Editing Toronto Maple Leafs (section)

=== Conn Smythe era (1927–1961) ===
After several financially difficult seasons, the St. Patricks' ownership group (Querrie and Nathan Nathanson){{sfn|Ross|2015|pp=161-162}} seriously considered selling the team to [[C. C. Pyle]] for {{CAD|200,000|year=1927}}. Pyle sought to move the team to Philadelphia.<ref name=ml1920 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=30–31}} However, [[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Toronto Varsity Blues]] coach [[Conn Smythe]] put together a group of his own and made a $160,000 {{CAD|160000|year=1927}}) offer. With the support of minority shareholder Bickell, Smythe persuaded Querrie and Nathanson to accept their bid, arguing that civic pride was more important than money.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=30–31}} Bickell would become team president.{{sfn|Ross|2015|p=162}}

Smythe took control on February 14, 1927; installing himself as governor and general manager. He immediately renamed the team the Maple Leafs, after the [[maple leaf|national symbol]] of Canada,{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=33}} but the team was forced to play out the remainder of the [[1926–27 NHL season|1926–27 season]] as St. Patricks. He attributed his choice of a maple leaf for the logo to his experiences as a Canadian Army officer and prisoner of war during [[World War I]]. Viewing the maple leaf as a "badge of courage", and a reminder of home, Smythe decided to give the same name to his hockey team, in honour of the many Canadian soldiers who wore it.<ref name=ml1920 /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Proteau|first1=Adam|title=Deep Ties Between the Maple Leafs and Canadian Armed Forces|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/deep-ties-between-the-maple-leafs-and-canadian-armed-forces/c-869660|date=February 19, 2016|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=April 22, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716151100/https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/deep-ties-between-the-maple-leafs-and-canadian-armed-forces/c-869660|archive-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Thomas Stafford|last1=Smythe|first2=Kevin|last2=Shea|title=Centre Ice: The Smythe Family, the Gardens and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club|publisher=Fenn Publishing|year=2000|isbn=1-55168-250-8|page=36}}</ref> However, the team was not the first to use the name. A [[Toronto Maple Leafs (International League)|Toronto minor-league baseball team]] had used the name "Toronto Maple Leafs" since 1895.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/the-original-maple-leafs-pro-baseball-in-toronto-before-the-blue-jays-1.3803678|title=The original Maple Leafs: Pro-baseball in Toronto before the Blue Jays|last=Brockbank|first=Nicole|date=October 14, 2016|access-date=January 29, 2018|work=CBCNews.ca|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203115322/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/the-original-maple-leafs-pro-baseball-in-toronto-before-the-blue-jays-1.3803678|archive-date=December 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Smythe would not acquire controlling interest in the team until 1947, he would be the franchise's dominant voice for the next four decades.<ref name=Smythecontrol1>{{cite news |title=Baseball's bankroll gone |last=Dunnell|first=Milt|author-link=Milt Dunnell|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=July 5, 1965}}</ref><ref name=Smythecontrol2>{{cite book |last=Hunter |first=Douglas |year=1997 |title=Champions: The Illustrated History of Hockey's Greatest Dynasties. |location=Chicago, Illinois |publisher=Triumph Books |isbn=1-57243-213-6 |page=50}}</ref><ref name=Smythecontrol3>{{cite news|title=Smythe is elected Gardens' president|date=November 20, 1947|newspaper=[[Toronto Daily Star]]}}</ref>

