2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs season
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...

 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

is the 95th
Toronto Maple Leafs seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons of the Toronto NHL franchise since its inception in 1917...

 season for the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 franchise that was established on November 22, 1917.

Off-Season

At the 2011 NHL Draft, Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...

 fulfilled his pledge to trade up in the First Round, trading the 30th (Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell is a Swedish ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League. He was selected 30th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks...

) and 39th (John Gibson
John Gibson (ice hockey b. 1993)
John Gibson is an American ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He was committed to play for the University of Michigan team which competes in NCAA's Division I in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...

) Picks to Anaheim in exchange for the 22nd Pick, which was used to select Tyler Biggs
Tyler Biggs
Tyler Biggs is an American ice hockey player who is committed to play for Miami RedHawks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . Biggs previously played for the U.S. National Development Team in the USHL. He was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs....

. The Leafs also selected Stuart Percy
Stuart Percy
Stuart Percy is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the Ontario Hockey League...

 with 25th Pick.

The Leafs made two key Free Agent additions, adding centers Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly is an American professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 from Buffalo and Philippe Dupuis
Philippe Dupuis
Philippe Dupuis is a Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 from Colorado. The Leafs also added to their blue line by trading Brett Lebda
Brett Lebda
Brett Steven Lebda is an American professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League...

 and prospect Robert Slaney to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in exchange for Cody Franson
Cody Franson
Cody Franson is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League...

 and center Matthew Lombardi
Matthew Lombardi
Matthew Lombardi is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs.-Playing career:Matthew Lombardi was born and raised in Montreal. He played hockey for the LaPresqu'ile minor hockey association before playing junior hockey for the Victoriaville Tigres in the Quebec Major...

.

The Leafs suffered no major losses during the off-season, however Tim Brent
Tim Brent
Tim Brent is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

, who had an impressive season with the Leafs was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes and veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Jean-Sébastien Giguère
Jean-Sébastien Giguère is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . He played major junior with the Verdun Collège Français and Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , where he was drafted 13th...

 was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

. Other Leafs to go included Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond is a professional ice hockey defenseman for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He is the son of retired NHL defenseman, Steve Richmond.-Amateur career:...

 (Washington), Christian Hanson
Christian Hanson (ice hockey)
Christian David Hanson is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals. Prior to playing for the Capitals, Hanson played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and in the American Hockey League for the Toronto Marlies. He played amateur hockey for the University...

, (Washington) and Fabian Brunnstrom
Fabian Brunnström
Fabian Brunnström is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 (Detroit).

On October 4 the Leafs traded their 4th Round Pick at the 2012 Draft to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in exchange for center David Steckel.

Regular season

The Leafs got off to a fast start, winning their first three games and seven of their first ten, finishing October in first place in the Northeast Division, second in the Conference. Phil Kessel
Phil Kessel
Philip Joseph Kessel, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey forward, and an alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Kessel is a product of USA Hockey's National Development Team and became that program's all-time leader for goals and points in his final...

 was the NHL's leading points scorer with 18, and leading goal scorer with 10. James Reimer was the starting goaltender for the first five games, but was injured in his next start when Montreal's Brian Gionta
Brian Gionta
Brian Joseph Gionta is an American professional ice hockey player and captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League , and is the second American-born captain of the Canadiens and its first sole American-born captain...

 struck Reimer in the jaw while fighting for the puck. Reimer left the game after the first period and did not return to play for the rest of the month. Since then, Jonas Gustavsson
Jonas Gustavsson
Jonas Gustavsson , popularly nicknamed The Monster due to his stature, is a Swedish ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Swedish Jonas...

 has replaced Reimer, with Ben Scrivens
Ben Scrivens
Benjamin John Scrivens is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League . Before signing a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, Scrivens played four years with the Cornell Big Red of the ECAC...

 serving as back up.

Playoffs

The Maple Leafs will attempt to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs
Stanley Cup playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records...

 for the first time since the 2003–04 NHL season. The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...

predicts that the Leafs will place tenth and miss the playoffs.

Standings

Pre-season


Regular season

{| class="toccolours" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#003876; color:white" | 2011-12 Game Log: 14–8–2, 30 Points (Home: 6–3–2; Road: 8–5–0)
|- valign="top"
|

The 2011–12
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...

 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

is the 95th
Toronto Maple Leafs seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons of the Toronto NHL franchise since its inception in 1917...

 season for the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 franchise that was established on November 22, 1917.

Off-Season

At the 2011 NHL Draft, Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...

 fulfilled his pledge to trade up in the First Round, trading the 30th (Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell is a Swedish ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League. He was selected 30th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks...

) and 39th (John Gibson
John Gibson (ice hockey b. 1993)
John Gibson is an American ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He was committed to play for the University of Michigan team which competes in NCAA's Division I in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...

