1973–74 Toronto Maple Leafs season
The 1973–74 campaign marked the Maple Leafs' 57th season overall and 47th under that name. After missing the playoffs the previous year, Toronto finished fourth to qualify, only to be swept in the opening round by the Boston Bruins.
Quick Facts
- League
- NHL
- Season
- 1973–74
- Team
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Record
- 35–27–16
- Division
- East
- Coach
- Red Kelly
- Captain
- Dave Keon
- Arena
- Maple Leaf Gardens
Facts from the source article.
Offseason
The Leafs made moves to strengthen their roster. At the draft, they picked Lanny McDonald fourth overall, and he stayed with Toronto for six and a half seasons. Goaltender Bernie Parent, who had jumped to the WHA in 1972, wanted back in the NHL. Since Toronto still held his rights, they dealt him to Philadelphia for Doug Favell and a first-round pick, which became Bob Neely.
Neely spent four years as a Leaf before being traded to the Colorado Rockies. Toronto also broke new ground by signing European players for the first time. They brought in Swedish defenseman Borje Salming, who had been named to the all-star team at the 1973 world championships, and forward Inge Hammarstrom, a top scorer in Sweden. Both had played for Brynäs in the Swedish League, and the Leafs paid the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation to secure their release.
Salming remained a Leaf until 1989, then joined the Detroit Red Wings. Hammarstrom played five seasons in Toronto before moving to the St. Louis Blues.
More in Club History & Eras
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