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Everything Wrong with TSN’s All-Time Toronto Maple Leafs Team

By Eric Cruikshank

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 22: Doug Gilmour #93 of the Toronto Maple Leafs carries the puck up ice against the Montreal Canadiens during NHL Preseason game action on September 22, 1995 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 22: Doug Gilmour #93 of the Toronto Maple Leafs carries the puck up ice against the Montreal Canadiens during NHL Preseason game action on September 22, 1995 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL: Borje Salming #21 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Graig Abel Collection/Getty Images))
TORONTO, ON – APRIL: Borje Salming #21 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Graig Abel Collection/Getty Images)) /

The Problem With All-Time Lists

The one major distinction I think needs to be made, especially when dealing with an original six team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, is that there really should be two separate all-time rosters for pre and post NHL expansion.

I should start by saying that I honestly see no purpose in making any of these lists in general, due to the amount of logistical questions that come with making a definitive all-time team.

Is it just based on legacy (individual awards and Stanley Cups)? Are we building a team to play a game? Both of these questions should drastically change the way you pick your players, and this list finds themselves somewhere in the middle of those two questions.

While you cannot ignore individual and team awards, another reason why there should be a pre and post expansion list is because the value of a Stanley Cup or a Hart Trophy among a league with six teams should be drastically different than a team with 24 or 31.

As I mentioned, I am not saying that players like Busher Jackson or Alan Stanley weren’t great players in their own time.

Jackson averaged at least a point-per-game three times throughout his ten seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Alan Stanley was a lockdown defensemen who helped the Leafs finish with the second best goals against average (2.58) from 1960-68, while also taking home four championships throughout that time.

Although, it’s tough to argue whether or not they are better than a player from another generation, based on how significantly more difficult the game has become since then.

Now, let’s take a look at the players I would change on this roster.

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