Toronto Maple Leafs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toronto Maple Leafs
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1917
History	Toronto Arenas 1917–1919 Toronto St. Patricks 1919–1927 Toronto Maple Leafs 1927–present
Home arena	Scotiabank Arena
City	Toronto, Ontario
Colours	Blue, white
Media	Sportsnet Ontario TSN4 Sportsnet 590 The Fan TSN Radio 1050
Owner(s)	Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (Larry Tanenbaum, chairman)
General manager	Brad Treliving
Head coach	Craig Berube
Captain	Auston Matthews
Minor league affiliates	Toronto Marlies (AHL) Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	13 (1917–18, 1921–22, 1931–32, 1941–42, 1944–45, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1966–67)
Conference championships	0
Presidents' Trophies	0
Division championships	6 (1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1999–2000, 2020–21)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team from Toronto, Canada. They are often called the Leafs by their fans. The team plays in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.

The club started as the Toronto Arenas in the very first 1917–18 NHL season. After two years, they changed their name to the Toronto St. Patricks. In 1927, Conn Smythe bought the team and renamed it the Maple Leafs. They played their home games at the Mutual Street Arena for 14 seasons. Then, in 1931, they moved to Maple Leaf Gardens. Since 1999, the Maple Leafs have played at Scotiabank Arena.

The Maple Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cup championships. This is more than any other NHL team except for the Montreal Canadiens. They had two amazing periods of success, called "dynasties." During these times, from 1946 to 1951 and from 1961 to 1967, the Leafs won eight Stanley Cups. However, they have not won a championship since 1967. This is the longest championship drought in NHL history. The Maple Leafs have big rivalries with teams like the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens. Their minor league team is the Toronto Marlies. Many famous players and coaches from the Maple Leafs are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Maple Leafs Story

How the Team Began (1917–1927)

The National Hockey League (NHL) started in 1917. It was formed by teams from another league who had problems with the owner of the Toronto Blueshirts. The new NHL decided to have four teams. One of these teams would be from Toronto. The Arena Company, which owned the Arena Gardens, was given temporary rights to the Toronto team.

The team didn't have an official name at first. Fans and newspapers called them "the Blueshirts" or "the Torontos." Even though the first players were from the old Toronto Blueshirts, the Maple Leafs don't count the Blueshirts' history as their own. In their first season, 1917–18, the team won the Stanley Cup. This was a great start for the new club!

For the next season, the Arena Company created the Toronto Arena Hockey Club. This new club became a full member of the NHL. However, the Arena Company faced money problems. They had to sell some of their best players. This led to a very tough season in 1918–19, where they only won five games.

Because of their money troubles, the Arena Company had to sell the team. In 1919, new owners bought the team and renamed it the Toronto St. Patricks, or St. Pats. They also changed the team's colors from blue to green. In 1922, the St. Pats won their second Stanley Cup championship. Babe Dye scored four goals in the final game to win against the Vancouver Millionaires.

The Conn Smythe Era (1927–1961)

After a few tough seasons, the St. Patricks' owners thought about selling the team to someone who wanted to move it to Philadelphia. But Toronto Varsity Blues coach Conn Smythe stepped in. He gathered a group and bought the team in 1927. Smythe believed that keeping the team in Toronto was more important than making more money.

Smythe took charge in February 1927. He immediately renamed the team the Maple Leafs. He chose the maple leaf as the logo because it's a Canadian symbol. He saw it as a "badge of courage" from his time in World War I. The team's colors were changed to blue and white. Smythe said blue was for the Canadian skies and white for snow.

Building Maple Leaf Gardens

By 1930, Smythe realized the team needed a new, modern arena. He bought land and built Maple Leaf Gardens in just five months. The Maple Leafs played their first game at the new arena on November 12, 1931. The opening ceremony included a performance by the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipe and Drums. This military band still performs at home opening games today.

