The Maple Leafs entered the 1996–97 NHL season with the hopes of making the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.
In one of his final moves, Fletcher traded captain Doug Gilmour to the New Jersey Devils in February.
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
Toronto's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.