) Picks to Anaheim in exchange for the 22nd Pick, which was used to select Tyler Biggs
Tyler Biggs
Tyler Biggs is an American ice hockey player who is committed to play for Miami RedHawks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . Biggs previously played for the U.S. National Development Team in the USHL. He was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs....

. The Leafs also selected Stuart Percy
Stuart Percy
Stuart Percy is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the Ontario Hockey League...

 with 25th Pick.

The Leafs made two key Free Agent additions, adding centers Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly is an American professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 from Buffalo and Philippe Dupuis
Philippe Dupuis
Philippe Dupuis is a Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 from Colorado. The Leafs also added to their blue line by trading Brett Lebda
Brett Lebda
Brett Steven Lebda is an American professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League...

 and prospect Robert Slaney to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in exchange for Cody Franson
Cody Franson
Cody Franson is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League...

 and center Matthew Lombardi
Matthew Lombardi
Matthew Lombardi is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs.-Playing career:Matthew Lombardi was born and raised in Montreal. He played hockey for the LaPresqu'ile minor hockey association before playing junior hockey for the Victoriaville Tigres in the Quebec Major...

.

The Leafs suffered no major losses during the off-season, however Tim Brent
Tim Brent
Tim Brent is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

, who had an impressive season with the Leafs was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes and veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Jean-Sébastien Giguère
Jean-Sébastien Giguère is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . He played major junior with the Verdun Collège Français and Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , where he was drafted 13th...

 was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

. Other Leafs to go included Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond is a professional ice hockey defenseman for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He is the son of retired NHL defenseman, Steve Richmond.-Amateur career:...

 (Washington), Christian Hanson
Christian Hanson (ice hockey)
Christian David Hanson is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals. Prior to playing for the Capitals, Hanson played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and in the American Hockey League for the Toronto Marlies. He played amateur hockey for the University...

, (Washington) and Fabian Brunnstrom
Fabian Brunnström
Fabian Brunnström is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 (Detroit).

On October 4 the Leafs traded their 4th Round Pick at the 2012 Draft to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in exchange for center David Steckel.

Regular season

The Leafs got off to a fast start, winning their first three games and seven of their first ten, finishing October in first place in the Northeast Division, second in the Conference. Phil Kessel
Phil Kessel
Philip Joseph Kessel, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey forward, and an alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Kessel is a product of USA Hockey's National Development Team and became that program's all-time leader for goals and points in his final...

 was the NHL's leading points scorer with 18, and leading goal scorer with 10. James Reimer was the starting goaltender for the first five games, but was injured in his next start when Montreal's Brian Gionta
Brian Gionta
Brian Joseph Gionta is an American professional ice hockey player and captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League , and is the second American-born captain of the Canadiens and its first sole American-born captain...

 struck Reimer in the jaw while fighting for the puck. Reimer left the game after the first period and did not return to play for the rest of the month. Since then, Jonas Gustavsson
Jonas Gustavsson
Jonas Gustavsson , popularly nicknamed The Monster due to his stature, is a Swedish ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Swedish Jonas...

 has replaced Reimer, with Ben Scrivens
Ben Scrivens
Benjamin John Scrivens is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League . Before signing a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, Scrivens played four years with the Cornell Big Red of the ECAC...

 serving as back up.

Playoffs

The Maple Leafs will attempt to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs
Stanley Cup playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records...

 for the first time since the 2003–04 NHL season. The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...

predicts that the Leafs will place tenth and miss the playoffs.

Standings

Pre-season

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=11 style="background:#003876; color:white;" | 2011 Pre-season game log: 4–4–0 (Home: 1-3–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)
|- style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"
| # || Date || Visitor || Score || Home || OT || Decision || Record
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 1 || September 19 || Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 || 2-4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || ||Jonas Gustavsson ||1-0-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 2 || September 20 || Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 || 4-0 || Toronto Maple Leafs || ||James Reimer ||1-1-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 3 || September 21 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4-2 || Philadelphia Flyers || ||Jonas Gustavsson ||2-1-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 4 || September 23 || Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...

 || 2-1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || James Reimer ||2-2-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 5 || September 24 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2-3 || Buffalo Sabres || || Jonas Gustavsson || 2-3-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 6 || September 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5-3 || Ottawa Senators || || James Reimer || 3-3-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 7 || September 30 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4-3 || Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 || OT || Jonas Gustavsson || 4-3-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 8 || October 1 || Detroit Red Wings || 4-2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || James Reimer || 4-4-0
|}

Regular season

{| class="toccolours" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#003876; color:white" | 2011-12 Game Log: 14–8–2, 30 Points (Home: 6–3–2; Road: 8–5–0)
|- valign="top"
|

The 2011–12
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...

 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

is the 95th
Toronto Maple Leafs seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons of the Toronto NHL franchise since its inception in 1917...

 season for the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 franchise that was established on November 22, 1917.

Off-Season

At the 2011 NHL Draft, Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...

 fulfilled his pledge to trade up in the First Round, trading the 30th (Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell is a Swedish ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League. He was selected 30th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks...