The new arena also featured Foster Hewitt broadcasting Hockey Night in Canada from a special booth above the ice. This became a famous Saturday-night tradition.

In the 1931–32 NHL season, the Maple Leafs were led by the "Kid Line" of Busher Jackson, Joe Primeau, and Charlie Conacher. They won their third Stanley Cup that season. Smythe was especially happy because they beat the New York Rangers in the finals. Smythe had been fired by the Rangers before their first season, so this win felt extra good.

In 1933, Leafs star Ace Bailey was badly injured during a game. The Leafs held the Ace Bailey Benefit Game, which was the NHL's first All-Star Game, to help him. His jersey number was retired that night. The Leafs reached the finals five more times in the 1930s but couldn't win another Cup.

The First Dynasty (1940s)

In the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals, the Maple Leafs were losing 3–0 in the series against the Detroit Red Wings. But they made an incredible comeback! They won the next four games in a row to win the Stanley Cup. This is still the only time a team has won the Stanley Cup after being down 3–0 in the finals. Captain Syl Apps won an award that season for being a very fair player.

Many Leafs players, like Apps and goalie Turk Broda, joined the Canadian Army during World War II. When they returned after the war, the team became even stronger.

The Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings again in the 1945 Finals. They won the first three games, but Detroit came back to win the next three. In the final Game 7, the Leafs won 2–1 to secure the Cup.

After the war, with players like Apps and Broda back, the Maple Leafs won the 1947 finals against the Canadiens. They then won their second straight Stanley Cup in 1948, sweeping the Red Wings. With this win, the Leafs had won more Stanley Cups than any other team. Apps retired after 1948, and Ted Kennedy became the new captain. The Leafs won their third straight Cup in 1949, again sweeping the Red Wings.

The Barilko "Curse" (1950s)

The Maple Leafs and Canadiens met again in the 1951 finals. All five games in the series went into overtime! Defenceman Bill Barilko scored the winning goal in overtime, giving the Leafs their fourth Stanley Cup in five years. Sadly, Barilko disappeared in a plane crash four months later. His plane wasn't found for 11 years. People started to say the team was "cursed" and wouldn't win another Cup until Barilko was found. The "curse" ended when the Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1962, just six weeks before Barilko's plane was discovered.

After their 1951 win, the team struggled for a few years. They even missed the playoffs in 1953, which was the first time since 1946. This was partly because their junior player development system wasn't producing as many good players.

In 1959, under new general manager and coach Punch Imlach, the Leafs made it to the Stanley Cup Finals again. They lost to the Canadiens. The next season, 1959–60, they reached the Finals for the second year in a row, but again lost to the Canadiens.

New Owners and Another Dynasty (1961–1971)

In the 1960s, the Leafs became a very strong team. They had great players like goalie Johnny Bower, defencemen Bob Baun, Carl Brewer, Tim Horton, and Allan Stanley. To make their offense even better, Imlach traded for Red Kelly, who became a star centre. Other key players included Frank Mahovlich and captain George Armstrong. Young players like Dave Keon also joined the team.

In 1961, Conn Smythe sold most of his shares in the team to his son Stafford Smythe and his partners, John W. H. Bassett and Harold Ballard. Conn Smythe retired from the team's board in 1966.

Under the new owners, Toronto won three more Stanley Cups in a row. They won the 1962 Stanley Cup Finals by beating the Chicago Black Hawks. In the 1962–63 season, the Leafs finished first in the league for the first time in many years. They then won their second Stanley Cup of the decade. In the 1963–64 season, the Leafs made some trades to improve the team. They reached the Cup finals again. In Game 6, Bob Baun broke his ankle but returned to play with it frozen. He scored the winning goal in overtime! The Leafs won their third straight Stanley Cup in Game 7.

