View source for Toronto Maple Leafs

{{Short description|National Hockey League team in the Greater Toronto Area}}
{{hatnote group|
{{redirect|Leafs}}
{{redirect|Maple Leafs|other uses|Maple leaf (disambiguation)}}
}}
{{good article}}
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{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NHL team
| CAN_eng = 1
| team_name = Toronto Maple Leafs
| current = 2025–26 Toronto Maple Leafs season
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF !important; border-top:#00205B 5px solid !important; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid !important;
| text_color = #000000
| logo_image = Toronto Maple Leafs 2016 logo.svg
| conference = [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern]]
| division = [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic]]
| founded = 1917
| history = '''[[Toronto Arenas]]'''<br />[[1917–18 NHL season|1917]]–[[1918–19 NHL season|1919]]<br />'''[[Toronto St. Patricks]]'''<br />[[1919–20 NHL season|1919]]–[[1926–27 NHL season|1927]]<br />'''Toronto Maple Leafs'''<br />[[1926–27 NHL season|1927]]–present
| arena = [[Scotiabank Arena]]
| city = [[Toronto, Ontario]]
| uniform_image = ECA-Uniform-TOR.PNG
| uniform_image_size = 300px
| team_colors = Blue, white<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ledra|first1=Cristina|last2=Pickens|first2=Pat|title=NHL team nicknames explained|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-team-nickname-origins-explained/c-283976168|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=June 13, 2019|quote=Conn Smythe bought the Toronto St. Pats in 1927 after the franchise almost had been sold to a group in Philadelphia. He immediately changed the name of the team to the Maple Leafs to honor Canada's soldiers who wore the Maple Leaf while fighting during World War I. "We chose it ... hoping that the possession of this badge would mean something to the team that wore it and when they skated out on the ice with this badge on their chest ... they would wear it with honor and pride and courage, the way it had been worn by the soldiers of the first Great War in the Canadian Army," said Smythe, who also changed the team's colors from green and white to blue and white.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/team/history|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=MapleLeafs.com|access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref><br />{{colour box|#00205B}} {{colour box|#FFFFFF}}
| media_affiliates = [[Sportsnet Ontario]]<br />[[TSN4]]<br />''[[Sportsnet 590 The Fan]]'' <br />''[[TSN Radio 1050]]'' <!-- Please do not add national networks here -->
| owner = [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment]]<br />([[Keith Pelley]], president & CEO)
| general_manager = [[Brad Treliving]]
| head_coach = [[Craig Berube]]
| captain = [[Auston Matthews]]
| minor_league_affiliates = [[Toronto Marlies]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]])<br>
[[Cincinnati Cyclones]] ([[ECHL]])
| stanley_cups = '''13'''<!--Please discuss in talk page before changing this figure--> ([[1918 Stanley Cup Final|1917–18]], [[1922 Stanley Cup Final|1921–22]], [[1932 Stanley Cup Final|1931–32]], [[1942 Stanley Cup Final|1941–42]], [[1945 Stanley Cup Final|1944–45]], [[1947 Stanley Cup Final|1946–47]], [[1948 Stanley Cup Final|1947–48]], [[1949 Stanley Cup Final|1948–49]], [[1951 Stanley Cup Final|1950–51]], [[1962 Stanley Cup Final|1961–62]], [[1963 Stanley Cup Final|1962–63]], [[1964 Stanley Cup Final|1963–64]], [[1967 Stanley Cup Final|1966–67]])
| conf_titles = '''0'''
| presidents'_trophies = '''0'''{{notetag|The [[Presidents' Trophy]] was not introduced until [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]]. Had the trophy existed since league inception, the Maple Leafs franchise would have won six Presidents' Trophies. The winning seasons would have included [[1917–18 NHL season|1917–18]], [[1920–21 NHL season|1920–21]], [[1933–34 NHL season|1933–34]], [[1934–35 NHL season|1934–35]], [[1947–48 NHL season|1947–48]], and [[1962–63 NHL season|1962–63]].}}
| division_titles = '''7'''<!-- Please do not add playoff titles here; they are for regular season standings only --> ([[1932–33 NHL season|1932–33]], [[1933–34 NHL season|1933–34]], [[1934–35 NHL season|1934–35]], [[1937–38 NHL season|1937–38]], [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000]], [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21]], [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25]])
| website = {{URL|nhl.com/mapleleafs}}
}}
{{other uses}}
The '''Toronto Maple Leafs<!--This is the correct spelling-->''', officially the '''Toronto Maple Leaf<!--This is singular--> Hockey Club''' and colloquially known as the '''Leafs''', are a professional [[ice hockey]] team based in [[Toronto]]<!--No need to state country-->. The Maple Leafs compete in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) as a member of the [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] in the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]]. The club is owned by [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment]], a company that owns several professional sports teams in the city, while the team's broadcasting rights are split between [[BCE Inc.]] and [[Rogers Communications]].

The club was founded as the [[Toronto Arenas]] for the inaugural [[1917–18 NHL season]] and rebranded to the [[Toronto St. Patricks]] two years later. [[Conn Smythe]] renamed the franchise to the Maple Leafs after buying it in 1927. The team played home games at the [[Mutual Street Arena]] for its first 14 seasons before moving to [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] in 1931. Since February 1999, the Maple Leafs play at [[Scotiabank Arena]], which was formerly known as ''Air Canada Centre.''

Toronto has won more [[Stanley Cup]] championships and played more NHL seasons than any team other than the [[Montreal Canadiens]]. The club had two recognized [[Dynasty (sports)#Ice hockey|dynasties]] which spanned the [[1946–47 NHL season|1946–47]] to [[1950–51 NHL season|1950–51]] seasons and the [[1961–62 NHL season|1961–62]] to [[1966–67 NHL season|1966–67]] seasons, during which the Leafs won a combined eight of eleven Stanley Cup championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hhof.com/htmltimecapsule/dyntm00.shtml|title=Dynasties|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum|year=2017|access-date=July 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716063210/http://hhof.com/htmlTimeCapsule/dyntm00.shtml|archive-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25435|title=Stanley Cup Dynasties|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=July 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428113733/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25435|archive-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref> These successes were followed by an extended championship drought, which at 57 seasons<!--update manually as the NHL season does not coincide with the calendar year as explained in the note-->{{notetag|The number of seasons does not coincide with the calendar year because no Stanley Cup was awarded in [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05]].}} is [[List of NHL franchise post-season droughts|the longest in league history]]. The Maple Leafs have [[National Hockey League rivalries|rivalries]] with the [[Boston Bruins]], [[Buffalo Sabres]], [[Detroit Red Wings]], the Montreal Canadiens, and the [[Ottawa Senators]]. The team's [[American Hockey League]] (AHL) affiliate is the [[Toronto Marlies]].

Several individuals who hold an association with the club have been inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]. Nineteen players have had their [[Retired number|numbers retired]] by the Maple Leafs, including the first in professional sports.

== History ==
{{Main|History of the Toronto Maple Leafs}}
{{Evolution of the Toronto Maple Leafs}}

=== Early years (1917–1927) ===
The National Hockey League (NHL) was formed in 1917 in [[Montreal]] by teams formerly belonging to the [[National Hockey Association]] (NHA) that had a dispute with [[Eddie Livingstone]], owner of the [[Toronto Blueshirts]]. The owners of the other four clubs—the [[Montreal Canadiens]], [[Montreal Wanderers]], [[Quebec Bulldogs]] and the [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]—wanted to replace Livingstone, but discovered that the NHA constitution did not allow them to simply vote him out of the league.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=7}} Instead, they opted to create a new league, the NHL, and did not invite Livingstone to join them. They also remained voting members of the NHA, and thus had enough votes to suspend the other league's operations, effectively leaving Livingstone's league with one team.{{sfn|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=151}}

The NHL had decided that it would operate a four-team circuit, made up of the Canadiens, [[Montreal Maroons]], Ottawa, and one more club in either Quebec City or Toronto. Toronto's inclusion in the NHL's inaugural season was formally announced on November 26, 1917, with concerns over the Bulldogs' financial stability surfacing.{{sfn|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=159}} The League granted temporary franchise rights to the Arena Company, owners of the [[Arena Gardens]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Champions: The Illustrated History of Hockey's Greatest Dynasties|last=Hunter|first=Douglas|year=1997|publisher=Triumph Books|location=Chicago|isbn=1-57243-213-6 |pages=18–19}}</ref> The NHL granted the Arena responsibility of the Toronto franchise for only the inaugural season, with specific instructions to resolve the dispute with Livingstone or transfer ownership of the Toronto franchise back to the League at the end of the season.{{sfn|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=193}}

[[File:Toronto Arenas.jpg|thumb|Team photo of the Arenas from the [[1917–18 NHL season|1917–18 season]]. The club won its first Stanley Cup in their inaugural season.]]
The franchise did not have an official name but was informally called "the Blueshirts" or "the Torontos" by the fans and press.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Toronto Blue Shirts a.k.a. The Torontos, the NHL's First Stanley Cup Champions 1917–1918|last1=Morrison|first1=John |last2=McLatchy|first2=Doug|publisher=Hockey Information Service|year=1996|isbn=1-894014-00-6}}</ref> Although the inaugural roster was made up of players leased from the NHA's Toronto Blueshirts, including [[Harry Cameron]] and [[Reg Noble]], the Maple Leafs do not claim the Blueshirts' history as their own.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/how-one-cantankerous-man-inspired-the-creation-of-the-nhl|title=How one cantankerous man inspired the creation of the NHL|date=December 19, 2017|access-date=February 1, 2018|work=TVO|publisher=The Ontario Educational Communications Authority|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005651/https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/how-one-cantankerous-man-inspired-the-creation-of-the-nhl|archive-date=February 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> During the inaugural season, the club performed the first trade in NHL history, sending [[Sammy Hebert]] to the Senators, in return for cash.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=13–14}} Under manager [[Charlie Querrie]], and head coach [[Dick Carroll]], the team won the [[Stanley Cup]] in the inaugural [[1917–18 NHL season|1917–18 season]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=10}}

For the [[1918–19 NHL season|next season]], rather than return the Blueshirts' players to Livingstone as originally promised, on October 19, 1918, the Arena Company formed the Toronto Arena Hockey Club, which was readily granted full membership in the NHL.{{sfn|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=197}} The Arena Company also decided that year that only NHL teams were allowed to play at the Arena Gardens—a move that effectively killed the NHA.{{sfn|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=199}} Livingstone sued to get his players back. Mounting legal bills from the dispute forced the Arenas to sell some of their stars, resulting in a horrendous five-win season in 1918–19. With the company facing increasing financial difficulties, and the Arenas officially eliminated from the playoffs, the NHL agreed to let the team forfeit their last two games.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=13–14}}<ref name=ml1920>{{cite web|title=History – 1920s|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42182|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=May 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329074836/http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42182|archive-date=March 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Operations halted on February 20, 1919, with the NHL ending its season and starting the playoffs. The Arenas' .278 winning percentage that season remains the worst in franchise history. However, the [[1919 Stanley Cup Final]] ended without a winner due to the worldwide [[Spanish flu|flu epidemic]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=13–14}}

[[File:1922 Stanley Cup.png|thumb|alt=A collection of photographic head-shots of the Toronto St. Patricks team for the 1921–22 season|Team photo of the club during the [[1921–22 NHL season|1921–22 season]]. Then known as the [[Toronto St. Patricks|St. Patricks]], the club won its second Stanley Cup in 1922.]]
The legal dispute forced the Arena Company into bankruptcy, and it was forced to sell the team. On December 9, 1919, Querrie brokered the team's purchase by the owners of the St. Patricks Hockey Club (Percy and Fred Hambly),{{sfn|Ross|2015|p=115}} allowing him to maintain an ownership stake in the team.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=15}} The new owners renamed the team the Toronto St. Patricks (or St. Pats for short), which they used until 1927.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=15–16}} Changing the colours of the team from blue to green, the club won their second Stanley Cup championship in [[1921–22 NHL season|1922]].<ref name=ml1920 /> [[Babe Dye]] scored four times in the 5–1 Stanley Cup-clinching victory against the [[Vancouver Millionaires]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=20}}

In 1924, the team's ownership changed again, as movie theatre impresario Nathan Nathanson and mining magnate [[Jack Bickell]] purchased the shares of the Hamblys.{{sfn|Ross|2015|p=115}} Bickell invested {{CAD|25,000}} in the St. Pats as a favour to his friend Querrie, who needed to financially reorganize his hockey team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b197801&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName |title=Builders – J. P. Bickell – Biography |publisher=[[Hockey Hall of Fame]] |access-date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819231611/http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b197801&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName|archive-date=August 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Conn Smythe era (1927–1961) ===
After several financially difficult seasons, the St. Patricks' ownership group (Querrie and Nathan Nathanson){{sfn|Ross|2015|pp=161-162}} seriously considered selling the team to [[C. C. Pyle]] for {{CAD|200,000|year=1927|r=-5}}. Pyle sought to move the team to Philadelphia.<ref name=ml1920 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=30–31}} However, [[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Toronto Varsity Blues]] coach [[Conn Smythe]] put together a group of his own and made a {{CAD|160000|year=1927|r=-5}}) offer. With the support of minority shareholder Bickell, Smythe persuaded Querrie and Nathanson to accept their bid, arguing that civic pride was more important than money.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=30–31}} Bickell would become team president.{{sfn|Ross|2015|p=162}}

Smythe took control on February 14, 1927; installing himself as governor and general manager. He immediately renamed the team the Maple Leafs, after the [[maple leaf|national symbol]] of Canada,{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=33}} but the team was forced to play out the remainder of the [[1926–27 NHL season|1926–27 season]] as St. Patricks. He attributed his choice of a maple leaf for the logo to his experiences as a Canadian Army officer and prisoner of war during [[World War I]]. Viewing the maple leaf as a "badge of courage", and a reminder of home, Smythe decided to give the same name to his hockey team, in honour of the many Canadian soldiers who wore it.<ref name=ml1920 /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Proteau|first1=Adam|title=Deep Ties Between the Maple Leafs and Canadian Armed Forces|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/deep-ties-between-the-maple-leafs-and-canadian-armed-forces/c-869660|date=February 19, 2016|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=April 22, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716151100/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/deep-ties-between-the-maple-leafs-and-canadian-armed-forces/c-869660|archive-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Thomas Stafford|last1=Smythe|first2=Kevin|last2=Shea|title=Centre Ice: The Smythe Family, the Gardens and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club|publisher=Fenn Publishing|year=2000|isbn=1-55168-250-8|page=36}}</ref> However, the team was not the first to use the name. A [[Toronto Maple Leafs (International League)|Toronto minor-league baseball team]] had used the name "Toronto Maple Leafs" since 1895.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/the-original-maple-leafs-pro-baseball-in-toronto-before-the-blue-jays-1.3803678|title=The original Maple Leafs: Pro-baseball in Toronto before the Blue Jays|last=Brockbank|first=Nicole|date=October 14, 2016|access-date=January 29, 2018|work=CBCNews.ca|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203115322/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/the-original-maple-leafs-pro-baseball-in-toronto-before-the-blue-jays-1.3803678|archive-date=December 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Smythe would not acquire controlling interest in the team until 1947, he would be the franchise's dominant voice for the next four decades.<ref name=Smythecontrol1>{{cite news |title=Baseball's bankroll gone |last=Dunnell|first=Milt|author-link=Milt Dunnell|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=July 5, 1965}}</ref><ref name=Smythecontrol2>{{cite book |last=Hunter |first=Douglas |year=1997 |title=Champions: The Illustrated History of Hockey's Greatest Dynasties. |location=Chicago, Illinois |publisher=Triumph Books |isbn=1-57243-213-6 |page=50}}</ref><ref name=Smythecontrol3>{{cite news|title=Smythe is elected Gardens' president|date=November 20, 1947|newspaper=[[Toronto Daily Star]]}}</ref>

Initial reports were that the team's colours were to be red and white,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67WHDQAAQBAJ&dq=Good-bye+St.+Pats%2C+howdy+Maple+Leafs+%22February+15%2C+1927%22&pg=PT57 | title=The Toronto Maple Leafs: The Complete Oral History | isbn=978-1-4597-3621-4 | last1=Zweig | first1=Eric | date=October 28, 2017 | publisher=Dundurn}}</ref> but the Leafs wore white sweaters with a green maple leaf for their first game on February 17, 1927.<ref>"Toronto crumbles New York chances", ''The Globe'', February 18, 1927, p. 8.</ref> On September 27, 1927, it was announced that the Leafs had changed their colour scheme to blue and white.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=35}} Although Smythe later stated he chose blue because it represents the Canadian skies and white to represent snow, these colours were also used on the trucks for his gravel and sand business.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=35}} The colour blue was also a colour historically associated with the City of Toronto. The use of blue by top-level Toronto-based sports clubs began with the [[Argonaut Rowing Club]] in the 19th century, later adopted by their football team, the [[Toronto Argonauts]], in 1873.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2008/11/12/the_colour_of_toronto.html|title=The colour of Toronto|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|access-date=January 29, 2018|date=November 12, 2008|last=Baute|first=Nicole|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129195111/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2008/11/12/the_colour_of_toronto.html|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Opening of Maple Leaf Gardens (1930s) ====
[[File:Maple Leaf Gardens Postcard 1931 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=Far view of an ice hockey rink, with ice hockey players and a band standing at its centre. Spectators seated around the rink watch.|Opening ceremony for the first game at [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] on November 11, 1931]]
By 1930, Smythe saw the need to construct a new arena, viewing the Arena Gardens as a facility lacking modern amenities and seating.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=45}} Finding an adequate number of financiers, he purchased land from the [[Eaton family]], and construction of the arena was completed in five months.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=47–48}}<ref name=LEA30>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42183|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1930s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 21, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407155248/https://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42183|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Maple Leafs debuted at their new arena, [[Maple Leaf Gardens]], with a 2–1 loss to the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] on November 12, 1931.<ref name=LEA30 /> The opening ceremonies for Maple Leaf Gardens included a performance from the [[48th Highlanders of Canada]] Pipe and Drums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.48highlanders.com/04_01.html|title=48th Highlanders of Canada Pipe and Drums|year=2018|access-date=August 21, 2018|publisher=Canadian Armed Forces|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822134550/http://www.48highlanders.com/04_01.html|archive-date=August 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The military band has continued to perform in every subsequent season home opening game, as well as other ceremonies conducted by the hockey club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/2016/10/14/highlanders-ready-for-maple-leafs-home-opener/wcm/f3a42af7-dd12-4db8-be5b-bf36ad52ca4b|title=Highlanders ready for Maple Leafs' home opener|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=October 16, 2016|access-date=August 21, 2018|last=Hornby|first=Lance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821224608/https://torontosun.com/2016/10/14/highlanders-ready-for-maple-leafs-home-opener/wcm/f3a42af7-dd12-4db8-be5b-bf36ad52ca4b|archive-date=August 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3941653/johnny-bower-memorial-service/|title=Memorial service held in Toronto for hockey legend Johnny Bower|work=Global News|publisher=Corus Entertainment|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=August 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615114209/https://globalnews.ca/news/3941653/johnny-bower-memorial-service/|archive-date=June 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The debut also featured [[Foster Hewitt]] in his newly constructed [[press box]] above the ice surface, where he began his famous ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' radio broadcasts that eventually came to be a Saturday-night tradition.<ref name="LEA30" /> The press box was often called "the gondola", a name that emerged during the Gardens' inaugural season when a [[General Motors Canada|General Motors]] advertising executive remarked how it resembled the gondola of an [[airship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-press-gondola-at-maple-leaf-gardens|title=The press gondola at Maple Leaf Gardens|work=CBC Digital Archives|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|year=2018|access-date=February 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124171748/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-press-gondola-at-maple-leaf-gardens|archive-date=January 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:NHL Kid Line 1930s.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Three players from the Toronto Maple Leafs' "Kid Line" standing next to each other outside in team apparel.|[[The Kid Line]] consisted of [[Charlie Conacher]], [[Joe Primeau]], and [[Busher Jackson]] (left to right). They led the Leafs to win the 1932 Stanley Cup, as well as four more Stanley Cup Final appearances over the next six years.]]
By the [[1931–32 NHL season]], the Maple Leafs were led by the "Kid Line" consisting of [[Busher Jackson]], [[Joe Primeau]] and [[Charlie Conacher]] and coached by [[Dick Irvin]]. The team captured their third Stanley Cup that season, vanquishing the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round, the [[Montreal Maroons]] in the semifinals, and the [[New York Rangers]] in the [[1932 Stanley Cup Final]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=52–53}} Smythe took particular pleasure in defeating the Rangers that year. He had been tapped as the Rangers' first [[general manager]] and coach for their inaugural season ([[1926–27 NHL season|1926–27]]), but had been fired in a dispute with [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]] management before the season had begun.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Lives of Conn Smythe: From the Battlefield to Maple Leaf Gardens: A Hockey Icon's Story|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|year=2012|first=Kelly|last=McParland|isbn=978-0-7710-5684-0|page=138}}</ref>

Maple Leafs star forward [[Ace Bailey]] was nearly killed during the [[1933–34 NHL season|1933–34 season]] when [[Eddie Shore]] of the [[Boston Bruins]] checked him from behind at full speed into the boards.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=60}} Maple Leafs' defenceman [[Red Horner]] knocked Shore out with a punch, but Bailey, writhing on the ice, had his career ended.<ref name=LEA30 /> The Leafs held the [[Ace Bailey Benefit Game]], the NHL's first [[NHL All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], to collect medical funds to help Bailey. His jersey was retired later the same night.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=63}} The Leafs reached the Stanley Cup Final five times in the next seven years but bowed out to the now-disbanded Maroons in 1935, the [[Detroit Red Wings]] in 1936, Chicago in 1938, Boston in 1939 and the Rangers in 1940.<ref name=LEA30 /> After the end of the [[1939–40 NHL season|1939–40 season]], Smythe allowed Irvin to leave the team as head coach, replacing him with former Maple Leafs' [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]] [[Hap Day]].<ref name=LEA30 />

==== The first dynasty (1940s) ====
[[File:Leafs v Red Wings 1942.jpg|thumb|alt=Red Wings and Maple Leaf game during the 1942 Stanley Cup Final, with Maple Leafs players celebrating moments after scoring a goal.|The Maple Leafs score against Detroit during the [[1942 Stanley Cup Final|1942 Cup Final]]. The Leafs went on to win the series, performing the only [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits|reverse-sweep]] in the Final.]]
In the [[1942 Stanley Cup Final]], the Maple Leafs were down three games to none in the best-of-seven series against Detroit. Fourth-line forward [[Don Metz (ice hockey)|Don Metz]] then galvanized the team, to score a [[hat-trick]] in game four and the game-winner in game five.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=83–84}} Goalie [[Turk Broda]] shut out the Wings in game six, and [[Sweeney Schriner]] scored two goals in the third period to win the [[seventh game]] 3–1, completing the [[Game seven#comeback|reverse-sweep]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=84}} The Leafs remain [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits|the only team to have successfully performed a reverse-sweep]] in the Stanley Cup Final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/16685483/hall-flameout-25-worst-collapses-sports-history|title=Hall of Flameout: The 25 worst collapses in sports history|work=ESPN|access-date=June 22, 2017|date=June 12, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716151100/http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/16685483/hall-flameout-25-worst-collapses-sports-history|archive-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> Captain [[Syl Apps]] won the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] that season, not taking one penalty, and finished his 10-season career with an average of 5 minutes, 36 seconds in penalties a season.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=81}}