Initial reports were that the team's colours were to be red and white,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67WHDQAAQBAJ&dq=Good-bye+St.+Pats%2C+howdy+Maple+Leafs+%22February+15%2C+1927%22&pg=PT57 | title=The Toronto Maple Leafs: The Complete Oral History | isbn=978-1-4597-3621-4 | last1=Zweig | first1=Eric | date=October 28, 2017 | publisher=Dundurn}}</ref> but the Leafs wore white sweaters with a green maple leaf for their first game on February 17, 1927.<ref>"Toronto crumbles New York chances", ''The Globe'', February 18, 1927, p. 8.</ref> On September 27, 1927, it was announced that the Leafs had changed their colour scheme to blue and white.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=35}} Although Smythe later stated he chose blue because it represents the Canadian skies and white to represent snow, these colours were also used on the trucks for his gravel and sand business.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=35}} The colour blue was also a colour historically associated with the City of Toronto. The use of blue by top-level Toronto-based sports clubs began with the [[Argonaut Rowing Club]] in the 19th century, later adopted by their football team, the [[Toronto Argonauts]], in 1873.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2008/11/12/the_colour_of_toronto.html|title=The colour of Toronto|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation|access-date=January 29, 2018|date=November 12, 2008|last=Baute|first=Nicole|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129195111/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2008/11/12/the_colour_of_toronto.html|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Opening of Maple Leaf Gardens (1930s) ====
[[File:Maple Leaf Gardens Postcard 1931 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=Far view of an ice hockey rink, with ice hockey players and a band standing at its centre. Spectators seated around the rink watch.|Opening ceremony for the first game at [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] on November 11, 1931]]
By 1930, Smythe saw the need to construct a new arena, viewing the Arena Gardens as a facility lacking modern amenities and seating.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=45}} Finding an adequate number of financiers, he purchased land from the [[Eaton family]], and construction of the arena was completed in five months.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=47–48}}<ref name=LEA30>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42183|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1930s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 21, 2017}}</ref>

The Maple Leafs debuted at their new arena, [[Maple Leaf Gardens]], with a 2–1 loss to the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] on November 12, 1931.<ref name=LEA30 /> The opening ceremonies for Maple Leaf Gardens included a performance from the [[48th Highlanders of Canada]] Pipe and Drums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.48highlanders.com/04_01.html|title=48th Highlanders of Canada Pipe and Drums|year=2018|access-date=August 21, 2018|publisher=Canadian Armed Forces|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822134550/http://www.48highlanders.com/04_01.html|archive-date=August 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The military band has continued to perform in every subsequent season home opening game, as well as other ceremonies conducted by the hockey club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/2016/10/14/highlanders-ready-for-maple-leafs-home-opener/wcm/f3a42af7-dd12-4db8-be5b-bf36ad52ca4b|title=Highlanders ready for Maple Leafs' home opener|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=October 16, 2016|access-date=August 21, 2018|last=Hornby|first=Lance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821224608/https://torontosun.com/2016/10/14/highlanders-ready-for-maple-leafs-home-opener/wcm/f3a42af7-dd12-4db8-be5b-bf36ad52ca4b|archive-date=August 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3941653/johnny-bower-memorial-service/|title=Memorial service held in Toronto for hockey legend Johnny Bower|work=Global News|publisher=Corus Entertainment|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=August 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615114209/https://globalnews.ca/news/3941653/johnny-bower-memorial-service/|archive-date=June 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The debut also featured [[Foster Hewitt]] in his newly constructed [[press box]] above the ice surface, where he began his famous ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' radio broadcasts that eventually came to be a Saturday-night tradition.<ref name="LEA30" /> The press box was often called "the gondola", a name that emerged during the Gardens' inaugural season when a [[General Motors Canada|General Motors]] advertising executive remarked how it resembled the gondola of an [[airship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-press-gondola-at-maple-leaf-gardens|title=The press gondola at Maple Leaf Gardens|work=CBC Digital Archives|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|year=2018|access-date=February 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124171748/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-press-gondola-at-maple-leaf-gardens|archive-date=January 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:NHL Kid Line 1930s.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Three players from the Toronto Maple Leafs' "Kid Line" standing next to each other outside in team apparel.|[[The Kid Line]] consisted of [[Charlie Conacher]], [[Joe Primeau]], and [[Busher Jackson]] (left to right). They led the Leafs to win the 1932 Stanley Cup, as well as four more Stanley Cup finals appearances over the next six years.]]
By the [[1931–32 NHL season]], the Maple Leafs were led by the "Kid Line" consisting of [[Busher Jackson]], [[Joe Primeau]] and [[Charlie Conacher]] and coached by [[Dick Irvin]]. The team captured their third Stanley Cup that season, vanquishing the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round, the [[Montreal Maroons]] in the semifinals, and the [[New York Rangers]] in the finals.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=52–53}} Smythe took particular pleasure in defeating the Rangers that year. He had been tapped as the Rangers' first [[general manager]] and coach for their inaugural season ([[1926–27 NHL season|1926–27]]) but had been fired in a dispute with [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]] management before the season had begun.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Lives of Conn Smythe: From the Battlefield to Maple Leaf Gardens: A Hockey Icon's Story|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|year=2012|first=Kelly|last=McParland|isbn=978-0-7710-5684-0|page=138}}</ref>