After these wins, some players left the team, and new ones joined. In the 1966–67 season, the team had a tough losing streak. Coach Punch Imlach even went to the hospital due to stress. But the team improved and built momentum for the playoffs. The Leafs made their last Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1967. They played against the Montreal Canadiens, who were the favorites. But the Leafs won! Jim Pappin scored the winning goal in Game 6. Dave Keon was named the playoff's most valuable player.

From 1968 to 1970, the Maple Leafs struggled. They lost players in the 1967 expansion draft. There were also problems because of Imlach's strict style and his dislike of players joining the new Players' Association. Imlach was fired in 1969.

The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs in the 1969–70 season. This allowed them to draft Darryl Sittler in 1970. With Sittler and new goalies Bernie Parent and Jacques Plante, the Leafs returned to the playoffs in 1971 but lost in the first round.

The Harold Ballard Years (1971–1990)

In 1971, Harold Ballard became the main owner of the Maple Leafs. He bought all the shares after Stafford Smythe passed away. Ballard was later convicted of some charges and spent a year in prison.

During the 1970s, a new league called the World Hockey Association (WHA) started. Ballard didn't think the WHA would last. This attitude caused the Maple Leafs to lose key players to the new league. The team struggled, finishing with one of the worst records in 1972–73. However, they drafted Lanny McDonald that year, who became a star. They also got Borje Salming, a great defenceman.

Even with new talent, the Leafs were often eliminated in the playoffs by stronger teams like the Flyers or Canadiens from 1975 to 1979. Coach Roger Neilson was popular but often argued with Ballard. Neilson was fired and then rehired after players and fans spoke up. He was eventually fired again in 1979.

When Punch Imlach returned as general manager, he had a dispute with captain Darryl Sittler. To weaken Sittler's influence, Imlach traded away McDonald, who was Sittler's friend. By 1982, Sittler himself was traded to the Flyers. Rick Vaive became the new captain.

The Maple Leafs continued to struggle through the 1980s. They often missed the playoffs or made it with very poor records. However, their low finishes allowed them to draft Wendel Clark first overall in 1985. Clark helped lead the Leafs to the playoffs from 1986 to 1988 and again in 1990. Harold Ballard passed away on April 11, 1990.

A New Era and Comeback (1990–2004)

After Ballard's death, Cliff Fletcher was hired as the new general manager. Fletcher worked to build a strong team. He hired Pat Burns as coach and made trades to bring in players like Doug Gilmour and Dave Andreychuk. With great goaltending from Felix Potvin, the team had a record-breaking 99 points in the season.

In the 1993 playoffs, Toronto beat the Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues. They hoped to play their rival Montreal in the Stanley Cup Finals. But they faced the Los Angeles Kings in the conference finals. The Leafs led the series 3–2 but lost Game 6 in a controversial play involving Wayne Gretzky. They eventually lost Game 7.

The Leafs had another strong season in 1993–94, starting with a 10-game winning streak. They reached the conference finals again but lost to the Vancouver Canucks. In 1994, the Leafs traded Wendel Clark for Mats Sundin, who became a long-time captain and star player. After missing the playoffs in 1997 and 1998, Fletcher was replaced as general manager.

New Home and New Millennium

In 1998, the company that owned the Maple Leafs, MLGL, bought the Toronto Raptors basketball team and their new arena. MLGL was renamed Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). Curtis Joseph became the Leafs' new starting goalie, and Pat Quinn was hired as head coach. In 1998, the NHL changed its conferences, and the Leafs moved to the Eastern Conference. On February 13, 1999, the Leafs played their last game at Maple Leaf Gardens before moving to their new home, the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). In the 1999 playoffs, they reached the Conference Finals but lost.

In the 1999–2000 season, the Leafs hosted the NHL All-Star Game. They also had their first 100-point season and won their first division title in 37 years. In the 2000 and 2001 playoffs, they beat the Ottawa Senators but lost to the New Jersey Devils. In the 2002 playoffs, the Leafs beat the Islanders and Senators. But they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Conference Finals. This season was impressive because many key players were injured, but other players stepped up.

