Habs Fans Won't Get 100% On This Leafs Quiz
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Sports
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the National Hockey League's (NHL) most popular franchises and, as such, are also one of the league's most hated teams. Especially in Canada, the Maple Leafs receive the bulk of the media attention and that draw the ire of fans of other Canadian teams, except Montreal Canadiens fans, who simply hate the team because of a longstanding rivalry that dates back 100 years since both teams were affiliated with the NHL. The fact that the current edition of the Maple Leafs are one of the league's most promising teams is an even bigger disturbance to fans of other teams. It's hard to go a day without turning on sports channels or following sports media outlets and not hearing the name Auston Matthews or William Nylander.
The team's history extends even beyond the year it first joined the NHL, but we'll get to that later in the quiz. Additionally, it has been known by names other than the Maple Leafs; today, the team even wears jerseys honoring those names, usually once or twice per season. Given its extensive history, it might even be tough for a Maple Leafs fan to score 100 percent on this quiz, so give yourself a pat on the back if you do so as a fan of the Canadiens or any other team.
Who is this player?
Ironically known for his fine flow (his father is a former NHLer who donned a bald head in the later stages of his career), this player was born in Calgary, Alberta, but grew up in Sweden and plays for the country's national team. He's one of the best young players in the NHL and was selected eighth overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He recorded 61 points in 81 games as a rookie in 2016-17 and is currently riding shotgun on the wing of Auston Matthews' line.
In what year did Toronto join the NHL?
The Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club was officially created in 1906 as the Toronto Pro Hockey Club and belonged to the Ontario Professional Hockey League. It later became the Toronto Blueshirts via a change of ownership and joined the National Hockey Association in 1912. The franchise was one of the National Hockey League's "Original 6" teams, but in what year did it officially join the league? The question should be relatively easy if you factor in the team celebrated its centennial in 2017.
What was the team's original name?
Upon joining the newly-formed National Hockey League, the Toronto franchise adopted a new team name and, believe it or not, it wasn't the Maple Leafs. In fact, the team didn't become the Maple Leafs until ... Actually, you'll find that out in a later question. For the first season and a half, the Maple Leafs went by this name. The organization plans of celebrating the name during its centennial game on December 19, 2017 by wearing commemorative jerseys. The day is also being dubbed Toronto Maple Leafs day by city officials.
Who is this player?
While this player has the look of a 16 year old, he's only slightly older at 20 years old. However, he's incredibly talented; the fourth overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, he played his junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) London Knights and, in his final season earned Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Player of the Year following 116 points in 57 regular season games and 44 points in 18 playoff games. He recorded 61 points in his rookie season with the Maple Leafs.
What name did it switch to during the 1919-20 season?
The Toronto Arenas aren't the only name the franchise went by prior to becoming the Maple Leafs. The team was briefly owned by the Arena Company, hence the name, but the company went bankrupt the year after Toronto won the Stanley Cup. Consequently, the team was put up for auction and purchased by a group of investors who operated an amateur club of which they decided to borrow the name of for their new Toronto NHL franchise. The team won the Stanley Cup in 1922 with this moniker and often wears a throwback jersey celebrating the team near a holiday in March.
In what year did the team become the Maple Leafs?
The St. Patricks ownership group, like the Arenas, didn't last very long. After a few years, the group of investors began having differing opinions of the team (most hockey franchises aren't all that profitable to begin with), and several wanted out. The Maple Leafs name was eventually adopted because the maple leaf was the national symbol of Canada and the Maple Leafs was also the name of a popular minor league baseball club. The team has been the Maple Leafs ever since.
What was the name of the team's home stadium from 1931-1998?
As the Arenas and St. Patricks, the Toronto franchise played its home games at Mutual Street Arena, however, upon adopting the Maple Leafs moniker, it became clear the team needed a new home, especially with an increase in popularity. Construction of the team's new building concluded in 1931 after only five months and the Maple Leafs played its first ever game in the stadium on November 12 of that year against the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1999, the team moved to its current home - the Air Canada Center, which will be renamed Scotiabank Arena in 2018-19.
In which division do the Maple Leafs currently play?
