1926–27 Toronto St. Patricks season



The 1926–27 Toronto St. Patricks season was the tenth season and the last under the St. Patricks banner for the Toronto National Hockey League (NHL) franchise. In February 1927, Conn Smythe and investors purchased the St. Patricks and changed the name to the Toronto Maple Leafs. On the ice, the team finished in fifth place, out of the playoffs.

Regular Season
After being turned down by the St. Patricks as coach to start the season, Conn Smythe used the success of the New York Rangers team he had assembled, to get an invitation to take over the team. At first, Smythe turned down the offer, saying that he wanted to be an owner or part-owner of the club instead. The St. Pats were for sale, and partner J. P. Bickell offered Smythe a chance to become part-owner. The club had reached a tentative deal to sell the club for $200,000, making Bickell's share $40,000. Bickell offered to hold onto his share, if Smythe could raise $160,000 to pay of the other share-holders and take over the team. On February 14, 1927, Smythe and partners paid $85,000 with the final $75,000 to pay off the club due within 30 days. Smythe renamed the team the Maple Leafs, a name and insignia he felt would be popular, more popular than St. Patricks.

The club played its final game as the St. Patricks at Detroit on February 15, 1927, and their first as the Maple Leafs at Arena Gardens on February 17, 1927. The Leafs wore new white uniforms with a green maple leaf and Toronto written on the sweater. The Leafs won their first game 4–1, under new coach Alex Romeril. Smythe took over as governor, but did not assume the management and coaching of the Leafs until 1927–28. He had commitments to coach the University of Toronto team and the Varsity Grads, a team of former U of T students who had played for the U of T team. He would coach the Grads to the Allan Cup title.

Playoffs

 * The St. Patricks did not qualify for the post season.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * The St. Patricks did not win any awards this season.