Hocky

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Top-20 Goal Scorers All-Time

[ad_1]

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been round for greater than a century. With 100 plus years of historical past, they’ve had a number of characters and quite a few Hall of Fame gamers. Many of the franchise’s finest gamers had prolonged careers with the group, racking up vital statistics. Here are the top-20 highest goal-scorers for the blue and white.

No. 1: Mats Sundin, 420 Goals

He is the lone European on the listing and was the franchise’s first non-Canadian captain. Mats Sundin was the face of the franchise for greater than a decade. He was acquired in 1994 and led the Maple Leafs in scoring in each season however one throughout his tenure. His 420 objectives are highlighted by two 41-goal seasons in 1996-97 and 2001-02. In 13 seasons in Toronto, he scored 30 objectives or extra in 10 of them.

Mats Sundin (Mike Lynaugh Photography)

Sundin is the franchise chief in factors with 987, game-winning objectives with 79, powerplay objectives with 124 and second for all-time assists with 567. What is most spectacular about his manufacturing, is the remainder of the group’s roster throughout Sundin’s time in Toronto. He not often had a constant winger and positively not a constant famous person. The better of his common linemates, maybe, was Gary Roberts, who had two 40-point seasons and one 50-point season as a Maple Leaf.

Substack The Hockey Writers Toronto Maple Leafs Banner

The majority of Sundin’s work was achieved by himself, and it’s exceptional that he nonetheless comes out on high because the Maple Leafs’ all-time goal-scoring (and factors) chief. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.

No. 2: Darryl Sittler, 389 Goals

Darryl Sittler, maybe finest identified for his record 10-point game in 1976 when he scored six objectives and 4 assists, is second on the franchise’s goal-scoring listing. He was the first-round draft choose by the Maple Leafs in 1970 and spent a dozen seasons with the group earlier than being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Related: Darryl Sittler – Toronto Maple Leafs Legend


Latest News & Highlights


In these 12 seasons, he topped the 40-goal plateau 4 occasions, his highest goal-scoring complete was within the 1977-78 season, when he recorded 45. But his identify seems a number of occasions within the Leafs’ document books. He is second in all-time scoring with 916 factors, second in most powerplay objectives having amassed 120 and he has essentially the most hat methods in group historical past with 18.

Darryl Sittler Toronto Maple Leafs
Darryl Sittler, Toronto Maple Leafs, circa Seventies (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios by way of Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

Sittler was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989, however his accomplishments had been additionally acknowledged by being included within the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2016. In 2017, he was named one of many 100 Greatest NHL Players in historical past.

No. 3: Dave Keon, 365 Goals

Hailed because the group’s greatest player of all time, Keon spent 15 seasons, nearly his whole profession, with the Maple Leafs, scoring 365 objectives. He received the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1961 and by no means slowed down. He received 4 Stanley Cups with Toronto. His private finest season, in 1970-71, noticed him rating 38 objectives.

Related: 7 Highly Questionable HHOF Selections

In his profession with the Maple Leafs, Keon reached the 20-goal mark 11 occasions. Remarkably, he additionally amassed a complete of solely 75 penalty minutes, by far the bottom of any of the Maple Leafs’ top-10 aim scorers (and third behind Syl Apps and Auston Matthews within the high 20).

Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Keon (THW Archives)

Keon is an eight-time NHL All-Star, a two-time recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1967. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986, named to the 100 Greatest NHL Players listing in 2017 and added to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

No. 4: Ron Ellis, 332 Goals

Ron Ellis received a Stanley Cup in 1967 and was a part of Team Canada through the famed 1972 Summit Series. Ellis spent everything of his 16-year NHL profession with the Maple Leafs. His finest season, in 1969-70, noticed him register 35 objectives. He reached the 20-goal plateau 11 occasions in his profession, together with 10 straight seasons.

The most fascinating a part of Ellis’ profession is that he would’ve been significantly larger on this listing. After his most efficient season, Ellis abruptly retired through the 1975 coaching camp. He denied that it was in protest of Sittler being named captain. He returned to the group two years later for the beginning of the 1977-78 season.

The four-time NHL All-Star, averaged greater than 20 objectives a season and left in his prime. It’s honest to say he would’ve simply tacked on one other 40 to 50 objectives, difficult Sittler for second on this listing. The two-year retirement could have additionally price Ellis an induction within the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ironically, he later labored for the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 5 (Tie): Auston Matthews, 299 Goals

Auston Matthews has cracked this listing after simply six seasons with the franchise. He was chosen first general within the 2016 draft by the Maple Leafs. He made fairly a primary impression on Leaf Nation by scoring 4 objectives in his first NHL recreation – the primary participant in modern-day NHL historical past to perform that feat. Matthews went on to attain 40 objectives in his rookie season, and win the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

The dynamic centre suffered just a few accidents throughout his subsequent two seasons however nonetheless managed to attain 71 objectives in 170 video games. Matthews was on a record-setting tempo through the 2019-20 season. He had 47 objectives when the season was stopped for the worldwide pandemic. Analytics recommend Matthews would’ve scored eight extra objectives within the subsequent 12 video games beating Rick Vaive’s 54 aim mark from the 1980-81 season.

