On This Day January 23rd.

Joseph Rudolph "Bronco" Horvath

January 23:  On this day in 1963, Joseph Rudolph "Bronco" Horvath was in the lineup for the Leafs after having been acquired on waivers earlier in the day from the New York Rangers. It completed the circuit for Horvath as he had already been property of every other original six team. In 1959-60, he had shared the league's lead in goals scored as a member of the Bruins. Bronco Horvath had 0 goals and 4 assists in just 10 games with Toronto and was not a part of the 1963 Cup-winning team. Bronco retired in 1970 from Rochester and joined the Minnesota North Stars as a scout. Later he coached in the OHA for the London Knights, and in Cape Cod for semi-pro organization, from where he launched a successful cleaning business.

Kirk MullerDon Beaupre

January 23:  On this day in 1996, the Leafs completed a complicated deal with the Islanders

Ken Belanger
Damien Rhodes

and the Senators that saw the Leafs acquire Kirk Muller and Don Beaupre and give up Damien Rhodes and Ken Belanger. Goaltender Don Beaupre played in just 11 games as a Leaf to end his long NHL career and posted a record of 0-8. Muller stayed on with the Leafs for just over a year and was traded to Florida in March, 1997 after notching 62 points in 102 games as a Leaf. On September 2, 2003 Kirk Muller officially announced his retirement. Throughout his playing career the Kingston, ON native played in 1349 games registering 357 goals and 602 assists for 959 points. Although retired officially from hockey, it didn't take long for Muller to find himself back in the game. On June 20, 2006 he was announced to become an assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens under head coach and former teammate Guy Carbonneau.  

Maurice "The Rocket" Richard

Mats Sundin

January 23:  On this day in 2008, Leafs captain Mats Sundin scored with 29.2 seconds left to play to lift the Leafs to a 3-2 win over goalie Olaf Kolzig and the visiting Washington Capitals. The goal was Sundin's 544th of his career, tying him with the immortal Maurice "Rocket" Richard for 24th place on the all-time NHL list. It was newly appointed "interim" G.M., Cliff Fletcher's first game at the helm of the Maple Leafs just one day after the Maple Leafs fired general manager John Ferguson.

On This Day January 15th.

Denis DeJordy

January 15:  On this day in 1967, the Leafs were shutout 4-0 by Denis DeJordy and the Chicago Black Hawks. It was the first Leaf loss in a streak of 10 consecutive losses in a row. As of 2006-07, 10 consecutive losses is a Leaf team record. Ironically, the Leafs would go on that season to qualify for a playoff spot and win their 4th Stanley Cup in six years. Leaf Captain, George Armstrong iced the game with 47 seconds remaining in the game scoring into the empty net, giving the Toronto Maple Leafs their last Stanley Cup to date 2009/10 season. The back bone of the Leafs were an aging pair of goaltenders, Terry Sawchuk and Johnny Bower.

Tim Horton, first Maple Leaf "D" to hit 100 goals.

January 15:  On this day in 1969, Tim Horton became the first defenseman in Toronto Maple Leafs history to score 100 career goals. The milestone came in Horton's 19th NHL season as a Leaf. Toronto tied the visiting Boston Bruins 5-5. Tim Horton was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977. During the 1995-96 season, the Buffalo Sabres retired Horton's Number 2 while that same season, the Toronto Maple Leafs' honoured Number 7 in honour of Tim Horton. "Tim was as hard-nosed a defenseman as hard-nosed gets," explained Leaf general manager Cliff Fletcher. "The Maple Leafs haven't given proper recognition to these great players in the past and we want to change that."

January 15:  On this day in 1967, the Leafs stood firmly in third place in the last season of the "Original Six" Here were the standings:

1967 Toronto Maple Leafs Logo

GP   37   39   37   36   39   38

W   21   20   17   16   13    9

L    11    12    12    16    23    22

T   5   7   8   4   3   7

GF   131   112    99    92   107    92

GA    94    87   100    88   130   134

Pts   47   47   42   36   29   25