The Toronto Maple Leafs have a rich history that includes numerous All-Stars, Stanley Cup winners and Hall-of-Fame players. There have been 852 players who have donned the Blue and White since their entry into the NHL in 1917, with dozens wearing the same jersey number over the years.
In this completely non-scientific exercise, we’ll take a look at who wore which number and vote on who was the best. Some decisions will be so apparent that voting will not be necessary, as in the case of #93(unless there is a sizeable faction that believes that Alexander Godynyuk had a better Leaf career than Doug Gilmour).
The performance of the player as a member of the Maple Leafs is what should be of primary consideration. There is no doubt that Ron Francis is a Hall-of-Fame player and Stanley Cup winner, but his achievements with Hartford/Carolina and Pittsburgh are not relevant, his 24 game tenure at the end of the 2004 season is what he is being judged on.
After going through all the numbers, the list of the top vote-getters will be posted.
#1
Honorable Mentions
Lorne Chabot – Acquired from the New York Rangers after winning a Stanley Cup in 1928, Chabot played five seasons(1928-1933) with the Maple Leafs and backstopped Toronto to the third championship in their history in 1932.
George Hainsworth – The Hall-of-Famer and multiple Vezina Trophy winner enjoyed three excellent seasons with the Leafs near the end of his career from 1934 to 1936.
Harry Lumley – Acquired from Chicago in 1952, the Hall-of-Famer played four seasons with the Leafs and won a Vezina with Toronto in 1954 with a microscopic 1.86 GAA and 13 shutouts.
Jacques Plante – After winning six Stanley Cups with Montreal and teaming up with fellow Hall-of-Famer Glenn Hall to get the expansion St. Louis Blues to consecutive Final appearances, Plante was traded to Toronto in 1970 and proved that he was still a top goalie at the age of 41, posting a .942 save percentage in 40 games that has not been eclipsed since.
Finalists Walter “Turk… Broda(1936-1952)
Career Totals – GP -629, W-L-T – 302-224-101, GAA – 2.53, SO – 62
Stanley Cup Championships – 5 (1942, 1947-49, 1951)
Vezina Trophies – 2 (1941 and 1948)
Hockey Hall of Fame – Inducted 1960
Broda played his entire career(14 seasons) with Toronto, winning the most Stanley Cups of any goaltender in the organization’s history, in spite of missing nearly three seasons serving in the Canadian Army during World War II.
Johnny “The China Wall… Bower(1958-1970)
Career Totals(with Toronto) – GP – 475, W-L-T – 219-160-79, GAA – 2.49, SO - 32
Stanley Cup Championships – 4(1962-64, 1967)
Vezina Trophies – 2 (1961 and 1965)
Hockey Hall of Fame – Inducted 1976
Bower spent most of the first 13 years in his professional career in the AHL, winning three Calder Cups with Cleveland. He played parts of three seasons with the New York Rangers from 1954 to 1957 before being claimed by the Leafs in 1958 at the age of 34, where he was the primary starter for three straight championship (1962-64) and teamed with Hall-of-Famer Terry Sawchuk on the last Leaf Stanley Cup winner in 1967.
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Toronto prospect Frederik Gauthier scored a goal and assist in Team Canada’s 6-2 victory over the Czech Republic at Concordia University in Montreal on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old scored one assist in seven games for Team Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Tournament in Malmo, Sweden and has a good chance to make the club for the 2015 Tournament(to be held in Montreal and Toronto this December) based on his experience, size and defensive prowess.
Gauthier was selected 21st overall by Toronto in the 2013 NHL Draft and scored 18 goals and 34 assists in 54 games with Rimouski of the QMJHL.
******* Nice hat!!
But Captain America also seems to enjoy #Leafs. Interesting combo. pic.twitter.com/fA33o0kGrM
— Jen (@NHLhistorygirl) August 6, 2014*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******
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