Description

One of the NHL’s most valuable teams, this club holds the record of having the second-most Stanley Cups in the league. WatchMojo continues our series on the Greatest Sports Franchises of All Time with a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Transcript

This is one of the most valuable teams in the national hockey league. Welcome to watchmojo.com, and today we will be continuing are series of the most successful sport franchises with the look of Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto's reputation as a hockey town creates the establishment of national hockey league in 1917. Toronto became one of the original 6 NHO clubs with the team that went by many monikers. From the Arenas, the Saint Patricks, they finally settled on the Maple Leafs in 1927. Maple Leaf gardens open November 12, 1931, with the 2-1 lost to the Chicago Black Offs. However, the club went on to win its 3rd Stanley cup that season led by legendary coach Dick Irvin. The NHO first all star game was held by the Maple Leafs on February 14, 1934 to honor their player Ace Bailey, who'd nearly died when Boston Brewen Eddie Short shut them into the board earlier that season. At the end of the 1939 - 1940 seasons Coach Irvin left the team to revive the team to revive the Montreal Canadians. They saw their better rivals win in 1944, 1946 and again in 1953, before winning a record 5 consecutive cups under Irvin’s successor, Tom Blake. Meanwhile, the leaf didn't do too badly after Irvin's departure, the club took home the cup in 1942 and 1945, from 47 to 49 and again in 1951. Then they hit a rough patch, not winning again until 1962. Some labeled this drought The Burockoker after the mysterious disappearance of defense man Bill Burocko. The Leafs’ Canadian rivalry saw the two Canadian squads win every single cup between 1962 and 1969. The Leafs won 3 straight from 1962 to 1964, led by future hall of famers Frank Mahoblish, team Horton, Dave Kiyon, Andy Battcave, Red Kelly and Johnny Bauer, as well as coach and GM Hunch Inlack. In 1967 the team plays the heavily favored Montreal team for went on to win the series in 6 games. Dave Kiyon won the cons might trophy handed out to the play offs’ MVP. From there it was all down the hill. Despite the roster than included Borje Salming, Lanny McDonald and Daryl Sattler, the team went no where during the 1970's. Things went from bad to worst in ‘79 with three return of Imlack as general manager. He was go on to trade the popular McDonald and the clubs long time leading score, Settler, who still holds the record for most points of the game with 10. Settler’s all time lead score and record was only broken in 2007 by then captain, Matt Sandy. The 1980's were a bleak period. No, their poor record did help the club land high draftpics, including the popular Wendell Clark. The club had nowhere to go but up and it did. The Leafs hired Calgary Flame’s GM Cliff Letcher would won the cup in 1989. He dooms draftpics, sign free agents and traded to improve his team. But despite players like Doug Gilmore and Felix Fadden, the best the team mastered was a semi final exit against Wing Gretzky's LA Kings in 1993. Throughout the Leafs’ history, the team has won 13 championships including 11 Stanley cups, coming second only to the Montreal Canadians. Today, the Leafs play their game at the Air Canada Center and count their loyal fans as their strongest asset. Dubbed Leafs’ nation, the faithful remain devoted no matter how their team plays.