Smythe, who reenlisted in the Canadian Army at the outbreak of [[World War II]], was given leave from military duty to view the final game of the [[1942 Stanley Cup Final|1942 Cup Final]]. He arrived at the game in full military regalia.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=84}} Earlier, at the outbreak of war, Smythe arranged for many of his Maple Leafs players and staff to take army training with the [[Toronto Scottish Regiment]]. Most notably, the Leafs announced a large portion of their roster had enlisted, including Apps, and Broda,{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=80}} who did not play on the team for several seasons due to their obligations with the [[Canadian Forces]].<ref name=MLH40>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42185|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1940s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 22, 2017|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406194538/https://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42185|url-status=dead}}</ref> During this period, the Leafs turned to lesser-known players such as [[rookie]] goaltender [[Frank McCool]] and defenceman [[Babe Pratt]].<ref name=MLH40 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=86–87}}

The Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings in the [[1945 Stanley Cup Final|1945 Final]]. They won the first three games, with goaltender McCool recording consecutive shutouts. However, in a reversal of the 1942 Final, the Red Wings won the next three games.<ref name=MLH40 /> The Leafs were able to win the series, winning the seventh game by the score of 2–1 to prevent a complete reversal of the series played three years ago.<ref name=MLH40 />

[[File:Toronto Maple Leafs Players 1946.jpg|thumb|alt=Ice hockey players in a locker room. Two are sitting on a locker room bench, with another two players standing behind them.|Maple Leafs players during the [[1946–47 NHL season|1946–47 season]]. The team would win its sixth Stanley Cup that season.]]
After the end of the war, players who had enlisted were beginning to return to their teams.<ref name=MLH40 /> With Apps and Broda regaining their form, the Maple Leafs beat the first-place Canadiens in the [[1947 Stanley Cup Final|1947 Final]].<ref name=MLH40 /> To bolster their centre depth, the Leafs acquired [[Cy Thomas]] and [[Max Bentley]] in the following off-season. With these key additions, the Leafs were able to win a second consecutive Stanley Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in the [[1948 Stanley Cup Final|1948 Final]].<ref name=MLH40 /> With their victory in 1948, the Leafs moved ahead of Montreal as the team having won the most Stanley Cups in League history. Apps announced his retirement following the 1948 Final, with [[Ted Kennedy (ice hockey)|Ted Kennedy]] replacing him as the team's captain.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=107}} Under a new captaincy, the Leafs managed to make it to the [[1949 Stanley Cup Final|1949 Final]], facing the Red Wings, who had finished the season with the best overall record. However, the Leafs went on to win their third consecutive Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in four games. This brought the total of Detroit's playoff game losses against the Leafs to eleven.<ref name=MLH40 /> The Red Wings were able to end this losing streak in the following postseason, eliminating Toronto in the 1950 NHL playoffs.<ref name=MLH40 />

==== The Barilko Curse (1950s) ====
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens met again in the [[1951 Stanley Cup Final|1951 Final]], with five consecutive [[overtime (ice hockey)|overtime]] games played in the series.<ref name=MLH50>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42184|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1950s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 22, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407161608/https://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42184|url-status=dead}}</ref> Defenceman [[Bill Barilko]] managed to score the series-winning goal in overtime, leaving his defensive position (despite coach [[Joe Primeau]]'s instructions otherwise) to pick up an errant pass and score.<ref name=MLH50 /> Barilko helped the club secure its fourth Stanley Cup in five years. His glory was short-lived, as he disappeared in a plane crash near [[Timmins]], Ontario, four months later.<ref name=MLH50 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=123}} The crash site was not found until a helicopter pilot discovered the plane's wreckage plane about {{convert|80|km|mi}} north of [[Cochrane, Ontario]] 11 years later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/20/barilkos-plane-finally-arrives-home|title=Barilko's plane finally arrives home|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=October 20, 2011|access-date=June 22, 2017|last=Pagan|first=Ken|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212437/http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/20/barilkos-plane-finally-arrives-home|archive-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> The Leafs did not win another Cup during the 1950s, with rumours swirling that the team was "[[Sports-related curses|cursed]]", and would not win a cup until Barilko's body was found.<ref name=curse>{{cite book|title=The Sound of One Team Sucking: Mindful Meditations for Recovering Leafs Fans|page=106|first=Christopher|last=Gudgeon|publisher=Dundurn|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4597-3836-2}}</ref> The "curse" came to an end after the Leafs' 1962 Stanley Cup victory, which came six weeks before the discovery of the wreckage of Barilko's plane.<ref name=curse />

Their 1951 victory was followed by lacklustre performances in the following seasons. The team finished third in the [[1951–52 NHL season|1951–52 season]] and was eventually swept by the Red Wings in the semifinals.<ref name=MLH50 /> With the conclusion of the [[1952–53 NHL season|1952–53 regular season]], the Leafs failed to make it to the postseason for the first time since the 1945–46 playoffs.<ref name=MLH50 /> The Leafs' poor performance may be attributed partly to a decline in their sponsored junior system (including the [[Toronto St. Michael's Majors]] and the [[Toronto Marlboros]]).<ref name=MLH50 /> The junior system was managed by [[Frank J. Selke]] until his departure to the Canadiens in 1946. In his absence, the quality of players it produced declined. Many who were called up to the Leafs in the early 1950s were found to be seriously lacking in ability. It was only later in the decade that the Leafs' feeder clubs produced prospects that helped them become competitive again.<ref name=MLH50 />

After a two-year drought from the playoffs, the Maple Leafs clinched a berth after the [[1958–59 NHL season|1958–59 season]]. Under [[Punch Imlach]], their new general manager and coach, the Leafs made it to the [[1959 Stanley Cup Final|1959 Final]], losing to the Canadiens in five games.<ref name=MLH50 /> Building on a successful playoff run, the Leafs followed up with a second-place finish in the [[1959–60 NHL season|1959–60]] regular season. Although they advanced to their second straight Cup Final, the Leafs were again defeated by the Canadiens in four games.<ref name=MLH50 />

=== New owners and a new dynasty (1961–1971) ===
[[File:Johnny Bower in goal.jpg|thumb|alt=Johnny Bower protects the side of the post as a goaltender for the Maple Leafs.|[[Johnny Bower]] was the Maple Leafs' goaltender from 1958 to 1969. He helped the team win four Cups.]]
Beginning in the 1960s, the Leafs became a stronger team, with [[Johnny Bower]] as the goaltender, and [[Bob Baun]], [[Carl Brewer (ice hockey)|Carl Brewer]], [[Tim Horton]] and [[Allan Stanley]] serving as the Maple Leafs' defencemen.<ref name=MLH60>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42186|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1960s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|year=2017|access-date=June 25, 2017|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406192341/https://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42186|url-status=dead}}</ref> To bolster their forward group during the 1960 off-season, Imlach traded [[Marc Reaume]] to the Red Wings for [[Red Kelly]]. Originally a defenceman, Kelly was asked to make the transition to the role of [[Centre (ice hockey)|centre]], where he remained for the rest of his career.<ref name=MLH60 /> Kelly helped reinforce a forward group made up of [[Frank Mahovlich]], and team captain [[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]]. The beginning of the [[1960–61 NHL season|1960–61 season]] also saw the debut of rookies [[Bob Nevin]], and [[Dave Keon]]. Keon previously played for the St. Michael's Majors (the Maple Leafs junior affiliate), but had impressed Imlach during the Leafs' training camp, and joined the team for the season.<ref name=MLH60 /> Despite these new additions, the Leafs' 1961 playoff run ended in the semifinals against the Red Wings, with Armstrong, Bower, Kelly and others, suffering from injuries.<ref name=MLH60 />

In November 1961, Smythe sold nearly all of his shares in the club's parent company, Maple Leaf Gardens Limited (MLGL), to a partnership composed of his son [[Stafford Smythe]], and his partners, newspaper baron [[John W. H. Bassett]] and [[Toronto Marlboros]] president [[Harold Ballard]]. The sale price was $2.3 million ({{Inflation|CA|2300000|1961|fmt=eq|r=-6}}), a handsome return on Smythe's original investment 34 years earlier.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=142}} Initially, Conn Smythe claimed that he knew nothing about his son's partners and was furious with the arrangement (though it is highly unlikely he could have believed Stafford could have financed the purchase on his own). However, he did not stop the deal because of it.{{sfn|Smythe|Young|1981|p=217–218}} Conn Smythe was given a retiring salary of $15,000 per year for life, an office, a secretary, a car with a driver, and seats to home games.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=158}} Smythe sold his remaining shares in the company, and resigned from the board of directors in March 1966, after a [[Muhammad Ali]] boxing match was scheduled for the Gardens. Smythe found Ali's refusal to serve in the [[United States Army]] offensive, noting that the Gardens was "no place for those who want to evade conscription in their own country".{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=183}} He had also said that because the Gardens' owners agreed to host the fight they had "put cash ahead of class".<ref>{{cite news |title='Cash rated over class' Conn quits |author=McKee, Ken |work=Toronto Star |date=March 8, 1966}}</ref>

[[File:George Armstrong action photo.jpg|thumb|left|alt=George Armstrong in uniform for the Toronto Maple Leafs.|Captaining the team from 1958 to 1969, [[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]] led the team to four Stanley Cups. Armstrong is the all-time leader in games played with the Maple Leafs.]]
Under the new ownership, Toronto won another three straight Stanley Cups. The team won the [[1962 Stanley Cup Final]] beating the defending champion Chicago Black Hawks on a goal from [[Dick Duff]] in game 6.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=161–162}} During the [[1962–63 NHL season|1962–63 season]], the Leafs finished first in the league for the first time since the [[1947–48 NHL season|1947–48 season]]. In the following playoffs, the team won their second Stanley Cup of the decade.<ref name=MLH60 /> The [[1963–64 NHL season|1963–64 season]] saw certain members of the team traded. With Imlach seeking to reinvigorate the slumping Leafs, he made a mid-season trade that sent Duff, and Nevin to the Rangers for [[Andy Bathgate]] and [[Don McKenney]]. The Leafs managed to make the postseason as well as the Cup Final. In game six of the 1964 Cup Final, Baun suffered a fractured ankle and required a stretcher to be taken off the ice. He returned to play with his ankle frozen, and eventually scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Red Wings.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=173}}<ref name=MLH60 /> The Leafs won their third consecutive Stanley Cup in a 4–0 game 7 victory; Bathgate scored two goals.<ref name=MLH60 />

The two seasons after the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup victories, the team saw several player departures, including Bathgate, and Brewer, as well as several new additions, including [[Marcel Pronovost]], and [[Terry Sawchuk]].<ref name=MLH60 /> During the [[1966–67 NHL season|1966–67 season]], the team had lost 10 games in a row, sending Imlach to the hospital with a stress-related illness. However, from the time [[King Clancy]] took over as the head coach, to Imlach's return, the club was on a 10-game undefeated streak, building momentum before the playoffs.<ref name=MLH60 /> The Leafs made their last Cup Final in [[1967 Stanley Cup Final|1967]]. Playing against Montreal, the heavy favourite for the year, the Leafs managed to win, with [[Bob Pulford]] scoring the double-overtime winner in game three; [[Jim Pappin]] scored the series winner in game 6.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=194}} Keon was named the playoff's [[most valuable player]] and was awarded the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=195}}

From 1968 to 1970, the Maple Leafs made it to the playoffs only once. They lost several players to the [[1967 NHL expansion draft]], and the team was racked with dissension because of Imlach's authoritative manner, and his attempts to prevent the players from joining the newly formed [[National Hockey League Players' Association|Players' Association]].<ref name=MLH60 /> Imlach's management of the team was also brought into question due to some of his decisions. It was apparent that he was too loyal to aging players who had been with him since 1958.<ref name=MLH60 /> In the [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68 season]], Mahovlich was traded to Detroit in a deal that saw the Leafs acquire [[Paul Henderson]] and [[Norm Ullman]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=200}} The Leafs managed to return to the playoffs after the [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69 season]], only to be swept by the Bruins. Immediately after, Stafford Smythe confronted Imlach and fired him.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=205}} This act was not without controversy, with some older players, including Horton, declaring that, "if this team doesn't want Imlach, I guess it doesn't want me".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S9ayrsIVAxEC&q=If+this+team+doesn%27t+want+Imlach%2C+I+guess+it+doesn%27t+want+me&pg=PT48|title=The Story of the Toronto Maple Leafs|last=McAuliffe|first=Bill|date=July 1, 2008|publisher=The Creative Company|isbn=978-1-58341-621-1}}</ref>

The Maple Leafs completed the [[1969–70 NHL season|1969–70 season]] out of the playoffs. With their low finish, the Leafs were able to draft [[Darryl Sittler]] at the [[1970 NHL amateur draft]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=208}} The Leafs returned to the playoffs after the [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71 season]] with the addition of Sittler, as well as [[Bernie Parent]] and [[Jacques Plante]], who were both acquired through trades during the season.<ref name=MLH70>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42187|title=Maple Leafs History – 1970s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427013623/http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42187|archive-date=April 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> They were eliminated in the first round against the Rangers.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Toronto Maple Leafs Ultimate Book of Facts, Stats, and Stories|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|year=2015|last=Podnieks|first=Andrew|isbn=978-0-7710-7222-2|page=90}}</ref>

=== The Ballard years (1971–1990) ===
[[File:Punch Imlach Maple Leafs Chex card.jpg|thumb|alt=A Chex Card with a portrait photo of Punch Imlach on its front.|[[Punch Imlach]] won four Cups as the Leafs' coach in the 1960s. However, his second stint as general manager in the 1979–80 season was controversial, as he traded [[Lanny McDonald]], and engaged in a public dispute with team captain Darryl Sittler.]]
A series of events in 1971 made Harold Ballard the primary owner of the Maple Leafs. After a series of disputes between Bassett, Ballard and Stafford Smythe, Bassett sold his stake in the company to them.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=212}} Shortly afterwards, Smythe died in October 1971. Under the terms of Stafford's will, of which Ballard was an [[executor]], each partner was allowed to buy the other's shares upon their death.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=212}} Stafford's brother and son tried to keep the shares in the family,<ref>{{cite news|title=MLG control at stake: Smythe bid for Ballard stock rejected|first=Dick|last=Beddoes|author-link=Dick Beddoes|date=January 5, 1972|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> but in February 1972 Ballard bought all of Stafford's shares for $7.5 million, valuing the company at $22 million ({{Inflation|CA|22000000|1972|fmt=eq|r=-6}}).<ref>{{cite news|title=Harrold Ballard: From rink rat to Gardens' boss|date=February 5, 1972|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|last=Orr|first=Frank}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ballard buys Gardens control for $7,546,350|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=February 4, 1972|first=Milt|last=Dunnell|author-link=Milt Dunnell}}</ref><ref name=Balsale>{{cite news|title=Gardens' president Harold Ballard to buy Smythe shares|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=February 5, 1972|last=Lutsky|first=Irvin}}</ref> Six months later, Ballard was convicted of charges including fraud, and theft of money and goods, and spent a year at [[Millhaven Institution|Milhaven Penitentiary]].<ref name=MLH70 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=212}}

By the end of 1971, the [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA) began operations as a direct competitor to the NHL. Believing the WHA would not be able to compete against the NHL, Ballard's attitude caused the Maple Leafs to lose key players, including Parent to the upstart league.<ref name=MLH70 /> Undermanned and demoralized, the Leafs finished with the fourth-worst record for the [[1972–73 NHL season|1972–73 season]]. They got the fourth overall pick in the [[1973 NHL amateur draft]],<ref name=MLH70 /> and drafted [[Lanny McDonald]]. General Manager [[Jim Gregory (ice hockey)|Jim Gregory]] also acquired the 10th overall pick from the [[Philadelphia Flyers]], and the 15th overall pick from the Bruins, using them to acquire [[Bob Neely]] and [[Ian Turnbull (ice hockey)|Ian Turnbull]].<ref name=MLH70 /> In addition to these first-round picks, the Leafs also acquired [[Borje Salming]]<!--Don't add diacritic per [[WP:NCIH]] and [[WP:NOTBROKEN]]--> during the 1973 off-season.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=217}}

Despite acquiring [[Tiger Williams]] in the [[1974 NHL amateur draft|1974 draft]], and [[Roger Neilson]] as head coach in the [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78 season]], the Maple Leafs found themselves eliminated in the playoffs by stronger Flyers or Canadiens teams from 1975 to 1979.<ref name=MLH70 /> Although Neilson was a popular coach with fans and his players, he found himself at odds with Ballard, who fired him late in the 1977–78 season. Neilson was later reinstated after appeals from the players and the public.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=233}} He continued as Leafs' head coach until after the 1979 playoffs, when he was fired again, alongside Gregory.<ref name=MLH70 /> Gregory was replaced by Imlach as general manager.<ref name=MLH70 />

In the first year of his second stint as general manager, Imlach became embroiled in a dispute with Leafs' captain Darryl Sittler over his attempt to take part in the Showdown series for ''Hockey Night in Canada''.<ref name=MLH70 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=238}} In a move to undermine Sittler's influence on the team, Imlach traded McDonald, who was Sittler's friend.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lanny McDonald trade has Sittler in tears|first=Jim|last=Kernaghan|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=December 29, 1979|page=1}}</ref> By the end of the [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80 season]], Imlach had traded away nearly half of the roster he had at the beginning of his tenure as general manager.<ref name=MLH80>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42188|title=Maple Leafs History – 1980s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 27, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407144851/https://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42188|url-status=dead}}</ref> With the situation between Ballard and Sittler worsening, Sittler asked to be traded.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=247}} Forcing the Leafs' hand, the club's new general manager, [[Gerry McNamara (ice hockey)|Gerry McNamara]], traded Sittler to the Flyers on January 20, 1982.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=248}} [[Rick Vaive]] was named the team's captain shortly after Sittler's departure.<ref name=MLH80 />

The Maple Leafs' management continued in disarray throughout most of the decade, with an inexperienced McNamara named as Imlach's replacement in September 1981.<ref name=MLH80 /> He was followed by [[Gord Stellick]] on April 28, 1988, who was replaced by [[Floyd Smith (ice hockey)|Floyd Smith]] on August 15, 1989.<ref name=MLH80 /> Coaching was similarly shuffled often after Nielson's departure. Imlach's first choice for coach was his former player Smith, although he did not finish the 1979–80 season after being hospitalized by a car accident on March 14, 1980.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=239}} [[Joe Crozier]] was named the new head coach until January 10, 1981, when he was succeeded by [[Mike Nykoluk]]. Nykoluk was head coach until April 2, 1984.<ref name=MLH80 /> [[Dan Maloney]] returned as head coach from 1984 to 1986, with [[John Brophy (ice hockey)|John Brophy]] named head coach from 1986 to 1988. Both coaches had little success during their tenure.<ref name=MLH80 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=253–254}} [[Doug Carpenter]] was named the new head coach to begin the [[1989–90 NHL season|1989–90 season]] when the Leafs posted their first season above .500 in the decade.<ref name=MLH80 />

The team did not have much success during the decade, missing the playoffs entirely in 1982, 1984 and 1985.<ref name=MLH80 /> On at least two occasions, they made the playoffs with the worst winning percentages on record for a playoff team. However, in those days, the top four teams in each division made the playoffs, regardless of record. Since the Norris only had five teams in total, this meant only the last-place team in the division missed the postseason. In 1985–86, for instance, they finished with a .356 winning percentage, the fourth worst in the league.<ref>{{Cite web |title=From out of the lineup to the star of... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/04/28/From-out-of-the-lineup-to-the-star-of/6347515044800/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=UPI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/04/27/Stanley-Cup-Playoff-Notebook/4444514962000/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=UPI}}</ref> However, due to playing in a [[Norris Division]] where no team cracked the 90-point mark, the Leafs still made the playoffs because Detroit had the worst record in the league. In 1987–88, they entered the final day of the season with the worst record in the league, but were only one point behind the [[Minnesota North Stars]] and thus were still in playoff contention. The Red Wings was the only team in the division with a winning record. However, the Leafs upset the Red Wings in their final game while the North Stars lost to the Flames hours later to hand the Leafs the final spot from the Norris.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 25, 1988 |title=The Calgary Flames regained the lead in the NHL... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/03/25/The-Calgary-Flames-regained-the-lead-in-the-NHL/1410575269200/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=UPI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2023 |title=The Worst Teams in Stanley Cup Playoff History |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/the-worst-teams-in-stanley-cup-playoff-history/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=The Hockey Writers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hafner |first=Dan |date=April 4, 1988 |title=NHL Roundup : Devils Need Overtime to Make the Playoffs |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-04-sp-287-story.html |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McIndoe |first=Sean |date=April 18, 2017 |title=Down Goes Brown: 10 worst Maple Leafs playoff games of the past 30 years |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/goes-brown-10-worst-maple-leafs-playoff-games-past-30-years/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=After being pummeled by the Detroit Red Wings Sunday... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/04/11/After-being-pummeled-by-the-Detroit-Red-Wings-Sunday/8096576734400/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=UPI}}</ref>

The low finishes allowed the team to draft [[Wendel Clark]] first overall at the [[1985 NHL entry draft]].<ref name=MLH80 /> Clark managed to lead the Leafs to the playoffs from 1986 to 1988, as well as the [[1990 Stanley Cup playoffs|1990 playoffs]].<ref name=MLH80 /> Ballard died on April 11, 1990.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=275}}

=== Resurgence (1990–2004) ===
[[File:Tor chi 94.jpg|thumb|First game between the Leafs and [[Chicago Blackhawks]] during the [[1994 Stanley Cup playoffs]] at Maple Leaf Gardens.]]
Don Crump, Don Giffin, and [[Steve Stavro]] were named executors of Ballard's estate.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=278}} Stavro succeeded Ballard as chairman of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. and governor of the Maple Leafs.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=280}} [[Cliff Fletcher]] was hired by Giffin to be the new general manager, although this was opposed by Stavro, who told Fletcher that he wanted to appoint his own general manager.<ref>{{Cite book |title= '67, The Maple Leafs: Their Sensational Victory and the End of an Empire |last1= Cox |first1= Damien |last2= Stellick |first2= Gord |publisher= Wiley |year= 2004 |isbn= 0-470-83400-5 |page= [https://archive.org/details/67mapleleafsthei00coxd_0/page/12 12] |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/67mapleleafsthei00coxd_0/page/12}}</ref>