Maple Leafs star forward [[Ace Bailey]] was nearly killed in [[1933–34 NHL season|1933]] when [[Boston Bruins]] [[defenceman]] [[Eddie Shore]] checked him from behind at full speed into the boards.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=60}} Leafs defenceman [[Red Horner]] knocked Shore out with a punch, but Bailey, writhing on the ice, had his career ended.<ref name=LEA30 /> The Leafs held the [[Ace Bailey Benefit Game]], the NHL's first [[NHL All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], to collect medical funds to help Bailey. His jersey was retired later the same night.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=63}} The Leafs reached the finals five times in the next seven years but bowed out to the now-disbanded Maroons in 1935, the [[Detroit Red Wings]] in 1936, Chicago in 1938, Boston in 1939 and the Rangers in 1940.<ref name=LEA30 /> After the end of the [[1939–40 NHL season|1939–40 season]], Smythe allowed Irvin to leave the team as head coach, replacing him with former Leafs [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]] [[Hap Day]].<ref name=LEA30 />

==== The first dynasty (1940s) ====
[[File:Leafs v Red Wings 1942.jpg|thumb|alt=Red Wings and Maple Leaf game during the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals, with Maple Leafs players celebrating moments after scoring a goal.|The Maple Leafs score against Detroit during the [[1942 Stanley Cup Finals|1942 Cup Finals]]. The Leafs went on to win the series, performing the only [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits|reverse-sweep]] in the Finals.]]
In the [[1942 Stanley Cup Finals]], the Maple Leafs were down three games to none in the best-of-seven series against Detroit. Fourth-line forward [[Don Metz (ice hockey)|Don Metz]] then galvanized the team, to score a [[hat-trick]] in game four and the game-winner in game five.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=83–84}} Goalie [[Turk Broda]] shut out the Wings in game six, and [[Sweeney Schriner]] scored two goals in the third period to win the [[seventh game]] 3–1, completing the [[Game seven#comeback|reverse-sweep]].{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=84}} The Leafs remain [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits|the only team to have successfully performed a reverse-sweep]] in the Stanley Cup finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/16685483/hall-flameout-25-worst-collapses-sports-history|title=Hall of Flameout: The 25 worst collapses in sports history|work=ESPN|access-date=June 22, 2017|date=June 12, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716151100/http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/16685483/hall-flameout-25-worst-collapses-sports-history|archive-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> Captain [[Syl Apps]] won the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] that season, not taking one penalty, and finished his 10-season career with an average of 5 minutes, 36 seconds in penalties a season.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=81}}

Smythe, who reenlisted in the Canadian Army at the outbreak of [[World War II]], was given leave from military duty to view the final game of the 1942 finals. He arrived at the game in full military regalia.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=84}} Earlier, at the outbreak of war, Smythe arranged for many of his Maple Leafs players and staff to take army training with the [[Toronto Scottish Regiment]]. Most notably, the Leafs announced a large portion of their roster had enlisted, including Apps, and Broda,{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=80}} who did not play on the team for several seasons due to their obligations with the [[Canadian Forces]].<ref name=MLH40>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42185|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1940s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 22, 2017}}</ref> During this period, the Leafs turned to lesser-known players such as [[rookie]] goaltender [[Frank McCool]] and defenceman [[Babe Pratt]].<ref name=MLH40 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=86–87}}

The Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings in the [[1945 Stanley Cup Finals|1945 Finals]]. They won the first three games, with goaltender McCool recording consecutive shutouts. However, in a reversal of the 1942 finals, the Red Wings won the next three games.<ref name=MLH40 /> The Leafs were able to win the series, winning the seventh game by the score of 2–1 to prevent a complete reversal of the series played three years ago.<ref name=MLH40 />