The NHL has had to realign its division and conferences multiple times throughout its 100-year history. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the league featured a Canadian and American division, while the Original 6 era didn't have any separate divisions as all teams were based in the Northeast. Expansion in the 1970s brought about the Clarence Campbell and Prince of Wales conferences, with the Patrick, Smythe, Adams, and Norris divisions. Today there is an Eastern and Western conference and two divisions in each.
In what year did the Maple Leafs last win the Stanley Cup?
This question should be just as easy - if not easier - for Montreal Canadiens fans as it is for Maple Leaf fans. If you're a Maple Leafs fan, you've heard this year directed your way countless times as a chirp to how awful Toronto has been in the past few decades, and if you're a fan of any team that shares a rivalry with the Maple Leafs, you use it as ammunition in casual bickering with friends or on social media. Just say the year and you're sure to enrage Maple Leafs fans.
Who is this player?
A Maple Leafs legend not so much because of his offensive ability but because of his on-ice passion and willingness to do whatever it took to throw the opposition off their game, this player was the source of nightmares for Ottawa Senators fans during the Battle of Ontario that took place throughout the early 2000s. Ironically, he was sixth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, but was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1998. Two years later, he was dealt to the Toronto, where he cemented his status as a fan favorite.
What Tragically Hip song is about Maple Leafs' player Bill Barilko?
Gord Downie, the lead singer of the popular Canadian band The Tragically Hip, recently passed away after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. His diagnosis a few years ago inspired millions of fans to go through the band's catalog of songs, many of which revolve around Canadian culture and, naturally, hockey. One of the band's more popular songs tells the story of Bill Barilko, a former Maple Leaf who scored a Stanley-Cup-winning goal for the Maple Leafs before disappearing the following summer.
Which Canadian comic actor is a noted Maple Leafs fan?
Every popular sports franchise has their prominent celebrity sports fan. The New York Knicks have Spike Lee, the New England Patriots have Mark Wahlberg and presumably every other Boston-area actor, and, even closer to home, the Toronto Raptors have Drake, who serves as the team's global ambassador. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have a number of die-hard fans, including this comic actor who even once made a movie about the team winning the Stanley Cup. Needless to say, its subject matter was comedy, although the material fell flat.
Who is this player?
This 27 year old defenseman has long been a whipping boy among Maple Leafs fans, but rounded out his game in 2016-17 under Mike Babcock to become one of the team's most stable blueliners. He recorded a career-high 43 points to go along with a plus-24 rating that season and is on a similar pace this season. He was originally drafted 17th overall by the Anaheim Ducks and spent three seasons with the University of Wisconsin before being dealt to the Maple Leafs for veteran defenseman Francois Beauchemin.
How many Stanley Cups have the Maple leafs won?
If you are a Montreal Canadiens fan doing this quiz, you're well aware that the Canadiens have the most Stanley Cup wins with 23. Actually, even if you're a Maple Leafs fan, you've heard the number countless times since the franchise won its last Stanley Cup in 1993. Success hasn't been as recent for the Maple Leafs as the team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1967, but up until 1952 the Maple Leafs actually had more championships than the Canadiens. That changed considerably on the heels of a trio of Canadien dynasties.
Who is the current president of the Maple Leafs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had pretty disastrous ownership groups and presidents in the past few decades, which is a major reason why the franchise has failed to win a Stanley Cup since 1967. In fact, from 1961 to 1990, Harold Ballard owned the club and, according to most fans, did all he could he run the team into the ground. He made terrible decisions and was erratic as any owner in the league. The club, under Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, is now owned in partnership by media moguls Bell and Rogers as well as Larry Tanenbaum. A few years ago, it hired an ex-NHL player as its president and he finally appears to be righting the ship forward.
Who is this player?
As previously mentioned, the Maple Leafs haven't had much success between the pipes in the past decade or so, but this player might be the lone exception. A native of Keswick, Ontario, he went undrafted but signed with the St. Louis Blues following a season with the University of Wisconsin. He was a star with both the Blues and the Edmonton Oilers before signing as a free agent with the Maple Leafs in the 1998 offseason. He spent four seasons with the team and was consistently among the league leaders in goals against average and save percentage.
Who is the current general manager of the Maple Leafs?
