What the Maple Leafs looked like when they won

The pictures of the Toronto Maple Leafs stored in the city's municipal archives are unusual. For the most part they show the boys in blue during casual moments, enjoying an off-ice activities or posing for promotional photos, in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. The shots that do show the team in action are few and far between.

Though the collection might lack some of the excitement of conventional live action shots, what we gain is an insight into the team's quieter moments at a time when they were at their most fruitful. The team would lift 10 of its 13 Stanley Cups, including its last, during these salad days.

Featured here are images of everyone from Johnny Bower and Conn Smythe to "Ace" Bailey and Darryl Sittler. Bailey, shown below at his desk in his later years, was the first player in the NHL to have his number permanently retired. He was also the beneficiary of the league's first all-star game when his promising career was interrupted by a serious head injury.

Terry Sawchuk (below), a Vezina Trophy winner, was between the irons when the Leafs were last NHL champions all those decades ago. At his retirement in 1970, the Winnipeg native held the record for most wins for a goaltender until Martin Brodeur surpassed 447 victories in Dec. 2009.

Since the lockout is officially over and Leafs are back at their intermittent best it seems now is as good a time as any to take a lock back at the glory days. Just for the sake of it, here's video of the final moments of the 1967 season as the Carlton street stadium counts down to victory against Jean Beliveau's Montreal Canadiens.

Nat Turofsky eyes a portrait of Leafs captain George Armstrong with the Stanley Cup

Leafs gather during practice for a press photo

Sonny Fox, American TV host, with Toronto Maple Leafs players and children at Maple Leaf Gardens

The son of

Globe and Mail

founder C. George McCullagh gets an autographed stick from a Maple Leaf

Johnny Bower stands guard against the Chicago Black Hawks

One of these men is "a Cuban visitor" to Maple Leaf Gardens

On the attack against the Chicago Black Hawks

An unidentified player goes five-hole during a warm-up exercise as Nat Turofsky watches on

Sports journalist Scott Young in the dressing room at Maple Leaf Gardens

Chicago leads 1-0

Wide shot of the ice, pre-advertising, at the Gardens

Margaret Marshall, the girl on the goal, with two Toronto Maple Leafs players

Female ice show performers in Leafs sweaters

Sawchuk keeps a watchful eye over the action

Black Hawks score on Bower

A visiting Japanese prince takes in a game

Leafs pose for renowned photographer Nat Turofsky

Member of the Gardens' Ice Capades squad with a broken leg

Leafs pose post-game in 1959

Nat Turofsky shows off a Maple Leafs promotional poster

Leafs attacking in the Boston end

Victoria Cross recipient dropping puck to start hockey game

Leafs slip one past the Black Hawks goalie despite a last ditch attempt at a blocked shot

Trainer Tommy Nayler sharpening skates

Darryl Sittler poses with March of Dimes volunteer"Spiff" Evans and group with old Stanley Cup and OHA Cup at Maple Leaf Gardens

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Images: Toronto Telegram Archives, and the City of Toronto Archives.