What’s new with the Toronto Maple Leafs? That’s what this page is all about.
The Team Spirit Line Change website begins where the Team Spirit books end.
That’s because hockey never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!
Take a look at some of the Maple Leafs collectibles I have in my home.
Enjoy this site, check back whenever you like, and contact me with any questions or comments.
Updates
2022-23 Season
Season Recap: The Leafs won 50 games and finished second in the Atlantic Division and then scored their first playoff victory since 2004 when they defeated Tampa Bay in the opening round. Unfortunately, they faced the red-hot Florida Panthers in round two, and lost 4 games to 1. Toronto got solid years out of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Michael Bunting, as well as goalies Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Wolf, and Matt Murray. Nylander and Matthews each scored 40 goals; Matthews set a new team record by scoring 40 or more times for the fifth time in his career.
February 26, 2023: Defenseman Mark Giordano blocked his 2,045th shot to become the NHL’s all-time leader.
Season Preview: Toronto fans were shocked when their team lost in the opening round of the playoffs—even if they were defeated by the powerful Tampa Bay Lightning. Still, the Leafs have four of the best forwards in the NHL: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. Add a solid defense and you have a recipe for playoff success. Almost. The team will also need a standout year from its goalies to go deep in the postseason for the first time since the early 2000’s. If everyone plays as well as they should, the Maple Leafs could be tough to beat.
2021-22 Season
Season Recap: A great 54-win season ended for the Leafs in the playoffs, when they blew a Game 7 lead to the Tampa Bay Lightning and made an early exit once again. Toronto moves forward with three solid goal-scorers in their mid-20s—Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner—along with veteran leaders John Tavares and Morgan Rielly. The Maple Leafs set a club record for victories thanks to the excellent play of goalie Jack Campbell, who emerged as an All-Star after years as an NHL back-up.
April 07, 2022: Auston Matthews scored his 55th and 56th goals of the season in a victory over the Dallas Stars. The first broke the team record for goals in a season and the second broke the all-time record for goals by an American-born player. Matthews would finish the year with an NHL-best 60 goals.
Season Preview: As always, the Leafs will rely on Auston Matthews to lead the offense. He topped the NHL in goals last season despite a sore wrist and he looks 100% healthy this year. The team will also need another solid year from its defense—including goalies Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek—to challenge the two strong teams in Florida for the division crown. John Tavares, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner, along with Matthews, give Toronto plenty of scoring punch.
2020-21 Season
Season Recap: The Leafs had a fine season, finishing first in the North Division. The club’s last division title came in 2000. Auston Matthews scored a league-high 41 goals and Mitch Marner dished out 47 assists to finish in the Top 5 in scoring, and led the club into the playoffs. After opening a 3 games to 1 lead on the Canadiens in the first round in the playoffs, Toronto unraveled and lost three straight to make an early exit for the fifth year in a row.
May 6, 2021: Auston Matthews became the first NHL player to score 40 goals during the 2021 season, in the team’s 49th game. He became the first player since 2000 to reach 40 goals in fewer than 50 games.
Season Preview: There are a number of talented teams playing in Canada this year, but Toronto fans believe theirs is the best. The offense is sensational, with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Zach Hyman leading the way. Morgan Reilly is the best of a talented group of defenders. To be the best, Toronto will have to continue doing the things they do best—scoring at even strength, killing penalties, and making things happen on the power play.
2019-20 Season
Season Recap: The Leafs recovered from an early season losing streak to finish with a winning record and a spot in the playoff qualifier. However, they lost their series against Columbus. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and new team captain John Tavares were Toronto’s top scorers, while veteran Frederik Andersen had a solid season in goal.
Season Preview: Toronto’s “big three” of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner give the Leafs a great chance to go deep into the playoffs. By then the team will need several other players to step up and contribute. All eyes will be on last year’s rookie star Andreas Johnsson, as well as role players Alexander Kerfoot and Jason Spezza, and goalie Frederik Andersen.
2018-19 Season
Season Recap: The Leafs had the third-best record in the Atlantic Division but lost a tight seven-game playoff series to the Bruins. Newcomer John Tavares was among the league leaders with 47 goals, while 22-year-old Mitch Marner continued his rise to stardom, finishing third in the league with 68 assists. Auston Matthews scored 37 times to become the first player in Toronto history to begin his NHL career with three 30-goal seasons.
Season Preview: Is this finally the year the Leafs win it all? A lot of experts say it is. The team signed John Tavares over the summer and became instant favorites in the Eastern Conference. He joins a club with great young talent, including center Auston Matthews and top scorer Mitch Marner, as well as a good goalie in Frederik Andersen. If Toronto can plug holes in its sometimes-leaky defense, a Stanley Cup may be in its future.
