The Highest Producing All-American Toronto Maple Leafs Lineup

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had some great American Players over the years.

In celebration of our neighbours to the south, with this being Independence Day weekend in the USA, I wanted to give recognition to the most productive American-born players throughout the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As much as it’s widely known that Canada has the majority of the player representation throughout the NHL, you don’t have to look further than the  Leafs to find a former 1st overall pick and American-born, Auston Matthews.

There is expected competition that comes from playing most of the international teams, while the rest of the world continue to grow their game to levels that force further parity.

However, Canadians don’t have to look very far to find a more proximal rival. USA Hockey has earned the ability to be considered amongst the countries that produce the highest level of players.

I will always enjoy seeing Canada as a favourite in any tournament they enter, but added competition isn’t a bad thing. Forcing both powerhouse programs to raise their game benefits everyone involved.

To celebrate the American influences that have helped shape this Maple Leafs franchise over the years, here’s a rundown of their highest producing players at each respective position.

LW – James van Riemsdyk

After being selected 2nd overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, James van Riemsdyk was looked to as a prominent piece for the Philadelphia Flyers. Unfortunately for them, he didn’t really showcase that throughout his three years there.

Luckily for Toronto Maple Leafs fans, however, his best was yet to come.

He was traded from the Flyers in exchange for Luke Schenn. After van Riemsdyk put on the blue and white, his play quickly began to trend in a more productive direction as he became an undisputed fan favourite.

Accumulating 294 points over the course of 413 games with the Maple Leafs, van Riemsdyk’s talents were the type that seemed effortless. He was a smooth skater, who could get creative with the puck, and always found his way to the front of the net.

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RD – Jake Gardiner

One of the most polarizing players in Toronto’s history, Jake Gardiner was thrust into the spotlight of the Maple Leafs market in a 2011 trade with the Anaheim Ducks.

His speed sometimes proved to be a downfall, with his puck handling not always able to keep up. As a player who wasn’t shy to pinch and look to make a play, mistakes that could otherwise seem easy for him to avoid became impossible for fans to ignore.

Whatever side of the Jake Gardiner fan-fence you found yourself on while he was in Toronto, there is no denying the offensive skill set he brought to the defensive core of the team.

Regardless of how much more should have (or could have) been expected of him in his role, Gardiner earned 245 points and a ranking as Toronto’s highest producing right defenseman from the USA.

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LD – Al Iafrate

Taking things back to the mid-1980s, we find former 4th overall pick from the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Al Iafrate. As an 18-year-old, he got into immediate action playing 68 games during the 1984-85 season.

The team around him may not have been doing much to scare their opponents, but at 6″3 and 235 lbs that didn’t stop Iafrate from taking things into his own hands. Literally.

He was always known for having one of the hardest shots in the league, which is a dangerous weapon to have on your backend. He played seven seasons with the Maple Leafs to start his career, but was then traded to the Washington Capitals in 1991.

At the 1993 NHL Skills Competition, Iafrate recorded a 169.3 km/h slapshot. That record wouldn’t be broken until 2009, by Zdeno Chara.

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G – Damian Rhodes

Believe it or not, we have to look to a previous Maple Leafs backup from the early 1990s to find the winningest American-born goalie in franchise history.

Damian Rhodes only played 47 games during his four years in Toronto, but it was enough of an opportunity to earn 20 wins. That puts him at 34th all-time in victories for the organization.

Sitting behind Felix Potvin would be a tough way for anyone to start their career, especially if they were expecting much playing time. Rhodes only began to get into more games once he moved on to the Ottawa Senators.

Less of a reflection on a lack of rich history in net for the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise, this is more so an illustration that Toronto simply hasn’t had an elite level American goaltender there to help the organization.

Perhaps fans can expect that to change with the recent addition of Jack Campbell.

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Auston Matthews, Justin Holl, and Jack Campbell are currently the only representatives from the USA throughout Toronto’s roster, with a highly anticipated Nick Robertson expected to make his way into their lineup soon.

We’ll have to wait and see what’s next for the American impact throughout the future of this franchise. But, in the meantime, I wanted to wish a Happy Independence Day weekend to our American friends and fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs!