- "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here. For the former American Hockey League team, see St. John's Maple Leafs
The St. John's Maple Leafs were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada at Memorial Stadium from 1991–2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001–2005.-History:...
.
The
Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
team based in
TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
,
OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
,
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They are members of the
Northeast DivisionThe NHL's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Adams Division...
of the
Eastern ConferenceThe Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
of the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
(NHL). The organization, one of the "
Original SixThe Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that composed the National Hockey League for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. The name is something of a misnomer, since there were other NHL franchises that ceased operations before 1942...
" members of the NHL, is officially known as the
Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and is the leading subsidiary of
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. is the owner and operator of the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League team, Toronto Raptors National Basketball Association team, Toronto FC Major League Soccer team, and Toronto Marlies American Hockey League team—all based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
(MLSE). They have played at the
Air Canada CentreThe Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose arena located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League...
(ACC) since 1999, after 68 years at
Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District. It still stands, as of 2009, but has seen little use in the past decade....
.
The Leafs are well known for their long and bitter
rivalryRivalries in the National Hockey League have occurred between many teams and cities. Rivalries have arisen for many different reasons, the primary ones include geographic proximity, familiarity with opponents, on-ice incidents , and cultural, linguistic, or national pride.The importance of these...
with the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and more recent rivalry with the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
and the
Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The franchise has won thirteen
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championships, eleven as the Leafs, one as the
Toronto St. PatricksThe Toronto St. Patricks professional men's ice hockey team started as an amateur ice hockey organization. In 1919, the club purchased the Toronto National Hockey League franchise from the Arena Company and the NHL. The club renamed the franchise the Toronto St...
, and one as the
Toronto ArenasThe Toronto Arenas, Toronto Blueshirts or Torontos was a professional men's ice hockey team that played in the first two seasons of the National Hockey League . It was operated by the owner of the Arena Gardens, the Toronto Arena Company...
.
At $448 million (2008), the Leafs are the most valuable team in the NHL, followed by the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the Montreal Canadiens.
Early years
The National Hockey League was formed in 1917 in
MontrealMontreal is the second-largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec. Originally called Ville-Marie , the city takes its present name from Mont-Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city, whose name was also initially given to the island on which the...
by teams formerly belonging to the
National Hockey AssociationThe National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
(NHA) that had a dispute with Eddie Livingstone, owner of the
Toronto BlueshirtsThe Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blueshirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
. The owners of the other four clubs – the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
,
Montreal WanderersThe Montreal Wanderers were an Canadian amateur, and later becoming a professional men's ice hockey team. The team played in the Federal Amateur Hockey League , the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association , the National Hockey Association and briefly the National Hockey League . The Wanderers...
,
Quebec BulldogsThe Quebec Bulldogs were a men's senior-level ice hockey team officially known as the Quebec Hockey Club, later as the Quebec Athletic Club. Their recorded play goes back as far as the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada in 1889, although the Quebec Hockey Club is known to have played in...
, and
Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators, officially the Ottawa Hockey Club , was an amateur, later becoming a professional, men's ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada from 1883 to 1954 and a member of the National Hockey League from 1917 to 1934...
– had enough votes between them to expel Livingstone from the NHA. Instead, they opted to create a new league, the NHL, and effectively left Livingstone's squad in the NHA by itself.
However, the other clubs felt it would be unthinkable not to have a team from Toronto (Canada's second largest city at the time) in the new league. They also needed another team to balance the schedule after the Bulldogs suspended operations (and as it turned out, would not ice a team until 1920). Accordingly, the NHL granted a "temporary" Toronto franchise to the Arena Company, owners of the
Arena GardensMutual Street Arena, initially called Arena Gardens or just the Arena, was a hockey arena in Toronto, Ontario. From the time period of 1912 until 1931, with the opening of the Maple Leaf Gardens, it was the premier site of ice hockey in Toronto, being home to teams from the National Hockey...
. The Arena Company agreed to lease the Blueshirts' players for the season until the dispute was resolved. This temporary franchise did not have an official name, but was informally called "the Blueshirts" by area writers and sometimes called "the Torontos" by fans. Under manager Charlie Querrie and coach Dick Carroll, the Toronto team won the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in the NHL's inaugural season.
For the next season, rather than return the Blueshirts' players to Livingstone as originally promised, the Arena Company formed its own team, the Toronto Arena Hockey Club, which was readily granted full-fledged membership in the NHL. Also that year, it was decided that only NHL teams would be allowed to play at the Arena Gardens. Livingstone sued to get his players back. Mounting legal bills from the dispute forced the Arenas to sell most of their stars, resulting in a horrendous five-win season in 1918–19. When it was obvious that the Arenas would not be able to finish out the season, the NHL agreed to let the Arenas halt operations in February 1919 and proceed directly to the playoffs. The Arenas' .278 winning percentage that season is still the worst in franchise history.
The legal dispute nearly ruined the Arena Company, and it was forced to put the Arenas up for sale. Querrie put together a group that mainly consisted of the people who had run the senior amateur St. Patricks team in the Ontario Hockey Association. The new owners renamed the team the Toronto St. Patricks (or St. Pats for short) and would operate it until 1927. This period saw the team's jersey colours change from blue to green, as well as a second Stanley Cup championship in 1922.
During this time, the St. Patricks also allowed other teams to play in the Arena Gardens whenever their home rinks lacked proper ice in the warmer months. At the time, the Arena was the only facility east of
ManitobaManitoba is a prairie province in Canada and has an area of . Manitoba is bordered by the provinces of Ontario to the east and Saskatchewan to the west, the territory of Nunavut to the north, and the U.S. states of North Dakota and Minnesota to the south...
with artificial ice.
Conn Smythe era
Querrie lost a lawsuit to Livingstone and decided to put the St. Pats up for sale. He gave serious consideration to a $200,000 bid from a Philadelphia group. However, Toronto Varsity Graduates coach
Conn SmytheConstantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian builder in the National Hockey League. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
put together an ownership group of his own and made a $160,000 offer for the franchise. With the support of St. Pats shareholder J. P. Bickell, Smythe persuaded Querrie to reject the Philadelphia bid, arguing that civic pride was more important than money.
After taking control on Valentine's Day 1927, Smythe immediately renamed the team the
Maple Leafs (the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team had won the
International LeagueThe International League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball...
championship a few months earlier and had been using that name for 30 years). The Maple Leafs say that the name was chosen in honour of the Maple Leaf Regiment from
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
. As the regiment is a proper noun, its plural is formed by adding a simple 's' creating
Maple Leafs (not *
Maple Leaves). Another story says that Smythe named the team after a team he had once scouted, called the East Toronto Maple Leafs, while Smythe's grandson states that Conn named the team after the Maple Leaf insignia he had worn during the
First World WarWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
. Initial reports were that the team's colours would be changed to red and white, but the Leafs were wearing white sweaters with a green maple leaf for their first game on February 17, 1927. The next season, the Leafs appeared for the first time in the blue and white sweaters they have worn ever since. The Maple Leafs say that blue represents the Canadian skies and white represents snow, but it also follows the tradition of blue being Toronto's principal sporting colour starting with the
Toronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a Canadian Football League team based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1873, they are one of the oldest extant professional sports teams in North America. The Argonauts have won the Grey Cup championship a record fifteen times, most recently in 2004...
in 1873 and the
University of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated north of the city's Financial District on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. The university was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in the...
Varsity BluesThe Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation...
in 1877.
1930s: Opening of Maple Leaf Gardens and first Maple Leaf dynasty
After four more lacklustre seasons (including three with Smythe as coach), Smythe and the Leafs debuted at their new arena,
Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District. It still stands, as of 2009, but has seen little use in the past decade....
, with a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Black Hawks on November 12, 1931.
Led by the "Kid Line" (
Busher JacksonHarvey "Busher" Jackson was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and defenceman who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New York Americans in the National Hockey League....
,
Joe PrimeauA. Joseph Primeau , was a Canadian professional ice hockey player.Born in Lindsay, Ontario, and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Primeau moved to Toronto at an early age and began his professional career in 1927 with the Toronto Ravinas, an affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He became a...
and
Charlie ConacherCharles William "Charlie" Conacher was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Americans, and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League....
) and coach
Dick IrvinJames Dickinson "Dick" Irvin was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League....
, the Leafs would capture their third Stanley Cup during the first season in their stadium, vanquishing the
Montreal MaroonsThe Montreal Maroons were a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
in the first round, the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
in the semifinals, and the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the Stanley Cup Finals. Smythe took particular pleasure in defeating the Rangers that year; he had been tapped as the Rangers' first general manager and coach in the Rangers' inaugural season (1926–27), but had been fired in a dispute with
Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City. It is also the name of the entity which owns the arena and several of the professional sports franchises which play there. There have been four incarnations of...
management before the season.
The Leafs' star forward,
Ace BaileyIrvine Wallace "Ace" Bailey was an ice hockey player who competed for the Toronto Maple Leafs during eight seasons, from 1926–1933.-Playing career:...
, was nearly killed in 1933 when
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
defenseman
Eddie ShoreEdward William "Eddie" Shore was a Canadian professional ice hockey defender in the National Hockey League, principally for the Boston Bruins, and the longtime owner of the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League, iconic for his toughness and defensive skill.Shore won the Hart Trophy as...
checked him from behind into the boards at full speed. Maple Leafs defenseman
Red HornerGeorge Reginald "Red" Horner was an ice hockey defenceman for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1928 to 1940. He was the Leafs captain from 1938 until his retirement. He helped the Leafs win their first Stanley Cup in 1932...
was able to knock Shore out with a punch, but it was too late as Bailey, who was by now writhing on the ice, had his career ended. The Leafs would hold the NHL's first All-Star Game to benefit Bailey.
The Leafs would reach the Finals five more times in the next seven years, but would not win, bowing out to the now-defunct Maroons in 1935, the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
in 1936, the
Chicago Black HawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and thirteen division titles since their founding in 1926...
in 1938, Boston in 1939, and the hated Rangers in 1940. At this time, Smythe allowed Irvin to go to Montreal to help revive the then-moribund Canadiens, replacing him as coach with former Leafs captain
Hap DayClarence Henry "Happy" Day , later known as Hap Day, was a Canadian professional hockey player who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Americans...
