1988–89 Toronto Maple Leafs season

{{see also|1988 NHL entry draft}}

The 1988–89 Maple Leafs season was a disastrous one that saw John Brophy fired as head coach midway through the season. Interim head coach George Armstrong led the Leafs close to the playoffs, but they eventually missed out after losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the final game of the regular season. The Leafs needed a win against Chicago to clinch a playoff berth, but a Troy Murray overtime goal ended Toronto's season.

The Maple Leafs finished the regular season last in the NHL in power play goals scored (56), power play opportunities (334), power play percentage (16.77%) and penalty-killing percentage (72.70%).{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1989.html|title=1988-89 NHL Summary}}

• November 7, 1988 – The Maple Leafs traded RW Russ Courtnall to Montreal for RW John Kordic and a 6th-round choice (Michael Doers)
• Ken Wregget was traded by Maple Leafs to Philadelphia Flyers for two first-round picks (RW Rob Pearson and D Steve Bancroft) in 1989 draft, March 6, 1989.

{{1988–89 NHL Norris Division standings|team=TOR}}

{{1988–89 NHL Record vs. opponents (Norris)|team=TOR}}

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;|title=1988–89 regular season{{cite web |title=1988-89 Toronto Maple Leafs Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TOR/1989_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=April 4, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid;|title=October|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|1||L||October 6, 1988||1–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||0–1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|2||W||October 8, 1988||7–4 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||1–1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|3||W||October 9, 1988||8–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||2–1–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

|4||L||October 12, 1988||2–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||2–2–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|5||W||October 14, 1988||3–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||3–2–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

|6||L||October 15, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||3–3–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|7||W||October 17, 1988||6–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||4–3–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|8||W||October 19, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||5–3–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|9||W||October 21, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||6–3–0

|- {{Game-tied}}

|10||T||October 22, 1988||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||6–3–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|11||W||October 25, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1988–89) ||7–3–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|12||W||October 26, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||8–3–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|13||L||October 29, 1988||2–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||8–4–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid;|title=November|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|14||L||November 2, 1988||2–7 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||8–5–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|15||L||November 5, 1988||4–6 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||8–6–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|16||L||November 10, 1988||1–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||8–7–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|17||L||November 12, 1988||2–6 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||8–8–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|18||L||November 14, 1988||4–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||8–9–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|19||W||November 16, 1988||8–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||9–9–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|20||L||November 18, 1988||0–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||9–10–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|21||L||November 19, 1988||1–9 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||9–11–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|22||W||November 21, 1988||4–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||10–11–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|23||W||November 23, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||11–11–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|24||L||November 25, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||11–12–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|25||L||November 26, 1988||3–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||11–13–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid;|title=December|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|26||L||December 1, 1988||3–9 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||11–14–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|27||L||December 3, 1988||0–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||11–15–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|28||L||December 9, 1988||3–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||11–16–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|29||L||December 10, 1988||2–8 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||11–17–1

|- {{Game-tied}}

|30||T||December 12, 1988||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||11–17–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|31||L||December 14, 1988||2–8 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||11–18–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|32||L||December 15, 1988||3–6 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||11–19–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|33||L||December 17, 1988||1–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||11–20–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|34||W||December 19, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||12–20–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|35||L||December 21, 1988||1–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||12–21–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|36||L||December 23, 1988||2–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||12–22–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|37||L||December 26, 1988||3–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1988–89) ||12–23–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|38||W||December 29, 1988||6–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||13–23–2

|- {{Game-won}}

|39||W||December 31, 1988||6–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||14–23–2

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid;|title=January|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|40||T||January 1, 1989||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||14–23–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

|41||L||January 6, 1989||0–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||14–24–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

|42||L||January 7, 1989||1–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||14–25–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|43||W||January 9, 1989||3–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||15–25–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

|44||L||January 11, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||15–26–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

|45||L||January 14, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||15–27–3

|- {{Game-won}}

|46||W||January 16, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||16–27–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

|47||T||January 19, 1989||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||16–27–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|48||L||January 21, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||16–28–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|49||L||January 25, 1989||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||16–29–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|50||L||January 27, 1989||1–8 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||16–30–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

|51||T||January 28, 1989||1–1 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1988–89) ||16–30–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|52||L||January 30, 1989||1–7 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||16–31–5

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid;|title=February|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|53||W||February 2, 1989||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1988–89) ||17–31–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|54||L||February 4, 1989||1–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||17–32–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|55||W||February 11, 1989||4–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||18–32–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|56||L||February 13, 1989||1–8 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||18–33–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|57||L||February 15, 1989||2–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||18–34–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|58||W||February 17, 1989||10–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||19–34–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|59||W||February 18, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||20–34–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|60||L||February 20, 1989||4–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||20–35–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|61||W||February 22, 1989||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||21–35–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|62||L||February 23, 1989||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||21–36–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|63||W||February 25, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||22–36–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|64||L||February 27, 1989||5–7 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||22–37–5

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid;|title=March|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|65||L||March 1, 1989||4–7 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||22–38–5

|- {{Game-tied}}

|66||T||March 4, 1989||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||22–38–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|67||L||March 5, 1989||0–3 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||22–39–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|68||W||March 7, 1989||6–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||23–39–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|69||L||March 9, 1989||1–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||23–40–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|70||W||March 11, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||24–40–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|71||L||March 12, 1989||7–9 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||24–41–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|72||W||March 14, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||25–41–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|73||L||March 18, 1989||2–10 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||25–42–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|74||L||March 19, 1989||6–8 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||25–43–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|75||W||March 22, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||26–43–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|76||L||March 24, 1989||2–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||26–44–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|77||W||March 25, 1989||6–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||27–44–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|78||W||March 29, 1989||3–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||28–44–6

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 2px solid;|title=April|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|79||L||April 1, 1989||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||28–45–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|80||L||April 2, 1989||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||28–46–6

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

• Gary Leeman, Molson Cup (Most game star selections for Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions in the 1988–89 season.

|}

• [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000381989.html Maple Leafs on Hockey Database]

{{reflist}}

{{1988–89 NHL season by team}}

{{Toronto Maple Leafs}}

{{Toronto Maple Leafs seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1988-89 Toronto Maple Leafs season}}

Category:Toronto Maple Leafs seasons

Toronto Maple Leafs season, 1988-89

Toronto