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Top 5 Most Underrated Toronto Maple Leafs of All-Time

By Stephen Nixon

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 04: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates up to a face off against the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game at Gila River Arena on November 4, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 04: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates up to a face off against the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game at Gila River Arena on November 4, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Canadian professional hockey players and Montreal Canadiens teammates Doug Harvey (#2) (1924 – 1989) and Dickie Moore (#12) attempt to block an opposing player from the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)
Canadian professional hockey players and Montreal Canadiens teammates Doug Harvey (#2) (1924 – 1989) and Dickie Moore (#12) attempt to block an opposing player from the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

#5. Sid Smith

Who?

You’re going to have to be a hockey historian or die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan to remember Sid Smith because the prime of his career took place roughly 70 years ago.

When historic Toronto Maple Leafs names get brought up, Sid Smith’s name is nowhere to be found.

In all honesty, I had no idea who he was before digging deeper into this article. I mean, can you blame me? In deep-diving conversations about the Leafs with buddies, nobody goes, “Man, do you remember Sid Smith’s 1954-55 season? It was incredible!”

But you know what, maybe they should.

In terms of left-wingers of all-time, Smith arguably should have cracked TSN’s All-Time Leafs team a few weeks ago. They had Bob Pulford as the fourth-line left-winger, when Smith’s prime was actually more impressive.

Pulford had a longer more consistent career, but Smith had a stretch in the 1950s that only players like Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, Ted Lindsay and Maurice “Rocket” Richard could match in the goals and points category.

Smith had six straight 20-goal seasons, including two occasions where he scored 30 or more, and below is a five-year run where he finished in the top-10 in either goals, points or both.

  • 1950-51
    • 22 Goals (4th in NHL)
    • 45 Points (10th in NHL)
  • 1951-52
    • 30 Goals (5th in NHL)
    • 51 Points (5th in NHL)
  • 1952-53
    • 20 Goals (10th in NHL)
  • 1953-54
    • 22 Goals (7th in NHL)
  • 1954-55
    • 33 Goals (4th in NHL)
    • 54 Points (8th in NHL)

I know nobody is going to race off to purchase a Sid Smith jersey now, but in terms of underrated Leafs, Smith is one of them.

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