.
1940s: A second decade of success
In the 1942 season, the Maple Leafs were down three games to none in a
best-of-seven finalThe 1942 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. After losing the first three games, the Maple Leafs won the next four to win the series 4–3, winning their fourth Stanley Cup.-Paths to the Final:...
in the playoffs against Detroit. However, fourth-line forward
Don MetzDonald Maurice Metz was a professional ice hockey right winger who played seven seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League during the 1940s...
would galvanize the team, coming from nowhere to score a
hat trickHat Trick, hat-trick or Hattrick may refer to:*hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match*Hattrick — online football management game*Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
in game four and the game-winning goal in game five, with the Leafs winning both times. Captain
Syl AppsCharles Joseph Sylvanus "Syl" Apps, CM of Paris, Ontario, was a Canadian pole vaulter and professional hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1936 to 1948 and a Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario.-Athletic career:Apps was a strong athlete, 6 feet tall, weighing 185...
had won the
Lady Byng Memorial TrophyThe Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability". The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy has...
that season, not taking one penalty and finishing his ten-season career with an average of 5 minutes, 36 seconds in penalties a season. Goalie
Turk BrodaWalter Edward "Turk" Broda was a former ice hockey goaltender, playing his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League ....
would shut out the Wings in game six, and
Sweeney SchrinerDavid "Sweeney" Schriner was a Canadian professional hockey forward who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Americans and Toronto Maple Leafs. Born in Saratov, Russia, Sweeney was the NHL scoring leader in 1935–36 and 1936–37. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1935...
would score two goals in the third period to win the seventh game 3-1.
Apps told writer Trent Frayne in 1949, "If you want me to be pinned down to my [biggest night in hockey but also my] biggest second, I'd say it was the last tick of the clock that sounded the final bell. It's something I shall never forget at all." It was the first time a major pro sports team came back from behind 3-0 to win a best-of-seven championship series.
Three years later, with their heroes from 1942 dwindling (due to either age, health, or the war), the Leafs turned to lesser-known players like
rookieRookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport and has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
goalie
Frank McCoolFrancis "Frank" McCool was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League. He was born in Calgary, Alberta....
and
defensemanDefence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
Babe PrattWalter "Babe" Pratt was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman/left winger who played for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League....
. They would upset the Red Wings in the
1945 finalsThe 1945 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs would win the series 4–3.-Paths to the final:For the first time, two rookie goalies met in a Stanley Cup last round...
.
The powerful defending champion
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and their "Punch Line" (
Maurice "Rocket" RichardJoseph Henri Maurice"Rocket" Richard, Sr., PC, OC, OQ was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League from 1942 to 1960. The "Rocket" was the most prolific goal-scorer of his era, the first to achieve the feat of 50 goals in 50 games...
,
Toe BlakeHector "Toe" Blake, CM was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League .-Nickname:His nickname came out of his childhood for his younger sister was unable to pronounce his name...
and
Elmer LachElmer James Lach is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 14 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League. He was part of the Punch line, along with Maurice Richard and Toe Blake. He led the league in scoring twice, and was awarded the Hart Memorial...
), would be the Leafs' nemesis two years later when the two teams clashed in the
1947 finalsThe 1947 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs would win the series four games to two. This was the first all-Canadian finals in 12 years....
. Ted "Teeder" Kennedy would score the game-winning goal late in game six to win the Leafs their first of three straight Cups — the first time any NHL team had accomplished that feat. With their Cup victory in 1948, the Leafs moved ahead of Montreal for the most Stanley Cups in league history. It would take the Canadiens 10 years to reclaim the record.
1950s: The Barilko Curse
The Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens would meet once again in the finals in 1951, with all five games going to overtime.
Tod SloanTod Aloysius Martin Sloan is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Sloan started his National Hockey League career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1948. He would also play for the Chicago Black Hawks. He would retire after the 1961 season...
scored with 42 seconds left in the third period of game five to send it to an extra period, and defenceman
Bill BarilkoWilliam "Bashin' Bill" Barilko was a Canadian ice hockey player of Ukrainian descent who played his entire National Hockey League career for the Toronto Maple Leafs....
, who had scored only six goals in the regular season, scored the game-winner to win Toronto their fourth Cup in five years. Barilko's glory, however, was short-lived: he disappeared in a plane crash near
Timmins, OntarioTimmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,455...
, barely four months after that moment. The Leafs would not win the Cup again that decade.
1960s: New owners and a new dynasty
Before the 1961–62 season, Smythe sold nearly all of his shares in
Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District. It still stands, as of 2009, but has seen little use in the past decade....
to a partnership composed of his son
Stafford SmytheConn Stafford Smythe was the son of Conn Smythe and president of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1961–1969 and from 1970 until his death.-Early years:...
, newspaper baron
John BassettJohn White Hughes Bassett, PC, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian publisher and media baron.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he was the son of John Bassett , publisher of the Montreal Gazette, and Margaret Avery. Bassett attended Ashbury College and graduated from Bishop's University with a BA in 1936...
