1999–2000 Toronto Maple Leafs season


The 1999–2000 Toronto Maple Leafs season saw the team finish in first place for the first time since the 1962–63 season. It was also the Maple Leafs' first 100-point season, as well as long-time NHLer Wendel Clark's last season in the NHL.

Offseason

The Maple Leafs had their second consecutive 45-win season and broke the 1992–93 franchise record for most points accumulated in a season. Mats Sundin averaged a point per game, scoring 32 goals and picking up 41 assists for 73 points in 73 games. Jonas Hoglund had a career year, finishing third on the team in points with 56. Goaltender Curtis Joseph set a Maple Leafs record for wins in a season by a goaltender, with 36. The Leafs put Steve Sullivan on waivers and on October 23, 1999, he was picked up by the Chicago Blackhawks. In early 2000, Wendel Clark returned to the Leafs for the third time and had a two-goal game on February 1 in a 5–3 Maple Leafs win at Tampa Bay. In March, the Leafs traded Mike Johnson to Tampa Bay in exchange for Darcy Tucker.
The Leafs got off to a red-hot start to the season, winning 10 of their first 14 games with four shutouts. The team suffered a setback on December 4, 1999, in a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Forward Yanic Perreault was coming around the Pittsburgh net with the puck when Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso slashed Perreault with his goalie stick. Perreault suffered a broken arm and missed 23 games; Barrasso received a four-game suspension for his actions. Another setback occurred on March 11 at Ottawa, when Senators forward Marian Hossa was attempting to clear the puck out of the centre-ice zone. Hossa swung his stick in a golf-swing motion and caught Toronto defenceman Bryan Berard in his right eye. Berard had to leave the game due to the injury and Hossa was assessed with a double minor for high-sticking. It was the last NHL game Berard would play for nearly a year-and-a-half. Additionally, Sergei Berezin, a 37-goal scorer in 1998–99, missed 21 games for the team, but nonetheless finished with a solid 26 goals for Toronto. Despite these hindrances, the Leafs battled on, defeating four solid teams between March 16 and April 1. The Leafs finished third in the Eastern Conference and first in the Northeast Division—the first time the Leafs had finished first in 37 years. Mats Sundin led all skaters in overtime goals scored, with four.

All-Star Game

The 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game was part of the 1999–2000 NHL season, and took place in Toronto's Air Canada Centre on February 6, 2000.
The all-star week festivities saw the Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game played on February 2, and an exhibition game between the Canadian and American women's national teams on February 3. The Heroes of Hockey game and the Skills Competition were held on February 5. It is to note that the opening face-off for the Heroes of Hockey game were Ted Lindsay and Fleming Mackell, two players who played in the 1st National Hockey League All-Star Game.
The week also was a good sendoff for Wayne Gretzky, who had retired the previous season. His #99 was raised to the rafters, despite him never playing for the hometown Maple Leafs, as a show of his number's League-wide retirement. Gretzky also made it clear that he would not partake in any oldtimer or Heroes of Hockey game unless it was held in Edmonton, a statement that was realized with the 2003 Heritage Classic three years later.

Season standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
7332417346161027
81263763681909
8229275610-2913
802026462212534
58182745223504
8273340243200
6126133928504
661218304114002
53121830248300
64327304211100
7732427552211
52111425238213
7310142444-2011
2771017553023
6931417549300
71411156413001
705914198-5002
52581339-7000
45551010-6100
59010102813000
39246554000
1831426000
2022421-3001
26033332000
3603368-4000
602222000
81016-1000
901141000
301101000
2001120000
63011140000
70114-1000
30002-2000
30005-1000
200020000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLT/OTGAGAASOSASVSV%
380163362071582.49418541696.915
1164209100593.042527468.888
Team:496582453072172.62623812164.909

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
1263910001
124480001
1235810001
1242615102
122462000
121450001
120446000
121230100
1212314000
110334000
1203310000
61124000
121124000
120222000
121017010
31010000
1001114000
1201120000
10110000
30002000
30004000
1200010000
10002000
50008000
50006000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
7291266252.061369344.932
Team:7291266252.061369344.932

Playoffs

Round 1: (3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (6) Ottawa Senators

Round 2: (3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) New Jersey Devils

Roster

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1999–2000 season.

Trades

Waivers

Expansion Draft

Free agents

Awards and records

Toronto's draft picks at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft held at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts.
Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club Team
124Luca Cereda HC Ambrì-Piotta
260Peter Reynolds London Knights
4108Mirko Murovic Moncton Wildcats
4110Jonathan Zion Ottawa 67's
5151Vaclav Zavoral Chemopetrol Litvínov Jr.
6161Jan Sochor Slavia Prague
7211Vladimir Kulikov CSKA Moscow
8239Pierre Hedin Modo Hockey
9267Peter Metcalf University of Maine