The Canadiens–Maple Leafs rivalry is an ice hockey rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, two professional ice hockey clubs in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canadiens and Maple Leafs are the league's oldest teams, with the former established in 1909 and the latter in 1917. Both clubs compete in the Atlantic Division of the NHL's Eastern Conference.
The rivalry between the two teams picked up after the Montreal Maroons folded in 1938, resulting in the Canadiens and Maple Leafs being the only Canadian-based teams in the NHL until 1970. Both teams saw success during the Original Six era, with the Stanley Cup having been primarily awarded to either the Canadiens or Maple Leafs during that period. In addition to the on-ice play the rivalry was exacerbated by societal issues in mid-20th century Canada, with the two teams serving as stand-ins for a variety of cultural dualities in Canadian society; most notably with the Canadiens representing French-speaking Canada, and the Maple Leafs the English-speaking part of the country. The rivalry's association with larger societal issues in the country has left an imprint on Canadian culture, most notably through the publication of the short story, The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier.
The Canadiens and Maple Leafs have met in 16 Stanley Cup playoff series, including five Stanley Cup Finals. The rivalry between the two teams has waned since the Original Six era, with the Canadiens and Maple Leafs having played in separate conferences of the NHL from 1981 to 1998; and having not met in the playoffs from 1980 to 2020. Although the rivalry is no longer influenced by its historical associations, it remains symbolic of the relationship between the country's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal.
Background
The rivalry between Montreal and Toronto predates the foundation of either hockey club, with the two cities having been considered economic rivals since the mid-19th century, as well as cultural rivals from the mid-20th century. Toronto emerged as an economic rival to Montreal during the 1850s. Although Montreal remained the Province of Canada's largest city throughout that period, Toronto's population also began to grow significantly. In addition to being economic rivals, Montreal and Toronto's early identities were rooted in the cultural differences between the two cities. From its foundation, Montreal was historically viewed as Canada's cosmopolitan centre for culture; which contrasted Toronto's pre-World War era reputation as a small city and bastion for "Victorian morality". Following Canadian Confederation, the two cities had become obvious rivals for cultural and financial control of the "Canadian hinterland".
After the Second World War, Toronto began to eclipse Montreal as the "cultural gateway" to Canada for Americans; making it a potential cultural rival to Montreal. For the most part however, Toronto continued to be viewed as a provincial industrial city, subservient to Montreal in culture and finance until the 1960s. The financial situation would reverse by 1971, with Toronto having eclipsed Montreal as the financial capital of the country; and the population of the Greater Toronto Area overtaking Greater Montreal shortly afterwards.
Sports
The rivalry between the two cities eventually extended into sports, with rival national athletic sports bodies, the Toronto-based Canadian Amateur Athletic Union, and the Montreal-based Amateur Athletic Federation of Canada, fighting for control over amateur sports in the country during the early 20th century.
A dispute between Eddie Livingstone, the owner of the National Hockey Association's Toronto Blueshirts, and the other owners of the NHA, including the Montreal Canadiens owner George Kennedy led to the creation of the National Hockey League in 1917. Because the NHA's constitution prevented the disgruntled owners from expelling Livingstone, they opted to instead form a new professional hockey league; and voted to suspend NHA operations for the year. The resulting dispute led to the creation of the modern NHL, as well as the present hockey club in Toronto; with the new NHL owners opting to establish a hockey club in Toronto in an effort to maintain a four team circuit that included the Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, and Ottawa Senators. A temporary franchise was awarded to the Arena Gardens of Toronto Ltd., which was later made permanent in October 1918.