Leaf fans worldwide are known by the collective nickname, Leaf Nation, a name which is referenced on the team's own website, MapleLeafs.com.
Conversely, a passionate fan following has led to an equally passionate hatred for the team by fans of other teams, not just the Leafs' typical rivals. In November 2002, the Leafs were named by Sports Illustrated hockey writer Michael Farber as the "Most Hated Team in Hockey". He even mentioned that many rival fans believe that the refs were partial towards the Leafs, although the team's consistent position near the top of the penalty minutes statistics over the years may disprove that theory.
In addition, fans of other Canadian NHL teams complain that the Leafs receive excessive coverage on television and in the print media, and that Hockey Night in Canada routinely televises Leaf games against even weak opponents rather than games involving the other Canadian clubs, even when they are more meaningful in terms of playoff implications.
Games are usually quite heated whenever the Leafs play in other Canadian NHL cities. Some of those cities have sizable contingents of Leafs fans of their own since the Leafs were the only English Canadian team from 1938 until the Vancouver Canucks joined the league in 1970. Additionally, when the Maple Leafs visit the Florida Panthers, there are usually more Leaf fans in the arena as well due to a large contigent of Torontonians visiting South Florida, particularly around December.
Maple Leafs home games have long been one of the toughest tickets in Canada, even during lean periods. While scalping is technically illegal in Toronto, it is virtually the only way to get into a Leafs home game, even at the much larger Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs' greatest rival is the Montreal Canadiens, given the long history of Original Six matchups - in particular, playoff meetings - between the two clubs. The fact that Montreal is Canada's most populous French-speaking city also gives the rivalry a nationalistic flair, which is perhaps best captured in the popular Canadian short story, "The Hockey Sweater".
The rivalry between the Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, known as The Battle of Ontario, has heated up since the late 1990s, owing in no small part to the Canadiens' struggles during that period. While Ottawa has had Toronto's mettle during most of the teams' regular season matchups in recent years, the Leafs continue to be the Senators' playoff stumbling block as Toronto has won all four postseason series between the two teams.
The Leafs' biggest U.S.-based rivals of late have been the Philadelphia Flyers, who defeated the Leafs in the 2003 and 2004Stanley Cup Playoffs, however the rivalry goes back to the 1970s when the Flyers and Leafs had the reputation as being two of the toughest (and often most penalized) teams in the league. Games between the two teams are often very physical to this day.
The Buffalo Sabres have also been cited as notable American rivals of the Leafs, mainly due to Buffalo's close proximity to the Canadian border. A large contingent of Leaf fans typically travels to Buffalo for road games there, giving them a somewhat neutral setting.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
}:1 In February, 1927, Conn Smythe, the new owner of the team, changed the team name and logo from "St. Patricks" to "Maple Leafs".:2 Season was shortened due to the 1994-95 NHL lockout.:3 Season was cancelled due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout.:4 As of this season, games remaining tied after overtime are decided by shootout.
The Leafs have a policy of retiring numbers only for players "who have made a significant contribution to the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and have experienced a career-ending incident while a member of the Maple Leaf team".[2][3] Barilko (whose career ended with death) and Bailey (whose career ended with a severe head injury) dubiously met the criteria. These two numbers were not officially retired until October 17, 1992. Ron Ellis received permission from Bailey, by the time of his career the Leafs' Director of Scouting, to wear number 6.
These are the top-ten point-scorers in the history of the Maple Leafs (totals with the Toronto St. Pats and Toronto Arenas are included). Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points * = Active Player
*Most Goals in a season: Rick Vaive, 54 (1981-82) *Most Assists in a season: Doug Gilmour, 95 (1992-93) *Most Points in a season: Doug Gilmour, 127 (1992-93) *Most Penalty Minutes in a season: Tie Domi, 365 (1997-98) *Most Points in a season, defenseman: Ian Turnbull, 79 (1976-77) *Most Points in a season, rookie: Peter Ihnacak, 66 (1982-83) *Most Wins in a season: Ed Belfour, 37 (2002-03)
