It feels like it could be the final chance for the core that’s remained together through thick and thin to chase the Stanley Cup together.

Departed Leafs coaches and players resurfacing at playoff time goes way back to 1944. Dick Irvin Jr. had won the 1932 Stanley Cup, was fired by Conn Smythe and gained revenge in the 1944 semifinal, going on to the title itself. Some other prominent playoff series involving opposing coaches who previously had a Maple Leafs connection:

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to kick off their 2025 Stanley Cup playoff run, there’s no question that they have the most to prove – and the most to lose.