Matthews turned the primary participant in franchise historical past to win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy after scoring 41 objectives in 52 video games through the shortened 2020-21 season. Had it been a full 82-game common schedule, Matthews was projected so as to add one other 22 objectives, for a complete of 63. During the 2021-22 season, he turned the primary Maple Leaf to attain 60 objectives in a season. The American-born famous person has three extra seasons beneath contract with the membership. He will turn out to be a free agent after the 2023-24 season.

No. 6 (Tie): Rick Vaive, 299 Goals

Becoming the first Maple Leafs player to score 50 goals in a season, Vaive scored 54 of his 299 objectives within the blue and white within the 1980-81 season. That quantity nonetheless stands because the document for many objectives in a season by any Maple Leafs participant. He would attain the 50-goal mark two extra occasions, scoring 51 and 52 objectives, respectively, within the following years. In his seven full seasons with the Maple Leafs, Vaive by no means scored lower than 32 objectives.

Vaive was a excessive draft choose of the Vancouver Canucks in 1979 however was traded to Toronto in a multi-player deal that noticed Maple Leafs’ fan favorite, Dave “Tiger” Williams, head west. Vaive solely performed half of his profession in Toronto. He was unceremoniously traded in 1987 by group proprietor Harold Ballard, throughout a few of the most tumultuous occasions within the historical past of the group. Had he performed everything of his NHL profession in Toronto, he could be the group’s high aim scorer. In 13 NHL season’s he scored 441 objectives. He has not been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 7 (Tie): Frank Mahovlich, 296 Goals

Frank Mahovlich spent 10 vibrant seasons with the Maple Leafs. The Big M, who was additionally referred to as Moses, received the Calder Memorial Trophy for his 1957-58 season efficiency the place he scored 20 objectives and including 16 assists in 67 video games. He continued to search out the online in ensuing seasons, his most memorable got here in 1960-61 when he scored 48 objectives for 36 assists and 131 penalty minutes in simply 70 video games. His 48 aim season stood because the excessive watermark for 21 seasons.

Frank Mahovlich
Frank Mahovlich (THW Archives)

However, Mahovlich spent a tough decade in Toronto squaring off with coach Punch Imlach and was usually booed by followers at Maple Leaf Gardens. He was admitted to the hospital no less than twice whereas coping with bouts of despair. After 4 Stanley Cup wins with Toronto he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings midway by way of his eleventh professional season. Later discovering himself on the rival Montreal Canadiens the place he received two extra Stanley Cups.

Related: Top 10 All-Time European-born NHL Forwards

He was a 15-time NHL All-Star, 9 of these appearances as a Maple Leaf. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and was named one of many Top 100 NHL Players in History in 2017. Later in life, he was a Liberal Senator within the Canadian Senate.

No. 7 (Tie): George Armstrong, 296 Goals

George Armstrong spent 21 years taking part in centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs, however his tenure with the group didn’t finish when his taking part in time did. In reality, he spent 75 years as a part of the group, as a coach, assistant common supervisor, scout after which an envoy. His dedication to the group is what locations him on this goal-scoring listing as he was not a prolific scorer, however he holds the franchise document for the longest-serving participant with an unimaginable 1,187 video games.

George Armstrong
George Armstrong was captain of the final Maple Leafs champion group in 1967 (THW Archives)

When you play that many video games, you’re sure to attain some objectives. His highest season output was in 1959-60 when he scored 23. He solely reached the 20-goal mark 4 occasions in 21 seasons. He served as captain for 12 years and Conn Smythe referred to as Armstrong, “the best captain, as a captain, the Leafs have ever had.”

Related: Maple Leafs Remember George Armstrong

Not solely did Armstrong play practically 1,200 common seasons video games with the Leafs, he performed one other 110 playoff video games. He scored the ultimate aim of the unique six-era of the NHL. He scored the final Leafs’ aim in a Stanley Cup Final. He was a 7-time NHL All-Star and four-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.

No. 9: Wendel Clark, 260 Goals

Wendel Clark was the first-overall choose by the Maple Leafs in 1985. The satisfaction of Kelvington, Saskatchewan turned one of the crucial liked gamers within the historical past of the group. Not solely is he ranked excessive on the goal-scoring listing, however Clark additionally amassed 1535 penalty minutes as a Maple Leaf, which is third all-time.

