View source for 1931–32 NHL season

{{Infobox sports season
| title            = 1931–32 NHL season
| league           = [[National Hockey League]]
| sport            = [[Ice hockey]]
| duration         = November 12, 1931 – April 9, 1932
| season           = Regular season
| no_of_games = 48
| no_of_teams = 8
| season_champs    = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
| MVP              = Howie Morenz <small>(Montreal Canadiens)</small>
| MVP_link         = 
| top_scorer       = Busher Jackson <small>(Toronto Maple Leafs)</small>
| top_scorer_link  =
| playoffs         = 
| playoffs_link    =
| conf1            = Canadian Division
| conf1_link       =
| conf1_champ      = [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| conf1_runner-up  =
| conf2            = American Division
| conf2_link       =
| conf2_champ      = [[New York Rangers]]
| conf2_runner-up  = 
| finals           = Stanley Cup
| finals_link      =
| finals_champ     = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
| finals_runner-up =  [[New York Rangers]]
| playoffs_MVP     =
 | playoffs_MVP_link=
 | nextseason_link = 1932–33 NHL season
 | prevseason_link = 1930–31 NHL season
 | nextseason_year = 1932–33
 | prevseason_year = 1930–31
 | seasonslistnames = [[List of NHL seasons|NHL]]
}}
The '''1931–32 NHL season''' was the [[List of NHL seasons|15th]] season of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL). The [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] and [[Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)|Philadelphia Quakers]] suspended operations, leaving eight teams to play 48 games each. In the Stanley Cup final, 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 (NHL)|Philadelphia Quakers]] and the [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] to suspend their franchises for the season were granted.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Globe and Mail |date=September 28, 1931 |title=Ottawa and Philadelphia Out of National League |page=6}}</ref> 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 Blackhawks]] refused to allow the new team within their territory.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Globe and Mail |date=September 28, 1931 |title=Large Offer Is Made For Ottawa Team |page=6}}</ref> 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 and declared itself a major league, was condemned as an outlaw league by NHL president Frank Calder. Among the reasons Calder cited for his actions was that the AHL had put 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 as [[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 Detroit Falcons, now bankrupt. The AHL signed an agreement with the NHL to become its minor league affiliate.

==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. The Maple Leaf Gardens was built and opened in November 1931, a remarkable achievement. 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. Chicago spoiled the home opener with a 2–1 win and it was the Black Hawks Mush March who scored 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===

''Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties in minutes''
<br>
''Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in green.''
{| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="40%" | Canadian Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | T
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Pts
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GF
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GA
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | PIM
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| '''[[Montreal Canadiens]]'''|| 48 || 25 ||16 ||7 || 57 ||128 ||111 ||450
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| '''[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]''' || 48 || 23 ||18 ||7 ||53 ||155 ||127 ||625
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| '''[[Montreal Maroons]]''' || 48 || 19 ||22 ||7 || 45 ||142 ||139 ||593
|-
| [[New York Americans]] || 48 || 16 ||24 ||8 || 40 ||95 ||142 ||596
|}

{| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="40%" | American Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | T
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Pts
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GF
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GA
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | PIM
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| '''[[New York Rangers]]''' || 48 ||23|| 17 ||8 || 54 ||134|| 112 ||511
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| '''[[Chicago Black Hawks]]''' ||48 || 18 ||19 ||11 || 47 ||86 ||101 ||464
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| '''[[Detroit Falcons]]''' || 48 || 18 ||20 ||10 || 46 ||95 ||108|| 415
|-
| [[Boston Bruins]] || 48 ||15 ||21 ||12 || 42 ||122 ||117 ||373
|}

==Playoffs==
The Montreal Canadiens were favored for a third straight Cup, but injuries to Pit Lepine and Aurel Joliat dashed that dream. With Joliat half throttle and Lepine out, the Canadiens were no match for the speedy Rangers. Toronto broke through Chuck Gardiner's goaltending to polish Chicago off, then they beat the Montreal Maroons.

=== First round ===
{|
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="7" | [[Montreal Canadiens]] vs. [[New York Rangers]]
|-
! width="60" | Date
! colspan="2" width="120" | Away Team
! colspan="2" width="120" | Home Team
! width="40" | Notes
|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| March 24 || NY Rangers || 3 || '''4''' || '''Mtl. Canadiens'''
|- align="center"
| March 26 || '''NY Rangers''' || '''4''' || 3 || Mtl. Canadiens || 3OT
|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| March 27 || Mtl. Canadiens || 0 || '''1''' || '''NY Rangers'''
|- align="center"
| March 30|| Mtl. Canadiens || 2 || '''5''' || '''NY Rangers'''
|- align="center"
| align="center" colspan="7" | '''NY Rangers won the series 3-1 and advanced to the final.'''
|}
|}

{|
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="6" | [[Chicago Blackhawks]] vs. [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
|-
! width="60" | Date
! colspan="2" width="120" | Away Team
! colspan="2" width="120" | Home Team
|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| March 27 || Toronto || 0 || '''1''' || '''Chicago'''
|- align="center"
| March 29 || Chicago || 1 || '''6''' || '''Toronto'''
|-
| align="center" colspan="6" | '''Toronto won the series 6-2 in total goals.'''
|}
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="6" | [[Detroit Red Wings]] vs. [[Montreal Maroons]]
|-
! width="60" | Date
! colspan="2" width="120" | Away Team
! colspan="2" width="120" | Home Team
|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| March 27 || Mtl. Maroons || 1 || 1 || Detroit
|- align="center"
| March 29 || Detroit || 0 || '''2''' || '''Mtl. Maroons'''
|-
| align="center" colspan="6" | '''Mtl. Maroons won the series 3-1 in total goals.'''
|}
|}