, and
Toronto MarlborosThe Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
president
Harold BallardHarold E. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February...
. The sale price was $2.3 million, a handsome return on Smythe's original investment 34 years earlier. Conn Smythe later claimed that he knew nothing about his son's partners, but it is very unlikely that he could have believed Stafford could have raised the money on his own.
Under the new ownership trio, Toronto won another three straight
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s from 1962 to 1964. The team featured Hall of Famers
Frank MahovlichFrancis William "Frank" Mahovlich, CM is a Canadian Senator, and a retired NHL ice hockey player, nicknamed the "Big M." He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame....
,
Red KellyLeonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, CM , is a retired Canadian hockey player in the NHL. He played on more Stanley Cup winning teams than any player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens...
,
Johnny BowerJohn William "Johnny" Bower , nicknamed "The China Wall", is a Hockey Hall of Fame goalie.-Playing career:...
,
Dave KeonDavid Michael Keon , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played professionally from 1960 to 1982, including 15 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.-Playing career:Keon played junior hockey in Toronto for the St...
,
Andy BathgateAndrew James Bathgate is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.-Playing career:Andy Bathgate was a popular star-player of the New York Rangers...
, and
Tim HortonTim Horton was a Canadian professional hockey defenceman. He played in 24 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. He was also a businessman and the co-founder of Tim Hortons, now Canada's largest restaurant...
, and was helmed by coach and general manager
Punch ImlachGeorge "Punch" Imlach , was an NHL coach and general manager. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Early career:...
.
In 1967, the Leafs and Canadiens met in the Cup finals for the last time to date, where Montreal was considered to be a heavy favourite. But
Bob PulfordRobert Jesse "Bob" Pulford is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League...
scored the double-overtime winner in Game 3,
Jim PappinJames Joseph "Jim" Pappin is a retired professional ice hockey right winger. He won first Stanley Cup in 1964 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1967, Pappin led the NHL in playoff goals and points and won a second Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs...
got the series winner in Game 6, and Keon won the
Conn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 44 times to 38 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
as
most valuable playerIn sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the playoffs as the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in six games. The Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup since.
In 1968, Mahovlich was traded to Detroit in a blockbuster deal, and in 1969, following a first-round playoff loss to the Bruins, Smythe fired Imlach. Horton declared, "If this team doesn't want Imlach, I guess it doesn't want me." He was traded to the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
the next year.
1970s and 1980s: The Ballard years
Following Stafford Smythe's death, Harold Ballard bought his shares to take majority control of the team. Ballard's controversial term as the Leafs' owner was marked by several disputes with prominent players, including Keon,
Lanny McDonaldLanny King McDonald is a retired professional ice hockey player and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Playing career:...
, and
Darryl SittlerDarryl Glen Sittler is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1970 until 1985 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Detroit Red Wings...
, poor win/loss records, and not a single Stanley Cup championship.
During the 1970s, with the overall talent level in the league diluted by the addition of 12 new franchises and the birth of the rival
World Hockey AssociationThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA), the Leafs were able to ice competitive teams for several seasons. But despite the presence of stars such as Sittler, McDonald,
Dave "Tiger" WilliamsDavid James "Tiger" Williams is a former professional ice hockey who played in the National Hockey League from 1974–75 to 1987–88.-NHL career:...
, Ian Turnbull, and
Borje SalmingAnders Börje Salming , nicknamed "The King", is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman of Saami extraction. He played for Kiruna AIF, Brynäs IF, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and AIK....
, they only once made it past the second round of the playoffs, besting the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(a soon-to-be dynasty) in the 1978 quarter-finals only to be swept by arch-rival Montreal in the semi-finals. One of the few highlights from this era occurred on February 7, 1976, when Sittler scored six goals and four assists against the
BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
to establish a NHL single-game points record that still stands more than 30 years later.
The serious decline started in July 1979, when Ballard brought back Imlach, a long-time friend, as general manager. Imlach traded McDonald to undermine his friend Sittler's influence on the team. Sittler himself was gone two years later, when the Leafs traded him to the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
. He was the franchise's all-time leading scorer until
Mats SundinMats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Sundin announced his retirement the morning of Sep, 30, 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden. Sundin has last played for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008–09 season...
passed Sittler's total in 2007.
The McDonald trade sent the Leafs into a downward spiral. They finished five games under .500 and barely made the playoffs. For the next 12 years, the Leafs (who had shifted to the
Norris DivisionThe NHL's Norris Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. The division was named in honor of James E. Norris. It is the fore-runner of the NHL's Central...
for the 1981–82 season) were barely competitive, not posting another winning record until 1992–93. They missed the playoffs six times and finished above fourth in their division only once (in 1990, the only season where they even posted a .500 record). They made it beyond the first round of the playoffs twice (in 1986 and 1987, advancing to the division finals). The low point came in 1984–85, when they finished 32 games under .500, the second-worst record in franchise history (their .300 winning percentage was only 22 percentage points higher than the 1918–19 Arenas).
The Leafs' poor records during the 1980s, however, did result in several high draft picks.