Wendel Clark Toronto Maple Leafs Rick Wamsley St. Louis Blues
Wendel Clark, Toronto Maple Leafs and Rick Wamsley, St. Louis Blues, April 1986. (Photo by Graig Abel)

He scored 34 objectives in his rookie season and improved on that with 37 in his sophomore yr. Following that, he turned the sufferer of accidents, taking part in in simply 28, 15, and 38 video games over the following three seasons. His highest scoring season was in 1993-94 the place he scored 46 objectives. Coincidentally he additionally had his highest penalty minutes in that season too with 76 minutes within the field in simply 64 video games performed.

Related: Revisiting the Wendel Clark for Mats Sundin Trade

Clark was one of the crucial bodily gamers in group historical past, however his bodily play restricted his motion. He performed lower than half of the season a number of occasions in his NHL profession. He was additionally a part of one of the crucial stunning and later legendary trades in franchise historical past. Clark was traded to the Quebec Nordiques as part of a multi-player swap that included Mats Sundin coming to Toronto.

No. 10: Bob Pulford, 251 Goals

Bob Pulford was a terrific hockey participant and clearly among the finest for the franchise, however he’s remembered rather more for what he did for the sport. Pulford was named the primary president of the National Hockey League Players’ Association in 1967. He additionally performed with the Los Angeles Kings after which coached them. He received the Jack Adams Award in 1974-75. After that, he spent 30 years with the Chicago Blackhawks as a coach and common supervisor.

Bob Pulford, Toronto Maple Leafs
Bob Pulford, quantity 20, celebrating a aim. (THW Archives)

Like just a few others on this listing, Pulford was not a really prolific aim scorer, however his time spent with the group is why he lands on the listing. His finest season got here in 1965-66 when he scored 28 objectives. He reached the 20-goal plateau 4 occasions with the Maple Leafs, however by no means scored beneath 11 in a season. Perhaps his most well-known second was when he scored the 2OT winner in Game 3 of the 1967 Stanley Cup Final to present his group the 2-1 sequence lead, they went on to win the Cup. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

No. 10: Ted Kennedy, 230 Goals

Rounding out the highest ten is Ted Kennedy. He first appeared in Toronto’s lineup for 2 video games as a 17-year-old in 1942-43. He continues to be the youngest participant to decorate for the Maple Leafs. He was captain for eight seasons throughout his tenure between 1942 to 1957. He was extra of a tenacious forechecker than an offensive dynamo, however his 14 exhausting working seasons with the group netted him 230 objectives.

His finest season noticed him rating 29 objectives in 1944-45, and he reached the 20-goal plateau 5 occasions. He continues to be thought of among the finest faceoff gamers to ever play the sport, serving to him help on 330 objectives, which is sweet for eighth on the groups all time help listing.

He helped the group turn out to be the NHL’s second dynasty after they received 4 Stanley Cups in 5 years.He was the primary NHL participant (alongside teammate Turk Broda) to win 5 Stanley Cups. He can be the final Maple Leafs’ participant to win the Hart Trophy, again in 1955. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966 and was later named to the NHL’s Top 100 Player’s List.

No. 11: Lanny McDonald, 219 Goals

Maple Leafs, Lanny McDonald, NHL, NHL Draft, Fourth overall
Lanny McDonald stays one of the crucial recognizable Maple Leafs. (NHL Alumni Association)

Lanny McDonald, maybe finest know for his well-known moustache, additionally did some scoring for the Maple Leafs. The group drafted him fourth general through the 1973 draft and he went on to play six full seasons in Toronto. After a sluggish begin to his profession, his aim scoring potential began to indicate in his third season. He scored 37 objectives in 1975-76 and adopted it up with three straight 40 aim seasons or extra objectives thrice whereas he was with the Maple Leafs.

During his seventh season Toronto traded McDonald to the Colorado Rockies. A transfer that resulted in protests in entrance of Maple Leaf Gardens. He was later traded to the Calgary Flames and his identify is throughout that franchise’s document books as properly. He is fifth on the Calgary Flames all time goal-scoring listing with 215 objectives in 492 video games. McDonald’s highest scoring season was in 1982-83 when he received 66 objectives for the Flames, a franchise document that also stands.

He went on to attain 500 objectives and 1000 factors in his 16 NHL seasons and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992, and nonetheless sports activities the moustache to this present day.

No. 12: Syl Apps, 201 Goals

The first Maple Leafs participant to ever win the Calder Memorial Trophy, Apps spent his whole 10-year NHL profession taking part in in Toronto. Consistency was the secret for Apps, who registered six 20-goal seasons and three 15-goal seasons. His finest, scoring-wise got here throughout his final within the league, when he potted 26 objectives.