Notwithstanding Stavro's initial reluctance with Fletcher's appointment, the Leafs' new ownership would soon earn a reputation for steering clear of exerting undue interference in hockey operations, in stark contrast to Ballard. Fletcher soon set about building a competitive club, hiring [[Pat Burns]] as the new coach, and making a series of trades and free-agent acquisitions, such as acquiring [[Doug Gilmour]] and [[Dave Andreychuk]], which turned the Leafs into a contender.<ref name=MLH90>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42189|title=Maple Leafs History – 1990s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 27, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407161610/https://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42189|url-status=dead}}</ref> Assisted by stellar goaltending from [[minor league]] call-up [[Felix Potvin]], the team posted a then-franchise-record 99 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/04/29/maple_leafs_in_playoffs_199293_defence_similar_to_this_years_says_todd_gill.html|title=Maple Leafs in playoffs: 1992-'93 defence similar to this year's, says Todd Gill|last=Zwolinski|first=Mark|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=January 29, 2018|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140807/https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/04/29/maple_leafs_in_playoffs_199293_defence_similar_to_this_years_says_todd_gill.html|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 1993 playoffs, Toronto dispatched the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the first round, then defeated the [[St. Louis Blues]] in another seven games in the division finals.<ref name=MLH90 /> Hoping to meet long-time rival Montreal (who was playing in the [[Wales Conference]] finals against the [[New York Islanders]]) in the Cup Final, the Leafs faced the [[Los Angeles Kings]] in the [[Campbell Conference]] finals.<ref name=MLH90 /> They led the series 3–2 but dropped game six in Los Angeles. The game was not without controversy, as [[Wayne Gretzky]] clipped Gilmour in the face with his stick, but referee [[Kerry Fraser]] did not call a penalty, and Gretzky scored the winning goal moments later.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zeisberger|first=Mike|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Zeisberger/2007/04/07/3944053-sun.html|title=Better than a Game 7: Hockey icons' true colours show through|date=April 7, 2007|access-date=June 28, 2008|publisher=Canoe.com|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720061921/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Zeisberger/2007/04/07/3944053-sun.html|archive-date=July 20, 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The Leafs eventually lost in game seven 5–4.<ref name=MLH90 />

[[File:Mats Sundin 1997.jpg|thumb|alt=Mats Sundin skating forward in an ice hockey game, playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.|[[Mats Sundin]] in October 1997, shortly after being named captain of the Leafs after the [[Doug Gilmour]] trade to the [[New Jersey Devils]].]]
The Leafs had another strong season in [[1993–94 NHL season|1993–94]], starting the season on a ten-game winning streak, and finishing it with 98 points.<ref name=MLH90 /> The team made it to the conference finals again, only to be eliminated by the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in five games.<ref name=MLH90 /> At the [[1994 NHL entry draft]], the Leafs packaged [[Wendel Clark]] in a multi-player trade with the [[Quebec Nordiques]] that landed them [[Mats Sundin]].<ref name=MLH90 /> After the Leafs traded Gilmour to the [[New Jersey Devils]] in 1997, Sundin was named captain. Missing two consecutive playoffs in [[1997 Stanley Cup playoffs|1997]] and [[1998 Stanley Cup playoffs|1998]], the Leafs relieved Fletcher as general manager.<ref name=MLH90 />

==== New home and a new millennium (1998–2004) ====
On February 12, 1998, MLGL purchased the [[Toronto Raptors]], a [[National Basketball Association]] franchise, and the [[Scotiabank Arena|arena]] the Raptors were building, from [[Allan Slaight]] and [[Scotiabank]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Raptors bought by Leafs|date=February 13, 1998|last=Tedesco|first=Theresa|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator|publisher=Torstar Corp}}</ref>{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=302}}<ref name=namec>{{cite book|title=National Basketball Association Franchises: Team Performance and Financial Success|publisher=Lexington Books|year=2017|first=Frank P Jr.|last=Jozsa|isbn=978-1-4985-4800-7|page=32}}</ref> With the acquisition, MLGL was renamed [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment]] (MLSE), acting as the parent company of the two teams.<ref name=namec /> [[Larry Tanenbaum]] was a driving force in the acquisition, having bought a 12.5 percent stake in Maple Leaf Gardens Limited (MLGL) in 1996.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/what-does-winning-look-like/article994872/|title=What does winning look like?|work=The Globe and Mail|date=February 24, 2004|access-date=March 30, 2018|last=Grange|first=Michael|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605075739/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/what-does-winning-look-like/article994872/|archive-date=June 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kilmergroup.com/group/lawrence-tanenbaum/|title=Lawrence Tanenbaum, OC|publisher=Kilmer Group|year=2018|access-date=March 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330103808/http://www.kilmergroup.com/group/lawrence-tanenbaum/|archive-date=March 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Curtis Joseph]] was acquired as the team's starting goalie, while [[Pat Quinn (ice hockey)|Pat Quinn]] was hired as the head coach before the [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99 season]].<ref name=MLH90 /> Realigning the NHL's conferences in 1998, the Leafs were moved from the Western to the Eastern Conference.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=302}} On February 13, 1999, the Leafs played their final game at the Gardens before moving to their new home at the then-Air Canada Centre.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=303–304}} In the [[1999 Stanley Cup playoffs|1999 playoffs]], the team advanced to the conference finals but lost in five games to the [[Buffalo Sabres]].<ref name=MLH90 />

In the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]], the Leafs hosted the [[2000 National Hockey League All-Star Game|50th NHL All-Star Game]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=307}} By the end of the season, they recorded their first 100-point season and won their first division title in 37 years.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=309}} In both the [[2000 Stanley Cup playoffs|2000]] and [[2001 Stanley Cup playoffs|2001 playoffs]], the Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in the first round and lost to the [[New Jersey Devils]] in the second round.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=309}}{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=311}} In the [[2002 Stanley Cup playoffs|2002 playoffs]], the Leafs dispatched the Islanders and the Senators in seven games each during the first two rounds, only to lose to the [[Cinderella (sports)|Cinderella-story]] [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in six games in the conference finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hurricanes-maple-leafs-2002-conference-final/|title=A look back at the 2002 East final|publisher=Rogers Digital Media|access-date=February 27, 2020|date=February 4, 2013|last=Hoffman|first=Patrick|work=Sportsnet}}</ref> The 2001–02 season was particularly impressive in that injuries sidelined many of the Leafs' better players, but the efforts of depth players, including [[Alyn McCauley]], [[Gary Roberts (ice hockey)|Gary Roberts]] and [[Darcy Tucker]], led them to the conference finals.{{sfn|Leonetti|2014|p=218}}

As Joseph opted to become a [[free agent]] during the 2002 off-season, the Leafs signed [[Ed Belfour]] as the new starting goaltender.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Road to Hockeytown: Jimmy Devellano's Forty Years in the NHL|last1=Devellano|first1=Jim|last2=Lajoie|first2=Roger|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|year=2010|isbn=978-0-470-73870-2|page=242}}</ref> Belfour played well during the [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03 season]] and was a finalist for the [[Vezina Trophy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/belfour-mogilny-among-award-nominees/c-459512|title=Belfour, Mogilny Among Award Nominees|work=Toronto Maple Leafs|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|date=April 30, 2003|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212246/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/belfour-mogilny-among-award-nominees/c-459512|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The Leafs lost to Philadelphia in seven games during the first round of the [[2003 Stanley Cup playoffs|2003 playoffs]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=321}} In 2003, an ownership change occurred in MLSE. Stavro sold his controlling interest in MLSE to the [[Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan]] (OTPP) and resigned his position as chairman in favour of Tanenbaum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-front-office-struggle-may-heat-up/article748891/|date=February 12, 2003|last=Shoalts|first=David|title=Leafs' front-office struggle may heat up|access-date=June 30, 2017|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> Quinn remained as head coach but was replaced as general manager by [[John Ferguson Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/nhl/news/story?id=1605563|title=Ferguson Jr., 36, hired to fill Quinn's shoes|date=August 29, 2003|access-date=June 30, 2017|work=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716160722/http://www.espn.co.uk/nhl/news/story?id=1605563|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Before the [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04 season]], the team held their training camp in Sweden and played in the [[NHL Challenge]] against teams from Sweden and Finland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-to-visit-sweden-and-finland-this-september-for-challenge-2003/c-459393|title=Leafs to visit Sweden and Finland this September for Challenge 2003|work=Toronto Maple Leafs|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|date=February 10, 2003|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804012630/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-to-visit-sweden-and-finland-this-september-for-challenge-2003/c-459393|archive-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The Leafs went on to enjoy a very successful regular season, leading the NHL at the time of the All-Star Game (with Quinn named head coach of the East's All-Star Team). They finished the season with a then-franchise-record 103 points.<ref name=Star03>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/04/21/maple_leafs_in_the_playoffs_where_are_200304_players_now.html|title=Maple Leafs in the playoffs: Where are 2003-04 players now?|date=April 21, 2013|last=Mitchell|first=Bob|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Coprporation|access-date=June 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730040507/http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/04/21/maple_leafs_in_the_playoffs_where_are_200304_players_now.html|archive-date=July 30, 2013}}</ref> They finished with the fourth-best record in the League, and their highest overall finish in 41 years, achieving a .628 win percentage, their best in 43 years, and third-best in franchise history. In the [[2004 Stanley Cup playoffs|2004 playoffs]], the Leafs defeated the Senators in the first round of the postseason for the fourth time in five years, with Belfour posting three shutouts in seven games, but lost to the Flyers in six games during the second round.<ref name=Star03 />

=== After the lockout (2005–2014) ===
[[File:Mats Sundin 2008.jpg|thumb|Mats Sundin in 2008 during his last season with the Maple Leafs.]]
Following the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]], the Maple Leafs experienced their longest playoff drought in the team's history. They struggled in the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]]; despite a late-season surge (9–1–2 in their final 12 games), led by goaltender [[Jean-Sebastien Aubin]], Toronto was out of playoff contention for the first time since 1998.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=328}} This marked the first time the team had missed the postseason under Quinn, who was later relieved as head coach.<ref name=QuinF>{{cite web|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/why-pat-quinn-got-fired-from-the-toronto-maple-leafs|title=Why Pat Quinn got fired from the Toronto Maple Leafs|last=Staples|first=David|date=May 27, 2009|work=The Edmonton Journal |access-date=January 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804012610/http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/why-pat-quinn-got-fired-from-the-toronto-maple-leafs|archive-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Quinn's dismissal was controversial since many of the young players who were key contributors to the Leafs' late-season run had been drafted by him before Ferguson's arrival, while Ferguson's signings ([[Jason Allison]], Belfour, [[Alexander Khavanov]], and [[Eric Lindros]]) had suffered season-ending injuries.<ref name=QuinF /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/25/simmons-fergusons-leafs-were-better-than-burkes|title=Ferguson's Leafs were better than Burke's|last=Simmons|first=Steve|newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=February 25, 2012|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212441/http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/25/simmons-fergusons-leafs-were-better-than-burkes|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Paul Maurice]], who had previously coached the inaugural season of the Maple Leafs' [[Toronto Marlies]] farm team, was named as Quinn's replacement.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=327}} On June 30, 2006, the Leafs bought out fan-favourite [[Tie Domi]]'s contract. The team also decided against picking up the option year on goaltender Ed Belfour's contract; he became a free agent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/maple-leafs-cut-belfour-domi-1.577166|title=Maple Leafs cut Belfour, Domi|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=June 30, 2017|date=June 30, 2006}}</ref> However, despite the coaching change, as well as a shuffle in the roster, the team did not make the playoffs in [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]]. During the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]], John Ferguson Jr. was fired in January 2008 and replaced by former Leafs' general manager Cliff Fletcher on an interim basis.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=328–29}} The team retained Toronto-based sports lawyer [[Gord Kirke]] to begin a search for a new team president and general manager, and negotiate a contract.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Milner |first1=Brian |title=Toronto sports lawyer begins new Leafs GM search |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/toronto-sports-lawyer-begins-new-leafs-gm-search/article1051080/ |access-date=May 2, 2019 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=January 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051436/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/toronto-sports-lawyer-begins-new-leafs-gm-search/article1051080/ |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Leafs did not qualify for the [[2008 Stanley Cup playoffs|postseason]], marking the first time since [[1927–28 NHL season|1928]] the team had failed to make the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/maple-leafs-eliminated-from-playoff-contention-1.285793|title=Maple Leafs eliminated from playoff contention|work=CTV News Toronto|date=March 28, 2008|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803213114/http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/maple-leafs-eliminated-from-playoff-contention-1.285793|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also Sundin's last year with the Leafs, as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season. However, he refused Leafs management's request to waive his no-trade clause for the team to rebuild by acquiring prospects or draft picks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/leafs-sundin-won-t-waive-no-trade-clause-1.756137 |title=Leafs' Sundin won't waive no-trade clause – Hockey – CBC |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=February 24, 2008 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317171302/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/02/24/leafs-sundin.html |archive-date=March 17, 2011}}</ref> On May 7, 2008, after the 2007–08 season, the Leafs fired Maurice, as well as assistant coach [[Randy Ladouceur]], naming [[Ron Wilson (ice hockey, born 1955)|Ron Wilson]] as the new head coach, and [[Tim Hunter (ice hockey)|Tim Hunter]] and [[Rob Zettler]] as assistant coaches.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=237026&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl | title=Maple Leafs fire head coach Paul Maurice | publisher=[[The Sports Network|TSN]] | date=May 7, 2008 | access-date=May 7, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510105806/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=237026&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl | archive-date=May 10, 2008 | df=mdy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Dion Phaneuf 2012-03-07.JPG|thumb|left|alt=Dion Phaneuf holding his ice hockey stick with both hands, while playing with the Maple Leafs.|[[Dion Phaneuf]] was named team captain in the 2010 off-season and served that role until he was traded to Ottawa in 2016.]]
On November 29, 2008, the Maple Leafs hired [[Brian Burke (ice hockey)|Brian Burke]] as their 13th non-interim, and the first American, general manager in team history. The acquisition ended the second Cliff Fletcher era and settled persistent rumours that Burke was coming to Toronto.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://tsn.ca/nhl/teams/story/?id=257760&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs | title=Leafs introduce Burke as new president and general manager | publisher=[[The Sports Network|TSN]] | date=November 29, 2008 | access-date=January 21, 2009 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606232911/http://tsn.ca/nhl/teams/story/?id=257760&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs | archive-date=June 6, 2011 | df=mdy-all}}</ref> On June 26, 2009, Burke made his first appearance as the Leafs GM at the [[2009 NHL entry draft]], selecting [[London Knights]] forward [[Nazem Kadri]] with the seventh overall pick.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nazem Kadri drafted by Leafs|url=http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2009/6/26/926827/leafs-draft-nazem-kadri|work=PensionPlanPuppets|date=June 26, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328124237/http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2009/6/26/926827/leafs-draft-nazem-kadri|archive-date=March 28, 2012}}</ref> On September 18, 2009, Burke traded Toronto's first- and second-round [[2010 NHL entry draft|2010]], as well as its [[2011 NHL entry draft|2011]] first-round picks, to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward [[Phil Kessel]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Kessel traded to Maple Leafs, signs 5-year, $27m contract| url = https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=291601| publisher = TSN| date =September 19, 2009| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100420034408/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=291601| archive-date =April 20, 2010| df = mdy-all}}</ref> On January 31, 2010, the Leafs made another high-profile trade, this time with the [[Calgary Flames]] in a seven-player deal that brought defenceman [[Dion Phaneuf]] to Toronto.<ref>{{Cite news|title=FLAMES TRADE D PHANEUF TO MAPLE LEAFS IN SEVEN-PLAYER DEAL|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308469|publisher=The Sports Network|date=January 31, 2010|access-date=January 31, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203023156/http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308469|archive-date=February 3, 2010}}</ref> On June 14, during the off-season, the Leafs named Phaneuf captain after two seasons without one following Sundin's departure.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Maple Leafs introduce Phaneuf as team's captain|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/maple-leafs-introduce-phaneuf-as-team-s-captain-1.522476|publisher=CTV.com|date=June 14, 2010|access-date=June 14, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727124431/http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100614/toronto-leafs-phaneuf-captain-100614/20100614/?hub=OttawaHome|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> On February 18, 2011, the team traded long-time Maple Leafs defenceman [[Tomas Kaberle]] to the Bruins in exchange for prospect [[Joe Colborne]], Boston's first-round pick in 2011, and a conditional second-round draft choice.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tomas Kaberle Traded to Boston; Bruins Trade Blake Wheeler to Atlanta|url=http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/18/report-tomas-kaberle-traded-to-boston-bruins-trading-blake-whe/|publisher=AOL|access-date=June 21, 2011|date=February 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516070841/http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/18/report-tomas-kaberle-traded-to-boston-bruins-trading-blake-whe/|archive-date=May 16, 2011}}</ref>

On March 2, 2012, Burke fired Wilson and named [[Randy Carlyle]] the new head coach. However, the termination proved to be controversial as Wilson had received a contract extension just two months before being let go.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/03/02/ron_wilson_fired_leafs_turn_to_randy_carlyle.html|title=Ron Wilson fired: Leafs turn to Randy Carlyle|last=Cox|first=Damien|date=March 2, 2012|access-date=July 8, 2017|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031002559/http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/03/02/ron_wilson_fired_leafs_turn_to_randy_carlyle.html|archive-date=October 31, 2015}}</ref> Changes at the ownership level also occurred in August 2012, when the OTPP completed the sale of their shares in MLSE to [[BCE Inc.]] and [[Rogers Communications]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/teachers-completes-1-32-billion-mlse-sale-to-rogers-bell/wcm/52f875d2-bb74-4ed5-9beb-96370b209f7f|title=Teachers' completes $1.32-billion MLSE sale to Rogers, Bell|work=Financial Post|first=Barbara|last=Shecter|date=August 22, 2012|access-date=July 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706043856/http://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/teachers-completes-1-32-billion-mlse-sale-to-rogers-bell/wcm/52f875d2-bb74-4ed5-9beb-96370b209f7f|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 9, 2013, Burke was fired as general manager, and replaced by [[Dave Nonis]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Maple Leafs Replace Burke With Nonis As New GM|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413146|publisher=TSN|access-date=January 9, 2013|date=January 9, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109212939/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413146|archive-date=January 9, 2013}}</ref> In their first full season under the leadership of Carlyle, Toronto managed to secure a playoff berth in the [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13 season]] (which was shortened again due to another [[2012–13 NHL lockout|lock-out]]) for the first time in eight years. However, the Leafs lost in [[Game seven|seven games]] to eventual [[2013 Stanley Cup Final|2013 Stanley Cup finalist]] Boston in the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs|first round]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=341–42}} Despite the season's success, it was not repeated during the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], as the Leafs failed to make the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2014/04/08/maple_leafs_officially_eliminated_from_the_playoffs.html|title=Maple Leafs officially eliminated from the playoffs|first=Rosie|last=Dimanno|date=April 8, 2014|access-date=June 30, 2017|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001011120/http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2014/04/08/maple_leafs_officially_eliminated_from_the_playoffs.html|archive-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref>

=== Brendan Shanahan era (2014–2025) ===
[[File:Shanahan.png|thumb|alt=Brendan Shanahan stands behind a podium that has a LeafsTV microphone attached on its top.|[[Brendan Shanahan]] was named the president and an alternate governor of the club in April 2014.]]
Following the 2013–14 regular season, [[Brendan Shanahan]] was named as the president and an alternate governor of the Maple Leafs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brendan Shanahan Named Leafs President & Alternate Governor|url=http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=713971|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=TorontoMapleLeafs.com|access-date=July 25, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414031019/http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=713971|archive-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> On January 6, 2015, the Leafs fired Randy Carlyle as head coach, and assistant coach [[Peter Horachek]] took over on an interim basis immediately.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/ten-candidates-to-replace-randy-carlyle-as-next-coach-of-maple-leafs/article22315113/?page=all|title=Ten candidates to replace Randy Carlyle as next coach of Maple Leafs|last=Whyno|first=Stephen|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=June 29, 2017|date=January 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116025001/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/ten-candidates-to-replace-randy-carlyle-as-next-coach-of-maple-leafs/article22315113/?page=all|archive-date=January 16, 2015}}</ref> While the Leafs had a winning record before Carlyle's firing, the team eventually collapsed. On February 6, 2015, the Leafs set a new franchise record of 11 consecutive games without a win. At the beginning of February, Shanahan gained the approval of MLSE's board of directors to begin a "scorched earth" rebuild of the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/kelly-shanahans-scorched-earth-leafs-plan-wins-mlse-support/article22938348/|title=Shanahan's scorched-earth Leafs plan wins MLSE support|first=Cathal|last=Kelly|date=February 12, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=June 29, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311145502/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/kelly-shanahans-scorched-earth-leafs-plan-wins-mlse-support/article22938348/|archive-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref> Both Dave Nonis and Horachek were relieved of their duties on April 12, just one day after the season concluded. In addition, the Leafs also fired several assistant coaches, including [[Steve Spott]] and [[Rick St. Croix]], as well as individuals from the Leafs' player scouting department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=762909|title=Maple Leafs announce organizational changes|date=April 12, 2015|publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs|access-date=April 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415012338/http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=762909|archive-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=762939|title=Maple Leafs announce changes to scouting staff|date=April 12, 2015|publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs|access-date=July 22, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723230019/http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=762939|archive-date=July 23, 2015}}</ref>

