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The Top-Five All-Time Best Toronto Maple Leafs Defensemen

By Spencer Teixeira

2004 Season: Player Brian Leetch of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
2004 Season: Player Brian Leetch of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO – MARCH 29: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers carries the puck as Bryan McCabe #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends against him March 29, 2004 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Leafs beat the Thrashers 4-2. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
TORONTO – MARCH 29: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers carries the puck as Bryan McCabe #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends against him March 29, 2004 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Leafs beat the Thrashers 4-2. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images) /

No. 3 – Bryan McCabe

Finishing with the bronze medal is Bryan McCabe (as is tradition).

One of the most perplexing players in recent memory, McCabe was the lightning rod of Leafs nation through the good and bad of the 2000’s. No player was more unfairly ridiculed and underappreciated during their time on the Toronto Maple Leafs, with one possible exception.

Often hated for his defensive blemishes, McCabe was never truly recognized for his offensive ability.

In 523 games as a Maple Leaf, McCabe scored 83 goals and 297 points, which puts him 6th in all time defensive scoring in franchise history (Quant Hockey) .

During his seven year tenure on the Leafs, McCabe has posted 40 or more points four times, including a career-high 68 points in 2005-06 (a year in which the Leafs finished outside of the playoffs).

Not to be remiss, McCabe also posted an impressive 26 points in 51 playoff games (Hockey Reference) .

Overall, McCabe’s stellar production cemented him as a consistent leader on the Leafs backend for the better part of one of the most successful decades in Toronto Maple Leafs history.

Thus, he deserves this ranking 100%.

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