Toronto Maple Leafs History: “The Best Team Ever Assembled”

The Toronto Maple Leafs teams of the 60s are perhaps the most celebrated in team history.

As the most recent Cup champions in franchise history, it iss with good reason. Often outshined by these groups, or even lost in the vast history of the team, are the Toronto Maple Leafs teams of the 1940s. A decade that saw the Leafs ice what was once considered to be the greatest hockey team ever assembled.

The Leafs were truly a dominant team throughout the decade of the 40s, winning a total of 5 Stanley Cups. With a lineup that included the likes of Harry Watson, Syl Apps, and Ted Kennedy, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Shortly after a Cup winning campaign in 1942, the team was hindered by the big names leaving to join the war effort in 1943. Of those who enlisted were Syl Apps and recent Vezina winner, Turk Broda.

The remaining Leafs would go on to win the fifth Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1945. Though against a diminished National Hockey League.

Upon returning from the war, the strong Leafs team continued right where they left off.

The Best Team Ever Assembled

At the time, the team Toronto was about to assemble was seen as on of the best teams ever assembled. So strong in fact, that Dick Beddoes of the Globe And Mail stated that Wayne Gretzky would have been on the fourth line of the team. Even years down the road, Leafs great, Hap Day stood by his belief that it was the strongest team ever.

While it may have been surpassed by other great teams, the group had rightful claim to the title at the time.

The Team

Upon finishing the season as champions for the 6th time in 1947, the dynasty began.

Just games into the 1947-48 season, the rich became richer after the Leafs acquired Max Bentley from the Chicago Black Hawks (the Blackhawks as we know them today). A blockbuster deal at the time, Bentley had just come off back to back NHL scoring titles and a Hart Trophy win two years prior.

With all the talk about the current Leafs’ centre depth being a the best in the league after acquiring John Tavares, it’s worth noting the centres of this team.

Hall of Famers

A trio of Hockey Hall of Famers made up the lethal centre depth. Ted Kennedy, Syl Apps, and Max Bentley composed this group and it was just as good as you may have guessed.

Apps led the team with 53 points in 55 games, a career high. Max Bentley’s production dropped, however he still finished the season with 48 points in 53 games. Ted Kennedy completed the trio of top scorers and posted 46 points in 60 games, while leading the league with 7 game winning goals.

Secondary scoring, if you could call it that, was also a factor. Harry Watson registered 41 points and Howie Meeker, Vic Lynn, and Bill Ezinicki all surpassed the 30 point mark. All respectable point totals for the time and season length.

The team wasn’t all offense though. They were backstopped by Turk Broda who posted a 2.38 GAA on his way to winning his second Vezina Trophy.

The defense core consisted of familiar names such as future captain, Jimmy Thompson and former all-star Wally Stanowski. Also, an up-and-coming defender by the name of Bill Barilko who was playing in his first full season.

Even off the ice the team had stars. Former Leaf captain Hap Day was behind the bench that season as he had been since 1940.

With a 32-15-13 record, the Leafs finished first in the NHL. The team was above league average in goals for and finished with 33 fewer goals allowed than league average.

In the playoffs, they would go on to eliminate the Boston Bruins in 5 games.  Following the series, they swept the Detroit Red Wings to take home the Stanley Cup. Soon after, they would repeat as champions and later capture another Cup win in 1951.

The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has an extensive history, so much in fact that the legends of the past are often forgotten. The team assembled in the 1940s was one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Next: 2017-18 Defenseman Grades

It’s an interesting story and while we may be more familiar with later teams, there’s always more to discover in the team’s rich history.

Thanks for reading!

Stats courtesy of Hockey Reference