1932–33 NHL season

Did You Know?

• Game five of the Stanley Cup Finals was the second longest game in NHL history and the longest at the time.
• Tiny Thompson was named most valuable goaltender but was not named to the NHL All-Star team.

League business

After sitting out a season due to financial difficulties, the Ottawa Senators rejoined the NHL. The Philadelphia Quakers never returned after their own one-season absence. The Montreal Maroons sought Chicago goaltender Chuck Gardiner, but James Strachan's offer of $10,000 plus a goalkeeper was declined. Billy Coutu, expelled in 1927, was reinstated but never played again. The NHL began allowing a substitute to serve penalties for goaltender penalties, and required a captain or alternate captain on the ice at all times.

Regular season

Four goaltenders served as team captains that season, a league record: George Hainsworth, Roy Worters, Charlie Gardiner, and Alex Connell. The Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins finished tied for the best record with 58 points each, but Boston earned the top spot because they had a better head-to-head record. Ottawa sat in second place in the Canadian Division around the midpoint of the season, but their performance fell apart in the second half, dropping them to last place.

The team’s president, Ahearn, told coach Cy Denneny to fine players for lackluster effort and also made clear that Hector Kilrea was not being traded. Montreal, under new coach Newsy Lalonde, spent most of the season in last place but managed to climb to third and qualify for the playoffs. Toronto, led by the Kid line, finished first overall for the first time as the Maple Leafs. Boston, driven by Eddie Shore, finished first in the American Division.

The NHL’s first forfeit happened on March 14, 1933, during a Black Hawks–Bruins game at Boston Garden. After a disputed overtime goal by Boston’s Marty Barry, Chicago coach Tommy Gorman punched referee Bill Stewart. Stewart threw punches back and called police to remove Gorman. The Hawks refused to play without their coach.

Stewart placed the puck at center ice, and Boston’s Cooney Weiland scored with no Chicago players on the ice, giving Boston the forfeit.