Editing Toronto Maple Leafs (section)

==== 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 />

[[File:Steve Stavro welcome ACC.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A letter printed out on a white piece of paper, with a photo portrait of an individual on the upper left corner.|A letter from [[Steve Stavro]] welcoming fans to the first Leafs home game at Air Canada Centre (later renamed [[Scotiabank Arena]]), February 1999.]]
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 />