1998-99 record: 45-30-7, 97 points, 2nd Northeast Division
Coach: Pat Quinn (45-30-7, one year as Maple Leafs coach)
New faces: G Jimmy Waite, LW Jonas Hoglund, D Greg Andrusak, D Terran Sandwith, C Jason Bonsignore, C Syl Apps III, C Craig Charron, C Adam Mair, LW Darrin Shannon
Losses: RW Martin Prochazka, LW Niklas Andersson, D Yannick Tremblay, D Dallas Eakins
Strengths: G Curtis Joseph was everything the Maple Leafs hoped he'd be when they shelled out $24 million over four years to sign him. Guy Hebert was the only NHL goaltender who faced more shots but Joseph tied for second in the league with 35 wins. He also helped Toronto reach the conference finals in its first season back East. Under first-year coach Pat Quinn, the Leafs employed a freewheeling style that was the envy of fans across North America. They led the NHL with 268 goals, 20 more than any other team. C Mats Sundin remains one of the best in the game, tying for 11th in scoring with 83 points. LW Sergei Berezin had a breakout season with 37 goals and LW Steve Thomas, freed from the shackles of New Jersey's defensive system, added 28. Tomas Kaberle and Daniil Markov were pleasant surprises on defense. Toronto also begins its first full season in the Air Canada Centre.
Weaknesses: The offseason was a mess in the Maple Leafs front office. Associate GM Mike Smith left after a power struggle with team president Ken Dryden, and assistant GM Anders Hedberg followed him out the door a short time later. D Bryan Berard stumbled through a season with two teams. While leading Toronto defensemen with 34 points, his plus-1 was the worst among regulars on the blue line. Lack of toughness was a factor as the Leafs were knocked out of the playoffs in five games by the Buffalo Sabres. That need was not addressed via free agency. Toronto's offensive output was surprising, considering the Leafs ranked 17th on the power play at 14.4 percent. Toronto was a dismal 24th in penalty-killing at 80.3 percent.
Quinn says: "Our focus needs to be trying to improve our transition to defense. We want to try to move the puck like we did last year. We have to be good positionally and not give up as many chances. So we have to find a balance between our good offense and making the positional changes to be better defensively."