In 2002, Ed Belfour became the new starting goalie. He played very well. In 2003, the Leafs lost to Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs. Later in 2003, the ownership of MLSE changed. Pat Quinn remained coach but was replaced as general manager by John Ferguson Jr..

Before the 2003–04 season, the team held training camp in Sweden. They had a very successful regular season, finishing with a franchise-record 103 points. In the 2004 playoffs, the Leafs beat the Senators again but lost to the Flyers in the second round.

After the Lockout (2005–2014)

After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Maple Leafs went through their longest playoff drought. They struggled in the 2005–06 season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1998. Coach Pat Quinn was then fired.

Paul Maurice became the new head coach. But the team still missed the playoffs in 2006–07. In 2007–08, general manager John Ferguson Jr. was fired. This was the first time since 1928 that the team missed the playoffs for three seasons in a row. This was also Mats Sundin's last year with the Leafs. He chose not to be traded, even though it would have helped the team rebuild. Ron Wilson became the new head coach.

In 2008, Brian Burke was hired as the new general manager. In 2009, he drafted Nazem Kadri. In a big trade, Burke sent draft picks to the Boston Bruins for star forward Phil Kessel. In 2010, the Leafs traded for defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who was named captain later that year.

In 2012, Burke fired Wilson and hired Randy Carlyle as head coach. Ownership of MLSE also changed in 2012, with BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications buying shares. In 2013, Burke was fired and replaced by Dave Nonis. In Carlyle's first full season, the Leafs made the playoffs for the first time in eight years. However, they lost in seven games to the Boston Bruins. The team did not make the playoffs in 2013–14.

The Brendan Shanahan Era (2014–Present)

After the 2013–14 season, Brendan Shanahan became the president of the Maple Leafs. In 2015, Randy Carlyle was fired as head coach. The team then had a franchise record of 11 games without a win. Shanahan decided to completely rebuild the team. Dave Nonis and the interim coach were fired.

In 2015, Mike Babcock was named the new head coach, and Lou Lamoriello became the general manager. The Leafs traded Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2016, they traded Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators. The team finished last in the NHL that season, which allowed them to get the first overall pick in the draft. They used this pick to draft Auston Matthews.

In Babcock's second season, Toronto made the playoffs in 2017. They lost to the Washington Capitals. In the 2017–18 season, the Leafs set a new franchise record with 105 points. They faced the Boston Bruins in the first round and lost in seven games. After the playoffs, Lamoriello was replaced by Kyle Dubas as general manager. In 2018, the Maple Leafs signed John Tavares to a big contract. They made the playoffs in 2019 but again lost to the Bruins in seven games.

On October 2, 2019, John Tavares was named the team's 25th captain. After a slow start to the 2019–20 season, Babcock was fired and Sheldon Keefe became the new head coach. The Maple Leafs were eliminated in the 2020 playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Leafs played in a special "North Division" with other Canadian teams in 2020–21. They won the North Division title, giving them home advantage in the playoffs. Matthews led the league in goals, winning the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. However, the Leafs lost in the first round to their rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, after leading the series 3–1.

In the 2021–22 season, the Leafs set new franchise records for points (115) and wins (50). Matthews became the first Leaf in a decade to score 60 goals and won the Hart Memorial Trophy. Despite this, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Lightning. This loss meant the Maple Leafs became the first team in major North American sports to lose five straight winner-take-all games.

In the 2022–23 NHL season, the Leafs had another strong regular season. They finished second in their division. In the first round of the playoffs, the Leafs finally broke through! They defeated the Lightning in six games, moving past the first round for the first time since 2004. However, they lost to the Florida Panthers in the second round. After this, Kyle Dubas was replaced by Brad Treliving as general manager.

In 2023–2024, the team finished third in their division. Matthews broke his own record with 69 goals and won his third Rocket Richard Trophy. But they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Bruins again. After the season, Sheldon Keefe was fired, and Craig Berube was hired as the new head coach. On August 14, 2024, John Tavares gave up his captain role to Auston Matthews. Matthews became the 26th captain and the first American-born captain in team history.

