Larry Tanenbaum is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who has been involved in the hockey world for several decades. He is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, and several other sports teams.
Tanenbaum's involvement in hockey began in the 1990s when he became a minority owner of the Toronto Raptors. In 1996, he joined a group of investors who purchased the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. Tanenbaum became the chairman of MLSE in 2003 and has held the position ever since.
Under Tanenbaum's leadership, the Maple Leafs have undergone several changes and improvements. In 2004, the team hired John Ferguson Jr. as general manager, and he made several key acquisitions, including Darcy Tucker, Bryan McCabe, and Pavel Kubina. The team made the playoffs in each of Ferguson's first two seasons, but they were unable to advance past the first round.
In 2008, the Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke as general manager, and he made several bold moves, including trading for Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf. However, the team struggled to make the playoffs during Burke's tenure, and he was eventually fired in 2013.
In recent years, the Maple Leafs have been one of the top teams in the NHL, thanks in part to the leadership of Tanenbaum and his fellow MLSE executives. The team has made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons and has several star players, including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares.
Tanenbaum is also involved in several charitable organizations, including the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation and the United Jewish Appeal. He has donated millions of dollars to these and other causes, and he is widely regarded as one of the most generous philanthropists in Canada.
Overall, Larry Tanenbaum's hockey career has been marked by success and innovation. As the chairman of MLSE, he has helped to build one of the most successful sports organizations in North America, and he has made a significant impact on the lives of countless people through his charitable work.
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