel Clark	LW	47	12	7	19	−21	80
18	Alyn McCauley	C	60	6	10	16	−7	6
25	Jason Smith	D	81	3	13	16	−5	100
28	Tie Domi	RW	80	4	10	14	−5	365
8	Todd Warriner	LW	45	5	8	13	5	20
14	Darby Hendrickson	C	80	8	4	12	−20	67
36	Dmitri Yushkevich	D	72	0	12	12	−13	78
3	Sylvain Cote†	D	12	3	6	9	2	6
33	Jeff Brown†‡	D	19	1	8	9	2	10
55	Danny Markov	D	25	2	5	7	0	28
34	Jamie Macoun‡	D	67	0	7	7	−17	63
2	Rob Zettler	D	59	0	7	7	−8	108
16	Lonny Bohonos†	RW	6	3	3	6	1	4
12	Kris King	LW	82	3	3	6	−13	199
21	Martin Prochazka	LW	29	2	4	6	−1	8
38	Yannick Tremblay	D	38	2	4	6	−6	6
24	Per Gustafsson‡	D	22	1	4	5	−5	10
16	Jamie Baker	C	13	0	5	5	1	10
33	David Cooper	D	9	0	4	4	2	8
39	Mike Kennedy‡	RW	13	0	1	1	−2	14
42	Kevyn Adams	C	5	0	0	0	0	7
31	Marcel Cousineau	G	2	0	0	0		0
30	Glenn Healy	G	21	0	0	0		0
29	Felix Potvin	G	67	0	0	0		8
23	Jeff Ware	D	2	0	0	0	1	0
26	Craig Wolanin	D	10	0	0	0	−9	6

Goaltending

		Regular season
No.	Player	GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
29	Felix Potvin	67	26	33	7	1882	176	2.73	.906	5	3864
30	Glenn Healy	21	4	10	2	453	53	2.98	.883	0	1068
31	Marcel Cousineau	2	0	0	0	9	0	0.00	1.000	0	17

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL All-Rookie Team	Mike Johnson (Forward)
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Mats Sundin
	NHL Rookie of the Month	Mike Johnson (December)
Team	Molson Cup	Felix Potvin

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
1,000th game played	Jamie Macoun	November 8, 1997

Transactions

The Maple Leafs were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.

Trades

September 30, 1997	To St. Louis Blues Kelly Chase	To Toronto Maple Leafs Future Considerations
January 2, 1998	To Carolina Hurricanes 4th round pick in 1999 – Yevgeny Pavlov	To Toronto Maple Leafs Jeff Brown
March 7, 1998	To Vancouver Canucks Brandon Convery	To Toronto Maple Leafs Lonny Bohonos
March 17, 1998	To Ottawa Senators Per Gustafsson	To Toronto Maple Leafs 8th round pick in 1998 – Dwight Wolfe
March 24, 1998	To Dallas Stars Mike Kennedy	To Toronto Maple Leafs 8th round pick in 1998 – Michal Travnicek
March 24, 1998	To Detroit Red Wings Jamie Macoun	To Toronto Maple Leafs 4th round pick in 1998 – Alexei Ponikarovsky
March 24, 1998	To Washington Capitals Jeff Brown	To Toronto Maple Leafs Sylvain Cote
June 27, 1998	To Chicago Blackhawks 1st round pick in 1998 – Mark Bell 4th round pick in 1998 – Matthias Trattnig	To Toronto Maple Leafs 1st round pick in 1998 – Nik Antropov 3rd round pick in 1998 – Jamie Hodson 5th round pick in 1998 – Morgan Warren

Expansion Draft

June 26, 1998

To Nashville Predators Rob Zettler

Free agents

Player Former Team Mike Kennedy Dallas Stars Derek King Hartford Whalers Kris King Phoenix Coyotes Glenn Healy New York Rangers Kevyn Adams Grand Rapids Griffins (IHL) Igor Korolev Phoenix Coyotes

Player New Team Jamie Heward Philadelphia Flyers Mike Craig San Jose Sharks

Draft picks

Toronto's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team
3	57	Jeff Farkas (Centre)	United States	Boston College (Hockey East)
4	84	Adam Mair (Right wing)	Canada	Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
5	111	Frantisek Mrazek (Left wing)	Czech Republic	HC České Budějovice (Czech Republic)
6	138	Eric Gooldy (Left wing)	United States	Detroit Whalers (OHL)
7	165	Hugo Marchand (Defence)	Canada	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
7	190	Shawn Thornton (Right wing)	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
8	194	Russ Bartlett (Centre)	United States	Phillips Exeter Academy (USHS-NH)
9	221	Jonathan Hedstrom (Left wing)	Sweden	Skellefteå AIK (Sweden)

Farm teams

• The Maple Leafs farm team was the St. John's Maple Leafs in St. John's, Newfoundland.

References

• "Toronto Maple Leafs 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
• "1997-98 Toronto Maple Leafs Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.