Wendel ClarkWendel L. Clark is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is perhaps best known for being a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League , captaining the team from 1991 to 1994...
, the first overall pick in the 1985 draft, was the lone success from the entry drafts of this period and went on to captain the team.
Early 1990s: Resurgence
Ballard died in 1990, and a year later his long-time friend, supermarket tycoon
Steve StavroSteve Atanas Stavro, CM , born Manoli Stavroff Sholdas, was a Macedonian Canadian businessman, grocery store magnate, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, sports team owner, and a noted philanthropist....
, bought a majority stake in the Leafs from his estate. Unlike Ballard, Stavro hated the limelight and rarely interfered in the Leafs' hockey operations. His first act was to lure
Calgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the Calgary...
GM
Cliff FletcherGeorge Clifford Fletcher is a National Hockey League executive and is a former general manager of the Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes . He is currently a Senior Advisor to the Toronto Maple Leafs...
, who had crafted the Flames' 1989 Stanley Cup championship team, to Toronto after the 1991–92 season.
Fletcher immediately set about building a club that would be competitive once again, making a series of trades and free agent acquisitions which turned the Leafs from an also-ran to a contender almost overnight, starting in 1992–93. Outstanding play from forwards
Doug GilmourDouglas Robert Gilmour is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who is the current head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League . During his NHL career, he played for the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks,...
(an acquaintance of Fletcher's from Calgary) and
Dave AndreychukDavid John "Chukie, Octopus" Andreychuk is a former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning...
(acquired from the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
in exchange for
Grant FuhrGrant S. "CoCo" Fuhr , is a former goaltender in the National Hockey League and currently the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame...
), as well as stellar goaltending from minor league call-up
Felix PotvinFélix "The Cat" Potvin is a retired National Hockey League goaltender.-QMJHL career:From 1988 through to 1991 Potvin played with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team...
, led the team to a then-franchise-record 99 points, third place in the
Norris DivisionThe NHL's Norris Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. The division was named in honor of James E. Norris. It is the fore-runner of the NHL's Central...
, and the eighth-best overall record in the league. Toronto dispatched the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
in seven games in the first round, then defeated the
St. Louis BluesThe St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues," and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
in another seven games in the Division Finals.
Hoping to meet long-time rival Montreal (who was playing in the
Wales ConferenceThe Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
Finals against the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
) in the Cup Finals, the Leafs faced the
Los Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, led by
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
, in the Campbell Conference Finals. The Leafs led the series 3-2, but dropped Game 6 in
Los AngelesThe Forum, known for a 15-year period as the Great Western Forum, is an indoor arena in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles...
. The game was not without controversy, as Gretzky clipped Gilmour in the face with his stick, but referee
Kerry FraserKerry Fraser is the most senior referee in the National Hockey League, having joined the National Hockey League Officials Association on September 1, 1973, and officiating his first game in the 1980–81 season. Fraser's father, Hilton "Hilt" Fraser, had him skating at 15 months old, chasing pucks...
did not call a penalty and Gretzky scored the winning goal moments later. Gretzky's
hat trickHat Trick, hat-trick or Hattrick may refer to:*hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match*Hattrick — online football management game*Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
in Game 7 finished the Leafs' run, and it was the Kings that moved on to the Cup Finals against the Canadiens.
The Leafs had another strong season in 1993–94, finishing with 98 points, good enough for fifth overall in the league – their highest finish in 16 years. However, despite finishing one point above Calgary, Toronto was seeded third in the
Western ConferenceThe Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
(formerly the Campbell Conference) by virtue of the Flames'
Pacific DivisionThe National Hockey League's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. It was formed in 1993 as part of a league realignment...
title. The Leafs eliminated the division rival
Chicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and thirteen division titles since their founding in 1926...
in six games and the surprising
San Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in seven before falling to the
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in five games in the Western Conference Finals.
At that year's draftThe 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28, 1994.- Selections by round :Below are listed the selections in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.- Round one :- Round two :- Round three :- Round four :...
, the Leafs would package Clark in a trade with the
Quebec NordiquesThe Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
that netted them
Mats SundinMats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Sundin announced his retirement the morning of Sep, 30, 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden. Sundin has last played for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008–09 season...
.
A new home and a new millennium
In 1996, Stavro took on
Larry TanenbaumLawrence "Larry" Tanenbaum is a Canadian businessman who is chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment...
, the co-founder of Toronto's new
National Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is a professional basketball league, composed of thirty teams in North America . It is an active member of USA Basketball , which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation as the National Governing Body for basketball in the United States...
(NBA) team, the
Toronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's expansion...
, as a partner. Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. was accordingly renamed Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), and it remains the parent company of the Leafs, the Raptors, and
Toronto FCToronto FC, popularly abbreviated as TFC, is a professional football club located in Toronto, Ontario and the first Canadian and non-American team in the United States' pre-eminent professional soccer league, Major League Soccer...
of
Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by United States Soccer Federation . The league comprises 15 teams, 14 in the U.S. and one in Canada...
(MLS), to the present day.
