The Toronto Maple Leafs history is one of the most iconic stories in professional hockey. As a cornerstone of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey, the team has thrilled fans with championship wins, legendary players, and unforgettable rivalries. Their tradition of excellence continues to shape the NHL, inspiring new generations of hockey fans across Canada and beyond.
Established
1917
City
Toronto
League History
1917 – Present / National Hockey League
Team History
1927 – Present / Toronto Maple Leafs
1919 – 1927 / Toronto St. Patricks
1917 – 1919 / Toronto Arenas
Nickname
Maple Leafs – The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most beloved teams in hockey, and their nickname has a long history. The team was founded as the Toronto Arenas in 1917 but changed its name to the Maple Leafs two years later. But where did this unique moniker come from?
Toronto Maple Leafs Origin
It turns out that there is an interesting story behind it all! It began with Conn Smythe, who became manager of the team shortly after they were formed. He wanted to create a strong identity for his franchise and felt that using something related to Canada’s national symbol ––the maple leaf––would be perfect.
At first, he considered calling them "Maple Leaves." Eventually, he settled on "Maple Leafs" because he thought it sounded more exciting and had more impact when spoken aloud during games or announced over radio broadcasts (which were popular then). The new name quickly caught on with fans across Canada, who embraced it enthusiastically!
Today, nearly 100 years later, “Leafs Nation” is still going strong—and so too is their iconic nickname which continues to represent Canadian pride both inside and outside of hockey arenas around North America each season when our beloved blue-and-white takes center stage in pursuit of Lord Stanley's Cup!
Championship
Stanley Cups 11
1967, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1951, 1949, 1948, 1947, 1945, 1942, 1932, 1922, 1918
Arena
2019 - Present / Scotiabank Arena
1999 – 2018 / Air Canada Centre
1932 – 1999 / Maple Leaf Gardens
1917 – 1931 / Mutual Street Arena
Owner
1998 – Present / Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.
1996 – 1998 / Steve Stavro and Larry Tanenbaum
1991 – 1996 / Steve Stavro
1990 – 1991 / Estate of Harold Ballard
1972 – 1990 / Harold Ballard
1970 – 1972 / Stafford Smythe and Harold Ballard
1961 – 1970 / Stafford Smythe, Harold Ballard, and John Bassett
1927 – 1961 / Conn Smythe
1919 – 1927 / Charles Querrie
1917 – 1919 / Toronto Arena Company
- 1927
- 1932 - 1942
- 1945 - 1947
- 1948 - 1949
- 1951
- 1962 -1963
- 1964 - 1967
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Maple Leafs Born
Querrie lost a lawsuit to Livingstone and decided to put the St. Pats up for sale. He gave serious consideration to a $200,000 bid from a Philadelphia group. However, Toronto Varsity Graduates coach Conn Smythe put together an ownership group of his own and made a $160,000 offer for the franchise. With the support of St. Pats shareholder J. P. ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1932 – 1942
Stanley Cup – 1942 The 1942 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. After losing the first three games, the Maple Leafs won the next four to win the series 4–3, winning their fourth Stanley Cup. It was the first Cup Final in history to go seven. Stanley Cup – ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1945 – 1947
Stanley Cup – 1947 The 1947 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs would win the series four games to two. This was the first all-Canadian finals in 12 years. Stanley Cup – 1945 The 1945 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Detroit ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1948 – 1949
Stanley Cup – 1949 The 1949 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Detroit Red Wings and the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs, the second straight final series between Detroit and Toronto. The Maple Leafs won the series in four straight games to win their third consecutive Stanley Cup and eighth in the history of the franchise. Stanley ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1951
The 1951 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs would win the series 4–1, with all five games going into overtime. It was the Toronto franchise’s ninth Stanley Cup win and the last in a series of six wins starting in 1942. It was the first appearance ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1962 – 1963
Stanley Cup – 1963 The 1963 Stanley Cup Final was contested by the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. The Maple Leafs would win the best-of-seven series four games to one to win the Stanley Cup, their second straight NHL championship. Stanley Cup – 1962 The 1962 Stanley Cup Final was contested by the defending champion ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1964 – 1967
Stanley Cup – 1967 The 1967 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series played between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs would win the series four games to two to win their thirteenth Stanley Cup. As of 2015, this is Toronto’s most recent Stanley Cup championship, most recent appearance in the championship final, and with ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Toronto Maple Leafs History
The Toronto Maple Leafs history stands as one of the most celebrated in the NHL. Since their founding in 1917, the team has shaped the story of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey with a legacy that includes 13 Stanley Cup victories. Over more than a century, the Maple Leafs have inspired countless fans, and their rivalries with the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and the old Toronto St. Patricks remain iconic moments in Canadian sports culture. Even through ups and downs, they are still a central part of Canadian identity, with supporters of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey rallying behind them season after season.
The origins of the Toronto Maple Leafs history began when Conn Smythe purchased the existing Toronto Arenas franchise in 1927 for CAD 500,000. Under Smythe’s leadership from 1927–1961, the Maple Leafs became a dominant force in Toronto Maple Leafs hockey, winning 11 Stanley Cups between 1932 and 1967. Smythe recruited legendary players like Turk Broda, Syl Apps Sr., Ted Kennedy, George Armstrong, and Frank Mahovlich, who together helped Toronto win five consecutive championships from 1962–67—a record that no other NHL team has matched. These early decades established the foundation of excellence still celebrated in Toronto Maple Leafs hockey today.
In more recent years, the Toronto Maple Leafs history has seen challenges, with only a handful of playoff appearances and early-round exits in the past 15 seasons. Management missteps, such as trading away key players like Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf or signing costly contracts like David Clarkson’s 7-year/$36 million deal, hindered their success. Yet, fans remain hopeful as the organization rebuilds. Under President Brendan Shanahan, there has been a renewed focus on smart acquisitions, player development, and better integration of the Marlies, the AHL affiliate, into the team’s long-term strategy, promising brighter days for Toronto Maple Leafs hockey.
Maple Leafs Achievements
Achievements highlight how enduring the Toronto Maple Leafs history truly is. They have won 13 Stanley Cups—the second-most in NHL history—alongside numerous division and conference titles. The franchise has also produced countless Hall of Fame players and coaches, helping shape both the NHL and Canadian hockey as a whole. These accomplishments continue to define Toronto Maple Leafs hockey, showing why the team holds such an important place in sports history.
Today, the Maple Leafs remain a powerful brand and a beacon of tradition in the NHL. The team’s fan base stretches across Canada and beyond, making every season of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey a global event. With a new generation of stars leading the roster, the club is positioning itself for future championships, ensuring that the Toronto Maple Leafs history will keep growing and inspiring hockey fans for years to come.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
1 / Johnny Bower
1 / Turk Broda
4 / Red Kelly
4 / Hap Day
5 / Bill Barilko
6 / Ace Bailey
7 / Tim Horton
7 / King Clancy
9 / Charlie Conacher
9 / Ted Kennedy
10 / Syl Apps
10 / George Armstrong
13 / Mats Sundin
14 / Dave Keon
17 / Wendel Clark
21 / Borje Salming
27 / Frank Mahovlich
27 / Darryl Sittler
93 / Doug Gilmour
99 / Wayne Gretzky
*Blue is this team’s history