The 1931–32 NHL season was the 15th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Quakers suspended operations, leaving eight teams to play 48 games each. In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Toronto Maple Leafs swept the New York Rangers in three games to win the franchise's third Stanley Cup championship.
League business At the September 26, 1931, NHL meeting, the requests of the Philadelphia Quakers and the Ottawa Senators to suspend their franchises for the season were granted. The eight remaining teams divided up the Ottawa and Philadelphia players, whose contracts were leased from Ottawa and Philadelphia. (The Quakers would not return) The players went to other teams, but their contracts were intended to revert to the original clubs. Ottawa received an offer of $300,000 for the team, on the condition that it could move to Chicago and play in the new Chicago Stadium but the owners of the Chicago Black Hawks refused to allow the new team within their territory. The Detroit Falcons were bankrupt and went into receivership.
Meanwhile, the American Hockey Association, which had become the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1930–31, had declared itself a major league. NHL president Frank Calder condemned the AHL as an outlaw league, citing the team putting a franchise in Chicago, which had an NHL franchise, and a franchise in Buffalo where the NHL had a minor league affiliate. The AHL proposed a Stanley Cup challenge, and the Stanley Cup trustees ordered the NHL to play off. However, the Buffalo team collapsed and Calder entered into negotiations to merge the Chicago Shamrocks, owned by James Norris, with the bankrupt Detroit Falcons. The AHL signed an agreement with the NHL to become its minor league affiliate.
Arena changes The Toronto Maple Leafs moved from Arena Gardens to the new Maple Leaf Gardens. At one point, the whole project was near collapse, but when Conn Smythe and Frank Selke convinced the unions to accept stock in the Gardens as partial payment of wages, Maple Leaf Gardens was built.
Regular season
Howie Morenz was as effective as ever for the Montreal Canadiens and won the Hart Trophy again, as the Habs once again finished first. The Rangers finished first in the American Division. But it was to be the year of Toronto, with the NHL's leading scorer Harvey "Busher" Jackson leading the way. Chicago spoiled Toronto's home opener at the new Maple Leafs Gardens with a 2–1 win, with the Black Hawks Mush March scoring the Gardens' first goal.
The Montreal Maroons were very interested in obtaining Eddie Shore from Boston. James Strachan, president of the Maroons, said he was willing to pay up to $40,000 for his contract. However, there was no deal. As Boston had fallen to the bottom of the league, it was doubtful that the Bruins would part with their ace defenceman.
Final standings
Playoffs
This was the only time since 1926–27 that three of the final four teams remaining in the playoffs were based in Canada.
Playoff bracket The top three teams in each division qualified for the playoffs. The two division winners met in a best-of-five Stanley Cup semifinal series. The divisional second-place teams and third-place teams played off in a two-game total-goals series to determine the participants for the other two-game total-goals semifinal series. The semifinal winners then played in a best-of-five Stanley Cup Finals.
Quarterfinals
(C2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A2) Chicago Black Hawks
(A3) Detroit Falcons vs. (C3) Montreal Maroons
Semifinals
(C1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A1) New York Rangers
(C2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (C3) Montreal Maroons
Stanley Cup Finals
The Toronto Maple Leafs swept the best-of-five series against the New York Rangers three games to none. The first two games were to be played in New York City but because the circus was in town, the second game was played in Boston. The third and final game was played in Toronto. It was called the "Tennis Series", because the Leafs scored 6 goals in each game.
Awards Howie Morenz won the Hart Trophy for the second time in his career. Joe Primeau won the Lady Byng, the one time he would win the trophy in his career. Chuck Gardiner won the Vezina, the first of two times he would win the trophy.
1931–32 NHL awardsO'Brien Cup:(Canadian Division champion) Montreal CanadiensPrince of Wales Trophy:(American Division champion) New York RangersHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Howie Morenz, Montreal CanadiensLady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Joe Primeau, Toronto Maple LeafsVezina Trophy:(Fewest goals allowed) Chuck Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks
All-Star teams First Team Position Second TeamChuck Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks GRoy Worters, New York AmericansEddie Shore, Boston Bruins DSylvio Mantha, Montreal CanadiensChing Johnson, New York Rangers DKing Clancy, Toronto Maple LeafsHowie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens CHooley Smith, Montreal MaroonsBill Cook, New York Rangers RWCharlie Conacher, Toronto Maple LeafsBusher Jackson, Toronto Maple Leafs LWAurel Joliat, Montreal CanadiensLester Patrick, New York Rangers CoachDick Irvin, Toronto Maple Leafs
Player statistics
Leading scorers Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Busher Jackson Toronto Maple Leafs 48 28 25 53 63 Joe Primeau Toronto Maple Leafs 46 13 37 50 25 Howie Morenz Montreal Canadiens 48 24 25 49 46 Charlie Conacher Toronto Maple Leafs 44 34 14 48 66 Bill Cook New York Rangers 48 34 14 48 33 Dave Trottier Montreal Maroons 48 26 18 44 94 Hooley Smith Montreal Maroons 43 11 33 44 49 Babe Siebert Montreal Maroons 48 21 18 39 64 Dit Clapper Boston Bruins 48 17 22 39 21 Aurel Joliat Montreal Canadiens 48 15 24 39 46 Source: NHL.
Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average Player Team GP W L T Mins GA SO GAA Charlie Gardiner Chicago Black Hawks 48 18 19 11 2989 92 4 1.85 Alec Connell Detroit Falcons 48 18 20 10 3050 108 6 2.12 George Hainsworth Montreal Canadiens 48 25 16 7 2998 110 6 2.20 John Ross Roach New York Rangers 48 23 17 8 3020 112 9 2.23 Tiny Thompson Boston Bruins 43 13 19 11 2698 103 9 2.29 Lorne Chabot Toronto Maple Leafs 44 22 16 6 2698 106 4 2.36 Source: NHL.
Coaches American Division Boston Bruins: Art Ross Chicago Black Hawks: Emil Iverson and Godfrey Matheson Detroit Falcons: Jack Adams New York Rangers: Lester Patrick
Canadian Division Montreal Canadiens: Cecil Hart Montreal Maroons: Sprague Cleghorn New York Americans: Eddie Gerard Toronto Maple Leafs: Art Duncan and Dick Irvin
Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1931–32 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Art Coulter, Chicago Black Hawks Earl Seibert, New York Rangers Ott Heller, New York Rangers
Another notable debut in 1931 was Canadian national radio coverage of Toronto Maple Leafs games on the Canadian National Railway radio network. The program, originally known as the General Motors Hockey Broadcast, evolved over time into the modern CBC TV broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada.
Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1931–32 (listed with their last team): Georges Boucher, Chicago Black Hawks Art Gagne, Detroit Falcons Carson Cooper, Detroit Falcons
See also 1931–32 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions Ice hockey at the 1932 Winter Olympics 1931 in sports 1932 in sports
Notes
References
External links Hockey Database NHL.com