Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 5 Coaches of All Time

By David Morassutti

Mar 2, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock (R) talks to his team during a timeout against the Washington Capitals in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock (R) talks to his team during a timeout against the Washington Capitals in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Toronto Maple Leafs
Dec 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo at center ice before the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Punch Imlach (1958-1969 & 1979-1980)

Regular Season 

Games Coached: 770

Record:  370-275-125

Winning Percentage: .562

Playoffs

Games Coached: 92

Record: 44-48

Winning Percentage: .478

Imlach finds himself in the top two for the best Leafs coaches of all time and it was a tough choice between him and the person we picked at number one. He was a popular coach with his veteran players, because he preferred them over younger players.

Imlach’s Leafs teams included legendary names like Dave Keon, Johnny Bower, Red Kelly, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Frank Mahovlich, and Bob Baun. He is obviously remembered for being the last coach to win the Stanley Cup in Toronto.

Imlach’s 770 games coaches and 370 wins are the most franchise history along with his 275 losses and 125 ties. His 92 playoff is also the most in franchise history and he ranks second in postseason wins with 44, albeit also first in losses with 48.

His success with the Leafs in the 1960s helped define the Leafs record books, especially because the team and fans are always reminded of the glory days. The Leafs last Stanley Cup victory in 1967 was a memorable one because they beat the first-placed Chicago Blackhawks, and had an average age of 31, the oldest to win the Cup.

The Leafs would win four Stanley Cups with Imlach behind the bench, in 1962, 1963, 1964 and finally in 1967.  The veteran players had a lot of respect for him and it showed when he was fired in 1969, with Bower and Horton threatening to leave.

Imlach would make his return to the Leafs in 1979, but it was not with the same success he had in his first tenure. Imlach would lead Toronto to the playoffs, but they lost in the first round.

His relationship with Howard Ballard caused problems within the locker room, especially with captain Darryl Sittler. While Imlach led the Leafs to some of the franchises best moments during the 1960s, it is hard to ignore the way he treated players like Mahovlich and Sittler.

Regardless, the Leafs were able to achieve great things with Imlach and his contributions were recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984, three years after the Leafs relieved him of his duties. Those four Stanley Cup victories in six seasons will always be remembered as a great time for Leafs fans, especially with the drought still going on now.

Next: The best of all time

Home/Toronto Maple Leafs