- Sheldon Keefe has been fired as the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach.
- Toronto hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967.
- Punch Imlach won 414 games as the Leafs bench boss.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most successful teams in the NHL, but Stanley Cup success has eluded them since 1967. Over their long and storied history, the Leafs have seen a long line of coaches behind the bench, each with their own unique approach and legacy.
Following the team’s latest first-round playoff exit and the firing of head coach Sheldon Keefe, I look back at five of the most impactful Maple Leafs head coaches of all time.
5 Best Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coaches
| Coach | Leafs Tenure | Leafs Head Coaching Record (Regular Season and Playoffs) | Stanley Cups |
| Hap Day | 1940-1950 | 308-231-81 | 4 |
| Punch Imlach | 1958-1969, 1979-1980 | 414-323-125 | 4 |
| Pat Quinn | 1998-2006 | 341-235-52 | 0 |
| Pat Burns | 1992-1996 | 156-130-41 | 0 |
| Dick Irvin | 1931-1940 | 239-184-60 | 1 |
1. Hap Day
The Godfather of Leafs head coaching, Hap Day’s decade at the helm was nothing short of spectacular. Day built his powerhouse teams around Ted Kennedy, Turk Broda, and Syl Apps. He guided the Leafs to a whopping four Stanley Cups while teaching his teams to play with skill and speed rather than physicality. Day’s .613 winning percentage in the playoffs remains the best mark in Leafs history.
His remarkably successful tenure would have been an NHL-betting dream.
2. Punch Imlach
A hard-nosed disciplinarian, Punch Imlach is credited with rebuilding the Leafs into a championship contender after a decade of mediocrity. He won four championships in his first stint with the team.
Imlach was lucky enough to coach the likes of Frank Mahovlich and Johnny Bower. But those Hall-of-Fame players can’t take all the credit, as their coach was known as a master motivator who wasn’t afraid to shake things up. Imlach coached a franchise-record 750 games behind the Maple Leafs bench.
3. Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn’s legendary hockey philosophy and knowledge never brought a Cup to Toronto, but his dedication to building a contending squad shouldn’t be overlooked. He reached the conference finals twice and fostered the development of stars like Mats Sundin and Tomas Kaberle.
Recent Toronto Maple Leafs coaches with games behind the bench:
Sheldon Keefe – 349
Mike Babcock – 328
Peter Horachek (interim) – 42
Randy Carlyle – 188
Ron Wilson – 310
Paul Maurice – 164
Pat Quinn – 574
Mike Murphy – 164— CapFriendly Depth Charts (@CF_DepthCharts) May 9, 2024
Quinn built and coached several memorable teams in Toronto, improving his team’s NHL odds of winning it all. He will forever be remembered in Leafs lore, even though the ultimate prize eluded him.
4. Pat Burns
Known for his fiery demeanour, Pat Burns had immediate success as the head coach of the Maple Leafs. Burns led Toronto to back-to-back conference finals appearances in the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons but ultimately failed to get the Leafs over the hump.
5. Dick Irvin
The architect of the Leafs’ first Stanley Cup victory in 1932, Dick Irvin laid the groundwork for the dynasty that followed under Hap Day.
Irvin’s impact on early Maple Leafs’ teams is undeniable. He built rugged defensive teams and reached the Stanley Cup finals twice more during his tenure.