After two years out of the playoffs in the late 1990s, the Leafs acquired goaltender
Curtis JosephCurtis Shayne Joseph is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, currently a free agent. He last played for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League....
as a free agent from the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
and signed
Pat QuinnJohn Brian Patrick "Pat" Quinn , is a head coach in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers. Known by the nickname "The Big Irishman",...
, who had been fired by Vancouver in 1997, to serve as head coach. This resulted in the Leafs making another charge during the 1999 playoffs after moving from
Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District. It still stands, as of 2009, but has seen little use in the past decade....
to the new
Air Canada CentreThe Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose arena located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League...
, shared with the new Toronto Raptors. The team eliminated the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
and
Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League and are the defending Stanley Cup champions. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first...
in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but lost in five games to the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Toronto reached the second round of the playoffs in both 2000 and 2001, only to lose both times to the
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, who made the Stanley Cup Finals both seasons and won in 2000. The 2000 season was particularly notable because it marked the Leafs' first division title in 37 years, as well as the franchise's first-ever 100-point season. The season ended on a particular low, however, with the Leafs being held to just 6 shots in game six of the second round against the Devils.
In 2002, the Leafs dispatched the Islanders and their
OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
rivals, the
Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, in the first two rounds, only to lose to the
Cinderella-storyIn American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament than expected. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the tournament...
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in the Conference Finals. The 2002 season was particularly impressive in that the Leafs had many of their better players sidelined by injuries, but managed to make it to the conference finals due to the efforts of lesser-known players who were led mainly by Gary Roberts and
Alyn McCauley Alyn D. McCauley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for ten years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and the Los Angeles Kings....
.
Joseph left to go to the defending champion Red Wings in the 2002 off-season; the team found a replacement in veteran
Ed BelfourEdward John Belfour is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending consultant for the St. Louis Blues.Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey...
, who came over from the
Dallas StarsThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded in 1967 as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The franchise transferred to...
and had been a crucial part of their 1999 Stanley Cup run. Belfour could not help their playoff woes in the 2003 playoffs, however, as the team lost to Philadelphia in seven games in the first round. 2003 also witnessed a change in the ownership ranks, as Stavro sold his controlling interest in MLSE to the
Ontario Teachers' Pension PlanThe Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan , commonly referred to as Teachers, is the organization responsible for administering pensions for public school teachers of Ontario. The OTPP also invests the plan's pension fund, making it one of the largest and most powerful investment groups currently...
and resigned his position as Chairman of the Board in favour of Tanenbaum. Stavro died in 2006.
The 2003–04 season started in an uncommon way for the team, as they held their training camp in
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
and played in the
NHL ChallengeThe NHL Challenge series allows select NHL teams to travel outside of North America to conduct training camp and participate in exhibition games...
against teams from Sweden and
FinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland
, is a Nordic country and democracy situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland...
. That year, the Leafs had a very successful regular season, posting a franchise-record 103 points. They finished with the fourth-best record in the league (their best overall finish in 41 years) and also managed a .628 win percentage, their best in 43 years and the third-best in franchise history. Toronto defeated the Senators in the first round of the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, but lost to the Flyers in the second round in six games.
Post-lockout era
Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Leafs began experiencing some rough times. They struggled in 2005–06, and despite a late-season surge (9-1-2 in their final 12), led by third-string goaltender
Jean-Sebastien AubinJean-Sébastien Aubin is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the DEG Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Playing career:...
, the Leafs were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 1998. This marked the first time that the team missed the playoffs under coach
Pat QuinnJohn Brian Patrick "Pat" Quinn , is a head coach in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers. Known by the nickname "The Big Irishman",...
, and as a result he was fired shortly after the season.
Paul MauricePaul Maurice is Canadian professional ice hockey head coach of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes. Originally a defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League , Maurice's playing career ended after an eye injury...
, an experienced NHL coach who had just coached the Leafs'
American Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
affiliate, the
Toronto MarliesThe Toronto Marlies are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League that serves as the farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. They play in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Ricoh Coliseum...
, in their inaugural season, was announced as Pat Quinn's replacement. On June 30, 2006, the Maple Leafs bought out the contract of long-time fan favourite, Tie Domi. In addition to Domi, the Maple Leafs also decided against picking up the option year on the contract of goaltender Ed Belfour. Both players became free agents on July 1, 2006, effectively ending their tenures with the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, despite the coaching change and addition of new players such as
Pavel KubinaPavel Kubina is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
and
Michael PecaMichael Anthony Peca is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent in the National Hockey League . He most recently played for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL...
, the Leafs again did not make the playoffs in
2006–07The 2006–07 NHL season saw the Toronto Maple Leafs attempting to recover from a 2005–06 season in which it finished two points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.-Offseason:...
,
2007–08The 2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs season began October 4, 2007. It is the 90th season of the franchise, 80th season as the Maple Leafs.In an effort to return to the playoffs in 2007–08, the Leafs made two significant moves during the off-season. The first, was to acquire goaltender Vesa Toskala,...
or
2008–09The 2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the franchise's 91st, and their 81st as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, and have not qualified for the postseason since the 2003–04 season.-Offseason:...
.
