According to Ethan Lang of CBC Sports, former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Gerry McNamara of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario has passed away at the age of 90. McNamara was the Maple Leafs general manager from 1981 to 1989.
McNamara has the distinction of being the general manager of possibly the worst team in National Hockey League history to ever make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 1988, the Maple Leafs qualified for the postseason with a record of 21 wins, 49 losses and 10 ties for 52 points. Toronto had the second worst record in the NHL. The only team that was worse were the Minnesota North Stars with 51 points. However, the Maple Leafs were playoff bound because they finished within the top four teams of the Norris Division. In a remarkable statistic, the New York Rangers had 30 more points than the Maple Leafs in 1987-88, but missed the playoffs.
In addition to being the Maple Leafs general manager, McNamara was a Maple Leafs scout for six seasons from 1972 to 1978. He was then their director of scouting from 1979 to 1981.
McNamara played two seasons as a goaltender in the NHL. He was with the Maple Leafs in 1960-61 and 1969-70. In seven games, McNamara had a record of two wins, two losses and one tie with a goals against average of 2.61 and save percentage of .912.
