Auston Matthews is back and the signs of his return were evident after his skate with teammates on Long Island. The Toronto Maple Leafs' quarter-century first and second teams have been revealed by the NHL ahead of the club’s Saturday matchup with the Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/]. The initiative highlights the best players to suit up for each NHL franchise since the year 2000. From December 30, 2024, through January 31, the league is announcing the first and second quarter-century teams, with the Maple Leafs being the sixth franchise to have their selections revealed. Each of the first and second teams consist of three forwards, two defensemen, and a goaltender for a six player total. Only players who have competed in a game for the club since January 1, 2000 were eligible to be voted. As per the NHL website [https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-quarter-century-teams], “The first and second teams were selected by broadcasters, national writers and local writers and NHL.com writers who have covered the respective teams, in addition to selecting former players.” Maple Leafs First Team Selections: Forwards: Mitch Marner (current) Auston Matthews (current) Mats Sundin (1994-08) Defensemen: Tomas Kaberle (1998-11) Morgan Rielly (current) Goaltender: Ed Belfour (2002-06) The Maple Leafs’ First Team has two current stars and one franchise legend. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, two of today’s premier forwards, join all-time great Mats Sundin. Together, these forwards represent the pinnacle of Maple Leafs’ offensive talent over the past quarter-century. On the blueline, Morgan Rielly, the current longest tenured Maple Leaf, pairs with Tomas Kaberle, whose presence made him a mainstay for over a decade. In goal, Ed Belfour, who is second on the Leafs in wins since 2000 with 93, earned the First Team nod. Maple Leafs Second Team: Forwards: Phil Kessel (2009-15) William Nylander (current) John Tavares (current) Defenseman: Bryan McCabe (2000-08) Dion Phaneuf (2009-16) Goaltender: Curtis Joseph (1998-02) The Second Team also offers a blend of star talent scattered across the past 25 years. Phil Kessel, known for his goal-scoring ability with four 30-plus goal seasons during his tenure in Toronto, joins current star forwards William Nylander and John Tavares in the forward group. Bryan McCabe and Dion Phaneuf, both defensive leaders during their respective stints, anchor the Second Team blue line. McCabe’s 83 goals and plus-63 rating rank among the best for Maple Leafs defensemen since 2000. Phaneuf, the team’s 18th captain, scored 45 goals, tied for fourth-most by a Leafs blueliner in the past 25 years. Between the pipes, Curtis Joseph had a record of 133-88-27 and a .912 save percentage (SV%). It was widely considered his most successful stint with any team as he ranks high in Maple Leafs history given his exceptional play. The Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/], St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/], Arizona Coyotes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/], Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/], and Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/] have already had their teams announced, with others to follow throughout January as part of a month-long celebration. What do you make of this list? Let us know in the comments below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExNjM5NDEwNTc4NDM0MDI0/googlenews.svg] Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] to never miss a story.