) and 39th (John Gibson
John Gibson (ice hockey b. 1993)
John Gibson is an American ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He was committed to play for the University of Michigan team which competes in NCAA's Division I in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...

) Picks to Anaheim in exchange for the 22nd Pick, which was used to select Tyler Biggs
Tyler Biggs
Tyler Biggs is an American ice hockey player who is committed to play for Miami RedHawks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . Biggs previously played for the U.S. National Development Team in the USHL. He was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs....

. The Leafs also selected Stuart Percy
Stuart Percy
Stuart Percy is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the Ontario Hockey League...

 with 25th Pick.

The Leafs made two key Free Agent additions, adding centers Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly is an American professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 from Buffalo and Philippe Dupuis
Philippe Dupuis
Philippe Dupuis is a Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 from Colorado. The Leafs also added to their blue line by trading Brett Lebda
Brett Lebda
Brett Steven Lebda is an American professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League...

 and prospect Robert Slaney to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in exchange for Cody Franson
Cody Franson
Cody Franson is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League...

 and center Matthew Lombardi
Matthew Lombardi
Matthew Lombardi is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs.-Playing career:Matthew Lombardi was born and raised in Montreal. He played hockey for the LaPresqu'ile minor hockey association before playing junior hockey for the Victoriaville Tigres in the Quebec Major...

.

The Leafs suffered no major losses during the off-season, however Tim Brent
Tim Brent
Tim Brent is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

, who had an impressive season with the Leafs was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes and veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Jean-Sébastien Giguère
Jean-Sébastien Giguère is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . He played major junior with the Verdun Collège Français and Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , where he was drafted 13th...

 was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

. Other Leafs to go included Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond
Danny Richmond is a professional ice hockey defenseman for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He is the son of retired NHL defenseman, Steve Richmond.-Amateur career:...

 (Washington), Christian Hanson
Christian Hanson (ice hockey)
Christian David Hanson is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals. Prior to playing for the Capitals, Hanson played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and in the American Hockey League for the Toronto Marlies. He played amateur hockey for the University...

, (Washington) and Fabian Brunnstrom
Fabian Brunnström
Fabian Brunnström is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 (Detroit).

On October 4 the Leafs traded their 4th Round Pick at the 2012 Draft to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in exchange for center David Steckel.

Regular season

The Leafs got off to a fast start, winning their first three games and seven of their first ten, finishing October in first place in the Northeast Division, second in the Conference. Phil Kessel
Phil Kessel
Philip Joseph Kessel, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey forward, and an alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Kessel is a product of USA Hockey's National Development Team and became that program's all-time leader for goals and points in his final...

 was the NHL's leading points scorer with 18, and leading goal scorer with 10. James Reimer was the starting goaltender for the first five games, but was injured in his next start when Montreal's Brian Gionta
Brian Gionta
Brian Joseph Gionta is an American professional ice hockey player and captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League , and is the second American-born captain of the Canadiens and its first sole American-born captain...

 struck Reimer in the jaw while fighting for the puck. Reimer left the game after the first period and did not return to play for the rest of the month. Since then, Jonas Gustavsson
Jonas Gustavsson
Jonas Gustavsson , popularly nicknamed The Monster due to his stature, is a Swedish ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Swedish Jonas...

 has replaced Reimer, with Ben Scrivens
Ben Scrivens
Benjamin John Scrivens is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League . Before signing a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, Scrivens played four years with the Cornell Big Red of the ECAC...

 serving as back up.

Playoffs

The Maple Leafs will attempt to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs
Stanley Cup playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records...

 for the first time since the 2003–04 NHL season. The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...

predicts that the Leafs will place tenth and miss the playoffs.

Standings

Pre-season

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=11 style="background:#003876; color:white;" | 2011 Pre-season game log: 4–4–0 (Home: 1-3–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)
|- style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"
| # || Date || Visitor || Score || Home || OT || Decision || Record
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 1 || September 19 || Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 || 2-4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || ||Jonas Gustavsson ||1-0-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 2 || September 20 || Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 || 4-0 || Toronto Maple Leafs || ||James Reimer ||1-1-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 3 || September 21 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4-2 || Philadelphia Flyers || ||Jonas Gustavsson ||2-1-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 4 || September 23 || Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...

 || 2-1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || James Reimer ||2-2-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 5 || September 24 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2-3 || Buffalo Sabres || || Jonas Gustavsson || 2-3-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 6 || September 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5-3 || Ottawa Senators || || James Reimer || 3-3-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
| 7 || September 30 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4-3 || Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 || OT || Jonas Gustavsson || 4-3-0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
| 8 || October 1 || Detroit Red Wings || 4-2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || James Reimer || 4-4-0
|}

Regular season

{| class="toccolours" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#003876; color:white" | 2011-12 Game Log: 14–8–2, 30 Points (Home: 6–3–2; Road: 8–5–0)
|- valign="top"
|