On May 20, 2015, [[Mike Babcock]] was named as the new head coach, and on July 23, [[Lou Lamoriello]] was named the 16th general manager in team history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=768357|title=Mike Babcock hired by Maple Leafs as coach|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 20, 2015|access-date=July 22, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723074317/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=768357|archive-date=July 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/lamoriello-named-maple-leafs-gm-after-resigning-from-devils-1.335040|publisher=The Sports Network|title=Lamoriello named Maple Leafs GM|date=July 23, 2015|access-date=July 23, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723223723/http://www.tsn.ca/lamoriello-named-maple-leafs-gm-after-resigning-from-devils-1.335040|archive-date=July 23, 2015}}</ref> On July 1, 2015, the Leafs packaged Kessel in a multi-player deal to the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] in return for three skaters, including [[Kasperi Kapanen]], a conditional first-round pick, and a third-round pick. Toronto also retained $1.2&nbsp;million of Kessel's salary for the remaining seven seasons of his contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-trade-phil-kessel-to-penguins/|first=Mike|last=Johnston|title=Maple Leafs trade Phil Kessel to Penguins|date=July 1, 2015|work=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media|access-date=September 20, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909151635/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-trade-phil-kessel-to-penguins/|archive-date=September 9, 2015}}</ref> During the following season, on February 9, 2016, the Leafs packaged Phaneuf in another multi-player deal, acquiring four players, as well as a [[2017 NHL entry draft|2017]] second-round pick from the Ottawa Senators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2015-16-nhl-trades/c-278555954|title=2015–16 NHL Trade Tracker|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=March 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412042050/https://www.nhl.com/news/2015-16-nhl-trades/c-278555954|archive-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> The team finished last in the NHL for the first time since the [[1984–85 NHL season|1984–85 season]]. They subsequently won the draft lottery and used the first overall pick to draft [[Auston Matthews]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-select-auston-matthews-first-pick-2016-nhl-draft/|title=Maple Leafs select Auston Matthews with first pick in 2016 NHL Draft|work=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media|access-date=June 29, 2017|date=June 24, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102052253/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-select-auston-matthews-first-pick-2016-nhl-draft/|archive-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Capitals-Maple Leafs (33848280780).jpg|thumb|left|The Maple Leafs faced the [[Washington Capitals]] in the first round of the [[2017 Stanley Cup playoffs|2017 playoffs]].]]
In their second season under Babcock, Toronto secured the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot for the [[2017 Stanley Cup playoffs|2017 playoffs]]. On April 23, 2017, the Maple Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs by the top-seeded [[Washington Capitals]] four games to two in the best-of-seven series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-wsh/2017/04/23/2016030136|title=Washington Capitals – Toronto Maple Leafs – April 23rd, 2017|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 23, 2017|access-date=April 23, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424173917/https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-tor/2017/04/23/2016030136#game=2016030136,game_state=final,game_tab=stats|archive-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref>

Toronto finished the [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18 season]] with 105 points by beating Montreal 4–2 in their final game of the regular season, a franchise-record, beating the previous record of 103 points set in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-tor/2018/04/07/2017021259#game=2017021259,game_state=final|title=Maple Leafs set two team records in win against Canadiens|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 7, 2018|access-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408141412/https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-tor/2018/04/07/2017021259#game=2017021259,game_state=final|archive-date=April 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> They faced the Boston Bruins in the first round and lost in seven games.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Goss|first1=Nicholas|title=Bruins Wrap: Jake DeBrusk Scores Twice, B's Beat Leafs 7-4 In Game 7 Thriller|url=https://nesn.com/2018/04/bruins-wrap-jake-debrusk-scores-twice-bs-beat-leafs-7-4-in-game-7-thriller/|website=NESN.com|access-date=April 26, 2018|date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426092856/https://nesn.com/2018/04/bruins-wrap-jake-debrusk-scores-twice-bs-beat-leafs-7-4-in-game-7-thriller/|archive-date=April 26, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the playoffs, Lamoriello was not renewed as general manager.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/lamoriello-will-not-return-as-leafs-gm-1.1072178|title=Lamoriello will not return as Leafs GM – Article – TSN|date=April 30, 2018|work=TSN|access-date=May 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502033217/https://www.tsn.ca/lamoriello-will-not-return-as-leafs-gm-1.1072178|archive-date=May 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kyle Dubas]] was subsequently named the team's 17th general manager in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-toronto-maple-leafs-appoint-kyle-dubas-new-general-manager/|title=Toronto Maple Leafs appoint 32-year-old Kyle Dubas as general manager|date=May 11, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514142935/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-toronto-maple-leafs-appoint-kyle-dubas-new-general-manager/|archive-date=May 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 2018 off-season, the Maple Leafs signed [[John Tavares]] to a seven-year, $77&nbsp;million contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/john-tavares-signs-seven-year-deal-with-toronto-maple-leafs/c-299370932|title=Tavares signs seven-year contract with Maple Leafs|publisher=National Hockey League|first=Brian|last=Compton|date=July 1, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712044107/https://www.nhl.com/news/john-tavares-signs-seven-year-deal-with-toronto-maple-leafs/c-299370932|archive-date=July 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 1, the Maple Leafs clinched a division berth for the [[2019 Stanley Cup playoffs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-clinch-playoff-spot-win-islanders/|work=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media|date=April 1, 2019|access-date=May 7, 2019|title=Maple Leafs clinch playoff spot with win over Islanders|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406081823/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-clinch-playoff-spot-win-islanders/|archive-date=April 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Maple Leafs were eliminated in the first round of the 2019 playoffs on April 23, after losing to the Bruins in a seven-game series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wharnsby|first=Tim|title=Leafs face another long summer of second-guessing after devastating Game 7 loss|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-toronto-boston-game-7-analysis-1.5108332|work=CBC Sports|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=April 23, 2019|access-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506041650/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-toronto-boston-game-7-analysis-1.5108332|archive-date=May 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 2, 2019, Tavares was named as the team's 25th team captain prior to the Leafs' [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20 season]] opening game.<ref name=tav25>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-toronto-maple-leafs-captain-1.5305610|title=NHL·New Toronto native John Tavares named captain of Maple Leafs|work=CBC News|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=October 2, 2019|date=October 2, 2019|last=Clipperton|first=Joshua}}</ref> After a 9–10–4 start to the 2019–20 season, the club relieved Babcock as head coach on November 20, with [[Sheldon Keefe]] named as his replacement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-fire-head-coach-mike-babcock/|title=Maple Leafs fire head coach Mike Babcock|date=November 20, 2019|access-date=November 23, 2019|work=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media}}</ref> The Maple Leafs were eliminated in the [[2020 Stanley Cup playoffs#Stanley Cup Qualifiers|2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers]] on August 9, after losing a five-game series against the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-lose-game-5-to-columbus-blue-jackets/c-318367262|title=Maple Leafs denied playoff run again with Game 5 loss to Blue Jackets|last=Rosen|first=Dan|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 17, 2020|publisher=National Hockey League|website=NHL}}</ref>

[[File:Auston Matthews 9.jpg|thumb|[[Auston Matthews]], wearing [[eye black]]s, during an outdoor practice with the Maple Leafs at [[Nathan Phillips Square]], January 2020.]]
Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and travel restrictions at the [[Canada–United States border]], the Leafs were temporarily moved to the [[North Division (NHL)|North Division]] for the 2020–21 season alongside the NHL's other Canadian teams. During that season, teams only played games against teams in their divisions, in a limited 56-game season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/how-new-divisions-schedule-will-work-in-2020-21-nhl-season/c-319819070|last=Smith|first=Michael|website=NHL.com|date=December 20, 2021|access-date=May 18, 2021|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|title=How New Divisions, Schedule Will Work in 2020–21 NHL Season}}</ref> On May 8, 2021, the Leafs clinched the North Division title, giving the Leafs guaranteed [[home advantage]] in the first two rounds of the [[2021 Stanley Cup playoffs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2154912|last=Teague|first=Matt|work=The Score|title=Maple Leafs clinch 1st division title in 21 years|date=May 8, 2021|access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref> Matthews also led the league in goals with 41 goals, becoming the first Maple Leaf to win the [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]]. However, the Leafs lost in the first round to [[Canadiens–Maple Leafs rivalry|their rivals]], the [[Montreal Canadiens]], with the Leafs [[List of teams to overcome 3–1 series deficits|surrendering a 3–1 series lead]] in the process.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 31, 2021|title=Another playoff collapse ends Maple Leafs season in heartbreaking fashion after Game 7 loss to Canadiens|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/analysis/2021/05/31/from-harold-ballard-to-david-clarkson-summing-up-54-years-of-maple-leafs-misery-in-250-words.html|access-date=July 30, 2021|website=thestar.com}}</ref>

Despite the ending to the previous season, the Leafs were poised to make another run, with much of the core roster intact. Aided by the arrival of defenceman [[Mark Giordano]] and centre [[Colin Blackwell]] from the [[Seattle Kraken]] on March 21, the team cruised throughout the regular season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-trade-hutton-to-toronto-in-exchange-for-future-considerations/c-331056118|title=Coyotes Trade Hutton to Toronto In Exchange For Future Considerations|publisher=Arizona Coyotes|date=February 21, 2022|access-date=February 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Giordano traded to Maple Leafs by Kraken|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/mark-giordano-traded-to-maple-leafs-by-kraken/c-331816932|website=NHL.com|access-date=March 20, 2022|date=March 20, 2022}}</ref> The Maple Leafs broke their franchise record for points in a season, with 115, and wins in a season, with 50, during a 4–2 victory over the [[New York Islanders]] on April 17.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leafs set franchise record for wins, points in a season after beating Islanders|url=https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-maple-leafs-franchise-record-wins-points-in-single-season-1.1786907|website=TSN.ca |access-date=April 22, 2022 |date=April 17, 2022}}</ref> Despite the achievement, they were unable to match the league-leading [[Florida Panthers]]', finishing second in the Atlantic Division<ref>{{cite web |title=Florida Panthers clinch Atlantic Division title, home-ice advantage throughout East playoffs |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33782274/florida-panthers-clinch-atlantic-division-title-home-ice-advantage-east-playoffs |website=[[ESPN]] |access-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422034522/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33782274/florida-panthers-clinch-atlantic-division-title-home-ice-advantage-east-playoffs |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> During the season, Matthews became the first Leaf in a decade to score 60 goals in a season, and was awarded the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-star-auston-matthews-wins-the-hart-trophy/|title=Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews wins the Hart Trophy|date=June 21, 2022|access-date=October 24, 2023|website=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media}}</ref> The Leafs made the playoffs but lost in the first round to the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in seven games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cp24.com/sports/maple-leafs-eliminated-from-playoffs-after-2-1-loss-to-lightning-in-game-7-1.5903842|website=CP24|publisher=Bell Media|title=Maple Leafs eliminated from playoffs after 2-1 loss to Lightning in Game 7|last=Clipperton|first=Joshua|date=May 14, 2022|access-date=October 5, 2022|archive-date=October 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005062213/https://www.cp24.com/sports/maple-leafs-eliminated-from-playoffs-after-2-1-loss-to-lightning-in-game-7-1.5903842|url-status=dead}}</ref> With this loss, the Maple Leafs became the first team in the four major North American sports leagues to lose five consecutive winner-take-all games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mirtle |first1=James |title=Mirtle: What changes do the Maple Leafs need after another early exit? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3312528/2022/05/15/mirtle-maple-leafs-whats-next-after-playoff-exit/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=May 15, 2022}}</ref>

The 2022 off-season saw the departure of the Leafs' goalie tandem, [[Jack Campbell (ice hockey)|Jack Campbell]] and [[Petr Mrazek]], the former signing with Edmonton, the latter being traded to the Blackhawks during the [[2022 NHL entry draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oilers sign Jack Campbell to five-year, $25-million contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/oilers-sign-jack-campbell-to-five-year-25-million-contract/ |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}</ref> Needing a goaltender tandem for the upcoming season, the Leafs acquired [[Matt Murray (ice hockey, born 1994)|Matt Murray]] through a trade with the Senators,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senators trade Matt Murray, draft picks to Maple Leafs for future considerations |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/senators-trade-matt-murray-draft-picks-to-maple-leafs-for-future-considerations/ |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}</ref> and signed free agent [[Ilya Samsonov]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maple Leafs sign goalie Ilya Samsonov to one-year, $1.8-million contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/maple-leafs-sign-goalie-ilya-samsonov-to-one-year-1-8-million-contract/ |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}</ref>

During the [[2022–23 NHL season]], the Leafs again fared well in the regular season, achieving an excellent 50–21–11 record and 111 points, one point less than the record achieved the season prior. However, the record-setting [[2022–23 Boston Bruins season|2022–23 Boston Bruins]] led the division, finishing with 135 points, and leaving the Leafs in second place in the Atlantic. In the [[2023 Stanley Cup playoffs#(A2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Tampa Bay Lightning|first round]] of the playoffs, the Leafs defeated the Lightning in a six-game series, marking the first time the Maple Leafs advanced to the second round of the playoff appearance since 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/30/sport/toronto-maple-leafs-nhl-playoffs-spt-intl/index.html|website=CNN|title=Toronto Maple Leafs win first NHL playoff series since 2004|last=Lev|first=Jacob|date=April 30, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref> During the series with the Lightning, the Leafs became the first NHL team to win three road playoff games in overtime. However, the Leafs lost to the Florida Panthers in the second round in five games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers 3-2 Maple Leafs (May 12, 2023) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401545899 |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=ESPN}}</ref> Following the loss, Dubas' contract as general manager was not renewed with the club for the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schram |first=Carol |title=Kyle Dubas Is Out As Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2023/05/19/kyle-dubas-is-out-as-toronto-maple-leafs-general-manager/ |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Forbes}}</ref> Dubas was then replaced by [[Brad Treliving]] on May 31.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shilton|first=Kristen|title=Maple Leafs hire Brad Treliving as next GM|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37767835/sources-maple-leafs-hire-brad-treliving-new-gm|access-date=October 24, 2023|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN Enterprises|date=May 31, 2023}}</ref>

In [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]], the team finished with a 46–26–10 record, good for 102 points and the third seed in the Atlantic Division. Matthews broke his own career and franchise records for goals in a season, with 69, and was awarded his third Rocket Richard Trophy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Matthews wins Richard Trophy as NHL's leading goal-scorer for 3rd time |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/auston-matthews-wins-nhl-maurice-rocket-richard-trophy |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=NHL}}</ref> However, they were again eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, falling to the Bruins in seven games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2024 |title=Pastrnak, Bruins eliminate Maple Leafs with OT win in Game 7 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-7-recap-may-4 |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=NHL}}</ref> After the season, Keefe was dismissed as head coach on May 9,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Sheldon Keefe |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-fire-head-coach-sheldon-keefe/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}</ref> with [[Craig Berube]] hired as his successor on May 17.<ref name="517Berube">{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-hire-craig-berube-as-coach |title=Berube hired as Maple Leafs coach, replaces Keefe |website=NHL.com |date=May 17, 2024 |access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref> That off-season, Tavares relinquished his role as captain to Matthews on August 14, 2024, with the latter becoming the 26th overall and first American-born captain in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Dave |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/auston-matthews-named-toronto-captain-replaces-john-tavares |title=Matthews named Maple Leafs captain, replaces Tavares |access-date=August 14, 2024 |website=NHL|date=August 14, 2024}}</ref>

The team finished the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]] with a 52–26–4 record, topping the Atlantic Division with 108 points, their first division championship in the Atlantic, setting up a [[Battle of Ontario]] matchup with the [[Wild card (sports)#National Hockey League|wild card]] Ottawa Senators in the first round of the [[2025 Stanley Cup playoffs|2025 playoffs]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maple Leafs clinch division to set up Battle of Ontario playoff series vs. Senators |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-playoffs-canada-rdp-1.7511443 |access-date=May 18, 2025 |website=CBC.ca.com |date=April 16, 2025}}</ref> In doing so, Berube broke the record for most wins for a Maple Leafs coach in his first season, previously held by [[Pat Quinn (ice hockey)|Pat Quinn]], who had 45 in the [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craig Berube's First Season With the Maple Leafs a Record-Setting Campaign |url=https://www.mapleleafsdaily.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/craig-berube-first-season-with-the-maple-leafs-a-record-setting-campaign |access-date=April 25, 2025 |website=MapleLeafsDaily |date=April 15, 2025}}</ref> The Leafs defeated the Senators in a six-game series. As with the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Leafs faced the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs. The Leafs' goaltender [[Anthony Stolarz]] was injured in game one and was replaced with [[Joseph Woll]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Mark |title=Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz exits Game 1 after hit to head |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6346419/2025/05/10/maple-leafs-anthony-stolarz-injury-panthers/ |access-date=May 12, 2025 |website=The Athletic |publisher=The New York Times |date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> Toronto subsequently lost the series to the eventual [[2025 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup victors]], the Florida Panthers, in seven games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sachdeva |first1=Sonny |title=Maple Leafs' seven-minute collapse spirals into Game 7 disaster |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-seven-minute-collapse-spirals-into-game-7-disaster/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=May 19, 2025 |date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

Shortly after the end of Toronto's 2025 playoffs, it announced that Shanahan would not return as team president and alternate governor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Godfrey |first1=Hayden |title=Maple Leafs part ways with president Brendan Shanahan |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/maple-leafs-part-ways-with-president-brendan-shanahan/article_cf7c957e-bb82-4ba9-a3e2-9fa9916d1f2c.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=May 22, 2025 |date=May 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MLSE Announces Change to Toronto Maple Leaf Executive Leadership Team |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/mlse-announces-change-to-toronto-maple-leaf-executive-leadership-team |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 22, 2025 |date=May 22, 2025}}</ref> During the 2025 off-season, the Leafs traded [[Mitch Marner]] to the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] for [[Nicolas Roy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maple Leafs Complete Trade With Vegas: Toronto Maple Leafs |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-complete-trade-with-vegas |access-date=September 18, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=July 1, 2025}}</ref> 

== Team culture ==

=== Fan base ===
The price of a Maple Leafs home game ticket is the highest amongst any team in the NHL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/09/19/leafs-top-canadian-team-blackhawks-top-american-team-in-2014-15-nhl-tickets-on-secondary-market/|title=Maple Leafs Have Most Expensive NHL Tickets For 2014–15 Season|work=Forbes|first=Jesse|last=Lawrence|date=September 14, 2015|access-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208183228/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/09/19/leafs-top-canadian-team-blackhawks-top-american-team-in-2014-15-nhl-tickets-on-secondary-market/|archive-date=February 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/breakaway_blog/2016/11/maple-leafs-boast-league-s-most-expensive-ticket.html|title=Maple Leafs boast league's most expensive ticket on resale market|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|first=Kevin|last=McGran|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209002754/https://www.thestar.com/sports/breakaway_blog/2016/11/maple-leafs-boast-league-s-most-expensive-ticket.html|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/why-are-nhl-tickets-expensive-in-toronto-because-theyre-cheap-in-phoenix/article34299726/|title=Why are NHL tickets expensive in Toronto? Because they're cheap in Phoenix|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=Phillip Crawl|last=Keller|first=Tony|date=March 17, 2017|access-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609222119/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/why-are-nhl-tickets-expensive-in-toronto-because-theyre-cheap-in-phoenix/article34299726/|archive-date=June 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Scotiabank Arena holds 18,819 seats for Leafs games, with 15,500 reserved for season ticket holders.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mendes |first1=Ian |title=NHL fan attendance tracker 2023-24: Risers, fallers, trends and takeaways |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5414095/2024/04/18/nhl-attendance-2024-riser-fallers/ |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707002214/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5414095/2024/04/18/nhl-attendance-2024-riser-fallers/ |archive-date=July 7, 2024 |date=April 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.scotiabankarena.com/venue-information/about |access-date=March 2, 2025 |website=Scotiabank Arena}}</ref> Because of the demand for season tickets, their sale is limited to the 10,000 people on the waiting list. As of March 2016, Leafs' season tickets saw a renewal rate of 99.5 percent, a rate that would require more than 250 years to clear the existing waiting list.<ref name="seasti">{{cite news |last=Donnelly |first=Aileeon |date=June 9, 2016 |title=Heir to millions loses fight for Maple Leafs season tickets after judge rules they belong to father's company |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/lawyer-heir-to-millions-loses-fight-for-leafs-season-tickets-after-judge-rules-they-belong-to-fathers-company |access-date=June 8, 2017 |work=National Post}}</ref> In a 2014 survey by ''[[ESPN The Magazine]]'', the Leafs were ranked last out of the 122 professional teams in the [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 19, 2014 |title=Toronto Maple Leafs are the worst sports franchise in North America, according to ESPN |work=National Post |location=Canada |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-are-the-worst-sports-franchise-in-north-america-according-to-espn |url-status=live |access-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150405022553/http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-are-the-worst-sports-franchise-in-north-america-according-to-espn |archive-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:First period play gets a little rowdy.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Fans at Maple Leafs Square during the playoffs.|Fans gather at [[Maple Leaf Square]] to watch Game Two between the Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins during the [[2013 NHL playoffs]].]]
Leafs fans are known for their dedicated support and notable loyalty to the team despite their performance. They are considered to have the largest fan base in the NHL.{{sfn|Leonetti|2014|p=1}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/leaf-fans-deserve-more/|title=Leaf fans deserve more|last=Toth|first=Mike|work=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> In a study conducted by sports retailer [[Fanatics, Inc.|Fanatics]] in March 2017, the Leafs and the [[Minnesota Wild]] were the only two NHL teams to average arena sellouts despite a below league average winning percentage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/news/1250278|title=Look: Which NHL fan base is the most loyal?|last=Holroyd|first=Caitlyn|work=The Score|publisher=Score Media Ventures |date=March 9, 2017}}</ref> Conversely, fans of other teams harbour an equally passionate dislike of the team. In November 2002, the Leafs were named by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' hockey writer [[Michael Farber]] as the "Most Hated Team in Hockey".<ref>{{Cite news | title = Sabres still searching for new owner | url = https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/sabres-still-searching-for-new-owner-1.344738 | publisher = CBC Sports | date =November 17, 2002 | access-date =May 1, 2008 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080511193000/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2002/11/17/thisweekinhockey021117.html | archive-date =May 11, 2008 | df = mdy-all}}</ref>

Despite their loyalty, there have been several instances where the fanbase voiced their displeasure with the club. During the [[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12 season]], fans attending the games chanted for the dismissal of head coach [[Ron Wilson (ice hockey, born 1955)|Ron Wilson]], and later general manager [[Brian Burke (ice hockey)|Brian Burke]].<ref name=firewil>{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/03/03/fire-wilson-chant-was-last-straw|title=Fire Wilson Chant was last straw|newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=March 3, 2012|access-date=July 8, 2017|last=Hornby|first=Lance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803214521/http://www.torontosun.com/2012/03/03/fire-wilson-chant-was-last-straw|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/leafs-fans-now-chant-fire-burkie/article536207/|title=Leafs fans now chant 'Fire Burkie'|last=Blair|first=Jeff|work=The Globe and Mail|date=March 20, 2012|access-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301000719/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/leafs-fans-now-chant-fire-burkie/article536207/|archive-date=March 1, 2014}}</ref> Wilson was let go shortly after the fans' outburst, even though he had been given a contract extension months earlier. Burke alluded to the chants noting "it would be cruel and unusual punishment to let Ron coach another game in the Air Canada Centre".<ref name="firewil" /> In the 2014–15 season, fans threw Leafs jerseys onto the ice to show their disapproval of the team's poor performances in the past few decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2015/01/20/two-fans-charged-after-maple-leafs-jerseys-tossed-on-ice.html|title=Three fans charged after Maple Leafs jerseys tossed on ice|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|last=Zwolinski|first=Mark|date=January 20, 2015|access-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118173140/http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2015/01/20/two-fans-charged-after-maple-leafs-jerseys-tossed-on-ice.html|archive-date=November 18, 2015}}</ref> Similarly, during the later portion of the [[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16 season]], which overlaps with the start of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[2016 Major League Baseball season|regular season of play]], fans were heard sarcastically chanting "Let's go [[Toronto Blue Jays|Blue Jays]]!" and clapping alongside the chant as a sign of their farcical shift in priority from an under-performing team to the more successful playoff-bound [[2016 Toronto Blue Jays season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Leafs fans: 'Let's go, Blue Jays!'|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-blue-jays-lets-go/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=February 3, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314091734/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-blue-jays-lets-go/|archive-date=March 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Leaf Nation turns its back on Toronto Maple Leafs|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/03/30/leaf_nation_turns_its_back_on_toronto_maple_leafs.html|date=March 20, 2012|access-date=February 3, 2016|work=Toronto Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124222803/http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/03/30/leaf_nation_turns_its_back_on_toronto_maple_leafs.html|archive-date=January 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Toronto Maple Leafs look like a different team under Mike Babcock despite season-opening loss to Montreal Canadiens|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-look-like-a-different-team-under-mike-babcock-despite-season-opening-loss-against-montreal-canadiens|access-date=February 3, 2016|work=National Post}}</ref> Leafs fans also [[Vandalism on Wikipedia|vandalized]] Mike Babcock's [[Wikipedia]] article amid the poor records of the first few months into the [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20 season]]; his article was temporarily semi-protected to minimize further vandalism.{{notetag|A [[WP:SEMI|semi-protected Wikipedia page]] can only be edited by registered users who have made at least ten edits on Wikipedia in at least four days. This article itself, '''Toronto Maple Leafs''', is semi-protected indefinitely due to persistent vandalism.}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2019/12/01/leafs-fans-vandalizing-wikipedia-keep-editors-hopping.html|title=Leafs fans vandalizing Wikipedia keep editors hopping|date=December 1, 2019|website=thestar.com}}</ref>