[[File:Toronto Maple Leafs Players 1946.jpg|thumb|alt=Ice hockey players in a locker room. Two are sitting on a locker room bench, with another two players standing behind them.|Maple Leafs players during the [[1946–47 NHL season|1946–47 season]]. The team would win its sixth Stanley Cup that season.]]
After the end of the war, players who had enlisted were beginning to return to their teams.<ref name=MLH40 /> With Apps and Broda regaining their form, the Maple Leafs beat the first-place Canadiens in the [[1947 Stanley Cup Finals|1947 finals]].<ref name=MLH40 /> To bolster their centre depth, the Leafs acquired [[Cy Thomas]] and [[Max Bentley]] in the following off-season. With these key additions, the Leafs were able to win a second consecutive Stanley Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in the [[1948 Stanley Cup Finals|1948 finals]].<ref name=MLH40 /> With their victory in 1948, the Leafs moved ahead of Montreal as the team having won the most Stanley Cups in League history. Apps announced his retirement following the 1948 finals, with [[Ted Kennedy (ice hockey)|Ted Kennedy]] replacing him as the team's captain.{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=107}} Under a new captaincy, the Leafs managed to make it to the [[1949 Stanley Cup Finals|1949 finals]], facing the Red Wings, who had finished the season with the best overall record. However, the Leafs went on to win their third consecutive Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in four games. This brought the total of Detroit's playoff game losses against the Leafs to eleven.<ref name=MLH40 /> The Red Wings were able to end this losing streak in the following postseason, eliminating Toronto in the 1950 NHL playoffs.<ref name=MLH40 />

==== The Barilko Curse (1950s) ====
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens met again in the [[1951 Stanley Cup Finals|1951 finals]], with five consecutive [[overtime (ice hockey)|overtime]] games played in the series.<ref name=MLH50>{{cite web|url=http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=42184|title=Toronto Maple Leafs History – 1950s|publisher=Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment|access-date=June 22, 2017}}</ref> Defenceman [[Bill Barilko]] managed to score the series-winning goal in overtime, leaving his defensive position (despite coach [[Joe Primeau]]'s instructions otherwise) to pick up an errant pass and score.<ref name=MLH50 /> Barilko helped the club secure its fourth Stanley Cup in five years. His glory was short-lived, as he disappeared in a plane crash near [[Timmins]], Ontario, four months later.<ref name=MLH50 />{{sfn|Shea|Wilson|2016|p=123}} The crash site was not found until a helicopter pilot discovered the plane's wreckage plane about {{convert|80|km|mi}} north of [[Cochrane, Ontario]] 11 years later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/20/barilkos-plane-finally-arrives-home|title=Barilko's plane finally arrives home|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=October 20, 2011|access-date=June 22, 2017|last=Pagan|first=Ken|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212437/http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/20/barilkos-plane-finally-arrives-home|archive-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> The Leafs did not win another Cup during the 1950s, with rumours swirling that the team was "[[Sports-related curses|cursed]]", and would not win a cup until Barilko's body was found.<ref name=curse>{{cite book|title=The Sound of One Team Sucking: Mindful Meditations for Recovering Leafs Fans|page=106|first=Christopher|last=Gudgeon|publisher=Dundurn|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4597-3836-2}}</ref> The "curse" came to an end after the Leafs' 1962 Stanley Cup victory, which came six weeks before the discovery of the wreckage of Barilko's plane.<ref name=curse />

Their 1951 victory was followed by lacklustre performances in the following seasons. The team finished third in the [[1951–52 NHL season|1951–52 season]] and was eventually swept by the Red Wings in the semifinals.<ref name=MLH50 /> With the conclusion of the [[1952–53 NHL season|1952–53 regular season]], the Leafs failed to make it to the postseason for the first time since the 1945–46 playoffs.<ref name=MLH50 /> The Leafs' poor performance may be attributed partly to a decline in their sponsored junior system (including the [[Toronto St. Michael's Majors]] and the [[Toronto Marlboros]]).<ref name=MLH50 /> The junior system was managed by [[Frank J. Selke]] until his departure to the Canadiens in 1946. In his absence, the quality of players it produced declined. Many who were called up to the Leafs in the early 1950s were found to be seriously lacking in ability. It was only later in the decade that the Leafs' feeder clubs produced prospects that helped them become competitive again.<ref name=MLH50 />

After a two-year drought from the playoffs, the Maple Leafs clinched a berth after the [[1958–59 NHL season|1958–59 season]]. Under [[Punch Imlach]], their new general manager and coach, the Leafs made it to the [[1959 Stanley Cup Finals|1959 Finals]], losing to the Canadiens in five games.<ref name=MLH50 /> Building on a successful playoff run, the Leafs followed up with a second-place finish in the [[1959–60 NHL season|1959–60]] regular season. Although they advanced to their second straight Cup Finals, the Leafs were again defeated by the Canadiens in four games.<ref name=MLH50 />