On January 22, 2008, general manager
John Ferguson Jr.John Ferguson, Jr. is a former vice president and general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . He served with the team from 2003 to 2008 before being replaced by Cliff Fletcher in January 2008...
was fired and was replaced by
Cliff FletcherGeorge Clifford Fletcher is a National Hockey League executive and is a former general manager of the Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes . He is currently a Senior Advisor to the Toronto Maple Leafs...
on an interim basis. On May 7, the Leafs fired head coach Paul Maurice and assistant coach
Randy LadouceurRandy Ladouceur . Ladouceur is the former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is also a former NHL defenceman, having played for the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, retiring after the 1995–96 season...
, and replaced them with former
San Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
coach, Ron Wilson, and assistants Tim Hunter and Rob Zettler.
On November 29, 2008, the Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke as their 13th non-interim General Manager (1st American) in team history. The acquisition of Burke had ended the second Cliff Fletcher era and settled rumours that Brian was coming to Toronto within the next year.
Rivalries
As one of the oldest teams in the league, the Leafs have developed numerous rivalries. The deepest of these is with the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, which is acknowledged as one of the richest rivalries in ice hockey. The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, while the Leafs have won 13, putting them at first and second place in NHL history, respectively. The Canadiens' fan point of view is perhaps most famously captured in the popular Canadian short story "
The Hockey Sweater"The Hockey Sweater" is a short story published in 1979 by Quebec author Roch Carrier....
", by
Roch CarrierRoch Carrier, OC is a celebrated Canadian novelist and author of "contes" . He is among the best known Quebec writers in English Canada....
, originally published in French as "
Une abominable feuille d'érable sur la glace" ("An abominable maple leaf on the ice") referring to the Maple Leafs sweater his mother forces him to wear.
The rivalry between the Leafs and the
Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, known as the
Battle of OntarioThe Battle of Ontario is a rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League, often described as one of the top NHL rivalries...
, has heated up since the late 1990s, owing in no small part to the Canadiens' struggles during that period. While Ottawa has dominated during most of the teams' regular season matchups in recent years, the Leafs have won all four postseason series between the two teams, including a four-game sweep.
The Leafs' biggest U.S.-based rivals of late have been the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
, who defeated the Leafs in the 2003 and 2004
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Playoffs. The rivalry goes back to the 1970s when the Flyers and Leafs had the reputation as being two of the toughest (and often most penalized) teams in the league. Games between the two teams are still often very physical.
The
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
have also been cited as notable American rivals of the Leafs. Buffalo is the NHL team which is closest to Toronto, only a short drive along the
Queen Elizabeth WayThe Queen Elizabeth Way is a 400-Series freeway in Ontario, Canada. It links Buffalo, New York, USA and the Niagara Peninsula with Toronto and its western suburbs. The freeway starts at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario and continues for 139 kilometres through Niagara Falls, St...
highway. A large number of Leaf fans typically travels to Buffalo for road games there, giving them a somewhat neutral setting.
The Leafs also maintain a traditional Original Six rivalry with the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
. The teams' close proximity to each other – the two cities are just apart – and a number of shared fans (particularly in markets such as
Windsor, OntarioWindsor is the southernmost major city in Canada and lies in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, although administratively separated from the county government. Windsor is located south of Detroit, is separated...
) means the rivalry is found more in the crowd than on the ice. However, since the Maple Leafs moved to the
Eastern ConferenceThe Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
in 1998, the two teams have faced each other less often each season.
Fan base
Maple Leafs fans are known by the collective nickname "Leafs Nation," which the club uses on its
website. Maple Leafs home games have long been one of the toughest tickets to acquire in Canada, even during lean periods. The Leafs, along with the
Minnesota WildThe Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, currently have the longest sellout streaks in the
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
. As of 2008, there is a waiting list of about 2,500 names for season tickets. Earlier, they sold out every game at Maple Leaf Gardens from 1946 until the building closed in 1999. The Leafs have also sold out every game at the Air Canada Centre since its opening in 1999. With an average of US$1.9 million per game, the Leafs had the highest average ticket revenue per game in the 2007–08 season; the previous season they earned about $1.5 million per game.
Conversely, there is an equally passionate dislike of the team by fans of several other NHL teams. In November 2002, the Leafs were named by
Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. It has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men, 19% of the adult males in the United States. It was the first magazine with circulation over one...
hockey writer Michael Farber as the "Most Hated Team in Hockey." Leafs fans are also known for being loyal despite being treated poorly — in a 2008 survey by
ESPN The MagazineESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
on rewarding fans, the Leafs were ranked 121st out of the 122 professional teams in the Big Four leagues. Teams were graded by stadium experience, ownership, player quality, ticket affordability, championships won and "bang for the buck"; in particular, the Leafs came last in ticket affordability.
In the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, several cities in the
Sun BeltThe Sun Belt is a region of the United States generally considered to stretch across the South and Southwest . Another rough boundary of the region is the area south of the 37th or 38th parallels, north latitude. The main defining feature of the Sun Belt is its warm-temperate climate with extended...
have sizable numbers of Leaf fans, since many
SnowbirdsThe term Snowbird is used to describe people from the Northeast, Midwestern United States, or Canada who spend a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as California, Arizona, Florida, The Carolinas, or elsewhere along the Sunbelt region of the southern and southwest United States, areas...
tend to flock to locales such as Atlanta,
PhoenixPhoenix is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the fifth most populous city in the United States...