Team Culture

Fan Base

Tickets for Maple Leafs home games are the most expensive in the NHL. Scotiabank Arena has 18,900 seats for Leafs games, and most are for season ticket holders. There's a long waiting list for season tickets, showing how dedicated the fans are. Even though tickets are expensive and the team has had a long championship drought, Leafs fans are known for their strong loyalty.

However, fans have sometimes shown their unhappiness. In 2011–12, fans chanted for the coach and general manager to be fired. In 2014–15, some fans even threw Leafs jerseys onto the ice to show their frustration. Despite these moments, the fan base remains very strong.

Many Leafs fans live throughout Ontario, not just in Toronto. This means that away games in places like Ottawa, Buffalo, and Detroit often have many Leafs fans in the stands. The Leafs are also very popular in Atlantic Canada.

Rivalries

During the "Original Six" era (1942–67), teams played each other often, leading to intense rivalries. The Maple Leafs developed rivalries with the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens. They also have a rivalry with the Ottawa Senators and a smaller one with the Buffalo Sabres, called the "Battle of the QEW."

Boston Bruins

Both the Bruins and Maple Leafs are Original Six teams. Their first game was in 1924. They have played each other in 16 playoff series, including one Stanley Cup Finals. The rivalry has become very strong again since 2013. The Bruins have beaten the Maple Leafs in seven-game playoff series in 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2024.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings and Maple Leafs are also Original Six teams. They first played in 1927. They have met in 23 playoff series, including seven Stanley Cup Finals. This is one of the most common playoff matchups in NHL history. Many fans in areas like Windsor, Ontario, support both teams, adding to the rivalry.

The rivalry was strongest during the Original Six era. They met in the playoffs 15 times, with the Leafs winning all six Stanley Cup Finals matchups. After 1998, the teams played less often because they were in different conferences. But in 2013, Detroit moved to the same division as Toronto, bringing the rivalry back.

Montreal Canadiens

The rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and the Maple Leafs is the oldest in the NHL. Both teams started in the very first NHL season in 1917. This rivalry used to represent a bigger cultural difference between English and French Canada. The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, and the Maple Leafs have won 13. They rank first and second for most Cup wins.

The rivalry was at its peak in the 1960s, when the two teams won almost every Stanley Cup. They had 15 playoff meetings. However, the rivalry cooled down when they were placed in different conferences for many years. It became a division rivalry again in 1998.

This rivalry is even seen in books and art. The Canadian short story The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier is about a Canadiens fan who is forced to wear a Maple Leafs sweater. At Toronto's College subway station, there are murals showing the two teams.

Ottawa Senators

The modern Ottawa Senators joined the NHL in 1992. The rivalry with the Maple Leafs started to grow in the late 1990s. From 2000 to 2004, the teams played four playoff series, and the Leafs won all of them. Because many Leafs fans live near Ottawa, games between the two teams in Ottawa often have a mixed crowd of fans.

Team Operations

Branding

Logo and Uniform

The Maple Leafs' uniform and logo are very famous. The team's first uniforms were blue with a letter "T." When they became the St. Patricks, the uniforms were green with "Toronto St. Pats" on them.

When the team was renamed the Maple Leafs in 1927, the logo changed to a maple leaf, and the uniforms went back to blue. The logo was a 48-point maple leaf with the words "Toronto Maple Leafs" in white. Over the years, the uniform design changed several times. In 1942, a 35-point leaf was introduced.

In 1966–67, the logo changed to an 11-point leaf, similar to the new flag of Canada. This was to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. The uniform stripes also changed. In 1970, a new 11-point leaf logo was adopted with "Toronto" written straight across. Player numbers were added to the sleeves. In 1977, NHL rules required names on the back of uniforms. The team's owner, Harold Ballard, tried to resist this rule at first.

