Top 10 Individual Toronto Maple Leafs Seasons of All-Time

Brendan Shanahan #19 of the St. Louis Blues skates agains Doug Gilmour #93 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on February 18, 1995 at Maple Leaf Gardens (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
Brendan Shanahan #19 of the St. Louis Blues skates agains Doug Gilmour #93 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on February 18, 1995 at Maple Leaf Gardens (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
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TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 16: Statues of Mats Sundin of the Toronto Maple Leafs   (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

#10. Borje Salming (1976-77)

As arguably the greatest defenseman in Toronto Maple Leafs history, he had to crack this list.

Although he scored more goals one year later, the 1976-77 season was special because he had more points. Salming finished the campaign with 12 goals, 66 assists and 78 points in 76 games played.

At the time, Salming’s 66 assists were the most in team history, breaking Darryl Sittler’s record of 59 assists from the year prior.

Not only was Salming breaking franchise records, but he was tied for the league lead in assists by a defenseman that season and finished third among all players in that category.

#9. Jacques Plante (1970-71)

At 41-years-old, Plante had one of his best seasons of his career. If the Vezina Trophy criteria was the same that it is today, he would have won the trophy in a landslide. However, unfortunately back then that award went to the goaltender (or duo) of the team who allowed the least amount of goals in a season.

As an aging player, Plante only played 40 of the 78 games, but in those limited starts he was brilliant. To this day, he still holds the franchise record for save percentage (Sv %) by a Leafs goaltender.

Plante finished the year with a 24-11-4 record that included a .944 Sv% and 1.89 GAA. He was stopping every puck that came his way, but his team was so bad in front of them that the Leafs ended up losing in the First Round of the NHL Playoffs.

He’ll always be remember as the first goalie to wear a mask in a game, but his 1970-71 season with the Leafs should be glorified forever.