1944–45 NHL season

Did You Know?

• In October 1944, Lester Patrick sponsored W. G. Hardy to become NHL president, replacing Red Dutton.
• Hardy was credited with being largely responsible for the professional-amateur agreement between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Association.
• Hardy had an excellent record as an executive of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

Regular season

The 1944–45 NHL season saw the Montreal Canadiens' "Punch Line" dominate. Maurice "Rocket" Richard netted 50 goals in 50 games, beating Joe Malone's 44-goal mark; Malone handed Richard the puck after his 45th goal. On December 28, 1944, Richard had a five-goal, three-assist night against Detroit at the Montreal Forum. His center, Elmer Lach, led the scoring race with 26 goals and 80 points, while Toe Blake placed third with 29 goals and 38 assists.

This marked the second time a full line finished first, second, and third in scoring, following the Boston Bruins' Kraut Line in 1939–40. Montreal loaned Paul Bibeault to Boston instead of Toronto. Toronto rookie Frank McCool claimed the Calder Memorial Trophy, making the Maple Leafs the first team with three straight top rookies. McCool tied Chicago's Mike Karakas for most shutouts, each with four.

Bill Durnan earned his second straight Vezina Trophy. Flash Hollett became the first defenseman to score twenty goals in a season, a record that stood until Bobby Orr broke it. After owner Frederic McLaughlin died, Chicago traded defenseman Earl Seibert to Detroit for Don Grosso, Cully Simon, and Byron "Butch" McDonald.

Playoffs

The top four teams qualified for the playoffs. In the semifinals, the first-place team played the third-place team, and the second-place team faced the fourth-place team, with winners advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals; both rounds were best-of-seven series. The Montreal Canadiens finished first with 80 points, and the Toronto Maple Leafs finished third with 52 points. This was the fourth playoff meeting between Montreal and Toronto; Montreal had won two of the previous three series, including the previous year's semifinals in five games.

Toronto won the regular-season series earning eleven of twenty points. The Detroit Red Wings finished second with 67 points, and the Boston Bruins finished fourth with 36 points. This was the fourth playoff meeting between Detroit and Boston; Detroit had won two of the previous three series, including the 1943 Stanley Cup Finals in four games. Detroit won the regular-season series earning nineteen of twenty points.

This was the eighth playoff meeting between Toronto and Detroit; Toronto had won four of the seven previous series. Detroit won the regular-season series earning seventeen of twenty points.