As with presidents and owners, the Maple Leafs have been plagued by awful general managers. Mention the name John Ferguson Jr. to any fan and they'll recoil in disgust or toss a few expletives your way. His predecessors Brian Burke and Dave Nonis didn't fare much better either as both made far more decisions to negatively impact the team than they did to help the team. The hiring of the team's current general manager came as a surprise as he had spent nearly 30 years as president of the New Jersey Devils and appeared poised for retirement.
Who is the current head coach of the Maple Leafs?
As with the hiring of the general manager, the hiring of the team's current head coach came as a massive surprise to Maple Leafs fans, most notably because he brought with him an impressive resume and was highly sought after by other teams. In years past, the Maple Leafs could never attract the big-name free agents or executives because of the intense media scrutiny that comes with playing in the NHL's biggest market, but that hasn't been the case since Brendan Shanahan took over as president.
What is the name of the area of statues commemorating Maple Leafs legends outside of the ACC?
One of the more impressive things Shanahan has done behind the scenes is create ways to celebrate past Maple Leafs legends. The franchise wasn't exactly known for celebrating its history, unlike its rival, the Montreal Canadiens, who are regarded as putting on the best pre-game ceremonies to honor past greats. The Maple Leafs didn't even retire numbers until this past year and that was a Shanahan initiative as well. He previously announced the creation of an area outside the team's stadium in which statues of all-time great players would be built similar to Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.
Who is this player?
A second-round selection of the New York Islanders, this defenseman spent the first three years of his career with the franchise and later played with the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. While he was a serviceable blueliner early in his career, he didn't become a star until joining the Maple Leafs for the 2000-01 season. He recorded a career-high 68 points with the team in the 2005-06 season and retired in 2011 as a member of the New York Rangers.
How many times have the Maple Leafs had the first overall pick in the NHL Draft?
The first ever NHL Entry Draft was held in 1963 to give teams an equal opportunity at signing some of the best under-20 players throughout North America. Prior to that, the Montreal Canadiens had exclusive rights over players born in Quebec and the province was producing a number of players who would go on to become Hockey Hall of Fame inductees. In the spirit of competitive balance, the draft allowed the last-place team from the season prior to pick the best available player. As bad as the Leafs have been in some years, they have only had the first overall pick a handful of times.
Who did they select first overall in 1985?
The 1985 NHL Entry Draft might be one of the most memorable for longtime Maple Leaf fans. Not only was it the first time that the franchise had the first overall pick, the draft itself was held at the Toronto Convention Centre after 22 consecutive years of being held in Montreal. There was a renewed optimism in the air for Maple Leafs fans, despite finishing last the season prior. That's because they selected a player who was equally feared for his physicality as he was for his offensive abilities.
Who is this player?
The Maple Leafs poor history with goaltenders has been well documented, but the hope is the team's current starting goaltender can bring stability to the franchise between the pipes. He was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but didn't sign with the team. He was drafted two years later by the Anaheim Ducks and spent three years with the team before being dealt to the Maple Leafs for a first-round draft pick.
Who did they select first overall in 2016?
As much as the 1985 NHL Entry Draft is a meaningful one to Toronto fans, the 2016 draft might soon surpass that in terms of nostalgia. The year prior, the Maple Leafs actually had the best odds at selecting first when it came down to the final lottery ball, but the top pick went to the Edmonton Oilers, who selected budding superstar Connor McDavid. Fortunately, the heartbreaking feeling went away in 2016, when the Maple Leafs won the draft lottery after finishing last in the 2015-16 regular season. The player they drafted scored 40 goals in his rookie season and won the Calder Trophy.
Who is this player?
This current Maple Leaf isn't close to producing the offensive numbers once put up by Bryan McCabe, but he's still only 23 years old and has consistently improved year to year. This year, through 12 games, the British Columbia native is on pace to record a career-high in points with 10 through only 12 games. He was a member of the North American team for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and is the Maple Leafs' top defenseman. He's currently an alternate captain.
Who is the Maple Leafs all-time leader in games played?
Given that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been in existence for over 100 years, it's kind of remarkable to consider only five players have played over 1,000 games with the team. However, for much of its history, the team had a habit of acquiring veteran players instead of allowing its drafted players to develop with the franchise. That said, playing 1,000 games with any team is a rare accomplishment. The Maple Leafs' all-time leader in games played suited up for 1,187 games, which is only two more than the player who sits in second place.