In addition to the [[Greater Toronto Area]] (GTA), many fans live throughout Ontario, Quebec, including [[New York (state)|New York state]] and [[Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/leafs-canadiens-fans-senators-bandwagon-1.4095455|title=Leafs, Habs fans in Ottawa jump on Senators bandwagon — for now|work=CBC News Ottawa|date=May 2, 2017|access-date=December 5, 2017|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|last=Rice|first=Waubgeshig|author-link=Waubgeshig Rice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505150655/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/leafs-canadiens-fans-senators-bandwagon-1.4095455|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WINRiv>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/red-wings-target-canadian-fans-in-southern-ontario-1.1873302|title=Red Wings target Canadian fans in southern Ontario|work=CBCNews.ca|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=September 30, 2013|access-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226182338/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/red-wings-target-canadian-fans-in-southern-ontario-1.1873302|archive-date=December 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hockey-series-creates-divided-loyalties-1.182115|title=Hockey series creates divided loyalties|work=CBC News|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=November 10, 2000|access-date=July 9, 2017}}</ref> As a result, Leafs' away games at the [[Bell Centre]] in [[Montreal]], [[Canadian Tire Centre]] in [[Ottawa]], [[KeyBank Center]] in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] and at the [[Little Caesars Arena]] in [[Detroit]] hold more of a shared crowd. This is due in part to the Leafs fans in those areas, and those cities' proximity to the GTA.<ref name=CTCF3>{{cite web|url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/02/13/keep-toronto-maple-leafs-fan-out-of-the-bank|title=Ottawa Senators move to keep Toronto Maple Leafs fans out of the Bank|work=The Ottawa Sun|last=Spears|first=Tony|date=February 13, 2013|access-date=July 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803211914/http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/02/13/keep-toronto-maple-leafs-fan-out-of-the-bank|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2016/06/24/maple-leafs-fans-fill-first-niagara-center-nhl-draft/|title=Maple Leafs fans fill up First Niagara Center for NHL Draft|date=June 24, 2016|last=Goods|first=Jack|work=The Buffalo News|access-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803211916/http://buffalonews.com/2016/06/24/maple-leafs-fans-fill-first-niagara-center-nhl-draft/|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thespec.com/living-story/6255194-shuffle-off-to-buffalo-to-watch-the-leafs/|title=Shuffle off to Buffalo to watch the Leafs|last=Opler|first=Lorne|work=The Hamilton Spectator|date=January 30, 2016|access-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803213335/https://www.thespec.com/living-story/6255194-shuffle-off-to-buffalo-to-watch-the-leafs/|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Leafs are also a popular team in [[Atlantic Canada]]. In November 2016, a survey was conducted that found 20 percent of respondents from Atlantic Canada viewed the Leafs as their favourite team, second only to the Montreal Canadiens at 26 percent.<ref name=Atlfan>{{cite web|title=Canadiens edge the Maple Leafs as Atlantic Canada's favourite NHL team|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/canadiens-leafs-atlantic-canada-nhl-1.3923175|last=Betts|first=Sarah|work=CBC News|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107172403/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/canadiens-leafs-atlantic-canada-nhl-1.3923175|archive-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref> The Leafs were found to be the most favoured team in [[Prince Edward Island]], with 24 percent of respondents favouring the Leafs; and the second favourite team in [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] (19 and 24 percent respectively, both trailing respondents who favoured the Canadiens by one percent).<ref name="Atlfan" />

=== Rivalries ===
{{Quote box|align=right|width=20%|quote="[[Canadiens–Maple Leafs rivalry|Montreal–Toronto]] was the traditional rivalry, [[Maple Leafs–Red Wings rivalry|Detroit–Toronto]] was the bitter rivalry."|source=– [[Bob Nevin]]<ref name=DetRiv>{{cite book|title=100 Things Red Wings Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die|year=2014|last=Allen|first=Kevin|publisher=Triumph Books|pages=212–215|isbn=978-1-62368-982-7}}</ref>
}}
During the 25 years of the [[Original Six]] era (1942–67), teams played each other 14 times during the regular season, and with only four teams continuing into the playoffs, rivalries were intense. The Maple Leafs established several rivalries with other teams that played in this era, including the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and the Montreal Canadiens.<ref>{{cite book|title=Twenty Greatest Hockey Goals|last=Zweig|first=Eric|page=[https://archive.org/details/twentygreatestho0000zwei/page/61 61]|year=2010|publisher=Dundurn Press|isbn=978-1-55488-789-7|url=https://archive.org/details/twentygreatestho0000zwei/page/61}}</ref> In addition to the aforementioned teams, the Maple Leafs have also developed a rivalry with the Ottawa Senators,<ref name=OttSenR>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-senators-rivalry-really-one-sided/|title=Maple Leafs-Senators rivalry really one-sided|work=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=July 14, 2017|last=Willis|first=Jonathan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322183608/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-senators-rivalry-really-one-sided/|archive-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> as well as a minor geographic rivalry with the [[Buffalo Sabres]] called the [[National Hockey League rivalries#Battle of the QEW: Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs|Battle of the QEW]] after the [[Queen Elizabeth Way]] (QEW), the freeway that links Buffalo with Toronto along the western edge of [[Lake Ontario]] within the [[Golden Horseshoe]].

==== Boston Bruins ====
{{Main|Bruins–Maple Leafs rivalry}}
[[File:Colton Orr and Shawn Thornton fight.jpg|thumb|Maple Leafs' [[Colton Orr]] fights with Bruins' [[Shawn Thornton]] during a game, October 2011.]]
Both teams are Original Six teams, with their first game played in Boston's inaugural season on December 3, 1924. In the match-up, the [[Toronto St. Patricks|St. Patricks]] earned a 5–3 victory against the Bruins at [[Mutual Street Arena]]. The Maple Leafs played their first Stanley Cup playoff series against the Bruins in [[1933 Stanley Cup playoffs|1933]], winning the series 3–2. From 1933 to 2019, the two teams played in 16 postseason series against one another, including one Stanley Cup Final.

The rivalry has since been renewed from the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs]] which saw the Bruins rally from a 4–1 third-period deficit to defeat the Maple Leafs in overtime, 5–4, and advance to the second round.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bruins rally from 4-1 deficit to eliminate Leafs in Game 7 |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=423101 |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=April 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607143115/https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=423101 |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> In the [[2018 Stanley Cup playoffs|2018]], [[2019 Stanley Cup playoffs|2019]], and [[2024 Stanley Cup playoffs]], the Bruins would again defeat the Maple Leafs in seven games in all three of those years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-7-recap/c-298256440|title=Bruins advance with Game 7 win against Maple Leafs|last=Kalman|first=Matt|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 25, 2018|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426213825/https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-7-recap/c-298256440|archive-date=April 26, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-7-recap/c-306981924|title=Bruins win Game 7, eliminate Maple Leafs|last=Kalman|first=Matt|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 23, 2019|access-date=April 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424015828/https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-7-recap/c-306981924|archive-date=April 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Buffalo Sabres ====
The rivalry between the [[Buffalo Sabres]] and Toronto Maple Leafs is due to the 100-mile (160&nbsp;km) distance between their home arenas ([[KeyBank Center]] and [[Scotiabank Arena]] respectively). The Sabres won 70 of 103 all-time home games against the Maple Leafs from their inception in 1970–71 until 2015–16 (the last season before Toronto drafted [[Auston Matthews]]), despite the always large contingency of Toronto fans at those games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Augello |first=Michael |title=Sabres – Maple Leafs Rivalry Percolates After Shutout Loss |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-maple-leafs-rivalry-percolates-after-shutout-loss- |access-date=March 16, 2025 |website=The Hockey News|date=April 2024 }}</ref> Since the [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]] season, both teams have played in the Northeast Division, now the Atlantic Division. Buffalo won the [[1999 Stanley Cup playoffs|1999 Eastern Conference finals]] against Toronto in five games, the only playoff series between the two teams. During the [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19 season]], Toronto swept Buffalo in the season series for the first time ever. Buffalo previously swept a season series with Toronto in [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]], [[1987–88 NHL season|1987–88]], and [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92]]. Due in part to the number of Leafs fans living near or in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], and in part to Buffalo's relative proximity to Toronto and the rest of Ontario, as well as the lower prices of Sabres tickets, Maple Leafs–Sabres games at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo typically hold around 80 percent of Leafs fans, making it the largest away crowd in the NHL.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kloke |first=Joshua |date=November 3, 2016 |title=Maple Leafs and Sabres on the verge of renewing rivalry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/24711/2016/11/03/maple-leafs-and-sabres-on-the-verge-of-renewing-rivalry/ |access-date=March 16, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==== Detroit Red Wings ====
{{Main|Maple Leafs–Red Wings rivalry}}
[[File:2014 NHL Winter Classic before puck drop.jpg|thumb|alt=A view of the 2014 Winter Classic ice hockey game from the stands of Michigan Stadium.|The Red Wings hosted the Maple Leafs at the [[2014 NHL Winter Classic]] in [[Michigan Stadium]] in [[Ann Arbor]].]]
The Detroit Red Wings and the Maple Leafs are both Original Six teams, playing their first game together in [[1927–28 NHL season|1927]]. From [[1928–29 NHL season|1929]] to [[1992–93 NHL season|1993]], the teams met each other in the 16 playoff series, as well as seven [[Stanley Cup Final]]. Meeting one another a combined 23 times in the postseason, they have played each other in more playoff series than any other two teams in NHL history except for the [[Bruins–Canadiens rivalry|Bruins and Canadiens]] who have played a total of 34 playoff series against each other.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadiens, Bruins are NHL's longest playoff rivalry|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559790|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011|first=John|last=Kreiser|publisher=National Hockey League|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416120734/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559790|archive-date=April 16, 2011}}</ref> Overlapping fanbases, particularly in markets such as [[Windsor, Ontario]], and the surrounding [[Essex County, Ontario|Essex County]], have added to the rivalry.<ref name="WINRiv" />

The rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and the Maple Leafs was at its height during the Original Six era.<ref name="DetRiv" /> The Leafs and Red Wings met in the playoffs six times during the 1940s, including four Stanley Cup Final series. The Leafs beat the Red Wings in five of their six meetings.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=399–401}} In the 1950s, the Leafs and Red Wings met one another in six Stanley Cup semifinals; the Red Wings beat the Leafs in five of their six meetings.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=401–403}} From 1961 to 1967, the two teams met one another in three playoff series, including two Stanley Cup Final.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=404–406}} Within those 25 years, the Leafs and Red Wings played a total of 15 playoff series including six Cup Final; the Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings in all six Cup Final.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=418}}

The teams have only met three times in the playoffs since the Original Six era, with their last meeting in [[1993 Stanley Cup playoffs|1993]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/news/1196604|last=Vaswani|first=Navin|title=Remembering '93, when the Maple Leafs stunned the Red Wings|work=The Score|date=December 31, 2016|publisher=Score Media Ventures}}</ref> After the Leafs moved to the Eastern Conference in [[1998–99 NHL season|1998]], they faced each other less often, and the rivalry began to stagnate. The rivalry became intradivisional once again in [[2013–14 NHL season|2013]] when Detroit was moved to the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference as part of a realignment.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852 | title=Governors adopt radical four-conference realignment plan | date=December 5, 2011 | first=Dan | last=Rosen | publisher=National Hockey League | access-date=December 5, 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206210510/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852 | archive-date=December 6, 2011 | df=mdy-all}}</ref> Due in part to the number of Leafs fans living near [[Detroit]] and in [[Michigan]], and in part to Detroit's relative proximity to Toronto and Ontario, Maple Leafs–Red Wings games at the [[Little Caesars Arena]] in Detroit typically hold at least 40 percent of Leafs fans.

==== Montreal Canadiens ====
{{Main|Canadiens–Maple Leafs rivalry}}
The rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and the Maple Leafs is the oldest in the NHL, featuring two clubs that were active since the inaugural NHL season in 1917.<ref name=RivCBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/canadiens-maple-leafs-nhl-rivalries-1.3960275|title=NHL 100: Canadiens-Maple Leafs among heated rivalries|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=July 14, 2017|date=January 31, 2017|last=Clipperton|first=Joshua|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420200815/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/canadiens-maple-leafs-nhl-rivalries-1.3960275|archive-date=April 20, 2017}}</ref> In the early 20th century, the rivalry was an embodiment of a larger [[Two Solitudes (Canadian society)|culture war]] between [[English Canada]] and [[French Canada]].<ref name=RivNAP>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canadiens-versus-leafs-two-rivals-meet-again-but-theyve-changed|title=Canadiens versus Leafs: Two rivals meet again, but they've changed|date=April 6, 2012|access-date=July 14, 2017|work=National Post |last=O'Connor|first=Joe}}</ref> The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, while the Maple Leafs have won 13, ranking them first and second for most Cup wins, respectively.<ref name="RivCBC" />

[[File:HabsvLeafs2.JPG|thumb|left|A game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs in March 1938]]
The height of the rivalry was during the 1960s when the Canadiens and Leafs combined to win all but one Cup. The two clubs had 15 playoff meetings. However, the rivalry has waned with the two having not met in the postseason from [[1979 Stanley Cup playoffs|1979]] to [[2021 Stanley Cup playoffs|2021]].<ref name="RivCBC" /> It also suffered when Montreal and Toronto were placed in opposite conferences in [[1981–82 NHL season|1981]], with the Leafs in the Clarence Campbell/Western Conference and the Canadiens in the Prince of Wales/Eastern Conference. The rivalry became intradivisional once again in [[1998–99 NHL season|1998]] when the Leafs were moved into the Eastern Conference's [[Northeast Division (NHL)|Northeast Division]].<ref name="1998Realignment">{{cite news|title=Leafs get wish to play Habs more|last=Shoalts|first=David|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=December 3, 1997|page=S1}}</ref>

The rivalry's cultural imprint may be seen in literature and art. The rivalry from the perspective of the Canadiens fan is captured in the popular Canadian short story ''[[The Hockey Sweater]]'' by [[Roch Carrier]]. Originally published in French as "''Une abominable feuille d'érable sur la glace''" ("An abominable maple leaf on the ice"), it referred to the Maple Leafs sweater a mother forced her son to wear.<ref name="RivNAP" /> The son is presumably based on [[Self-insertion|Carrier himself]] when he was young.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3146716/carriers-the-hockey-sweater-still-captivates-70-years-after-winter-of-1946/|title=Carrier's 'The Hockey Sweater' still captivates, 70 years after winter of 1946|last=Lowrie|first=Morgan|work=Global News|publisher=Corus Entertainment |date=December 24, 2016|access-date=July 14, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129080008/http://globalnews.ca/news/3146716/carriers-the-hockey-sweater-still-captivates-70-years-after-winter-of-1946/|archive-date=January 29, 2017}}</ref> This rivalry is also evident in Toronto's {{stl|TTC|College}} [[Toronto subway|subway station]], which displays murals depicting the two teams, one on each platform (the Leafs mural being on the southbound platform), given that when the murals were installed in 1984, the station was the closest to the Leafs' then-home of [[Maple Leaf Gardens]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Charles Pachter: Canada's Artist|last=Wise|first=Leonard|year=2017|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-3875-1}}</ref> Due in part to the number of Leafs fans living near or in [[Montreal]], and in part to Montreal's relative proximity to Toronto and the rest of Ontario, Maple Leafs–Canadiens games at the [[Bell Centre]] in Montreal typically hold a significant amount of Leafs fans.

==== Ottawa Senators ====
{{Main|Battle of Ontario}}
The modern Ottawa Senators entered the NHL in [[1992–93 NHL season|1992]], but the rivalry between the two teams did not begin to emerge until the late 1990s. From 1992 to [[1997–98 NHL season|1998]], Ottawa and Toronto played in different conferences (Prince of Wales / Eastern and Clarence Campbell / Western respectively), which meant they rarely played each other. However, before the [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99 season]], the conferences and divisions were realigned, with Toronto moved to the Eastern Conference's Northeast Division with Ottawa.<ref name="1998Realignment" /> From [[2000 Stanley Cup playoffs|2000]] to [[2004 Stanley Cup playoffs|2004]], the teams played four postseason series; the Leafs won all four playoff series.<ref name="OttSenR" /> Due in part to the number of Leafs fans living near or in [[Ottawa]], and in part to Ottawa's relative proximity to Toronto, Maple Leafs–Senators games at the [[Canadian Tire Centre]] in Ottawa typically hold more Leafs fans rather than Sens fans.<ref name="CTCF3" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/senators-try-to-shut-leafs-fans-out-of-scotiabank-place-1.1156502|title=Senators try to shut Leafs fans out of Scotiabank Place|date=February 14, 2013|work=CTVNews.ca|publisher=[[Bell Media]]|access-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803213016/http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/senators-try-to-shut-leafs-fans-out-of-scotiabank-place-1.1156502|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=2172427&type=story|title=Part II -- Top rivalries|date=September 29, 2005|access-date=July 14, 2017|work=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803211736/http://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=2172427&type=story|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Team operations ==

=== Branding ===

==== Logo and uniform ====
{{multiple image
 | total_width=230
 | align = right
 | direction = horizontal
 | image1 = Toronto Arenas Logo.svg
 | alt1 = The Toronto Arenas logo, which is a capitalized letter T in blue.
 | image2 = St. Patricks de Toronto.gif
 | alt2 = One of the Toronto St. Patricks logo, a white capsule with its long side laid horizontally superimposed on a green background. The words St. Pats spelt out within the capsule.
 | footer = Former logos used by the franchise (from left to right: Arenas logo used from 1917 to 1918; the St. Patricks logo used from 1922 to 1925).
}}
The team is represented through several images and symbols, including the maple leaf logo found on the club's uniform. The Maple Leafs' jersey has a long history and is one of the best-selling NHL jerseys among fans.<ref name="hunter2010">{{cite news|author=Paul Hunter|date=June 14, 2010|title=Leafs' new look is a bit old-school|work=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/mapleleafs/article/823558--leafs-new-look-is-a-bit-old-school|access-date=September 6, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124012637/http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/mapleleafs/article/823558--leafs-new-look-is-a-bit-old-school|archive-date=November 24, 2011}}</ref> The club's uniforms have been altered several times. The club's first uniforms were blue and featured the letter T.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-unveil-uniform-for-the-2017-scotiabank-nhl-centennial-classic/c-283939166|title=Leafs Unveil Uniform For Centennial Classic|work=Toronto Maple Leafs|publisher=Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment|date=November 21, 2016|access-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212401/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-unveil-uniform-for-the-2017-scotiabank-nhl-centennial-classic/c-283939166|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The first major alteration came in 1919 when the club was renamed the St. Patricks. The uniforms were green with "Toronto St. Pats" on the logo, lettered in green either on a white "pill" shape or stripes.<ref name=ml1920 />{{sfn|Obodiac|1976|p=202}}

When the club was renamed the Maple Leafs in the 1927–28 season, the logo was changed, and the team reverted to blue uniforms.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=35}} The logo was a 48-point maple leaf with the words lettered in white. The home jersey was blue with alternating thin-thick stripes on the arms, legs and shoulders. The road uniform was white with three stripes on the chest and back, waist and legs.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=364}} For 1933–34, the alternating thin-thick stripes were replaced with stripes of equal thickness. This remained the basic design for the next 40 years.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=364}} In 1937, veins were added to the leaf and "Toronto" curved downwards at the ends instead of upwards.{{sfn|Obodiac|1976|p=212}} In 1942, the 35-point leaf was introduced. In 1946, the logo added trimming to the leaf with a white or blue border, while "C" for captain and "A" for alternate captain first appeared on the sweaters. In 1947, the "Toronto Maple Leafs" lettering was in red for a short time. In 1958, a six-eyelet lace and tie were added to the neck and a blue shoulder yoke was added. In 1961, player numbers were added to the sleeves.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=365}}

[[File:Toronto Maple Leafs Logo 1939 - 1967.svg|thumb|left|alt=Old logo for the Maple Leaf, featuring a blue maple leaf stylized with leaf veins on its edges, with white lettering Toronto Maple Leaf placed within the Maple Leaf.|Logo for the Maple Leafs from 1963 to 1967. The logo was later used as an alternate logo for the Maple Leafs (1992–2000; 2008–2016).]]
The fourth major change came in the 1966–67 season when the logo was changed to an 11-point leaf, similar to the leaf on the then-new [[flag of Canada]] to commemorate the [[Canadian Centennial]].{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=365}} The simpler leaf logo featured the [[Futura Display]] typeface, replacing the previous block letters. The stripes on the sleeves and waistline were also changed, adding a wider stripe in between the two thinner stripes (similar to the stripe patterns on the socks and the early Leafs sweaters). Before the 1970–71 season, the Leafs adopted a new 11-point leaf logo, with a [[Kabel (typeface)|Kabel bold-font]] "Toronto" going straight across, running parallel to the other words. Other changes to the sweater included the replacement of the arm strips with an elongated yoke that extended to the ends of the sleeves, a solid single stripe on the waist replacing the three waistline stripes, two stripes on the stockings, and a smaller, textless Leaf crest on the shoulders.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=366}} In 1973, the jersey's neck was a lace tie-down design, before the V-neck returned in 1976. In 1977, the NHL rules were changed to require names on the backs of the uniforms, but Harold Ballard resisted the change. Under Ballard's direction, the team briefly "complied" with the rule by placing blue letters on the blue road jersey for a game on February 26, 1978. With the NHL threatening hefty fines for failing to comply with the spirit of the rule (namely, having the names be legible for the fans and broadcasters in attendance), Ballard reached a compromise with the league, allowing the Leafs to finish the [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78 season]] with contrasting white letters on the road sweaters, and coming into full compliance with the new rule in the [[1978–79 NHL season|1978–79 season]] by adding names in blue to the white home sweaters.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=366}}

With the NHL's 75th anniversary season (1991–92 season), the Leafs wore "Original Six" style uniforms similar to the designs used in the 1940s.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=366}} Because of the fan reaction to the previous season's classic uniforms, the first changes to the Maple Leafs uniform in over 20 years were made. The revised uniforms for [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93]] featured two stripes on the sleeves and waistline like the classic uniform, but with the 1970 11-point leaf with Kabel text on the front. A vintage-style veined leaf crest was placed on the shoulders.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=366}} The uniforms would undergo a few modifications over the years.

