Toronto Maple Leafs – Punch Imlach (Photo by Harold Whyte/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Punch Imlach was known to rule with an iron first.
Although his domineering methods clashed with younger players on the team he was well appreciated by many of the teams veterans and was able to take the team in a hat trick of championships in back to back wins between 1962-1965 as well as took the team to a the Stanley Cup finals once again in 1967.
The success the team had found under him was soon lost when the league expanded from six team to 12 in the 1967-68 season and Imlach was asked to step down but refused, many players were tired of his strict attitude and some even walked out on the team.
Imlach, ultimately was fired after a playoffs eliminations loss to the Boston Bruin. Imlach’s rein as coach was the longest in Leafs history, at 12 years in total.
1969-1980
John McLellan became the coach for four seasons between 1969-1973 and despite being a mediocre coach, McLellan received the NHL coach of the year in 1971 after continuing to do his job while suffering from a duodenal ulcer and missed 15 games due to medical reasons related to it.