The Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Defensemen of All-Time
By Mike Jack
#6. Allan Stanley – Toronto Maple Leafs 1958-1968
After 10 NHL seasons with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins, Allan Stanley joined the Toronto Maple Leafs for another 10 season. He then played one more season with the Philadelphia Flyers before retiring at the age of 42.
Stanley was a strong stay at home defensemen known for his slow but continuous skating style that earned him the nickname “Snowshoes.”
Allan Stanley was the Norris trophy runner-up in 1960 and was third in Norris voting in 1961. He was named to the 2nd NHL All-Star Team three times and was a key part of four Stanley Cup Championships with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Fun fact: When I was learning about hockey history as a kid, I knew a lot of the NHL trophies were named after former players, so I assumed that the Stanley Cup was named after Allan Stanley. It is not.
Allan Stanley was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #23
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1960, 1961, 1966
Norris Trophy Runner-Up 1960
Norris Trophy Nominee (3rd in voting) 1961
Played in Five NHL All-Star Games
Four Stanley Cup Championships
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Top 10 in NHL Goals by a Defenseman for six seasons
Top 10 in NHL Assists by a Defenseman for five seasons
Top 10 in NHL Points by a Defenseman for five seasons