Retrospective: Toronto Maple Leafs of the 1970s

After the glory of the 1966–67 season, the Leafs roster deflated, the organization shifting around it. Two of the following three seasons, the Leafs missed the playoffs. Not to mention growing uncertainty with ownership, the 11 year tenure of then GM Punch Impach came to an end at the end of the 1968–69 season. Needless to say the Leafs began a new decade on a low.

The 1970s saw Harold Ballard assume full ownership of the team, beginning what would be a tumultuous tenure. Despite beginning the decade in prison, the 1970s saw the most sustained success of Ballard’s ownership. Overseen by GM Jim Gregory, the Leafs would consistently make the playoffs and employ some of the franchise’s all time great players. Ultimately the Leafs would fall short in the playoffs, though Ballard’s unwillingness to increase player salaries was certainly no help. Let’s take a look at the Leafs all-time 1970s lineup.

Forwards

Henderson—Sittler—McDonald
Williams—Keon—Ellis
Thompson—Ullman—Hammarstrom
Boutette—McKechnie—Kehoe

The Leafs were powered by some incredible talents up front. While veterans Dave Keon, Ron Ellis, and Norm Ullman were certainly huge factors, the decade belonged to Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald. Sittler would serve as captain, and star as a perennial Hart Trophy candidate.

Paul Henderson is famous for his international feats, but still deserves top consideration. Errol Thompson and Inge Hammarstrom played multiple seasons in complementary roles. So did Tiger Williams, who is often remembered for his penalties and his goal celebration. Williams was certainly a character, but his consistent offensive contributions should not be overlooked.

The bottom of the forward lineup is more difficult to fill, as Ballard’s spending aversions handcuffed the team’s ability to build depth. Pat Boutette and Rick Kehoe had some of the longer tenures, and get credit for being Leafs draft picks. Walt McKechnie deserves a shutout despite just one season of work.

Defence

Salming—McKenny
Turnbull— Glennie
Dorey—Pelyk

The teambuilding themes continue, as the Leafs had some of their greatest players but not much consistency outside that. Jim McKenny was the staple of the right side, while Ian Turnbull’s offensive output was impressive.

Of course, the blueline is headlined by Borje Salming. The Leafs back end had two offensive stars in Salming and Turnbull, often outpacing all the forwards not named Sittler or McDonald after Keon and Ullman moved on.

Again, the rest of the blueline saw change on a near yearly basis. Brian Glennie was more tenured, and so is a lock here. Bob Baun was considered, despite playing only two seasons for the Leafs in the decade. Instead, Jim Dorey and Mike Pelyk get the nod. Fans might recognize some names from these teams, as Randy Carlyle, Ron Wilson, Joel Quenneville, and forward Bruce Boudreau played for the 70s Leafs before becoming coaches.

Goalies

Palmateer
Plante
Thomas, Parent

The crease firmly belongs to Mike Palmateer, who held the starter’s job for most of the decade. Funnily enough, some legends would make brief appearances with the Leafs, as Jacques Plante and Bernie Parent suited up for the blue and white. Wayne Thomas might have the longest tenure, but Plante’s performance was much stronger.

Legacy

The Leafs would lose in the playoffs, often to the same teams. Defeat came at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers three times, the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens twice each, and the New York Rangers once for good measure. Despite consistently making the playoffs, the Leafs frugal approach to roster building left their star players outgunned against the class of the league.

Sweden

Still, the Leafs were able to add a lot of talent through the decade as management was both effective and creative. The Leafs drafted quite well, adding stars like Sittler, McDonald, Palmateer, and Turnbull. Even more so, the Leafs were bold to reach beyond stigma to bring Salming and Hammarstrom over from Sweden. At the time many thought that Europeans were not suited for the NHL, Swedes in particular, even. Ballard’s lack of spending may have created the desperation, but GM Jim Gregory was bold to break convention. This might be the foremost legacy of the 70s Leafs, perhaps even cementing their status as a worldwide brand.

Gregory

The economic realities of the league were changing, between league expansion and the growing players union, not to mention the rival WHA, tensions were building. In retrospect, Gregory might have been the only thing holding the Leafs together, as the team disintegrated into shambles upon his exit in summer 1979. Given that this was the one and only GM job that Gregory held, and that the GM of the year award now bears his name, one can only imagine the blend of grace and intensity he brought to be so highly esteemed.

Ballard

Ballard already had a reputation, but the situation devolved once Punch Impach returned as GM at the end of the decade. A throwback, Imlach seemed to clash with the younger generation of player empowerment, union and agents. Feuds began to boil over, leading to shocking and scandalous endings to Sittler and McDonald’s Leafs tenures, among others.

Fast forward a couple decades for a framing that younger fans might better understand, Brendan Shanahan’s tenure as president saw many of these burnt bridges mended. The seeds of discord that can be sown by an owner operating without regard for the public trust that fuels the value of the team, and the players that bled for it. In the simplest terms the 1970s were the pinnacle of the Ballard Leafs, the brightest spot in a shadow the team could not escape until the 1990s.

In the fan base there is a palpable distrust of the organization to this day. The foundations of criticism began with Ballard’s views on profitability versus on ice success. The 1980s would prove to be a much darker decade for the Leafs, where Ballard’s antics would become more pronounced.