Leafs the new loss leaders

Johnny Bower, the Toronto Maple Leafs netminder, makes a stop against the Detroit Red Wings in the 1964 Stanley Cup finals.

Within seconds of Patrick Kane's bizarre overtime winner that delivered a long overdue Stanley Cup to Chicago, harsh reality set in for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their legion of long-suffering fans. The Blackhawks finally claimed the Stanley Cup after a drought of nearly five decades with their finals victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, making the Leafs the new laggards of the NHL. Toronto have not won the cup since 1967, a 42-year title-bereft streak that is the longest in the league. There are some post-expansion teams who have not won the cup, of course, but most of them are new teams barely a decade or two into their NHL membership.

The Leafs, meanwhile, are an NHL original, a flag-bearing franchise that played in the league's first 1917-18 season and won 13 Stanley Cups in their first 50 years of existence. But the last 43 years? Nothing doing. Not only have Toronto failed to win the cup since the NHL expanded from six teams, the Leafs have not even played for the silver chalice. Not once, since '67, have Toronto made it to the final. That is astounding - particularly considering the Leafs had won the Stanley Cup four times in six years before the start of the drought, with a team, coached by Punch Imlach, that included George Armstrong, Red Kelly, Dave Keon, Frank Mahovlich, Marcel Pronovost,Tim Horton, Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk.

Only five other NHL teams have never made it to the Stanley Cup final since the league first expanded, and three (Atlanta, Columbus and Minnesota) have barely been around for 10 years. San Jose are less than 20 years old - and at least the Sharks have hope, winning the Western Conference this season and advancing to the league semi-finals (where they lost to Chicago). Even Phoenix, the NHL's forgotten franchise in the Arizona desert (who first joined the league as the Winnipeg Jets in 1979), appear closer to Stanley than Toronto.

This is not to say there is no hope in Toronto; if anything, there is hope in abundance. And maybe, just maybe, Brian Burke, the general manager, can continue turning around the franchise and make the NHL's most lucrative market also a more relevant one. But until that day comes, the Leafs remain the punch line to a joke they have already grown tired of hearing. @Email:[e-mail]

? Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks: The Chicago captain was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the post-season MVP despite having just three assists against the Flyers in the Stanley Cup final. He had 29 post-season points overall. ? Daniel Briere, Flyers: He produced 12 points in the six games of the finals, and was the scoring leader of the play-offs with 30 points.

Team of the week The Blackhawks paraded the Stanley Cup in front of a reported two million fans in Chicago on Friday.

Duds of the week ? Chris Pronger, Flyers: He went a career-worst minus-5 against Chicago in Game 5. He was on the ice for six of the Blackhawks' seven goals and in the penalty box for the other Chicago score.

Flyers' defence: Philadelphia forced overtime in Game 6, but were shocked shortly afterwards when Patrick Kane beat Michael Leighton with a shot from the bottom of the left face-off circle.

Who's best The NHL Awards show is in Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 23. Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Henrik Sedin are nominated for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the MVP.

Who's next The draft is June 25-26. Edmonton will have the No 1 pick, and will choose between the top prospects Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin. The Boston Bruins, courtesy of Toronto in last summer's Phil Kessel trade, will pick second overall.

Who's available The period for signing free agents begins on July 1.