5 Things You Might Not Have Known About the Maple Leafs
I've been writing about the Maple Leafs for a long time, and every once in a while I come across a little piece of team history that makes me stop and say, “I didn't know that.” That's one of the fun things about the Maple Leafs. There is so much history attached to this franchise that you can know an awful lot about the team and still discover something new.
So here are five Maple Leafs facts that might surprise you.
1. The Canadiens Are the Leafs' Most Common Opponent.
This one probably isn't a huge surprise, but the numbers are pretty remarkable. The Maple Leafs have played the Montreal Canadiens more times than any other team in franchise history. The two teams have met hundreds of times, going all the way back to the early days of the NHL. The Bruins are another obvious answer, but Montreal is still the team Toronto has seen the most.
There's a reason this rivalry has lasted so long. It isn't just about geography. These two franchises have been part of each other's history for more than a century.
Related: The Maple Leafs Finally Look Like They Have a Plan.
2. George Armstrong Played More Games as a Maple Leaf Than Anybody.
If you guessed Mats Sundin, you're not alone. Sundin played 981 games in a Maple Leafs uniform, which is pretty impressive. But George Armstrong played even more. Armstrong appeared in 1,188 games for Toronto. Tim Horton was right behind him with 1,184, meaning those two Leafs legends were separated by only four games. Armstrong wasn't just a long-time Maple Leaf. He became one of the faces of the franchise.
3. Mats Sundin Owns Some Pretty Impressive Maple Leafs Records.
Sundin's name shows up all over the Toronto record book. He scored 420 goals as a Maple Leaf, which is now second in the franchise record. In January 2026, Auston Matthews set the franchise record when he passed Sundin. Talking about Sundin, it's one of those things that can get lost when we talk about Sundin because he never won a Stanley Cup in Toronto. The individual numbers were pretty remarkable.
4. Curtis McElhinney Has the Best Leafs Save Percentage.
Here's one that might catch a few people. Curtis McElhinney didn't spend a long time in Toronto. He played only two seasons with the Maple Leafs. But among Maple Leafs goalies who have met the required number of shots, his .925 save percentage puts him at the top of the franchise list. That's a good reminder that some players can leave a surprisingly big statistical footprint without spending years in Toronto.
5. Punch Imlach Is Still the Winningest Leafs Coach.
Punch Imlach coached more games and won more games for the Maple Leafs than any other coach in franchise history. He coached 770 games and won 370 of them. Pat Quinn is second with 300 wins, followed by some much more recent names.
Imlach's name is obviously tied closely to the Maple Leafs' glory years, but his record also reminds us just how long Toronto has gone without another coach putting together that kind of sustained success. And that's probably the best thing about looking back at Leafs history.
If you’re like me, you think you know the story. Then you find out you don't know nearly as much as you thought.