=== Second round ===
{|
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="7" | [[Montreal Maroons]] vs. [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
|-
! width="60" | Date
! colspan="2" width="120" | Away Team
! colspan="2" width="120" | Home Team
! width="40" | Notes
|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| March 30 || Toronto || 1 || 1 || Mtl. Maroons
|- align="center"
| April 2 || Mtl. Maroons || 2 || '''3''' || '''Toronto''' || OT
|-
| align="center" colspan="7" | '''Toronto won the series 4-3 in total goals.'''
|}
|}

===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. The Rangers scored 4 times in their own building, twice at Boston Garden, and four more in Toronto.

'''Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Rangers'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="60" | Date
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="150" | Away
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5" | Score
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="150" | Home
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5" | Score
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="60" | Notes
|-
|April 5||'''Toronto Maple Leafs'''||'''6'''||New York Rangers||4||
|-
|April 7||'''Toronto Maple Leafs'''||'''6'''||New York Rangers||2|| (played in Boston)
|-
|April 9||New York Rangers||4||'''Toronto Maple Leafs'''||'''6'''||
|}
''Toronto wins best-of-five series 3–0.''

==Awards==

{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" border="1" class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="2" | 1931–32 NHL awards
|-
|[[O'Brien Trophy|O'Brien Cup]]:<br>(Canadian Division champion) || Montreal Canadiens
|-
|[[Prince of Wales Trophy]]:<br>(American Division champion) || New York Rangers
|-
|Hart Trophy:<br>(Most valuable player) || Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens
|-
|Lady Byng Trophy:<br>(Excellence and sportsmanship) || Joe Primeau, Toronto Maple Leafs
|-
|Vezina Trophy:<br>(Fewest goals allowed) || Chuck Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks
|}

==Player statistics==

===Leading scorers===
''Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes''
{| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="40%" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | G
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | A
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | Pts
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | 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.{{sfn |Dinger |2011 |p=147}}

===Leading goaltenders===
''Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average''
{| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:10em" class="unsortable" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:10em" class="unsortable" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:3em" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:3em" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:3em" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:3em" | T
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:5em" | Mins
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:3em" | GA
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:3em" | SO
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" style="width:5em" | GAA
|- align="center"
|align="left"| Charlie Gardiner ||align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks || 48 || 18 || 19 || 11 || 2989 || 92 || 4 || 1.85
|- align="center"
|align="left"| Alec Connell || align="left"| Detroit Falcons || 48 || 18 || 20 || 10 || 3050 || 108 || 6 || 2.12
|- align="center"
|align="left"| George Hainsworth ||align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || 48 || 25 || 16 || 7 || 2998 || 110 || 6 || 2.20
|- align="center"
|align="left"| John Ross Roach ||align="left"| New York Rangers || 48 || 23 || 17 || 8 || 3020 || 112 || 9 || 2.23
|- align="center"
|align="left"| Tiny Thompson ||align="left"| Boston Bruins || 43 || 13 || 19 || 11 || 2698 || 103 || 9 || 2.29
|- align="center"
|align="left"| Lorne Chabot ||align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || 44 || 22 || 16 || 6 || 2698 || 106 || 4 || 2.36
|}
'''Source:''' NHL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/stats/historical?fetchKey=19322ALLGAHSALL&ord=asc&sort=goalsAgainstAverage&viewName=statsLeadersSingleSeasonGoalies
 |title=1931–1932 – Regular Season – Goalie – Goalie Season Stats Leaders – Goals Against Average |publisher=nhl.com |accessdate=March 25, 2015}}</ref>

==References==
* {{cite book|title=Total Hockey |editor=Diamond, Dan |publisher=Total Sports |year=2000 |isbn=1-892129-85-X |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Dinger |editor-first=Ralph |year=2011 |title=The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 |publisher=Dan Diamond & Associates |isbn=978-1-894801-22-5 |ref={{harvid|Dinger|2011}}}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Dryden |editor-first=Steve |title=Century of hockey |publisher=McClelland & Stewart Ltd. |location=Toronto, ON |year=2000 |isbn=0-7710-4179-9 |ref={{harvid|Dryden|2000}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Fischler |first1=Stan |last2=Fischler |first2=Shirley
 |last3=Hughes |first3=Morgan |last4=Romain |first4=Joseph |last5=Duplacey |first5=James
 |year=2003 |title=The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League |publisher=Publications International Inc. |isbn=0-7853-9624-1 |ref={{harvid|Fischler|2003}}}}
* {{cite book |last=McFarlane |first=Brian |title=The Story of the National Hockey League
 |publisher=Pagurian Press |location=New York, NY |year=1973 |isbn=0-684-13424-1 |ref=harv}}

;Notes
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/nhl1927.html Hockey Database]
*[http://nhl.com/ NHL.com]

{{NHL seasons|1931}}
{{Wikipedia}}

[[Category:1931 in ice hockey]]
[[Category:1932 in ice hockey]]