Here's the history of one of the original six teams of the NHL; a squad born in 1917 but truly created by Conn Smythe in the late 1920s; a team that hasn't won a Stanley Cup in 40 years but with fans so fanatical they call themselves the Leafs Nation.About the Author: J. ALEXANDER POULTON is a writer, photographer and genuine sports enthusiast. He's even willing to admit he has ''called in sick'' during the broadcasts of major sports events so that he can get in as much viewing as possible. He has earned his BA in English literature and his graduate diploma in journalism.