For the NHL's 75th anniversary in 1991–92, the Leafs wore old-style uniforms from the 1940s. Fans loved them, so the team made changes to their main uniform in 1992–93. They added two stripes on the sleeves and waist, like the classic uniforms.

In 2016, for their 100th anniversary, the team revealed a new logo. It's inspired by earlier designs, with 31 points to remember the 1931 opening of Maple Leaf Gardens. It also has 17 veins for the year 1917 when the team started. Thirteen of the veins are at the top, honoring their 13 Stanley Cup wins. New uniforms with this logo were also revealed.

The Maple Leafs sometimes wear special throwback uniforms. For example, they've worn uniforms inspired by the Toronto Arenas or St. Pats. They also have "reverse retro" uniforms with silver stripes. For the 2018 NHL Stadium Series, they wore white uniforms as a tribute to the Royal Canadian Navy.

Recently, the team has added sponsor logos to their helmets and jerseys. In 2021–22, TikTok was on their helmets. In 2022–23, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario's "Milk" logo was on their jerseys. In 2023–24, Pizza Pizza was on their home helmets.

In 2022, the Maple Leafs also showed a new alternate uniform that was black. It had a blue and black tie-dye background and a subtle skyline design. It even has a reversible crest with Canadian singer Justin Bieber's logo inside a yellow Maple Leafs logo.

Mascot

The Maple Leafs' mascot is Carlton the Bear. He's a polar bear whose name and number (60) come from the address of Maple Leaf Gardens (60 Carlton Street). Carlton first appeared in 1995.

Broadcasting

Because Bell Canada and Rogers Communications own parts of MLSE, Maple Leafs games are shown on both companies' TV channels. Regional games are on Rogers' Sportsnet Ontario and Bell's TSN4. Radio broadcasts are also split between Rogers' Sportsnet 590 The Fan and Bell's TSN Radio 1050.

Radio broadcasts of Leafs games started in 1923. The first Leafs game shown on TV was on November 10, 1952. This was also the first English-language NHL game shown on Canadian TV. Foster Hewitt was the Leafs' first famous play-by-play announcer for radio.

Home Arenas and Practice Facilities

Home arenas
Arena	Years
Arena Gardens	1917–1931
Maple Leaf Gardens	1931–1999
Scotiabank Arena	1999–present

The team's first home was the Arena Gardens, also known as the Mutual Street Arena. It was a very important hockey venue in Toronto. The Arena was torn down in 1989.

In 1931, Conn Smythe built Maple Leaf Gardens. It cost C$1.5 million. The arena was often called the "Carlton Street Cashbox" because games were always sold out. The Maple Leafs won 11 Stanley Cups while playing at the Gardens. The first NHL All-Star Game was held there in 1947. The Leafs played their last game at the Gardens on February 13, 1999. Today, the building is a grocery store, other shops, and an athletics arena for Toronto Metropolitan University.

The Maple Leafs now play at Scotiabank Arena in Downtown Toronto. This arena is also home to the NBA's Toronto Raptors. The Maple Leafs also have a practice facility called the Ford Performance Centre. It opened in 2009 and has three NHL rinks.

On January 1, 2017, the Maple Leafs played an outdoor game against the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field. This game, called the NHL Centennial Classic, celebrated the team's and the NHL's 100th birthdays.

Minor League Teams

The Maple Leafs are connected with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL). The Marlies play in Toronto at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The company that owns the Maple Leafs has owned the Marlies since 1978.

The Leafs used to own another AHL team, the Rochester Americans. They also used to sponsor junior hockey teams like the Toronto Marlboros and the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. These junior teams helped develop young players for the Leafs.

The Cincinnati Cyclones are the Maple Leafs' ECHL affiliate.

Ownership

The Maple Leafs are one of six professional sports teams owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). In 2018, Forbes magazine estimated the team's value at US$1.45 billion. This makes the Maple Leafs the second most valuable team in the NHL.