Who is the Maple Leafs all-time leader in goals?
Only four players have scored more than 300 goals as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, though there might be two or three players on the current team that could surpass that total if they stick around long enough - that's the hope, anyway. The franchise's all-time leader in the category scored 420 times in 981 games with the team. He finished his career with 564 goals; his 500th was scored in incredible fashion as it was an overtime winner as well as his third goal of the game.
Who is the Maple Leafs all-time leader in assists?
The Maple Leafs' leaderboard in assists is a decorated one that includes several Hall of Famers, one of which is Doug Gilmour, who only played parts of six seasons with the team but still amassed 321 assists, which puts him ninth all-time. Sundin, meanwhile, sits second all-time with 567 assists, but the majority of the players on the leaderboard are defenseman, including this Swedish-born player, who racked up 620 assists in 1,099 games with the team from 1973 to 1989.
Who is this player?
Barring a resemblance to Ray Romano isn't what this player was best known for during his time with the Maple Leafs. A native of Czech Republic, the smooth-skating rearguard was selected by the team with the 204th overall pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft and played nearly 900 games with the franchise. Like McCabe, he recorded a career high in points with 67 during the 2005-06 season and posted subsequent 50-plus point seasons. He left the NHL in 2013 after playing 10 games with the Montreal Canadiens.
Who is the Maple Leafs all-time leader in penalty minutes?
Fans of the Maple Leafs and their rival teams should have no trouble recalling this pesky player. The franchise's all-time leader in penalty minutes was a thorn in the opposition's side for nearly 800 games with the Maple Leafs. While he scored double digit goal totals in three seasons, he was never much of a goal scorer, but could go toe-to-toe with some of the league's best enforcers, despite his 5-foot-10 statue. He recorded 2,265 penalty minutes as a Maple Leaf. To put that in perspective, the player who sits second in franchise history had 1,670 penalty minutes.
Who is the Maple Leafs all-time leader in goalie wins?
Goaltending hasn't particularly been a position of strength for the Maple Leafs in the past decade, but the franchise is hoping Frederik Andersen can be the netminder that brings the club back to postseason prominence. Before Andersen, the club went with James Reimer, who only played a few seasons with the team, but ranks 10th all-time with 85 wins. That gives you an example of the team's success between the pipes. In fact, only seven goaltenders have won more than 100 games as a Maple Leaf, including this goaltender, who also happens to have the most losses in franchise history.
Who holds the Maple Leafs single season points record?
Believe it or not, no Toronto Maple Leafs player has won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player since Ted Kennedy accomplished the feat in 1954-55. One player, however, put himself in the conversation during the 1992-93 season, when he scored 32 goals and added 95 assists for a career-high 127 points. It was the most points recorded by a Maple Leaf in a single season and would have earned him the Hart Trophy if not for Mario Lemieux, who finished the year with a ridiculous 160 points.
Who holds the Maple Leafs single season goals record?
One of the most surprising facts about the Maple Leafs is that the franchise has only had three players score 50 goals in a single season, including this player, who accomplished the feat three times during the 1980s, including in 1981-82, when he scored a career-high 54 goals. In contrast, the Montreal Canadiens have had six players reach the 50-goal mark. It's not an accomplishment that happens as often in today's NHL, but Auston Matthews might have a shot at reaching it at some point in his career.
Which two goalies share the Maple Leafs single season wins record?
The most wins recorded by a Maple Leafs goaltender in a single season was 37, which is relatively low, even considering teams opt to play backup goaltenders for as many as 15 or 20 games during the season. If we're sticking with Montreal Canadien comparables, Carey Price equaled or topped 37 wins in three separate seasons, while Patrick Roy did so twice, but both times with the Colorado Avalanche. One of the Toronto goalies to record 37 wins is actually regarded as one of the team's worst goaltenders in recent history.
Who is this player?
This player is the longest-serving member of the current Maple Leafs roster. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, he went undrafted and attended the University of Denver, where he recorded 77 points through 60 games, which earned him the attention of NHL clubs. He opted to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs and split his rookie season between the Marlies of the American Hockey League and the Maple Leafs, where he recorded 27 points in 37 games. He has now played 525 regular season games with the team and has 328 points.