#4. Sergei Berezin
If you’re an 80s or 90s kid, maybe Berezin isn’t underrated to you but in Leafs history, I think he definitely is.
First, let’s just admire those jerseys for a second. For me, that jersey symbolizes my childhood. They’re absolutely perfect with the two Leafs on the shoulders, and arm-pit holes across the sides.
Also, let’s talk about Berezin’s weapon of choice, the Easton Ultra-Lite. That stick changed hockey in the late 90s. It’s no Synergy or Z-Bubble, but you could get some serious whip with that stick.
Anyways, that stick is probably a reason why Berezin was so good and is an underrated Maple Leaf.
During Berezin’s tenure with the Maple Leafs from 1996-2001, this was Mats Sundin’s team. He was the captain and typically the leader in points and goals every year.
However, Berezin was also right up there in goals with Sundin, even surpassing him in the 1988-99 season.
Berezin never played a full season with the Maple Leafs, but in a five-year stretch he scored the following:
- 1996-97: 25 goals
- 1997-98: 16 goals
- 1998-99: 37 goals
- 1999-00: 26 goals
- 2000-01: 22 goals
In 357 games, Berezin scored 126 goals, which averages out to 0.35 goals per game. That would put him at a 29-goal rate in a full 82-game season over a five-year span which is very impressive.
Berezin won’t crack the top-100 Leafs list of all-time but his run in the late 90s should be remembered.