What the Maple Leafs looked like when they won

The pictures of the Toronto Maple Leafs stored in the city's municipal archives are unusual. For the most part they show the boys in blue during casual moments, enjoying an off-ice activities or posing for promotional photos, in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. The shots that do show the team in action are few and far between.

Though the collection might lack some of the excitement of conventional live action shots, what we gain is an insight into the team's quieter moments at a time when they were at their most fruitful. The team would lift 10 of its 13 Stanley Cups, including its last, during these salad days.

Featured here are images of everyone from Johnny Bower and Conn Smythe to "Ace" Bailey and Darryl Sittler. Bailey, shown below at his desk in his later years, was the first player in the NHL to have his number permanently retired. He was also the beneficiary of the league's first all-star game when his promising career was interrupted by a serious head injury.

toronto maple leafs Terry Sawchuk (below), a Vezina Trophy winner, was between the irons when the Leafs were last NHL champions all those decades ago. At his retirement in 1970, the Winnipeg native held the record for most wins for a goaltender until Martin Brodeur surpassed 447 victories in Dec. 2009. toronto maple leafs Since the lockout is officially over and Leafs are back at their intermittent best it seems now is as good a time as any to take a lock back at the glory days. Just for the sake of it, here's video of the final moments of the 1967 season as the Carlton street stadium counts down to victory against Jean Beliveau's Montreal Canadiens.

Nat Turofsky eyes a portrait of Leafs captain George Armstrong with the Stanley CupLeafs gather during practice for a press photoSonny Fox, American TV host, with Toronto Maple Leafs players and children at Maple Leaf GardensThe son of Globe and Mail founder C. George McCullagh gets an autographed stick from a Maple LeafJohnny Bower stands guard against the Chicago Black HawksOne of these men is "a Cuban visitor" to Maple Leaf GardensOn the attack against the Chicago Black HawksAn unidentified player goes five-hole during a warm-up exercise as Nat Turofsky watches onSports journalist Scott Young in the dressing room at Maple Leaf GardensChicago leads 1-0Wide shot of the ice, pre-advertising, at the GardensMargaret Marshall, the girl on the goal, with two Toronto Maple Leafs playersFemale ice show performers in Leafs sweatersSawchuk keeps a watchful eye over the actionBlack Hawks score on BowerA visiting Japanese prince takes in a gameLeafs pose for renowned photographer Nat TurofskyMember of the Gardens' Ice Capades squad with a broken legLeafs pose post-game in 1959 toronto maple leafs Nat Turofsky shows off a Maple Leafs promotional posterLeafs attacking in the Boston endVictoria Cross recipient dropping puck to start hockey gameLeafs slip one past the Black Hawks goalie despite a last ditch attempt at a blocked shotTrainer Tommy Nayler sharpening skatesDarryl Sittler poses with March of Dimes volunteer toronto maple leafs "Spiff" Evans and group with old Stanley Cup and OHA Cup at Maple Leaf Gardens