[[File:2016 NHL All-Star Game (24660206292).jpg|thumb|alt=A banner featuring an old Maple Leaf logo, featuring an eleven-pointed white maple leaf on a blue background.|Maple Leafs banner at the [[2016 National Hockey League All-Star Game|2016 NHL All-Star Game]]. The 11-point leaf logo was used as the primary team logo from [[1970–71 NHL season|1970]] to [[2016–17 NHL season|2016]].]]
In 1997, [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] acquired the rights to manufacture Maple Leafs uniforms. Construction changes to the uniform included a wishbone collar and pothole mesh underarms, while the player name and number font were changed to Kabel to match the logo. CCM returned to manufacturing the Leafs uniforms in 1999 when Nike withdrew from the hockey jersey market, and kept most of the changes, although in 2000 the Kabel numbers were replaced with block numbers outlined in silver, and a silver-outlined interlocked TML monogram replaced the vintage leaf on the shoulders. Also during this time, the Leafs began wearing a white 1960s-style throwback [[third jersey]] featuring the outlined 35-point leaf, blue shoulders, and lace-up collar.

With Reebok taking over the NHL jersey contract following the 2004–05 lockout, changes were expected when the [[Reebok Edge|Edge uniform system]] was set to debut in 2007. As part of the Edge overhaul, the TML monograms were removed from the shoulders, and the silver outlines on the numbers were replaced with blue or white outlines (e.g. the blue home jersey featured white numbers with blue and white outlines, rather than blue and silver), and the waistline stripes were removed. In 2010, the two waistline stripes were restored, the vintage leaf returned to the shoulders, and the player names and numbers were changed again, reverting to a simpler single-colour block font. Finally, lace-up collars were brought back to the primary uniforms.<ref name="hunter2010" />{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=367}} The Leafs also brought back the 1967–1970 blue uniform, replacing the white 1960s jersey as their third uniform. For the [[2014 NHL Winter Classic]], the Leafs wore a sweater inspired by their earlier uniforms in the 1930s.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=367}}

On February 2, 2016, the team unveiled a new logo for the 2016–17 season in honour of its centennial, dropping the use of the Kabel-style font lettering used from 1970; it returns the logo to a form inspired by the earlier designs, with 31 points to allude to the 1931 opening of Maple Leaf Gardens, and 17 veins a reference to its establishment in 1917. 13 of the veins are positioned along the top part in honour of its 13 Stanley Cup victories. The logo was subsequently accompanied by a new uniform design that was unveiled during the [[2016 NHL entry draft]] on June 24, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maple Leafs Unveil New Logo|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-unveil-new-logo/c-807338|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=MapleLeafs.com|date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406203619/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-unveil-new-logo/c-807338|archive-date=April 6, 2017|access-date=October 20, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Leafs unveil new logo for 2016–17|url=https://www.tsn.ca/leafs-unveil-new-logo-for-2016-17-1.432349|publisher=The Sports Network|date=February 2, 2016|access-date=June 26, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621215611/http://www.tsn.ca/leafs-unveil-new-logo-for-2016-17-1.432349|archive-date=June 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Toronto Maple Leafs unveil new uniforms at 2016 NHL Draft|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/toronto-maple-leafs-unveil-new-uniforms-at-2016-nhl-draft/c-887071|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=MapleLeafs.com|date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105104820/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/toronto-maple-leafs-unveil-new-uniforms-at-2016-nhl-draft/c-887071|archive-date=November 5, 2016|access-date=October 20, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition to the new logo, the new uniforms feature a custom block typeface for the player names and numbers. Two stripes remain on the sleeves, with a single stripe at the waistline. The updated design carried over to the [[Adidas]] Adizero uniforms adopted by the NHL in 2017.<ref>{{cite press release|title=NHL and adidas Unveil New Uniforms for 2017–18 Season|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/nhl-and-adidas-unveil-new-uniforms-for-2017-18-season/c-290030050|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=MapleLeafs.com|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>

The Maple Leafs have worn historical throwback uniforms for select games, with the club wearing Toronto Arenas or St. Pats-inspired throwback designs.<ref name=retrorev>{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/new-maple-leafs-reverse-retro-jersey-sparks-debate|title=New Maple Leafs' 'Reverse Retro' jersey sparks debate|last=Hornby|first=Lance|date=November 16, 2020|access-date=December 6, 2020|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref> Additionally, the Leafs have also used contemporary "historically inspired" uniforms as an alternate uniform. For the Centennial Classic, each Leafs player wore a blue sweater with bold white stripes across the chest and arms; the white stripe being a tribute to the St. Pats, while a stylized-"T" used by the Arenas featured on their [[hockey pants]].<ref name="stadiumuni" /> For the 2020–21 season, the Maple Leafs wore "reverse retro" alternate uniforms, which included silver stripes inspired by the uniforms used from 1970 to 1972, while using the club's logo used from 1967 to 1970.<ref name="retrorev" /> Then for the [[2022 Heritage Classic]], the Maple Leafs donned a modified version of the team's Arenas throwbacks, with blue-on-blue lettering on the "Arenas" wordmark as a nod to the infamous 1978 uniforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-heritage-classic-jerseys-maple-leafs-sabres/c-330900596|title=Sabres, Maple Leafs reveal jerseys for 2022 NHL Heritage Classic|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|date=February 17, 2022|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> A second "reverse retro" alternate uniform, featuring the blue version of the white road uniforms they wore in 1962, was released. This design added a white shoulder yoke which was absent on the original blue uniform.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL Reverse Retro jerseys for all 32 teams unveiled by adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-adidas-nhl-reverse-retro-jerseys-reveal/c-336511528|website=NHL.com|date=October 20, 2022|access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref>

Other alternate uniforms worn by the team include a white uniform with two blue stripes across the chest and arms, paired this uniform with white pants worn for the [[2018 NHL Stadium Series]]. The uniforms were largely coloured white as a tribute to the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] and also included bolder blue outlines to create uniforms more pronounced for outdoor settings.<ref name=stadiumuni>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-unveil-uniform-for-the-2017-scotiabank-nhl-centennial-classic/c-283939166|title=Leafs Unveil Uniform For Centennial Classic|department=Toronto Maple Leafs|access-date=December 6, 2020|date=November 21, 2016|website=NHL}}</ref>

During the 2021–22 season, the Leafs named [[TikTok]], a video-sharing website, as their helmet entitlement partner.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MLSE announces deal with TikTok, company's logo featured on Leafs' helmets|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/mlse-announces-deal-tiktok-companys-logo-featured-leafs-helmets/|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=Sportsnet|date=October 13, 2021 }}</ref> Then in the 2022–23 season, the Maple Leafs announced a uniform sponsorship with the [[Dairy Farmers of Ontario]], utilizing the organization's "Milk" insignia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toronto Maple Leafs Partner with Dairy Farmers of Ontario |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/toronto-maple-leafs-partner-with-dairy-farmers-of-ontario/c-335651244 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2022 |date=September 20, 2022}}</ref> For the 2023–24 season, [[Pizza Pizza]] became the team's helmet entitlement partner; however, they were only featured on the home helmets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Report: Maple Leafs to Unveil Pizza Pizza as New Helmet Sponsor for 2023-24 Home Games|url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-to-unveil-pizza-pizza-as-new-helmet-sponsor-for-2023-24-home-games|access-date=April 29, 2024|website=The Hockey News|date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> In the 2024–25 season, Mondelez's [[Oreo]] served as the team's helmet entitlement partner, placing them on all of their helmets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Maple Leafs announce Oreo as new helmet sponsor for upcoming NHL season|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-announce-oreo-as-new-helmet-sponsor-for-upcoming-nhl-season/|access-date=March 21, 2025|website=Sportsnet|date=September 17, 2024}}</ref>

On March 22, 2022, the Maple Leafs unveiled a new alternate uniform, but for the first time in team history, black served as a base colour with the traditional blue serving as a trim colour. The "Next Gen" uniform features the team crest with a blue and black tie-dye background, along with a subtle black/blue skyline motif serving as sleeve stripes. It also comes with a reversible crest, featuring Canadian singer [[Justin Bieber]]'s modified drew house insignia inside a yellow Maple Leafs logo and yellow stripes. The black/blue front is normally worn as a game uniform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-third-jerseys-designed-by-justin-bieber/c-332087670|title=Justin Bieber designs reversible Maple Leafs jersey|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|date=March 22, 2022|access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>

==== Mascot ====
The Maple Leafs' [[List of NHL mascots|mascot]] is Carlton the Bear, an [[anthropomorphic]] [[polar bear]] whose name and number (#60) come from the location of [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] at 60 Carlton Street, where the Leafs played throughout much of their history.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=294–295}} Carlton made his first public appearance on July 29, 1995. He later made his regular season appearance on October 10, 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://leafsnation100.mapleleafs.com/carlton-the-bear/|title=Toronto Maple Leafs Centennial Timeline|publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs|year=2018|access-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405153411/https://leafsnation100.mapleleafs.com/carlton-the-bear/|archive-date=April 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Broadcasting ===
{{See also|List of Toronto Maple Leafs broadcasters}}
[[File:Foster Hewitt.JPG|thumb|left|alt=Foster Hewitt sitting at his office desk.|[[Foster Hewitt]] was the Maple Leafs' first radio play-by-play announcer from 1927 to 1968.]]
As a result of both [[Bell Canada]] and [[Rogers Communications]] having an ownership stake in MLSE, Maple Leafs broadcasts are split between the two media companies; with regional TV broadcasts split between Rogers' [[Sportsnet Ontario]] and Bell's [[TSN4]].<ref name=brospl>{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/109296/crtc-approves-sale-of-maple-leaf-sports-and-entert |title=CRTC Approves Sale Of Maple Leaf Sports And Entertainment To Bell And Rogers &#124; |publisher=Allaccess.com |date=August 17, 2012 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108072820/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/109296/crtc-approves-sale-of-maple-leaf-sports-and-entert |archive-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=728571 | title=Leafs Announce 2014–15 TV & Radio Broadcast Schedule | publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs | access-date=October 11, 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018132551/http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=728571 | archive-date=October 18, 2014 | df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Colour commentary]] for Bell's television broadcasts is performed by [[Mike Johnson (ice hockey)|Mike Johnson]], while play-by-play is provided by [[Gord Miller (sportscaster)|Gord Miller]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Gord Miller|user=GMillerTSN|number=1578868724895211520|title=In Toronto with ⁦@mike_p_johnson for Red Wings/Maple Leafs in TSN4 at 7pm in the Leafs region. Final pre-season game for both, Toronto will have a full lineup (minus injured players). These teams have closed out the pre-season with a home and home series for 40+ years.}}</ref> Colour commentary for Rogers' television broadcasts is performed by [[Craig Simpson]], while play-by-play is provided by [[Chris Cuthbert]]; both also serve as the lead broadcast team of Hockey Night in Canada and Sportsnet's national TV broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportsbroadcastjournal.com/nhl-kenny-albert-and-john-forslund-will-share-nbcs-regular-season-load-full-list-of-all-teams-tv-radio-voices/ | title=NHL: Kenny Albert and John Forslund will share NBC's regular season load; Full list of all teams' TV/Radio voices | publisher=Sports Broadcast Journal | date=January 20, 2021 | access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref> From 2001 to 2022, MLSE also operated a specialty channel, the [[Leafs Nation Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2022/08/16/leafs-tv-will-shut-down-after-21-years-on-the-air.html|title=Leafs TV will shut down after 21 years on the air|work=The Toronto Star |date=August 16, 2022|access-date=September 2, 2022|last=Ngabo|first=Gilbert}}</ref>

Like the Maple Leafs television broadcasts, radio broadcasts are split evenly between Rogers' [[CJCL]] (Sportsnet 590, The Fan) and Bell's [[CHUM (AM)|CHUM]] (TSN Radio 1050).<ref name="brospl" /> Both Bell and Rogers' radio broadcasts have their colour commentary provided by [[Jim Ralph]], with play-by-play provided by [[Joe Bowen]].

Radio broadcasts of games played by the club were started in 1923.<ref name=HFiC>{{cite book|title=Hockey Fight in Canada: The Big Media Faceoff over the NHL|last=Shoalts|first=David|year=2018|publisher=Douglas & McIntyre|isbn=978-1-77162-205-9}}</ref> The first Leafs hockey game that was televised occurred on November 10, 1952; the broadcast also being the first English-language television broadcast of an NHL game in Canada.<ref name="HFiC" /> Foster Hewitt was the Leafs' first play-by-play broadcaster, providing radio play-by-play from 1927 to 1978. In addition, he provided play-by-play for television from 1952 to 1958, and colour commentary from 1958 to 1961.{{sfn|Leonetti|2014|p=160–161}} Originally aired over [[CFCA (AM)|CFCA]], Hewitt's broadcast was picked up by the [[Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission]] (the CRBC) in 1933, moving to [[CBC Radio]] (the CRBC's successor) three years later.<ref name=FosHew>{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononeb196501.shtml|title=One on One with Foster Hewitt|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum|date=November 9, 2007|access-date=July 7, 2017|editor=Kevin Shea|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630113156/http://hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononeb196501.shtml|archive-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref>

=== Home arenas and practice facilities ===
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Home arenas
|-
! Arena
! Tenure
|-
| [[Arena Gardens]] || 1917–1931
|-
| [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] || 1931–1999
|-
| [[Scotiabank Arena]] || 1999–present
|}
The team's first home was the Arena Gardens, later known as the [[Mutual Street Arena]]. From 1912 until 1931, the Arena was ice hockey's premier site in Toronto.<ref>{{cite book|title=Let's Dance|last=Young|first=Peter|year=2002|publisher=Natural Heritage/Natural History |page=23|isbn=1-896219-02-0}}</ref> The Arena Gardens was the third arena in Canada to feature a mechanically frozen, or artificial, ice surface, and for 11 years was the only such facility in Eastern Canada.<ref>{{cite book|title=Toronto: The Way We Were|year=2008 | last = Filey | first = Mike | page=225 | publisher = [[Dundurn Press]] |isbn=978-1-55002-842-3}}</ref> The Arena was demolished in 1989, with most of the site converted to residential developments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heritagetoronto.org/arena-gardens/|publisher=Heritage Toronto|date=March 6, 2016|title=Arena Gardens|access-date=July 7, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106112742/http://heritagetoronto.org/arena-gardens/|archive-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref> In 2011, parts of the site were made into a city park, known as Arena Gardens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-37996.pdf|title=Proposed renaming of Cathedral Square Park to 'Arena Gardens'|author=Brenda Patterson, General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation|date=May 4, 2011|work=Staff Report|publisher=City of Toronto|access-date=August 10, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016081855/http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-37996.pdf|archive-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:MapleLeafGardens1934.jpg|thumb|alt=High up view of Carlton Street, with Maple Leaf Gardens in the centre.|Opening in 1931, [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] was the home arena for the Maple Leafs from 1931 to 1999.]]
Within six months in 1931, Conn Smythe built [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street, for C$1.5&nbsp;million (C${{inflation|CA|1.5|1931|r=1}} million in {{inflation/year|CA}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heritagetoronto.org/maple-leaf-gardens/|title=Maple Leaf Gardens|work=Heritage Toronto|access-date=July 7, 2017|date=November 29, 2013|last=Boccia|first=Erica|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511173832/http://heritagetoronto.org/maple-leaf-gardens/|archive-date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> The arena soon acquired nicknames including the "Carlton Street Cashbox", and the "Maple Leaf Mint", since the team's games were constantly sold out.<ref>{{cite book|title=Architecture on Ice: A History of the Hockey Arena|last=Shubert|first=Howard|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press|year=2016|pages=95–96|isbn=978-0-7735-4813-8}}</ref> The Maple Leafs won 11 Stanley Cups while playing at the Gardens. The first annual [[NHL All-Star Game]] was also held at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1947.<ref>{{cite book|title=NHL All-star Game: 50 Years of the Great Tradition|last=Podnieks|first=Andrew|page=23|year=2000|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|isbn=0-00-200058-X}}</ref> The Gardens opened on November 12, 1931, with the Maple Leafs losing 2–1 to the Chicago Blackhawks.<ref name=LEA30 /> On February 13, 1999, the Maple Leafs played their last game at the Gardens, also suffering a 6–2 loss to the Blackhawks.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=303–304}} The building is presently used as a multi-purpose facility, with a [[Loblaws]] grocery store occupying retail space on the lower floors, [[Joe Fresh]] and [[LCBO]] occupying another floor, and an athletics arena for Ryerson University (now [[Toronto Metropolitan University]]) occupying the topmost level.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maple Leaf Gardens: From Shrine to Supermarket|first=Dana|last=Flavelle|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/companies/article/1092943--maple-leaf-gardens-from-shrine-to-supermarket|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=November 25, 2011|access-date=November 25, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128055357/http://www.thestar.com/business/companies/article/1092943--maple-leaf-gardens-from-shrine-to-supermarket|archive-date=November 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mattamyathleticcentre.ca/arena-info|title=Mattamy Athletic Centre – Venue Info|publisher=Mattamy Athletic Centre|access-date=January 22, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222133028/http://www.mattamyathleticcentre.ca/arena-info|archive-date=December 22, 2013}}</ref>

The Maple Leafs presently use two facilities in the City of Toronto. The club moved from the Gardens on February 20, 1999, to their current home arena, Air Canada Centre, later renamed [[Scotiabank Arena]], a multi-purpose indoor entertainment arena on [[Bay Street]] in the [[South Core, Toronto|South Core]] neighbourhood of [[Downtown Toronto]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaircanadacentre.com/about/History.asp |title=History |publisher=Air Canada Centre |access-date=April 21, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613185141/http://www.theaircanadacentre.com/about/History.asp |archive-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref> The arena is owned by the Maple Leafs' parent company MLSE and is shared with the NBA's Toronto Raptors (another MLSE subsidiary), as well as the [[National Lacrosse League]]'s [[Toronto Rock]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaircanadacentre.com/about/Facts.asp|title=Facts – The Air Canada Centre|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=July 7, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615115148/http://www.theaircanadacentre.com/about/Facts.asp|archive-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref> In addition to the main arena, the Maple Leafs also operate a practice facility at the [[Ford Performance Centre]]. The facility was opened in 2009 and operated by the [[Lions Clubs International|Lakeshore Lions Club]] until September 2011, when the City of Toronto took over ownership of the facility after the Lions Club faced financial difficulties. The facility now operates as a City of Toronto-controlled corporation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2011/06/21/lakeshore_lions_arena_rescued_city_backtracks_on_naming_rights.html|title=Lakeshore Lions Arena rescued, city backtracks on naming rights|first1=Robyn|last1=Doolittle|first2=David|last2=Rider|date=June 21, 2011|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|access-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212001/https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2011/06/21/lakeshore_lions_arena_rescued_city_backtracks_on_naming_rights.html|archive-date=August 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LionsC>{{cite web|url=https://lakeshorearena.ca/|title=Mastercard Centre for Hockey Excellence|publisher=Lakeshore Arena Corporation|access-date=July 7, 2017|year=2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710211633/https://lakeshorearena.ca/|archive-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref> The facility was known as the Mastercard Centre for Hockey Excellence until 2019 when it was renamed the Ford Performance Centre. The facility has three NHL rinks and one Olympic-sized rink.<ref name="LionsC" />

On January 1, 2017, the Maple Leafs played the Detroit Red Wings in a home game at [[BMO Field]], an outdoor multipurpose stadium at [[Exhibition Place]], home to Leafs owner MLSE's other teams: the [[Toronto FC]] and the Toronto Argonauts. Known as the [[NHL Centennial Classic]], the [[NHL outdoor games|outdoor game]] served as a celebration for both the centennial season of the franchise and the NHL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/leafs-red-wings-centennial-1.3917711|title=Centennial Classic lives up to billing as Leafs down Red Wings in OT|last=Siegel|first=Jonas|work=CBC Sports|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=January 2, 2017|access-date=January 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305114845/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/leafs-red-wings-centennial-1.3917711|archive-date=March 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Minor league affiliates ===
The Maple Leafs are affiliated with the [[Toronto Marlies]] of the [[American Hockey League]], the Marlies play from [[Coca-Cola Coliseum]] in Toronto. The Maple Leafs' parent company has owned the Marlies franchise since 1978.<ref name=farmhist>{{cite journal|last1=Faseruk|first1=Alex|last2=Clift|first2=Tom|pages=21–22|title=Quest for a Hockey Franchise|journal=Journal of Strategic Innovation & Sustainability|volume=14|issue=5|year=2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/718940/000130901411000820/exhibit1.htm|title=Bell acquires ownership position in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – MLSE|work=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Griffins vs. Marlies at the Hockeytown Winter Festival 37.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A blue-coloured zamboni with a Toronto Maple Leafs logo on its side.|A Maple Leafs–branded [[Ice resurfacer|zamboni]] during an AHL game between the [[Grand Rapids Griffins]] and the [[Toronto Marlies]]. The Marlies is the Leafs' AHL affiliate.]]
The first AHL affiliate owned by the Maple Leafs was the [[Rochester Americans]], a team the Leafs initially co-owned with the Montreal Canadiens from 1956 to 1959, before MLGL bought out the Canadiens' share in the team. MLGL held sole ownership of the team until it was sold to an investor group in 1966. However, it continued to serve as their minor league affiliate until 1969. The Leafs did not have an AHL affiliate from 1969 to 1978 and relied on placing their drafted players with other team's affiliates. However, after several poor draft picks and having insufficient control over their prospect's development, MLGL opted to reestablish their own farm system; co-founding the Marlies franchise in 1978, and operating the [[Cincinnati Tigers (ice hockey)|Cincinnati Tigers]] of the [[Central Professional Hockey League|Central Hockey League]] from 1981 to 1982.<ref name="farmhist" />{{notetag|From 1978 to 1982, ownership of the Marlies franchise, then known as the [[New Brunswick Hawks]], was shared with the Chicago Black Hawks. In 1982, the Black Hawks pulled out of the joint management relationship.<ref name="farmhist" />}} The Marlies were initially established as the [[New Brunswick Hawks]], and were later relocated to [[St. Catharines Saints|St. Catherines]], [[Newmarket Saints|Newmarket]], and St. John's, before finally moving to Toronto in 2005.<ref name=Marli>{{cite web|url=http://marlies.ca/marlies-timeline/|title=Marlies Timeline|publisher=Toronto Marlies|access-date=February 28, 2018|year=2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228223722/http://marlies.ca/marlies-timeline/|archive-date=February 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20130404/COLUMN35/104049867|title=AHL: Bracken Kearns easy Worcester Sharks MVP choice|last=Ballou|first=Bill|work=Telegram & Gazette|access-date=March 4, 2018|date=April 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172623/http://www.telegram.com/article/20130404/COLUMN35/104049867|archive-date=March 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marlies.ca/ahl-history/|title=AHL History|publisher=Toronto Marlies|access-date=March 4, 2018|year=2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172900/http://marlies.ca/ahl-history/|archive-date=March 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Newfoundland Growlers]] were the [[ECHL]] affiliate of the Maple Leafs from 2018 until 2024, they played from the [[Mary Brown's Centre]] in St. John's, Newfoundland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-announce-newfoundland-growlers-new-echl-affiliate/|title=Maple Leafs announce Newfoundland Growlers as new ECHL affiliate|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004557/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-announce-newfoundland-growlers-new-echl-affiliate/|archive-date=June 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike the Marlies, the Growlers were not owned by the Leafs' parent company but were instead owned by Deacon Sports and Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sheena McCreate departs as CEO of St. John's Sports and Entertainment|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-sheena-mccrate-departing-sjse-ceo-1.6275410|website=CBC|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=December 6, 2022|access-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref> The Growlers folded in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers terminated by league |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/echls-newfoundland-growlers-terminated-by-league/ |access-date=April 2, 2024 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref> The [[Cincinnati Cyclones]] signed an agreement to become the ECHL affiliate of the Maple Leafs in July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cyclones sign affiliation agreement with Toronto |url=https://echl.com/news/2024/07/cyclones-sign-affiliation-agreement-with-toronto |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=ECHL}}</ref>

