Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Is Your Favourite All-Time Leaf?

Who is your favorite All-Time Toronto Maple Leafs player?

Just about every hockey fan has their favourite player. Today I want to make a two part article, the first one is my story as to who my favourite Toronto Maple Leafs player is. The second article will be for you, the readers, to share who your favourite player is and why.

I have been a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs since 1998 (the year I was born). Disgustingly enough, I also liked the Montreal Canadiens for a bit because of Saku Koivu (I know, I know, I am horrible).

With that being said, Toronto always had a special place in my heart, especially one player in particular.

Mats Sundin

I started watching hockey from a very young age, probably around the age of three. I was not as into it as I am nowadays but I still watched with my dad whenever it was on.

I never really got to watch Sundin in his prime, obviously I have seen replays but it is not the same. My earliest memories of him playing was when he was at least 30. Obviously I do not remember the first time I saw him play but I do remember seeing the “C” on his jersey and loving him for that.

To this day my favourite number is 13 because of him. I wore it for most of my very below average hockey career. That was because of him, he was an inspiration to me,  somebody I wanted to be like.

My fondest memory of him is his 500th NHL goal. I love this story. At the ACC, game tied 4-4, Sundin already has two goals on the night – goals 498 and 499 – Leafs on the PK, then the unthinkable happens…

Sundin bursts into the Calgary Flames end, takes a slap shot and scores top corner. A shorthanded, over time winning, hat trick goal. That is his 500th career NHL goal, not sure if any player will ever be able to top that.

I would say Sundin is my favourite all time player but there is one guy who could take that reign from him.

Auston Matthews

Enter Auston Matthews, my current favourite player. Not gonna lie, I probably would not love him as much as I do now if I did not own him in fantasy when he scored four goals in his debut. Okay I am lying, I would love him regardless.

Matthews is a generational Leaf, a player as good as him only comes around every once in a while to us. The last player of his caliber to be on the Leafs before he showed up was Sundin. A first line, big bodied, back checking, skilled centre. What is not to like about him?

On top of that, he is mature beyond his years. I am only a couple of months younger than him and I know for a fact that I would not be able to handle the situations that he does as well as he does. Not even close, he is a very special and talented person.

So how can Matthews take over as my favourite Leafs player? Three words: Stanley Cup champion. If he can lead the Leafs to a Stanley Cup, he would instantly become my all time favourite because of it, hands down.

With all of that being said, Sundin is still my current all time favourite but Matthews may take over that role in the new future.

Let me know who your favourite player is and why. I will choose some of them to include in the second part of this article.