The team's ownership has changed over the years. Conn Smythe bought the team in 1927. To pay for Maple Leaf Gardens, he created Maple Leaf Gardens Limited (MLGL), a company that owned both the team and the arena. Smythe was the main owner of MLGL until 1961.

In 1961, Smythe sold most of his shares to a group including Harold Ballard. Ballard became the main owner in 1972. He owned the team until he passed away in 1990. In 1998, a group led by Steve Stavro bought all the shares and made the company private.

When MLGL bought the Toronto Raptors basketball team in 1998, the company changed its name to MLSE. MLSE now owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC (soccer), Toronto Marlies (AHL hockey), and the Toronto Argonauts (football).

Today, MLSE is owned by BCE Inc. (Bell Canada), Rogers Communications, and Larry Tanenbaum. Bell and Rogers together own 75% of the company, and Larry Tanenbaum owns the remaining 25%. This means Bell and Rogers have to agree on decisions for the company.

Season Records

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Maple Leafs. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Toronto Maple Leafs seasons

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA	Finish	Playoffs
2019–20	70	36	25	9	81	238	227	3rd, Atlantic	Lost in qualifying round, 2–3 (Blue Jackets)
2020–21	56	35	14	7	77	187	148	1st, North	Lost in first round, 3–4 (Canadiens)
2021–22	82	54	21	7	115	315	253	2nd, Atlantic	Lost in first round, 3–4 (Lightning)
2022–23	82	50	21	11	111	279	222	2nd, Atlantic	Lost in second round, 1–4 (Panthers)
2023–24	82	46	26	10	102	303	263	3rd, Atlantic	Lost in first round, 3–4 (Bruins)

Players and Team Staff

Team Captains

Twenty-five different players have been captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ken Randall was the first captain in 1917. John Ross Roach was the only goalie to be captain for the Leafs. George Armstrong was captain for the longest time, from 1958 to 1969. In 1997, Mats Sundin became the first non-Canadian captain. The most recent captain is Auston Matthews, named on August 14, 2024.

Head Coaches

The Maple Leafs have had 41 head coaches. Dick Carroll was the first coach. Some coaches, like King Clancy and Punch Imlach, coached the team multiple times. Craig Berube is the current head coach, hired on May 17, 2024.

Punch Imlach coached the most games (770) and has the most points (865) as a Leafs coach. Pat Quinn is second with 574 games and 678 points. Many Leafs coaches are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Draft Picks

In the first NHL draft in 1963, the Maple Leafs picked Walt McKechnie. Two Maple Leafs captains, Darryl Sittler and Wendel Clark, were drafted by the team. The Maple Leafs have picked two players first overall in the draft: Wendel Clark in 1985 and Auston Matthews in 2016. Other important draft picks include Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner. The team's most recent first-round pick was Easton Cowan in 2023.

Team and League Honours

The Maple Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cups. Their first two Cups were in 1918 and 1922. The other 11 Cups were won after the Stanley Cup became the NHL's championship trophy. The Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967. Their 55-season Stanley Cup drought is the longest in the NHL.