The Marlies were named after the [[Toronto Marlboros]], a [[junior ice hockey|junior]] hockey team named after the [[Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough|Duke of Marlborough]].<ref name="Marli" /> Founded in 1903, the Marlboros were sponsored by the Leafs from 1927 to 1989.<ref name="Marli" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marlies.ca/marlies-history/|title=Marlies History|publisher=Toronto Marlies|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228223031/http://marlies.ca/marlies-history/|archive-date=February 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Marlboros constituted one of two junior hockey teams the Leafs formerly sponsored, the other being the [[Toronto St. Michael's Majors]]. The sponsored junior system served as the Leafs primary farm system for young replacement players from the 1940s to 1950s.<ref name=MLH50 /> Formal NHL sponsorship of junior teams ceased in 1966, making all qualifying prospects not already on NHL-sponsored lists eligible for the draft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://records.nhl.com/history|title=NHL history|publisher=National Hockey League|website=records.nhl.com|access-date=July 30, 2022|year=2022}}</ref>

=== Ownership ===
The Maple Leafs is one of six professional sports teams owned by [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment]] (MLSE). In 2024, ''[[Forbes]]'' estimated the value of the club at US$3.8 billion, making the Maple Leafs the most valuable franchise in the NHL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toronto Maple Leafs on the Forbes The Business of Hockey List |url=https://www.forbes.com/teams/toronto-maple-leafs/ |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> However, MLSE has refuted past valuations made by ''Forbes''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/11/29/nhl_lockout_maple_leafs_worth_a_billion_says_forbes.html|title=NHL lockout: Maple Leafs worth a billion says Forbes|last=McGran|first=Kevin|date=November 29, 2012|access-date=May 17, 2019|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517233002/https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/11/29/nhl_lockout_maple_leafs_worth_a_billion_says_forbes.html|archive-date=May 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Conn smythe.jpg|thumb|left|[[Conn Smythe]] at Maple Leaf Gardens, 1939. Smythe was the principal owner of the club from 1927 to 1961.]]
Initially, ownership of the club was held by the Arena Gardens of Toronto, Limited; an ownership group fronted by [[Henry Pellatt]] that owned and managed Arena Gardens.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=6}} The club was named a permanent franchise in the League following its inaugural season, with team manager [[Charles Querrie]], and the Arena Gardens treasurer Hubert Vearncombe as its owners.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=13}} The Arena Company owned the club until 1919 when [[litigations]] from [[Eddie Livingstone]] forced the company to declare bankruptcy. Querrie brokered the sale of the Arena Garden's share to the owners of the amateur St. Patricks Hockey Club.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=16}}<ref>{{cite news |work=The Globe |date=December 9, 1919 |page=9 |title=Defense Star Leads "Pros"}}</ref> Maintaining his shares in the club, Querrie fronted the new ownership group until 1927, when the club was put up for sale. [[Toronto Varsity Blues]] coach Conn Smythe put together an ownership group and purchased the franchise for $160,000.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=30–31}} In 1929, Smythe decided, amid the Great Depression, that the Maple Leafs needed a new arena.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=47–48}}<ref name="LEA30" /> To finance it, Smythe launched Maple Leaf Gardens Limited (MLGL), a publicly traded management company to own both the Maple Leafs and the new arena, which was named Maple Leaf Gardens. Smythe traded his stake in the Leafs for shares in MLGL and sold shares in the holding company to the public to help fund construction for the arena.{{sfn|Smythe|Young|1981|p=104–106}}

Although Smythe was the face of MLGL from its founding, he did not gain a controlling interest in the company until 1947.<ref name=Smythecontrol1/><ref name=Smythecontrol2/><ref name=Smythecontrol3/> Smythe remained MLGL's principal owner until 1961 when he sold 90 percent of his shares to an ownership group consisting of [[Harold Ballard]], [[John W. H. Bassett]] and [[Stafford Smythe]]. Ballard became majority owner in February 1972 shortly following the death of Stafford Smythe.<ref name="Balsale" /> Ballard was the principal owner of MLGL until he died in 1990. The company remained a publicly traded company until 1998, when an ownership group fronted by [[Steve Stavro]] privatized the company by acquiring more than the 90 percent of stock necessary to force objecting shareholders out.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stavro set to take Gardens private Meeting seen as a 'rubber stamp'|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=August 6, 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Stavro set to take Gardens private|first=Tony|last=Van Alphen|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=May 3, 1994}}</ref>

While initially primarily a hockey company, with ownership stakes in several junior hockey clubs including the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association, the company later branched out to own the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] from the late 1970s to late 1980s (though the company would later sell off the Tiger-Cats).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Business of Professional Sports|pages=203–204|editor1=Mangan, J. A.|editor2=Staudohar, Paul D.|publisher=University of Illinois Press|year=1991|isbn=0-252-06161-6}}</ref> On February 12, 1998, MLGL purchased the [[Toronto Raptors]] of the [[National Basketball Association]], who were constructing the then–Air Canada Centre. After MLGL acquired the Raptors, the company changed its name to MLSE.<ref name="namec" /> The company's portfolio has since expanded to include the [[Toronto FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]], the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, the [[Toronto Argonauts]] of the Canadian Football League, and a 37.5 percent stake in [[Maple Leaf Square]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/what-the-explaining-the-mlse-deal|title=What the #!%*?: Explaining the MLSE deal|first=Sean|last=Fitz-Gerald|work=National Post |date=December 10, 2011|access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref>

In 2012, the [[Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan]] (the company's former principal owner) announced the sale of its 75 percent stake in MLSE to a consortium made up of telecommunications rivals Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, in a deal valued at [[Canadian dollar|$]]1.32&nbsp;billion.<ref name=sportsempire>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mapleleaf-rogers-bce-idUSTRE7B80VN20111209|title=Toronto sports empire sold to Rogers and BCE|first=Euan|last=Rocha|date=December 9, 2011|access-date=March 16, 2014|work=[[Reuters]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317082609/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/09/us-mapleleaf-rogers-bce-idUSTRE7B80VN20111209|archive-date=March 17, 2014}}</ref> As part of the sale, two [[numbered companies]] were created to jointly hold stock. This ownership structure ensures that, at the shareholder level, Rogers and Bell vote their overall 75 percent interest in the company together and thus decisions on the management of the company must be made by consensus between the two.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/rogers-bell-buy-majority-stake-in-mlse|title=MLSE deal: What Rogers and Bell buyout means for fans|first=Sean|last=Fitz-Gerald|work=National Post |date=December 9, 2011|access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref> A portion of Bell's share in MLSE is owned by its pension fund, to make Bell's share in MLSE under 30 percent. This was done so that Bell could retain its existing 18 percent interest in the [[Montreal Canadiens]]; as NHL's conflict of interest rules prevent any shareholder that owns more than 30 percent of a team from holding an ownership position in another.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bell-to-keep-canadiens-stake-1.997652|title=Bell to keep Canadiens stake|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=December 9, 2011|access-date=December 10, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926094640/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bell-to-keep-canadiens-stake-1.997652|archive-date=September 26, 2013}}</ref> The remaining 25 percent is owned by [[Larry Tanenbaum]], who is also the chairman of MLSE.<ref name="sportsempire" />

In July 2025, Rogers purchased bell's 37.5% share of MLSE for [[Canadian dollar|$]]4.7 billion to become majority owners.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2025 |title=Rogers closes deal with BCE to become majority owner of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/rogers-communications-closes-deal-owner-mlse-1.7575488 |access-date=November 9, 2025 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

{{chart top|width=100%|Ownership structure of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment}}
{{tree chart/start|align=center|}}
{{tree chart| | | | |MLSE | | | | |MLSE=[[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment|MLSE]]<br />100%}}
{{tree chart| | | |,|-|^|-|-|-|.| }}
{{tree chart| | | ROGBELL | | | | KILMER | ROGBELL=Rogers/Bell holding company<br />75%|KILMER=Kilmer Sports<br />25%}}
{{tree chart| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| }}
{{tree chart| ROGERS | | BELL | | LT | ROGERS=[[Rogers Communications]]<br />50%|BELL=Bell holding company<br />50%|LT=[[Larry Tanenbaum]]<br />100%}}
{{tree chart| | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | }}
{{tree chart| | | BCE | | BMT | | | BCE=[[Bell Canada Enterprises]]<br />74.67%|BMT=BCE Master Trust Fund<br />25.33%}}
{{tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

== Season-by-season record ==
''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, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''
{| class="wikitable"
! Season !! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|W|Wins}} !! {{abbr|L|Losses}} !! {{abbr|OTL|Overtime losses}} !! {{abbr|Pts|Points}} !! {{abbr|GF|Goals for}} !! {{abbr|GA|Goals against}} !! Finish !! Playoffs
|-
| [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21]] || 56 || 35 || 14 || 7 || 77 || 187 || 148 || 1st, North || Lost in first round, 3–4 ([[Montreal Canadiens|Canadiens]])
|- style="background:#eee;
| [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]] || 82 || 54 || 21 || 7 || 115 || 315 || 253 || 2nd, Atlantic || Lost in first round, 3–4 ([[Tampa Bay Lightning|Lightning]])
|-
| [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23]] || 82 || 50 || 21 || 11 || 111 || 279 || 222 || 2nd, Atlantic || Lost in second round, 1–4 ([[Florida Panthers|Panthers]])
|- style="background:#eee;
| [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]] || 82 || 46 || 26 || 10 || 102 || 303 || 263 || 3rd, Atlantic || Lost in first round, 3–4 ([[Boston Bruins|Bruins]])
|-
| [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25]] || 82 || 52 || 26 || 4 || 108 || 268 || 231 || 1st, Atlantic || Lost in second round, 3–4 (Panthers)
|}

== Players and personnel ==

=== Current roster ===
{{Toronto Maple Leafs roster}}

=== Team captains ===
In all, 25 individuals have served as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.{{notetag|Three individuals have served two tenures as team captain.}}{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}}<ref name="tav25" /> [[Ken Randall]] served as the team's first captain for two years beginning with the inaugural 1917–18 NHL season.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} [[John Ross Roach]] was the first goaltender to be named captain in the NHL, and the only goaltender to serve as the Leafs' captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/look-and-c-leafs-captains-over-the-years|title=Look and "C": Leafs captains over the years|work=torontosun |publisher=Toronto Sun|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> He was one of only six goalies in NHL history to have been officially recognized as the team captain. [[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]] served as captain from 1958 through 1969 and was the longest-serving captain in the team's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/24-7/greatest-maple-leafs-no-14-george-armstrong/|title=Greatest Maple Leafs: No. 14 George Armstrong|work=Sportsnet|publisher=Rogers Digital Media|date=December 18, 2013|first=Arden|last=Zwelling|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215144106/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/24-7/greatest-maple-leafs-no-14-george-armstrong/|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1997, Mats Sundin became the first non-Canadian to captain the Maple Leafs. His tenure as captain holds the distinction as the longest captaincy for a non-North American-born player in NHL history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sundin's extended bio|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/Sundin+extended/1092933/story.html|access-date=December 20, 2008|date=December 18, 2008|work=[[The Province]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130052651/http://www.theprovince.com/Sports/Sundin%20extended/1092933/story.html|archive-date=January 30, 2009}}</ref> The most recent player named to the position was Auston Matthews on August 14, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Dave |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/auston-matthews-named-toronto-captain-replaces-john-tavares |title=Matthews named Maple Leafs captain, replaces Tavares |website=NHL.com |date=August 14, 2024 |access-date=August 14, 2024}}</ref>

Three captains of the Maple Leafs have held the position at multiple points in their careers. Syl Apps' first tenure as the captain began from 1940 to 1943, before he stepped down and left the club to enlist in the Canadian Army. [[Bob Davidson (ice hockey)|Bob Davidson]] served as the Maple Leafs captain until Apps' return from the Army in 1945 and resumed his captaincy until 1948.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononep196101.shtml|title=One on One with Syl Apps|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=July 11, 2017|date=December 3, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803211609/https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononep196101.shtml|archive-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> Ted Kennedy's first tenure as captain was from 1948 to 1955. He announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the 1954–55 season, with [[Sid Smith (ice hockey)|Sid Smith]] succeeding him as captain.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} Although Kennedy missed the entire 1955–56 season, he came out of retirement to play the second half of the 1956–57 season. During that half-season, Kennedy served his second tenure as the Maple Leafs' captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/the-ted-kennedy-story/c-728250|title=The Ted Kennedy Story|work=Toronto Maple Leafs|publisher=Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment|date=August 14, 2014|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804012146/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/the-ted-kennedy-story/c-728250|archive-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Darryl Sittler was the third player to have been named the team's captain twice. As a result of a dispute between Sittler and the Maple Leafs' general manager [[Punch Imlach]], Sittler relinquished the captaincy on December 29, 1979. The dispute was resolved in the following off-season after a heart attack hospitalized Imlach. Sittler arranged talks with Ballard to resolve the issue, eventually resuming his captaincy on September 24, 1980.<ref>"Peace is wonderful, but ...," Frank Orr, ''[[Toronto Star]]'', September 5, 1980, p. D1.</ref> No replacement captain was named during the interim period.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=240–241}}

[[File:Syl Apps.jpg|thumb|alt=Syl Apps skating with the Stanley Cup.|[[Syl Apps]] led the team to three Stanley Cups as captain from 1940 to 1943 and again from 1945 to 1948. From 1943 to 1945, Apps was serving with the [[Canadian Army]].]]
{{div col}}
* [[Ken Randall]], 1917–1919
* [[Frank Heffernan]], 1919–1920
* [[Reg Noble]], 1920–1922
* [[Jack Adams]], 1922–1924
* [[John Ross Roach]], 1924–1925
* [[Babe Dye]], 1925–1926
* [[Bert Corbeau]], 1926–1927
* [[Hap Day]], 1927–1937
* [[Charlie Conacher]], 1937–1938
* [[Red Horner]], 1938–1940
* [[Syl Apps]], 1940–1943
* [[Bob Davidson (ice hockey)|Bob Davidson]], 1943–1945
* Syl Apps, 1945–1948
* [[Ted Kennedy (ice hockey)|Ted Kennedy]], 1948–1955
* [[Sid Smith (ice hockey)|Sid Smith]], 1955–1956
* [[Jimmy Thomson (ice hockey, born 1927)|Jimmy Thomson]], 1956–1957
* Ted Kennedy, 1957
* [[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]], 1958–1969
* [[Dave Keon]], 1969–1975
* [[Darryl Sittler]], 1975–1979, 1980–1982
* [[Rick Vaive]], 1982–1986
* [[Rob Ramage]], 1989–1991
* [[Wendel Clark]], 1991–1994
* [[Doug Gilmour]], 1994–1997
* [[Mats Sundin]], 1997–2008
* [[Dion Phaneuf]], 2010–2016
* [[John Tavares]], 2019–2024
* [[Auston Matthews]], 2024–present
{{div col end}}

=== Head coaches ===
{{Main|List of Toronto Maple Leafs head coaches}}
[[File:Dick Carroll, Toronto Arenas.jpg|thumb|alt=Photographic portrait of Dick Carroll, first manager of the Arenas|[[Dick Carroll]] was the first coach for the club. He was the coach from 1917 to 1919. He won one Cup with the Arenas.]]
The Maple Leafs have had 41 head coaches (including four interim coaches).{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} The franchise's first head coach was Dick Carroll, who coached the team for two seasons.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} Several coaches have served as the Leafs head coach on multiple occasions. King Clancy was named the head coach on three occasions while Charles Querrie and Punch Imlach served the position on two occasions.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} [[Craig Berube]] is the current head coach. He was named coach on May 17, 2024.<ref name="517Berube" />

Punch Imlach coached the most regular season games of any Leafs' head coach with 770 games, and has the most all-time points with the Maple Leafs, with 865.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} He is followed by Pat Quinn, who coached 574 games, with 678 points all-time with the Maple Leafs.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} Both [[Mike Rodden]] and Dick Duff, have the fewest points with the Maple Leafs, with 0. Both were interim coaches who coached only two games each in 1927 and 1980 respectively, losing both games.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2018|p=175}} [[Sheldon Keefe]] earned the most points of any Leafs head coach in a single season, with 115 points during the [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]]. Five Maple Leafs' coaches have been inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] as players, while four others were inducted as builders. Pat Burns is the only Leafs' head coach to win a [[Jack Adams Award]] with the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2017/04/25/maple-leafs-mike-babcock-has-claim-on-jack-adams-award.html|title=Maple Leafs' Mike Babcock has claim on Jack Adams Award|date=April 25, 2017|last=McGran|first=Kevin|access-date=July 1, 2017|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425230716/https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2017/04/25/maple-leafs-mike-babcock-has-claim-on-jack-adams-award.html|archive-date=April 25, 2017}}</ref>

=== Draft picks ===
{{Main|List of Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks}}
In the [[1963 NHL amateur draft]], the NHL's inaugural draft, the Maple Leafs selected [[Walt McKechnie]], a centre from the [[London Nationals]] with their first pick, sixth overall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ones-upon-a-time-a-history-of-leafs-draft-picks|title=Ones upon a time: A history of Leafs' draft picks|last=Traikos|first=Michael|work=National Post |date=June 23, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> Two Maple Leafs captains were obtained through the draft, [[Darryl Sittler]] in the [[1970 NHL amateur draft|1970 draft]]; as well as [[Wendel Clark]] in the [[1985 NHL entry draft|1985 draft]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A Season in Time: Super Mario, Killer, St. Patrick, the Great One, and the Unforgettable 1992–93 NHL Season|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2012|last=Denault|first=Todd|pages=11–12|isbn=978-1-118-14580-7}}</ref> The Maple Leafs have drafted two players with a first overall draft pick; Clark in the 1985 draft, and [[Auston Matthews]] in the [[2016 NHL entry draft|2016 draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2017/03/28/leafs-focus-on-speed-and-getting-up-to-it-feschuk.html|title=Auston Matthews breaks Wendel Clark's rookie record: Feschuk|last=Feschuk|first=Dave|access-date=February 14, 2018|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|date=March 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072403/https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2017/03/28/leafs-focus-on-speed-and-getting-up-to-it-feschuk.html|archive-date=February 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Other notable Maple Leafs draft picks and current players with the team are defenceman [[Morgan Rielly]] (fifth overall, [[2012 NHL entry draft|2012]]), and wingers [[William Nylander]] and [[Mitch Marner]] (eighth and fourth overall in [[2014 NHL entry draft|2014]] and [[2015 NHL entry draft|2015]] respectively). The team's most recent first round selection was [[Easton Cowan]], at 28th overall in the [[2023 NHL entry draft|2023 draft]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Easton Cowan, 28th pick in NHL draft, signs with Maple Leafs |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38168237/easton-cowan-28th-pick-nhl-draft-signs-maple-leafs |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 23, 2023 |date=August 10, 2023}}</ref>

===Announcers===
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had four PA announcers in their history. In addition, Harold (Hap) Watson was the Toronto Arenas' announcer in 1929 before the team moved to Maple Leaf Gardens and became the Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kevinsheahockey.com/the-voices-of-the-toronto-maple-leafs/ | title=The Voices of the Toronto Maple Leafs | date=October 8, 2018}}</ref>
* Walter (Red) Barber (1931–1961){{NoteTag|Despite the similarity in names he is not the [[Red Barber]] who was the PA announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers and other US teams.|name=RP}}
* [[Paul Morris (PA announcer)|Paul Morris]] (1961–1999)
* [[Andy Frost (radio personality)|Andy Frost]] (1999–2016)
* [[Mike Ross (announcer)|Mike Ross]] (2016–present)

