On This Day February 15th.

February 15: On this day in 1927, the legendary Conn Smythe purchased the basement dwelling Toronto St. Pats and renamed the team the Toronto Maple Leafs. By the autumn of 1931, Smythe had raised enough money to construct a new Maple Leafs palace he named Maple Leaf Gardens in which the Toronto franchise won their first Stanley Cup under the Maple Leaf banner the same season. Under Smythe's direction and guidance, the Leafs became the most successful NHL team on the ice in the first half of 20th century, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals 12 times in the 20 year period between 1930 and 1949.