1940–41 NHL season


The 1940–41 NHL season was the 24th season of the National Hockey League. Seven teams each played 48 games. The Boston Bruins were the Stanley Cup winners as they swept the Detroit Red Wings four games to none in the final series.

League business

In September 1940, International Ice Hockey Association president W. G. Hardy announced a new one-year agreement was reached with the NHL, who agreed to pay $250 for signing an amateur and another $250 if the amateur played in the NHL. NHL president Frank Calder signed the new professional-amateur agreement in October 1940. The agreement also included allowing the NHL to sign a limited number of junior age players.

Regular season

The Montreal Canadiens had hit the bottom in 1939–40, and were in financial trouble. Frank Patrick decided to become an investor and governor for the team, and Tommy Gorman was hired as general manager. He hired recently released Toronto coach Dick Irvin to run the team. One of the first things Gorman and Irvin did was scout for players, and the Canadiens came up with Johnny Quilty, Joe Benoit, Elmer Lach and defenceman Ken Reardon. Bert Gardiner would be used in goal, replacing Claude Bourque and Wilf Cude. Murph Chamberlain was bought from Toronto to bolster the offence.
Quilty and Benoit came through, as did Toe Blake, but the Habs had a long way to go, finishing sixth. Quilty won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. In fact, before the season started, Coach Irvin handed a sealed envelope to a reporter of his guess who would win the Calder Trophy, and when the season ended, the reporter opened the envelope: Johnny Quilty was the choice Irvin made.
The Boston Bruins set a record 23 straight unbeaten games en route to a strong first place finish at the end of the schedule. The Rangers, finished fourth after the previous year's Stanley Cup win and Dave Kerr was not up to his usual form in goal.

Final standings

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Quarterfinals

(3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) New York Rangers

(5) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens

Semifinals

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (2) Toronto Maple Leafs

(3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) Chicago Black Hawks

Stanley Cup Finals

Awards

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
PLAYERTEAMGPGAPTSPIM
Bill CowleyBoston Bruins4617456216
Bryan HextallNew York Rangers4826184416
Gordie DrillonToronto Maple Leafs422321442
Syl AppsToronto Maple Leafs412024446
Syd HoweDetroit Red Wings482024448
Lynn PatrickNew York Rangers4820244412
Neil ColvilleNew York Rangers4814284228
Eddie WisemanBoston Bruins4716244010
Bobby BauerBoston Bruins481722392
Roy ConacherBoston Bruins412414387

Source: NHL

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
PlayerTeamGPMINGAGAAWLTSO
Turk BrodaToronto Maple Leafs482970992.00281465
Frank BrimsekBoston Bruins4830401022.01278136
Johnny MowersDetroit Red Wings4830401022.012116114
Dave KerrNew York Rangers4830101252.49211982
Paul GoodmanChicago Black Hawks211320552.5071042
Bert GardinerMontreal Canadiens4226001192.75132362
Sam LoPrestiChicago Black Hawks271670843.0291531
Chuck RaynerN.Y. Americans12773443.422730
Earl RobertsonN.Y. Americans3622601423.7762281

Coaches

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1940–41 :
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1940–41 :