Toronto Maple Leafs: The Top 5 Rivalries of the Last Decade

Dating back to the days of the "Original Six", the Toronto Maple Leafs have formed, and maintained, some fierce rivalries with other clubs.

Rivalries with the other 5 teams that formed the "Original Six" came naturally, as the Leafs would play only them all season long.

Since the year 2000, however, the Maple Leafs have found themselves frequently battling with a new set of opponents. Whether they were teams the Leafs met multiple times in the post-season, or clubs that became rivals due to the sheer proximity, the last 11 years have brought about new, and intense, rivalries.

Here are the Toronto Maple Leafs' top 5 rivals since the turn of the century.

5. New Jersey Devils

There hasn't been much of a rivalry lately, but in the early part of the new millennium, these teams met multiple times in the post-season, and didn't care for each other, to say the least.

With the Devils knocking the Maple Leafs out in successive years, much bad blood was developed.

For the Leafs, losing to the Devils over and over again was beyond frustrating, while the Devils were sent over the edge by a Tie Domi elbow to the head of one of their best players, Scott Niedermayer.

It is no coincidence that when you ask Maple Leafs fans old enough to clearly remember those playoff series, they will tell you New Jersey is still one of their least favorite teams in the NHL.

4. Buffalo Sabres

Though there has been less post-season play between these two teams lately, a division rivalry has developed.

The two teams are separated by only about an hour and a half drive, so the proximity of the two cities ensures there is always a raucous environment every time these two play.

The Niagara Region lies between these two cities, bringing about a bit of a fan divide in towns like St. Catharine's and Niagara Falls.

When it comes to on-ice play, the Sabres are one of those teams that always seem to step up their play when it comes time to face Toronto. Sabres goalie Ryan Miller is a perfect example, as he's notched over 20 career wins against the Blue and White.

As the Leafs continue to get better and the Sabres get back to their winning ways, there will surely be some post-season hockey sometime in the near future, and it won't disappoint!

3. Philadelphia Flyers

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers never liked each other much.

Add a few head-to-head post-season matchups, as well as two of the more passionate and rowdy fan bases around the league, and you're guaranteed an entertaining game every time these teams meet.

In the last few seasons before the lockout (which were also the last two seasons the Leafs were in the playoffs), it was the Flyers who sent the Leafs packing.

Those series provided some great fun for fans of both teams, with tough guys like Jeremy Roenick and Donald Brashear playing for Philadelphia and Tie Domi, Gary Roberts and Darcy Tucker playing for Toronto.

Each side also had plenty of offensive talent, with players like Eric Lindros, Mats Sundin, John Leclair and Alexander Mogilny lacing up for either side.

Off the ice, personalities like Jeremy Roenick and Ed Belfour kept things interesting as well.

2. Ottawa Senators

The emergence of the Ottawa Senators as a legitimate contender in the early 2000s led to what is one of the better new rivalries in hockey.

The Senators and Maple Leafs are only separated by about 450 kilometers (or about 281 miles for all the American readers), they play in the same division, and played each other in the post-season 4 times over a 5 year span from the 1999-2000 season to the 2003-2004 season (with the Leafs coming out on top every time).

The fact that Maple Leafs fans absolutely despise the Senators long time captain, Daniel Alfredsson, doesn't exactly help the situation.

What is now dubbed the "Battle of Ontario" has become one of the nastiest rivalries in the NHL.

1. Montreal Canadiens

With or without any post-season competition, the rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens is still the best in hockey.

While there has been a resurgence in the hatred between Boston and Montreal, Montreal and Toronto will forever stand out as the biggest rivalry the NHL has to offer.

The hatred between these two teams stems from many factors. For starters, Montreal and Toronto are the two teams with the most Stanley Cup Championships, which brings natural hostility.

Before the NHL expanded beyond 6 teams, these were also the only two Canadian teams, with French Canadians almost all backing Montreal, and Anglophone Canadians almost unilaterally for the Maple Leafs. This language barrier was no small deal, and is still an issue in many parts of the country (see the current scandal surrounding Canadiens head coach Randy Cunneyworth).

Having the two largest, most loyal and most passionate fan bases in the history of the sport also feeds the flames of this intense rivalry.