,
Tampa BayTampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay....
, and Miami during the winter, resulting in a boost in turnout and ticket sales when these franchises play the Maple Leafs.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes, TG = Playoff series decided on total goals
| Season |
GP |
W |
L |
OTL |
Pts |
GF |
GA |
PIM |
Finish |
Playoffs |
| 2004–05 |
Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout |
| 2005–06 |
82 |
41 |
33 |
8 |
90 |
257 |
270 |
1291 |
4th, Northeast |
Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 The 2006–07 NHL season saw the Toronto Maple Leafs attempting to recover from a 2005–06 season in which it finished two points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.-Offseason:...
|
82 |
40 |
31 |
11 |
91 |
258 |
269 |
1065 |
3rd, Northeast |
Did not qualify |
| 2007–08 |
82 |
36 |
35 |
11 |
83 |
231 |
260 |
1087 |
5th, Northeast |
Did not qualify |
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
|
82 |
34 |
35 |
13 |
81 |
250 |
293 |
1113 |
5th, Northeast |
Did not qualify |
Honoured members
The following members of the Toronto Maple Leafs have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
. The list includes anyone who played for the Leafs who was later inducted as a player. The list of builders includes anyone inducted as a builder who spent any part of their career in a coaching, management, or ownership role with the Leafs.
Franchise scoring leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history, as of the end of the 2007–08 season. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
Legend: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; * = current Maple Leafs player
| Player |
Pos |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
P/G |
Mats SundinMats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Sundin announced his retirement the morning of Sep, 30, 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden. Sundin has last played for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008–09 season...
|
C |
981 |
420 |
567 |
987 |
1.01 |
Darryl SittlerDarryl Glen Sittler is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1970 until 1985 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Detroit Red Wings...
|
C |
844 |
389 |
527 |
916 |
1.09 |
| Dave Keon David Michael Keon , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played professionally from 1960 to 1982, including 15 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.-Playing career:Keon played junior hockey in Toronto for the St...
|
C |
1062 |
365 |
493 |
858 |
.81 |
Borje SalmingAnders Börje Salming , nicknamed "The King", is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman of Saami extraction. He played for Kiruna AIF, Brynäs IF, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and AIK....
|
D |
1099 |
148 |
620 |
768 |
.70 |
| George Armstrong George Edward "Chief" Armstrong , is a retired professional Irish-Algonquin ice hockey player.-Playing career:...
|
RW |
1187 |
296 |
417 |
713 |
.60 |
| Ron Ellis Ronald John Edward Ellis is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs.-Playing career:...
|
RW |
1034 |
332 |
308 |
640 |
.62 |
Frank MahovlichFrancis William "Frank" Mahovlich, CM is a Canadian Senator, and a retired NHL ice hockey player, nicknamed the "Big M." He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame....
|
LW |
720 |
296 |
303 |
599 |
.83 |
| Bob Pulford Robert Jesse "Bob" Pulford is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League...
|
LW |
947 |
251 |
312 |
563 |
.59 |
| Ted Kennedy |
C |
696 |
231 |
329 |
560 |
.80 |
| Rick Vaive Richard Claude "Rick" Vaive is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1979 to 1992, and is best remembered as the first 50 goal scorer in Toronto Maple Leafs franchise history.-Bio:...
|
RW |
534 |
299 |
238 |
537 |
1.01 |
See also
- Toronto Blueshirts
The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blueshirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
(1912-17)
- Pittsburgh Hornets minor league farm team (1961-1967)
- Toronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
farm team 1927-1989
- Markham Waxers
The Markham Waxers are a Central Division Hockey Junior "A" ice hockey team. The Waxer organizations are from Markham, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
former farm team
- St. Catharines Saints
The St. Catharines Saints was a minor league ice hockey team in St. Catharines, Ontario. It played in the American Hockey League from 1982–1986 as the farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs....
1982-1986
- Newmarket Saints
The Newmarket Saints were a minor league hockey team in Newmarket, Ontario. It played in the American Hockey League from 1986–91 as the farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Ray Twinney Complex....
farm team 1986-1991
- St. John's Maple Leafs
The St. John's Maple Leafs were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada at Memorial Stadium from 1991–2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001–2005.-History:...
farm team 1991-2005
- Victoria Maple Leafs
The Victoria Maple Leafs were a minor pro ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League that played three seasons in Victoria, British Columbia, beginning in 1964. The previous season they had played as the Invaders in Denver, Colorado, winning the regular season with the best record in the Western...
farm team 1964-1966
- Toronto Marlies
The Toronto Marlies are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League that serves as the farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. They play in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Ricoh Coliseum...
farm team (2005-present)
- Columbia Inferno
The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. They play their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. The Inferno first took the ice in 2001 as an expansion team after a group of physicians dubbed the "Hockey Docs" sought to purchase a team...
minor league farm team 2006-present
- List of Toronto Maple Leafs players
External links