1937-38
OFFSEASON NOTES
The biggest news was the decision of five star players to retire.
King Clancy, fresh off winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and 6 straight Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leads decided to end his career at the age of 34 and move into the front office with the Maple Leafs. Clancy retires as the NHL's alltime leader in games played with 632 to his credit. He had 153 goals and 387 assists in a career split between Ottawa and Toronto. He won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman and Hart as NHL MVP in 1931-32.
The Montreal Canadiens suffered a huge blow when they learned that Howie Morenz, Aurel Joliat and Sylvio Mantha had all decided to retire. Morenz and Joliat retire as 1-2 in career goals and points. The Stratford Streak, as Morenz was known, spent his entire 15 year career with the Canadiens and scored 305 goals and 561 points. He won the Hart Trophy in 1932-33 and led the NHL in scoring the following season. Joliat, like Morenz, spent his entire career with the Habs and scored 271 goals and 473 points. Mantha was also a career Candien, and appeared in 577 games on the Montreal blueline, recording 214 points.
The other notable retiree is New York Rangers winger Bun Cook. Cook played 504 games in his career, scoring 209 goals and 432 points. He was a two-time first team all-star in the 4 years the award has been recognized.
Not a lot of new talent coming in to replace them as the only notable rookies are a pair of defenseman: 20 year old Jack Crawford of Boston and 18 year old New York American Wally Stanowski.
The Detroit Red Wings added veteran center Nels Stewart in a deal with the New York Americans. The 34 year old Stewart spent most of his career with the Montreal Maroons before joining the Americans last season. He played in 21 games and had 5 goals and 1 assist. Detroit also gets Eddie Convey, a 26 year old forward who had 22 points in 48 games with the Americans last season. In return the Americans acquire 27 year old center Obs Heximer who scored 7 goals and 23 points with the Wings last year.
REGULAR SEASON
Once again the Toronto Maple Leafs dominated the league but the Boston Bruins continue to look like a team that could eventually dethrone the 6 time reigning champions. Toronto's 188 goals scored were 30 more than the next highest team (Boston) and their 95 goals allowed were 20 less than the Bruins.
For the first time the Art Ross Trophy was shared as Syl Apps and his Toronto winger Charlie Conacher finished with identical 29-43-72 seasons. Conacher is the lone holdout on the top line that carried the Leafs through the first half of this decade as Apps replaced Joe Primeau, who sat out the entire season and looks like he will never recover from the eye injury suffered over a year ago. Meanwhile Nick Metz (17-13-30) and Lynn Patrick (10-29-39) have relegated Busher Jackson to the third line. Jackson did finish with 46 points this season but had just 6 in the final 15 games and was dropped from the second line to third.
Code:
AMERICAN DIVISION GP W L T PTS
Boston Bruins 48 29 16 3 61
NY Rangers 48 25 21 2 52
Chicago Black Hawks 48 19 25 4 42
Detroit Red Wings 48 16 28 4 36
CANADIAN DIVISION GP W L T PTS
Toronto Maple Leafs 48 33 11 4 70
Montreal Maroons 48 22 22 4 48
NY Americans 48 18 28 2 38
Montreal Canadiens 48 16 27 5 37
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Syl Apps TOR 48 29 43 72
Charlie Conacher TOR 48 29 43 72
Marty Barry BOS 48 29 31 60
Dit Clapper BOS 48 15 43 58
Sweeney Schriner NYA 48 24 24 48
Neil Colville NYR 48 21 27 48
Doc Rommes CHI 48 13 34 47
Syd Howe DET 48 22 24 46
Busher Jackson TOR 48 19 27 46
Bobby Bauer BOS 47 19 26 45
PLAYOFFS
The Bruins gave Toronto a battle but fell short of knocking off the champs. Toronto took the semi-final series in 6 games but 4 of them went to overtime including 3 that the Leafs prevailed in. Meanwhile the Montreal Maroons are making their first appearance in the finals since the sim began after they ousted the Rangers in 6 games. Young winger Toe Blake played a big role for the Maroons, picking up 8 points in the 6 game semi-final series.
The Leafs took game one of the finals 5-2 as they fired 45 shots on Maroons goaltender Normie Smith. Art Jackson had 2 goals and an assist while Lynn Patrick scored once and added 2 helpers for Toronto.
Normie Smith was the story of game two as he made 34 saves in a 1-0 Maroons victory. Glenn Brydson's second period goal was the difference as Toronto suffered a rare postseason loss on home ice.
Toronto made a statement in Game Three as the Leafs hammered the Maroons 5-2. Charlie Conacher scored twice in the first five minutes and the Leafs glided to victory from there.
Busher Jackson scored once and added two helpers as Toronto took a 3 games to one lead with a 4-0 victory in Game Four. Alec Connell faced just 13 shots in the Leafs cage.
Mud Bruneteau and Frank Beisler each had a goal and an assist as Montreal stayed alive with a 4-2 victory despite being outshot 38-21 by Toronto. Normie Smith had another big game in the Maroons net.
Montreal entered Game Six at home trailing 3 games to two and the Maroons nearly forced a seventh game. Toe Blake tied the contest at 2 with just 37 seconds remaining in the third period and the Maroons seemed to have the momentum heading into overtime. However, Syl Apps ended it for Toronto with a goal at 4:20 of the first overtime period and the Leafs won their 7th straight Stanley Cup title.
Bruneteau topped all playoff performers with 14 points and his 7 goals tied Toronto's Charlie Conacher for the lead. Syl Apps and Busher Jackson each had 13 points as Jackson rebounded following a slump to end the regular season. Apps was named playoff MVP.
Other Award winners:
HART TROPHY: Syl Apps Toronto (48 GP 29-43-72)
VEZINA TROPHY: Alec Connell Toronto (26-7-6, 2.01)
NORRIS TROPHY: Eddie Shore Boston (43 GP, 9-29-38)
ART ROSS TROPHY: shared between Syl Apps and Charlie Conacher Toronto
CALDER TROPHY: Jack Crawford Boston (48 GP, 5-12-17)
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 Tiny Thompson Boston Turk Broda Mon Candiens
D Eddie Shore Boston Babe Siebert Mon Maroons
D Flash Hollett Toronto Earl Siebert NY Rangers
C Syl Apps Toronto Marty Barry Boston
LW Sweeney Schriner NYAmericans Doc Rommes Chicago
RW Charlie Conacher Toronto Dit Clapper Boston