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The week has been one of tragedy and loss for the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the passing on Monday of 21-year-old Rodion Amirov and news of the death of four-time Stanley Cup winner Bob Baun at the age of 86.
The Lanigan, Saskatchewan native began his NHL career with Toronto in 1956 and known primarily as a physical, stay-at-home defenseman. His first stint with the Leafs lasted 11 years, and included their four championships in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967.
Baun’s most famous moment was his overtime goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against Detroit in which he left the ice on a stretcher after blocking a shot and returned to score the overtime winner past future teammate Terry Sawchuk to send the series to a seventh game.
Baun played 14 seasons for the Maple Leafs, totaling 739 career games, 169 points, 1,153 penalty minutes, and was a four-time Stanley Cup Champion. Among Maple Leafs all-time franchise defenceman leaders, the Lanigan, Saskatoon native ranks 4th in both games played and penalty minutes.
His career in Toronto ended after running afoul with Punch Imlach over contractual issues. Baun was left unprotected in the 1967 expansion draft and was claimed by Oakland. He played one season for the Seals before being dealt to Detroit in 1968.
Baun played in Detroit for two years but was placed on waivers in 1970 and eventually found his way back to Toronto, where he played two more seasons before injuries forced him to retire at the age of 36.