Theodore Samuel "Teeder" Kennedy was a professional ice hockey centre who played his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1943 to 1957 and was captain for eight seasons. Along with Turk Broda, he was the first player in NHL history to win five Stanley Cups, and he was the last Maple Leaf to win the Hart Trophy for most valuable player, until Auston Matthews in 2022. He was an essential contributor to the Maple Leafs becoming what many consider as the National Hockey League's first dynasty. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966. He has been called the quintessential Maple Leaf and by some the greatest player in the team's history. In 2017 Kennedy was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.
Hall of Famer Nels Stewart was Kennedy's coach and mentor and played a major role early in his career.
Frank Selke (left), shown here as GM of Montreal, signing Elmer Lach. Earlier, as GM of Toronto Selke had made one of his greatest trades acquiring Kennedy's rights from Montreal. A dispute with President Conn Smythe over the trade caused Selke to leave the Leafs for Montreal, who he later built into a powerhouse.
Foster Hewitt's radio broadcasts made Kennedy famous across Canada
NHL President Clarence Campbell cleared Kennedy of wrongdoing and rebuked Detroit coach Tommy Ivan for accusing Kennedy of a deliberate attempt to injure the Red Wings' Gordie Howe.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The club is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a company that owns several professional sports teams in the city. The Maple Leafs' broadcasting rights are split between BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications. For the first 14 seasons, the team played its home games at the Mutual Street Arena, before moving to Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931. The Maple Leafs moved to their present home, Scotiabank Arena, in February 1999.
Team photo of the Arenas from the 1917–18 season. The club won its first Stanley Cup in their inaugural season.
The Kid Line consisted of Charlie Conacher, Joe Primeau, and Busher Jackson (left to right). They led the Leafs to win the 1932 Stanley Cup, as well as four more Stanley Cup finals appearances over the next six years.
First game between the Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks during the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Mats Sundin in October 1997, shortly after being named Leaf captain.