A 3-time Stanley Cup champion with the Maple Leafs, Apps was additionally a participant of nice character. He was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1942 for his manner, and he solely registered 56 PIMs all through his profession. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.

No. 13: Charlie Conacher, 200 Goals

Seen by many as one among, if not the greatest player to ever play for the Maple Leafs, Charlie Conacher performed for the group for 9 years. In an period of low scoring, he commonly scored 30 or extra objectives, registering 4 such seasons all through his tenure. In reality, with era-adjusted scoring, Conacher holds 4 of the top-10 spots in objectives scored by a Maple Leafs participant.

His finest season got here in 1934-35 when he scored 36 objectives. Adjusted for the period, nonetheless, his finest season was in 1930-31 when he scored 62 era-adjusted objectives. He led the NHL in goal-scoring 5 occasions whereas with the Maple Leafs and led the league in factors twice. He received the Stanley Cup as soon as, in 1932. The man they referred to as the Big Bomber was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961 and is one the NHL’s Top 100 Players listing.

No. 15: John Anderson, 189 Goals

Anderson spent eight seasons with the Maple Leafs within the late 70s and early 80s after being chosen by the group within the first spherical of the 1977 Draft.

Throughout this high-scoring period, he registered 4 consecutive seasons of 30 objectives or extra. His finest season got here in 1983-84, when he scored 37 objectives, discovering success with teammates Rick Vaive and Bill Derlago on their acquisition by the Maple Leafs. He has not been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 16 (Tie): Busher Jackson, 186 Goals

Of the three ties, Jackson wanted the fewest video games to achieve 186 objectives. Known largely in fashionable days for his off-ice struggles, he was a terrific participant for the Maple Leafs all through his 10 seasons with the group.

Consistency was key for Jackson, who put up 5 20-goal seasons, together with 4 consecutively. His finest season got here in 1931-32 when he scored 28 objectives (period adjusted: 49), led the NHL in factors with 53, and received the Stanley Cup. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971.

No. 16 (Tie): Sid Smith, 186 Goals

Of the three tied gamers, Smith took the second-fewest video games to achieve 186 objectives. He spent his whole NHL profession with the Maple Leafs, spanning 9 full seasons and three shortened seasons cut up with the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL and the Quebec Aces of the QSHL.

You can also like:

Regularly placing up 20-goal seasons, Smith’s finest got here in 1954-55 when he scored 33 objectives. He reached the 30-goal plateau one different time, whereas reaching the 20-goal plateau for six consecutive seasons. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. He has not been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 16 (Tie): Ron Stewart, 186 Goals

Of the three ties, Stewart wanted essentially the most video games to achieve 186 objectives. He spent over half of his NHL profession with the Maple Leafs, totalling 13 full seasons.

Not a very expert aim scorer, Stewart broke the 20-goal mark with the Maple Leafs simply as soon as, in 1958-59, scoring 21 objectives. In spite of this, he nonetheless managed to attain no less than 13 objectives in all however one season in Toronto. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the group. He has not been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 19: Phil Kessel, 181 Goals

Kessel was an enigma from the second he landed in Toronto. Perhaps one of many solely shiny spots by way of many depressing Maple Leafs seasons, Kessel was usually criticized for his lack of defensive play.

Phil Kessel
The Maple Leafs acquired Phil Kessel, who’d had a stupendous sophomore season, in September 2009, however paid a hefty value.
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

In the six seasons he performed with the group, he reached the 30-goal plateau 4 occasions. If not for the lockout-shortened season in 2012-13, he would’ve reached 30 that season as properly. His finest seasons scoring-wise got here in 2011-12 and 2013-14 when he scored 37 objectives. Kessel was a two-time All-Star with the Maple Leafs, and by no means missed a recreation whereas taking part in with the group. He continues to be an lively participant within the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes.

No. 20: William Nylander, 177 Goals

William Nylander appears to have one of the crucial distinctive relationships with the fan base. Many folks in Leafs Nations love him and what he brings to the group. However, there’s nonetheless a portion that may’t stand him and really feel that he’s too delicate. Regardless, he now formally tops the highest 20 aim scorers in Maple Leafs’ historical past.

William Nylander Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Nylander was chosen within the 2014 NHL entry draft and made his debut through the 2015 NHL season. In that season he appeared in 22 video games and scored six objectives and 7 assists for 13 factors. However, it has solely been up from there for him, he has produced at a really excessive stage for the group. His finest NHL season is by far, the 2022-23 NHL marketing campaign. He scored a career-high 40 goals, which comes as a shock to completely nobody as a result of Nylander’s scoring potential is plain. It won’t be lengthy until he hits the 200-goal mark and continues to climb up this listing.



[ad_2]

Source link

Related Articles

Back to top button