2017-18 Season
Season Recap: The Leafs continued their return to the top level of hockey with a 49-win season, their best ever victory total. Auston Matthews was one of the NHL’s most valuable performers, leading an attack that featured James van Riemsdyck, Mitchell Marner, Nazem Kadri, and William Nylander. Defenders Morgan Reilly and Jake Gardiner also contributed to the offense, but as a whole the defense fell short of expectations, especially in the playoffs.
October 18, 2017: Patrick Marleau laced up the skates for the 1,500th game of his career. Only 17 other players have appeared in more NHL games.
Season Preview: Toronto fans are in love with 20-year-old Auston Matthews. Can he turn the Leafs into a Stanley Cup contender? The team played extremely well last season — especially on the power play. They will need to match that performance this year to win the division and drive toward a championship.
2015-16 Season
Season Recap: Few things went right for the Leafs in 2015–16. Their defense and offense both ranked near the bottom of the NHL, and not a single player reached the 50-point mark. Hope for the future lies in defensemen Morgan Rielly and Nikita Zaitsev., and forwards Mitch Marner and William Nylander.
Season Preview: General Manager Lou Lamoriello left the Devils and joined the Leafs, which has raised the hopes of Toronto fans. And it is Lamoriello’s smart management and the good coaching of Mike Babcock that are the team’s greatest strengths. The Maple Leafs have a deep roster, even having traded Phil Kessel over the summer, and two good goalies. If Toronto can put the puck in the net, they should win more games than they lose this season.
2014-15 Season
Recap: The Maple Leafs were good at home in 2014–15, but terrible on the road. Thanks to an 8–27–6 record away from Toronto, they missed the playoffs. Also, the team’s 13-year string of home arena sellouts came to an end. Despite star performances by Phil Kessel and James Van Riemsdyk, the Leafs decided to begin a rebuilding program after the season ended.
Season Preview: With Phil Kessel, James van Remsdyk, and Tyler Bozak drilling pucks at opposing goalies, some Toronto fans are expecting their team to outscore opponents in 2014–15. If they do, it will more likely be the work of the defense, which is led by captain Dion Phaneuf and goalie Jonathan Bernier. Toronto added depth and experience at the defenseman position over the summer, and that should keep another late-season slump from happening again.
2013-14 Season
February 23, 2014: Toronto forward Phil Kessel was named to the Olympic All-Star squad after tying for the tournament lead with 5 goals in 6 games.
January 1, 2014: The Leafs defeated the Red Wings 3–2 in a shootout to win the 2014 Winter Classic. The game was played outdoors in Ann Arbor, Michigan during a snowstorm. Tyler Bozak netted the game-winner.
Season Preview: There is nowhere to go but up after the Maple Leafs collapsed in the third period of Game 7 against the Bruins in last year’s playoffs. Toronto made sure of that over the summer, adding plenty of scoring punch. New Leafs include Dave Bolland, who scored the cup-winning goal for the Blackhawks in 2013, and David Clarkson, a rising star with the Devils.
More Go-To Guys
More Fun Facts
League Leaders
In the NHL Finals
SEASON | OPPONENT | RESULT |
---|---|---|
1917–18 | Montreal Canadiens | W 1–1 (10–7 on total goals*) |
1920–21 | Ottawa Senators | L 0–2 |
1921–22 | Ottawa Senators | W 1–1 (5–4 on total goals*) |
* In the early days of hockey, championship series often lasted two games; in the event of a 1–1 tie, the team with the most goals in those games was declared the champion.
In the Stanley Cup Finals
SEASON | OPPONENT | RESULT |
---|---|---|
1917–18 | Vancouver Millionaires | W 3–2 |
1921–22 | Vancouver Millionaires | W 3–2 |
1931–32 | New York Rangers | W 3–0 |
1932–33 | New York Rangers | L 1–3 |
1934–35 | Montreal Maroons | L 0–3 |
1935–36 | Detroit Red Wings | L 1–3 |
1937–38 | Chicago Blackhawks | L 1–3 |
1938–39 | Boston Bruins | L 1–4 |
1939–40 | New York Rangers | L 2–4 |
1941–42 | Detroit Red Wings | W 4–3 |
1944–45 | Detroit Red Wings | W 4–3 |
1946–47 | Montreal Canadiens | W 4–2 |
1947–48 | Detroit Red Wings | W 4–0 |
1948–49 | Detroit Red Wings | W 4–0 |
1950–51 | Montreal Canadiens | W 4–1 |
1958–59 | Montreal Canadiens | L 1–4 |
1959–60 | Montreal Canadiens | L 0–4 |
1961–62 | Chicago Blackhawks | W 4–2 |
1962–63 | Detroit Red Wings | W 4–1 |
1963–64 | Detroit Red Wings | W 4–3 |
1966–67 | Montreal Canadiens | W 4–2 |