Retired Numbers

Retired numbers

No.	Player	Position	Tenure	Date of honour	Date of retirement
1	Turk Broda	G	1935–1943 1946–1951	March 11, 1995	October 15, 2016
1	Johnny Bower	G	1958–1969	March 11, 1995	October 15, 2016
4	Hap Day	D	1924–1937	October 4, 2006	October 15, 2016
4	Red Kelly	C	1960–1967	October 4, 2006	October 15, 2016
5	Bill Barilko	D	1945–1951	Not honoured	October 17, 1992
6	Ace Bailey	RW	1926–1933	Not honoured	February 14, 1934
7	King Clancy	D	1930–1937	November 21, 1995	October 15, 2016
7	Tim Horton	D	1949–1970	November 21, 1995	October 15, 2016
9	Charlie Conacher	RW	1929–1938	February 28, 1998	October 15, 2016
9	Ted Kennedy	C	1942–1955 1956–1957	October 3, 1993	October 15, 2016
10	Syl Apps	C	1936–1943 1945–1948	October 3, 1993	October 15, 2016
10	George Armstrong	RW	1949–1971	February 28, 1998	October 15, 2016
13	Mats Sundin	C	1994–2008	February 11, 2012	October 15, 2016
14	Dave Keon	C	1960–1975	Not honoured	October 15, 2016
17	Wendel Clark	LW	1985–1994 1996–1998 2000	November 22, 2008	October 15, 2016
21	Borje Salming	D	1973–1989	October 4, 2006	October 15, 2016
27	Frank Mahovlich	LW	1956–1968	October 3, 2001	October 15, 2016
27	Darryl Sittler	C	1970–1982	February 8, 2003	October 15, 2016
93	Doug Gilmour	C	1992–1997 2003	January 31, 2009	October 15, 2016

Player elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame

Number retired for multiple players

Number was not honoured before being retired

The Maple Leafs have retired the numbers of 19 players. Since some players used the same number, 13 numbers have been retired. The first number retired in professional sports was Ace Bailey's number 6 on February 14, 1934. Bill Barilko's number 5 was retired in 1992.

For a long time, the Leafs "honored" numbers of great players, but they could still be used by others. However, in 2016, the team changed this. They announced that all 16 "honored" numbers would now be fully retired. They also retired Dave Keon's number.

Outside Scotiabank Arena, there is a group of statues called Legends Row. These statues honor former Maple Leafs players. As of 2017, there are statues of 14 players whose numbers are retired.

The number 99 is also retired from use by all NHL teams, including the Maple Leafs. This was done in honor of Wayne Gretzky in 2000.

Hall of Fame

The Toronto Maple Leafs have many connections to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Seventy-six people linked to the team are in the Hall of Fame. This includes 62 former players and 13 "builders" (coaches, executives, etc.) of the sport. The Maple Leafs have more players in the Hall of Fame than any other NHL team. Dave Andreychuk was the latest Maple Leafs player to be inducted in 2017.

Five Maple Leafs broadcasters have also won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hall of Fame. This award is named after Foster Hewitt, the Leafs' first famous radio announcer.

Team Leaders

These are the top players in regular season points, goals, assists, points per game, games played, and goaltending wins for the Maple Leafs, as of the end of the 2023–24 season.

•  *  – current Maple Leafs player

Goaltenders

Player	Seasons	GP	TOI	W	L	T	OT	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
Turk Broda	1935–1943 1946–1951	629	38,182	304	222	102	—	1,608	2.53	—	—	61
Johnny Bower	1958–1969	475	27,369	219	157	79	—	1,139	2.50	14,607	.922	32
Felix Potvin	1991–1999	369	21,461	160	149	49	—	1,026	2.87	11,133	.908	12
Frederik Andersen	2016–2021	268	15,625	149	74	—	36	726	2.79	8466	.914	13
Curtis Joseph	1998–2002	270	15,808	138	97	27	1	656	2.49	7,257	.910	17
Mike Palmateer	1976–1984	296	16,828	129	112	41	—	964	3.44	8,886	.892	15
Harry Lumley	1952–1956	267	16,003	103	106	58	—	581	2.18	1,696	.907	34
Lorne Chabot	1928–1933	214	13,077	102	78	31	—	470	2.16	—	—	31
John Ross Roach	1921–1928	222	13,645	98	107	17	—	639	2.81	—	—	13
Ed Belfour	2002–2006	170	10,079	93	61	11	4	422	2.51	4,775	.912	17

Images for kids

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  Maple Leafs players during the 1946–47 season. The team won its sixth Stanley Cup that season.

• List of Toronto Maple Leafs general managers
• Toronto Maple Leafs in popular culture