Editing Toronto Maple Leafs (section)

=== 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=live}}</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=live|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 Finals|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>