Toronto Maple Leafs: The All-Decade Starting Lineup

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 09: Nazem Kadri #43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 9, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 09: Nazem Kadri #43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 9, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY, 18 In second period action, Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43, on left) celebrates his goal, with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) the Leafs second.The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Ottawa Senators in NHL hockey action at the Air Canada Centre (ACC) in Toronto.February 18, 2017 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY, 18 In second period action, Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43, on left) celebrates his goal, with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) the Leafs second.The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Ottawa Senators in NHL hockey action at the Air Canada Centre (ACC) in Toronto.February 18, 2017 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

With the decade nearly, almost unbelievably over, we must look at the most important players to suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs over the last ten years.

The decade began with Brian Burke at the helm and optimism surrounding the recent acquisition of Phil Kessel.  Unfortunately, the price the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire their then-franchise player was too high – the cost ended up being two eventual Hall of Fame players in Dougie Hamilton and Tyler Seguin.

Burke would give way to Dave Nonis, who would eventually be fired when the Leafs gave the presidency of their team to Brendan Shanahan.  Shanahan ushered in a full-scale rebuild that has already paid dividends and which will see the Leafs enter the new decade with one of the best rosters in the history of the team.

In this list, we take a look at the best and best players to wear the historic Maple Leaf crest since 2010, and assemble the greatest starting lineup of the past decade in Leafs history.