Founded in 1917, the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the “Original Six” teams in the National Hockey League. The team was created when the National Hockey League decided that it was unthinkable for Toronto not to be represented.
Because the team was a temporary franchise, they officially had no name that year but were called either the Torontos or the Blueshirts by their fans. The first year, the owners of the Maple Leafs leased most of their players from the NHA’s Blueshirts team as they were not actively playing, being the only team left in the NHA at the time. Other names for the franchise since that first year include the Arenas and the St Patricks.
Their second year was not nearly as successful as the first, as the team had to sell most of their best players to pay off mounting legal bills from the numerous lawsuits filed by the owner of the Blueshirts in his attempts to get his team back. Because of their difficulties, the league allowed the team to suspend operations and still make an appearance in the playoffs that season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have to their credit five Division Championships and 13 Stanley Cup wins, the second most in the league. Their last Stanley Cup win was in 1967, however despite having the longest drought without a Cup win in the league the Maple Leafs are the most valuable team in the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are involved in some intense rivalries. Each year, they play a part in the “Battle of Ontario” against the Ottawa Senators. The rivalry has lasted for years and shows no signs of slowing or cooling off. They are also involved in one of the most well known rivalries in the league with the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens have the most cup wins with 24, and the Leafs have the second most with 13. This has created quite a rivalry between the two teams. Other rival teams include the Flyers, Sabres, and Red Wings, for various reasons.
Home of the Toronto Maple Leafs is the Air Canada Centre. Often nicknamed the “Hangar”
because of the Air Canada sponsorship the arena seats 18,800 fans for ice hockey games. The Hangar replaced the Maple Leaf Gardens as the team’s new home in 1999. It is the eleventh busiest arena in the world. Numerous other types of events are also hosted at the arena every year including political events and concerts.
The fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs are some of the most devoted in professional sports. Even during long droughts without a win, the Leafs Nation as they like to call themselves are supportive of their team. This has resulted in the team and their fans being disliked by a great many people and also in fans being located in many places and still fiercely loyal even when confronted by the home teams.
Whether on the ice or off, at home or out in other locations in the world, the Toronto Maple Leafs are beloved by their fans worldwide. They are great at the game and have not left the league since the beginning.
2009-10 Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leaf Season Ticket Holders were happy to see the drafting of Nazem Kadri with the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The team also signed former Canadiens defenceman Mike Komisarek and former Duck Francois Beauchemin to long term deals keeping them in a Maple Leafs uniform for years to come.
The team also picked up Swedish Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson who was considering signing with several teams before deciding on the Leafs. Finally, the Leafs traded two first round draft picks and a second round draft pick for Boston Bruin Forward Phil Kessel.
The team got off to the worst start in their 93-year history, (0-7-1), and are currently sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-30-11 record.
Previous Seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs tickets may not be the same in 2005-06. Or then again they may be better. When the Leafs sent Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk packing, and Brian Leetch was allowed to have for Boston, Leafs fans threw a fit. Things calmed down when the Leafs made some major moves to replace their talent, adding Alexander Khavanov, Jason Allison, and Eric Lindros. Is it enough? Fans will have to wait and see but one thing's for sure: The Air Canada Centre and Toronto Maple Leafs tickets will be one of the must have NHL tickets in the New Year.
Toronto Maple Leafs history features 13 Stanley Cup Championships between 1918 and 1967, the result of appearing in the Stanley Cup Finals 21 times in the same period. 64 playoff appearance through 2004 and 5 trips to the Conference Finals since 1968 are also a part of the Maple Leafs winning tradition. The Maple Leafs were most impressive from 1962 to 1963, a period in which they won the Stanley Cup three straight years.
The Maple Leafs put together a 39-19-12 record in 1961-62 to finish in 2nd place. It took 6 games for Ottawa to get past a tenacious New York Rangers squad but they managed to do it in 6 games. The Chicago Blackhawks managed to hold out for 6 games but the Maple Leafs ended things with a 2-1 win in Chicago to claim the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1951. The 1962-63 season ended with Toronto compiling a 35-23-12 record to advance into the NHL playoffs. The Maple Leafs faced a tough series with the Montreal Canadiens and managed to slip away with the series after 7 hard fought games. The Maple Leafs grabbed a Stanley Cup with a 5 game Finals contest against the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto finished their 3 year championship streak in 1964 with a Stanley Cup Finals win over the Detroit Red Wings.
More recently, the Toronto Maple Leafs put together a playoff appearance in 2004. Facing the Ottawa Senators in the first round, Toronto came back to even the series at 2-2, then fell back on the talents of goalie Eddie Belfour, who blocked 21 shots in Game 5 to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0 win. After Washington rallied to claim Game 6, Toronto came back with a 4-0 triumph to move on. The Philadelphia Flyers claimed the first 2 games in the next series before Toronto claimed 2 of their own to even things up. It was a last gasp effort though, and the Flyers eliminated the Maple Leafs with victories in the next pair of games.
Toronto Maple Leafs ticket holders know one thing: Mats Sundin will lead the offense. Sundin has made his mark in Leafs history and he'll be the man for years to come. In 2003-04, Sundin notched 31 goals and 44 assists in the regular season then added another 4 goals and 5 assists in the playoffs. On the other end, Eddie Belfour has made his mark too. The aging Belfour though, will have to recover from his back injury if the Leafs are to challenge for a Stanley Cup. If this pair of wizened veterans can hang tough, Toronto Maple Leafs tickets will disappear like a slap shot.
Maple Leafs tickets should be very exciting to have this season. The Leafs made a key signing with top scorer Jason Blake, who will play alongside captain Mats Sundin. They are proactive in sorting out weaknesses within the team as well – not confident with goaltender Andrew Raycroft, the Leafs have brought in Vesa Tosala through free trade as backup. All these improvements will most likely take the Maple Leafs into the playoffs – and they will definitely be competitive on the ice, as they have missed the playoffs by a combined three points these past two seasons.