== Team and league honours ==
{{Main|List of Toronto Maple Leafs award winners}}
The Maple Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cups in its history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SilverwareTrophyWinners.jsp?tro=STC|title=Stanley Cup winners|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|year=2015|access-date=June 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626114828/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SilverwareTrophyWinners.jsp?tro=STC|archive-date=June 26, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Toronto's first two Stanley Cups, in 1918 and 1922, took place when the Stanley Cup tournament operated as an interleague competition.{{notetag|The [[1918 Stanley Cup playoffs]] included teams from the NHL and the [[PCHA]]. The [[1922 Stanley Cup playoffs]] included teams from the NHL, as well as the PCHA and [[Western Canada Hockey League|WCHL]].}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlSilverware/silver_splashstanleycup.shtml |publisher=[[Hockey Hall of Fame]] |year=2015 |access-date=June 14, 2015 |title=The Stanley Cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627154253/https://www.hhof.com/htmlSilverware/silver_splashstanleycup.shtml |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Toronto's subsequent 11 Stanley Cups were awarded after 1926 when the Cup was established as the championship trophy of the NHL. The Maple Leafs won their last Stanley Cup in 1967, with the team's 57-season [[List of NHL franchise post-season droughts#Stanley Cup droughts|Stanley Cup drought]] being the longest championship drought in the NHL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2019/06/12/blues-latest-team-erased-from-stanley-cup-drought-list/|last=Billeck|first=Scott|title=Blues latest team erased from Stanley Cup drought list|work=NBC Sports|publisher=NBCUniversal|date=June 12, 2019|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> The Maple Leafs were also awarded the [[Prince of Wales Trophy]] twice, following the 1946–47 season, and the 1962–63 season. The Prince of Wales Trophy was awarded to the club when it was used as NHL's regular season championship trophy.{{notetag|The Prince of Wales Trophy was used as the NHL's regular season championship trophy from the 1938–39 season to the 1966–67 season.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-prince-of-wales-trophy-winners-complete-list/c-287821924|title=NHL Prince of Wales Trophy Winners|date=May 24, 2018|access-date=May 18, 2019|publisher=National Hockey League|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518161222/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-prince-of-wales-trophy-winners-complete-list/c-287821924|archive-date=May 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Retired numbers ===
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF;border-top:#00205B 5px solid;border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Retired numbers
|-
! width="15"|No.
! width="100"|Player
! width="15"|Position
! width="100"|Tenure
! width="100"|Date of honour{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=374–391}}
! width="100"|Date of retirement<ref name="retnum" />
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''1''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Turk Broda]] || [[Goaltender|G]] || 1935–1943<br />1946–1951 || March 11, 1995 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''1''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Johnny Bower]] || [[Goaltender|G]] || 1958–1969 || March 11, 1995 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''4''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Hap Day]] || [[Defence (ice hockey)|D]] || 1924–1937 || October 4, 2006 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''4''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Red Kelly]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1960–1967 || October 4, 2006 || October 15, 2016
|-
| '''5''' || [[Bill Barilko]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || 1945–1951 || style="background:#ffbbbb;"| ''Not honoured'' || October 17, 1992<ref name="rethis" />
|-
| '''6''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Ace Bailey]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1926–1933 || style="background:#ffbbbb;"| ''Not honoured'' || February 14, 1934
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''7''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[King Clancy]] || [[Defence (ice hockey)|D]] || 1930–1937 || November 21, 1995 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''7''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Tim Horton]] || [[Defence (ice hockey)|D]] || 1949–1970 || November 21, 1995 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''9''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Charlie Conacher]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1929–1938 || February 28, 1998 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''9''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Ted Kennedy (ice hockey)|Ted Kennedy]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1942–1955<br />1956–1957 || October 3, 1993 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''10''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Syl Apps]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1936–1943<br />1945–1948 || October 3, 1993 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''10''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1949–1971 || February 28, 1998 || October 15, 2016
|-
| '''13''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Mats Sundin]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1994–2008 || February 11, 2012 || October 15, 2016
|-
|'''14''' || style ="background:#ffb;"| [[Dave Keon]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1960–1975 || style="background:#ffbbbb;"| ''Not honoured'' || October 15, 2016
|-
| '''17''' || [[Wendel Clark]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || 1985–1994<br />1996–1998<br />2000 || November 22, 2008 || October 15, 2016
|-
| '''21''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Borje Salming]] || [[Defence (ice hockey)|D]] || 1973–1989 || October 4, 2006 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''27''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Frank Mahovlich]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || 1956–1968 || October 3, 2001 || October 15, 2016
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''27''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Darryl Sittler]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1970–1982 || February 8, 2003 || October 15, 2016
|-
| '''93''' || style="background:#ffb;"| [[Doug Gilmour]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1992–1997<br />2003 || January 31, 2009 || October 15, 2016
|}
{|class="wikitable floatright"
|style="background:#ffb;"|Player elected to the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]
|-
|style="background:#cfecec;"|Number retired for multiple players
|-
|style="background:#ffbbbb;"|Number was not honoured before being retired
|}
The Maple Leafs have [[Retired number|retired the numbers]] of 19 players; as some players used the same number, only 13 numbers have been retired.<ref name=retnum>{{cite web|title=Toronto Maple Leafs retire the numbers of 17 players|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/toronto-maple-leafs-retire-the-numbers-of-17-players/c-282696202|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=October 16, 2016|date=October 15, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018061302/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/toronto-maple-leafs-retire-the-numbers-of-17-players/c-282696202|archive-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref> Between October 17, 1992, and October 15, 2016, the Maple Leafs took a unique approach to retired numbers. Whereas players who suffered a career-ending injury had their numbers retired, "great" players had their number "honoured".<ref name=rethis>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42226|title=Honoured Players Process Different For Leafs|first=John|last=Iaboni|work=Leafs Game Day|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=July 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915175519/http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42226|archive-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> Honoured numbers remained in general circulation for players, however, during Brian Burke's tenure as the Maple Leafs' general manager, the use of honoured numbers required his approval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/02/11/maple_leafs_honoured_numbers_reserved_for_special_players.html|title=Maple Leafs' honoured numbers reserved for 'special players'|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|access-date=January 29, 2018|date=February 11, 2012|last=McGran|first=Kevin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140805/https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2012/02/11/maple_leafs_honoured_numbers_reserved_for_special_players.html|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

During this period, only two players met the criteria for retirement, the first being number 6, worn by [[Ace Bailey]] and retired on February 14, 1934; and Bill Barilko's number 5, retired on October 17, 1992.<ref name="rethis" /> The retirement of Bailey's number was the first of its kind in professional sports.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Handy Hockey Answer Book|last=Fischler|first=Stan|publisher=Visible Ink Press|year=2015|page=59|isbn=978-1-57859-567-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Nick|title=Who Had the First Jersey Number to Be Retired in Sports?|magazine=[[Mental Floss]]|date=November 7, 2014|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/59830/who-had-first-jersey-number-be-retired-sports|access-date=October 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001847/http://mentalfloss.com/article/59830/who-had-first-jersey-number-be-retired-sports|archive-date=June 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It was briefly taken out of retirement after Bailey asked that [[Ron Ellis]] be allowed to wear his number.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/former-maple-leaf-ellis-dreaming-of-stanley-cup-for-current-group/c-291553902|title=Former forward Ellis dreaming of Cup for Maple Leafs|last=Stubbs|first=David|work=NHL|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> Bailey's number returned to retirement after Ellis's final game on January 14, 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/former-maple-leaf-ellis-dreaming-of-stanley-cup-for-current-group/c-291553902|title=Former forward Ellis dreaming of Cup for Maple Leafs|last=Stubbs|first=Dave|publisher=National Hockey League|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141415/https://www.nhl.com/news/former-maple-leaf-ellis-dreaming-of-stanley-cup-for-current-group/c-291553902|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first players to have their numbers honoured were Syl Apps and Ted Kennedy, on October 3, 1993.<ref name="rethis" /> Mats Sundin was the last player to have his number honoured on February 11, 2012.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=391}} On October 15, 2016, before the home opening game of the team's centenary season, the Maple Leafs announced they had changed their philosophy on retiring numbers, and that the numbers of those 16 honoured players would now be retired, in addition to the retirement of Dave Keon's number.<ref name="retnum" />

As well as honouring and retiring the numbers, the club also commissioned statues of former Maple Leafs. The group of statues, known as Legends Row, is a {{convert|9.2|m|ft}} granite hockey bench with statues of former club players. Unveiled in September 2014, it is located outside Gate 5 of Scotiabank Arena, at Maple Leaf Square.{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=370}} As of October 2017, statues have been made of 14 players with retired numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-add-clark-mahovlich-kelly-conacher-legends-row/|title=Maple Leafs add Clark, Mahovlich, Kelly, Conacher to Legends Row|last=Sadler|first=Emily|date=October 6, 2017|access-date=October 28, 2017|work=Sportsnet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028200718/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-add-clark-mahovlich-kelly-conacher-legends-row/|archive-date=October 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Legends Row photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg|thumb|alt=Statues of hockey players in front of a granite bench. The glass facade of Scotiabank Arena is in the background.|Legends Row, a group of statues outside [[Scotiabank Arena]]]]
In addition to the 13 numbers retired by the Maple Leafs, the number 99 is also retired from use in the organization. At the [[2000 NHL All-Star Game]] hosted in Toronto, the NHL announced the league-wide retirement of [[Wayne Gretzky]]'s number 99, retiring it from use throughout all its member teams, including the Maple Leafs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game |work=CNNSports Illustrated. Associated Press |date=February 6, 2000 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ |access-date=June 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112022319/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ |archive-date=November 12, 2013}}</ref>

=== Hall of Fame ===
The Toronto Maple Leafs acknowledge an affiliation with 78 inductees of the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]],{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=360}}{{sfn|LeafsPR|2016|p=361–363}} including 64 former players as well as 13 builders of the sport. The Maple Leafs have the greatest number of players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame of any NHL team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind02facts.shtml|title=Induction Facts and Figures|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum|year=2018|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134756/http://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind02facts.shtml|archive-date=January 25, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The 13 individuals recognized as builders of the sport include former Maple Leafs broadcasters, executives, head coaches, and other personnel relating to the club's operations. Inducted in 2017, Dave Andreychuk was the latest Maple Leafs player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/dave-andreychuk-gets-hockey-hall-of-fame-call/c-290167596|title=Dave Andreychuk gets Hockey Hall of Fame call|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 11, 2018|date=June 26, 2017|last=Burns|first=Bryan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160145/https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/dave-andreychuk-gets-hockey-hall-of-fame-call/c-290167596|archive-date=January 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition to players and builders, five broadcasters for the Maple Leafs were also awarded the [[Foster Hewitt Memorial Award]] from the Hockey Hall of Fame.<ref name=FHMA>{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/html/leg_broadcasters.shtml|title=Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winners|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum|year=2018|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142146/https://www.hhof.com/html/leg_broadcasters.shtml|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1984, radio broadcaster Foster Hewitt was awarded the Hall of Fame's inaugural Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, an award named after him. Before the award's creation, Hewitt had already been inducted as a builder into the Hall of Fame.<ref name="FosHew" /> Other Maple Leafs broadcasters that received the award include [[Wes McKnight]] in 1986, [[Bob Cole (sportscaster)|Bob Cole]] in 2007, [[Bill Hewitt (sportscaster)|Bill Hewitt]] in 2007 and [[Joe Bowen]] in 2018.<ref name="FHMA" />

'''Players'''
{{Columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Jack Adams]]
* [[Glenn Anderson]]
* [[Dave Andreychuk]]
* [[Syl Apps]]
* [[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]]
* [[Ace Bailey]]
* [[Tom Barrasso]]
* [[Andy Bathgate]]
* [[Ed Belfour]]
* [[Max Bentley]]
* [[Leo Boivin]]
* [[Johnny Bower]]
* [[Turk Broda]]
* [[Harry Cameron]]
* [[Gerry Cheevers]]
* [[King Clancy]]
* [[Sprague Cleghorn]]
* [[Charlie Conacher]]
* [[Rusty Crawford]]
* [[Hap Day]]
* [[Gordie Drillon]]
* [[Dick Duff]]
* [[Babe Dye]]
* [[Fernie Flaman]]
* [[Ron Francis]]
* [[Grant Fuhr]]
* [[Mike Gartner]]
* [[Doug Gilmour]]
* [[George Hainsworth]]
* [[Hap Holmes]]
* [[Red Horner]]
* [[Tim Horton]]
* [[Phil Housley]]
* [[Syd Howe]]
* [[Busher Jackson]]
* [[Red Kelly]]
* [[Ted Kennedy (ice hockey)|Ted Kennedy]]
* [[Dave Keon]]
* [[Brian Leetch]]
* [[Eric Lindros]]
* [[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]]
* [[Frank Mahovlich]]
* [[Lanny McDonald]]
* [[Alexander Mogilny]]
* [[Dickie Moore (ice hockey)|Dickie Moore]]
* [[Larry Murphy (ice hockey)|Larry Murphy]]
* [[Joe Nieuwendyk]]
* [[Reg Noble]]
* [[Bert Olmstead]]
* [[Bernie Parent]]
* [[Pierre Pilote]]
* [[Jacques Plante]]
* [[Babe Pratt]]
* [[Joe Primeau]]
* [[Marcel Pronovost]]
* [[Bob Pulford]]
* [[Borje Salming]]
* [[Terry Sawchuk]]
* [[Sweeney Schriner]]
* [[Darryl Sittler]]
* [[Allan Stanley]]
* [[Mats Sundin]]
* [[Joe Thornton]]
* [[Harry Watson (ice hockey, born 1923)|Harry Watson]]
}}

'''Builders'''
{{Columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Harold Ballard]]
* [[William A. Hewitt]]
* [[Conn Smythe]]
* [[Jack Bickell]]
* [[Punch Imlach]]
* [[Pat Burns]]
* [[Dick Irvin]]
* [[Cliff Fletcher]]
* [[Roger Neilson]]
* [[Jim Gregory (ice hockey)|Jim Gregory]]
* [[Pat Quinn (ice hockey)|Pat Quinn]]
* [[Foster Hewitt]]
* [[Frank J. Selke]]
}}

=== Franchise career leaders ===
{{Main|List of Toronto Maple Leafs records}}
These are the top franchise leaders in regular season points, goals, assists, points per game, games played, and goaltending wins as of the end of the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=allTime&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.5&sort=pointsPerGame&page=0&pageSize=50|title=NHL Stats – Skaters|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/goalies?reportType=allTime&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.5&sort=wins,savePct&page=0&pageSize=50|title=NHL Stats – Goalies|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref>
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current Maple Leafs player
<!--PLEASE DO ''not'' UPDATE STATISTICS MID-SEASON, AS IT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES, AND WIKIPEDIA'S PURPOSE IS ''not'' TO PROVIDE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE STATISTICS. PLEASE SAVE THE UPDATING OF STATISTICS UNTIL THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND/OR PLAYOFFS.-->
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Points
! class="unsortable"|Player
! class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Pos|Position}}
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! {{abbr|G|Goals}}
! {{abbr|A|Assists}}
! {{abbr|Pts|Points}}
! {{abbr|P/G|Points per game}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mats Sundin]] || C || 981 || 420 || 567 || '''987''' || 1.01
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Darryl Sittler]] || C || 844 || 389 || 527 || '''916''' || 1.09
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dave Keon]] || C || 1,062 || 365 || 493 || '''858''' || .81
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Borje Salming]] || D || 1,099 || 148 || 620 || '''768''' || .70
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mitch Marner]] || RW || 657 || 221 || 520 || '''741''' || 1.13
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Auston Matthews]]* || C || 629 || 401 || 326 || '''727''' || 1.16
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]] || RW || 1,188 || 296 || 417 || '''713''' || .60
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ron Ellis]] || RW || 1,034 || 332 || 308 || '''640''' || .62
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[William Nylander]]* || RW || 685 || 262 || 350 || '''612''' || .89
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Frank Mahovlich]] || LW || 720 || 296 || 301 || '''597''' || .83
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Goals
! Player
! {{abbr|Pos|Position}}
! {{abbr|G|Goals}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mats Sundin]] || C || 420
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Auston Matthews]]* || C || 401
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Darryl Sittler]] || C || 389
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dave Keon]] || C || 365
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ron Ellis]] || RW || 332
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Rick Vaive]] || RW || 299
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]] || RW || 296
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Frank Mahovlich]] || LW || 296
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[William Nylander]]* || RW || 262
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Wendel Clark]] || LW || 260
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Assists
! Player
! {{abbr|Pos|Position}}
! {{abbr|A|Assists}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Borje Salming]] || D || 620
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mats Sundin]] || C || 567
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Darryl Sittler]] || C || 527
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mitch Marner]] || RW || 520
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dave Keon]] || C || 493
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Tomas Kaberle]] || D || 437
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Morgan Rielly]]* || D || 426
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]] || RW || 417
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[William Nylander]]* || RW || 350
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Tim Horton]] || D || 349
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Points per game
! Player
! {{abbr|Pos|Position}}
! {{abbr|P/G|Points per game}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Babe Dye]] || RW || 1.24
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Auston Matthews]]* || C || 1.16
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Doug Gilmour]] || C || 1.15
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Reg Noble]] || C || 1.13
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mitch Marner]] || RW || 1.13
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Harry Cameron]] || D || 1.11
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Wilf Paiement]] || RW || 1.09
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Darryl Sittler]] || C || 1.09
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ed Olczyk]] || C || 1.04
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Corb Denneny]] || C || 1.04
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Games played
! Player
! {{abbr|Pos|Position}}
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[George Armstrong (ice hockey)|George Armstrong]] || RW || 1,188
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Tim Horton]] || D || 1,184
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Borje Salming]] || D || 1,099
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dave Keon]] || C || 1,062
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ron Ellis]] || RW || 1,034
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mats Sundin]] || C || 981
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Bob Pulford]] || LW || 947
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Tomas Kaberle]] || D || 878
|-style="background:#CCFFCC"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Morgan Rielly]]* || D || 873
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Darryl Sittler]] || C || 844
|}
{{col-end}}
[[File:TimHorton 03.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Tim Horton sitting on the bench during an ice hockey game with several other teammates.|[[Tim Horton]] played the second-most games with the Maple Leafs, and the most amongst defencemen.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;"|Goaltenders
! class=unsortable|Player
! class=unsortable|Seasons
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! {{abbr|TOI|Time on ice}}
! {{abbr|W|Win}}
! {{abbr|L|Loss}}
! {{abbr|T|Tie}}
! {{abbr|OT|Overtime loss}}
! {{abbr|GA|Goals against}}
! {{abbr|GAA|Goals against average}}
! {{abbr|SA|Shots against}}
! {{abbr|SV%|Save percentage}}
! {{abbr|SO|Shutouts}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Turk Broda]] || 1935–1943<br />1946–1951 || 629 || 38,182 || '''304''' || 222 || 102 || — || 1,608 || 2.53 || — || — || 61
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Johnny Bower]] || 1958–1969 || 475 || 27,369 || '''219''' || 157 || 79 || — || 1,139 || 2.50 || 14,607 || .922 || 32
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Felix Potvin]] || 1991–1999 || 369 || 21,461 || '''160''' || 149 || 49 || — || 1,026 || 2.87 || 11,133 || .908 || 12
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Frederik Andersen]] || 2016–2021|| 268 || 15,625 || '''149''' || 74 || — || 36 || 726 || 2.79 || 8466 || .914 || 13
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Curtis Joseph]] || 1998–2002 || 270 || 15,808 || '''138''' || 97 || 27 || 1 || 656 || 2.49 || 7,257 || .910 || 17
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mike Palmateer]] || 1976–1984 || 296 || 16,828 || '''129''' || 112 || 41 || — || 964 || 3.44 || 8,886 || .892 || 15
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]] || 1952–1956 || 267 || 16,003 || '''103''' || 106 || 58 || — || 581 || 2.18 || 1,696{{notetag|name=fn3|Shots and save percentage data from the 1955–56 season onwards}} || .907{{notetag|name=fn3}} || 34
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Lorne Chabot]] || 1928–1933 || 214 || 13,077 || '''102''' || 78 || 31 || — || 470 || 2.16 || — || — || 31
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[John Ross Roach]] || 1921–1928 || 222 || 13,645 || '''98''' || 107 || 17 || — || 639 || 2.81 || — || — || 13
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ed Belfour]] || 2002–2006 || 170 || 10,079 || '''93''' || 61 || 11 || 4 || 422 || 2.51 || 4,775 || .912 || 17
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of Toronto Maple Leafs players]]
* [[List of Toronto Maple Leafs general managers]]
* [[Toronto Maple Leafs in popular culture]]

== Notes ==
{{notefoot}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last1=Holzman|first1=Morey|first2=Joseph|last2=Nieforth|title=Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL Conquered Hockey|publisher=Dundurn Press|isbn=1-55002-413-2 |year=2002}}
* {{cite book |title=Toronto Maple Leafs Media Guide 2016–17|editor=McNaughton, Scott|editor2=Meagher, Ian|editor3=Lund, Chris|editor4=Keogh, Steve|publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs |year=2016|ref={{harvid|LeafsPR|2016}}}}
* {{cite book |title=Toronto Maple Leafs Media Guide 2018–19|editor=McNaughton, Scott|editor2=Lund, Chris|editor3=McBride, Colin|editor4=Bascom, Kate|editor5=Redenbach, Jennifer|editor6=Keogh, Steve|publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs |year=2018|ref={{harvid|LeafsPR|2018}}| url=https://beta-nhl.bamcontent.com/images/assets/binary/300303388/binary-file/file.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321194603/https://beta-nhl.bamcontent.com/images/assets/binary/300303388/binary-file/file.pdf|archive-date=March 21, 2019|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |title=100 Things Maple Leafs Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die|last=Leonetti|first=Michael|publisher=Triumph Books|year=2014|isbn=978-1-60078-935-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Obodiac|first=Stan|title=The First 50 Years|year=1976|publisher=McClelland and Stewart Limited|isbn=0-7710-9064-1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Shea |first1=Kevin |last2=Wilson |first2=Jason |title=The Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club: The Official Centennial Publication|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|year=2016|isbn=978-0-7710-7929-0}}
* {{Cite book|last=Ross|first=J. Andrew|year=2015|title=Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-3383-9}}
* {{cite book|last1=Smythe|first1=Conn|last2=Young|first2=Scott|title=Conn Smythe: If you can't beat 'em in the alley|year=1981|publisher=McClelland and Stewart|location=Toronto, Ontario|isbn=0-7710-9078-1}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs}}
<!--Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]] please don't add YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Flickr, Reddit, Tumblr, FourSquare, Google Plus, Instagram, etc., or unofficial fan blogs.-->

{{Toronto Maple Leafs}}
{{Navboxes|titlestyle=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#00205B 5px solid;|list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Seattle Metropolitans]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Toronto<br />[[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1917–18 NHL season|1917–18]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Toronto St. Pats<br />[[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1921–22 NHL season|1921–22]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1931–32 NHL season|1931–32]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[New York Rangers]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Boston Bruins]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1941–42 NHL season|1941–42]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1944–45 NHL season|1944–45]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1946–47 NHL season|1946–47]], [[1947–48 NHL season|1947–48]], [[1948–49 NHL season|1948–49]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1950–51 NHL season|1950–51]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Chicago Black Hawks]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1961–62 NHL season|1961–62]], [[1962–63 NHL season|1962–63]], [[1963–64 NHL season|1963–64]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1967 Stanley Cup Final|1966–67]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Toronto Maple Leafs seasons}}
{{NHL}}
{{Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment}}
{{Toronto Sports}}
{{Ontario Sports}}
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{{Portal bar|Ice hockey|Ontario|Canada}}

[[Category:Toronto Maple Leafs| ]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Atlantic Division (NHL)]]
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Toronto|Ma]]
[[Category:Organized events in Toronto]]
[[Category:Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment]]
[[Category:National Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:National Hockey League teams based in Canada]]
[[Category:National Hockey League in Ontario]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1917]]