1933-34
Howie Morenz had his best season since the sim started as the Montreal Canadiens great established a NHL record for points by amassing 66 during the season. Despite the big year from Morenz, who is the NHL's alltime points leader at this stage with 455, the Montreal Canadiens once again missed the playoffs as they trailed Toronto and the Maroons in the Canadian Division race.
Toronto just keeps on winning regardless of who their goaltender is. In the summer the Leafs dealt 33 year old Lorne Chabot, who had won the past two Vezina Trophies, to Detroit and handed the goaltending duties over to long-time minor league Moe Roberts. A veteran of just 4 NHL games entering the season, the 28 year old American played all 48 games for the Leafs, posting a 37-6-5 record with a 1.55 GAA. In real life Roberts played just 10 career NHL games.
The Leafs offense was again the best in the league led by the kid line of Joe Primeau (11-45-56) between Charlie Conacher (28-21-49) and Busher Jackson (26-20-46). The second line of Bob Gracie (14-19-33), Syd Howe (14-21-35) and Frank Finnigan (11-15-26) was also dangerous. King Clancy (8-24-32) and Red Horner (5-28-33) led a strong corps of defensemen.
Boston forward Cecil Dillon also set a record as the 25 year old became the first player to score 30 goals in a season. Dillon, who in real life scored 167 goals over 11 NHL seasons with the Rangers, helped Boston win the American Division for the first time in this sim. Dillon, who was acquired by the Bruins early in the 1931-32 season in exchange for Cooney Weiland, was named the league's top rookie in 31-32.
Code:
AMERICAN DIVISION GP W L T PTS
Boston Bruins 48 27 19 2 66
NY Rangers 48 25 17 6 66
Detroit Falcons 48 21 23 4 46
Chicago Black Hawks 48 17 28 3 37
CANADIAN DIVISION GP W L T PTS
Toronto Maple Leafs 48 37 9 2 76
Montreal Maroons 48 29 16 3 61
Montreal Canadiens 48 24 17 7 55
NY Americans 48 20 25 3 43
Ottawa Senators 48 1 47 0 2
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Howie Morenz MON 48 26 40 66
Art Chapman BOS 48 18 42 60
Cecil Dillon BOS 47 30 29 59
Joe Primeau TOR 48 11 45 56
Aurel Joliat MON 48 22 31 53
The Leafs swept Boston in the first round of the playoffs while the Rangers beat the Montreal Maroons in 6 games. Toronto would have little trouble with the Broadway Blueshirts as the Leafs claimed their third straight Stanley Cup with a series win in 5 games. For the second straight season Busher Jackson was named the playoff MVP after the 23 year old led all scorers with 14 points in 9 playoff games. Jackson and linemates Conacher and Primeau combined for 35 points.
Here are the other award winners:
VEZINA: Moe Roberts of Toronto (37-6-5, 1.55 GAA)
NORRIS: Babe Siebert of Montreal Maroons (48GP 15-30-45)
CALDER: Chicago's Bill Kendall (15-19-34 in 48 games)
HART: Charlie Conacher Toronto (48GP 28-21-49)
ART ROSS: Howie Morenz Montreal Canadiens (26-40-66)
The game does not select the all-star team but I will start naming first and second team all-stars
Code:
POS FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM
G Moe Roberts Toronto Normie Smith Mon Maroons
D Babe Siebert Mon Maroons King Clancy Toronto
D Eddie Shore Boston Eddie Goodfellow Detroit
C Howie Morenz Mon Canadiens Frank Boucher NY Rangers
LW Auriel Joliat Mon Canadiens Busher Jackson Toronto
RW Charlie Conacher Toronto Cecil Dillon Boston