Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Who Deserve Retired Numbers
On February 14th 1934, the Toronto Maple Leafs became the first professional sports team in history to retire a number in honour of a player when they retired Ace Bailey’s #6 after he suffered a gruesome career-ending injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have now honoured 19 players this way by raising their banners to the rafters. Since some of these players used the same number at different times, there are 13 numbers retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Though Toronto has more player banners in the rafters than any other NHL team and the second most retired numbers (Montreal has 18 banners and 14 numbers), there are still many more legendary Leaf players deserving of the honour.
I love seeing players having their legacy honoured and being cementing into the history books. I remember seeing the banners hanging from Maple Leaf Gardens as a kid, and I image kids today looking up the names and reading about the remarkable achievements of the greatest players in Toronto Maple Leafs history.
In the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, which spans over 100 years, there has to be more than 19 players worthy of a banner in the rafters. Some may say that you’ll run out of numbers if they retire too many, but in my opinion, the numbers don’t even have to be retired. Having them hanging above the ice is enough.
The last player banner to be raised in Toronto was Mats Sundin’s #13 in 2012.
Toronto Maple Leafs Retired Numbers
Turk Broda (1)
Johnny Bower (1)
Hap Day (4)
Red Kelly (4)
Bill Barilko (5)
Ace Bailey (6)
King Clancy (7)
Tim Horton (7)
Charlie Conacher (9)
Ted Kennedy (9)
Syl Apps (10)
George Armstrong (10)
Mats Sundin (13)
Dave Keon (14)
Wendel Clark (17)
Borje Salming (21)
Frank Mahovlich (27)
Darryl Sittler (27)
Doug Gilmour (93)
Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs that Deserve Retired Numbers
In creating this list, I used stats and trophy voting comparing each player with players from their own era instead of comparing Toronto Maple Leafs players from different eras. It’s not fair to compare career point totals from the high-scoring eighties with the trap era nineties or the 48 game thirties.
I didn’t look at career totals much either, so players who played five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs could rank as high as players who played 12 seasons with the Leafs. Because of this, some of the highest point producing Leafs of all-time like Ron Ellis and Bob Pulford didn’t make the list.
I also decided to only include players that had at least three great seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. By great seasons, I mean there had to be a way to argue that they were among the top 10 in their position for at least three seasons as Maple Leafs. That is why Dave Andreychuk and Ed Belfour didn’t make the list as they both really only had two great seasons with the Leafs.
All the stats and awards I’ve listed where awarded while the players were on the Toronto Maple Leafs unless specified and I didn’t consider performances before or after each player was a member of the Toronto Leafs. The list of the Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 released by the organization for their centennial season in 2016 was a great starting point.
(all stats from Hockey-Reference.com)
Let’s start with some honourable mentions:
Toronto Maple Leafs that Deserve Retired Numbers – Honourable Mentions
Joe Primeau (1927-1936)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #22
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Winner 1932
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1934
Lady Byng Trophy Runner-Up 1933, 1934
Lady Byng Trophy Finalist (3rd in voting) 1931, 1935
Stanley Cup Champion 1932
#92 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Led NHL in Assists three times
2nd in NHL Points twice
Top 10 in NHL Assists five times
Top 10 in NHL Points three times
3rd Most Seasons Leading NHL in Assists in NHL History
Sid Smith (1946-1958)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #33
Toronto Maple Leafs Captain 1955–1956
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Winner 1952, 1955
1st NHL All-Star Team 1955
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1951, 1952
Lady Byng Trophy Finalist (3rd in voting) 1953, 1957
Played in seven NHL All-Star Games
Three Stanley Cup Championships
Top 5 in NHL Goals three times
Top 10 in NHL Goals five times
Top 10 in NHL Points three times
Tod Sloan (1947-1958)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #38
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1956
Hart Trophy Runner-Up 1956
Played in three NHL All-Star Games
Stanley Cup Champion 1951
Top 5 in NHL Goals twice
Top 10 in NHL Goals three times
Top 10 in NHL Assists once
Top 10 in NHL Points twice
Max Bentley (1947-1953)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #21
4th in Hart Trophy voting (1948)
Played in four NHL All-Star Games
Three Stanley Cup Championships
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
3rd in NHL Assists and Points 1950-51
Top 5 in NHL Points twice
Top 10 in NHL Goals four times
Top 10 in NHL Assists twice
Mike Palmateer (1976-1980 & 1982-84)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #58
5th in Hart Trophy voting 1979
3rd in NHL All-Star Team voting 1979
Top 10 in NHL All-Star Team voting four times
3rd in NHL Save Percentage 1978-79
3rd in NHL Wins twice
Top 5 in NHL Save Percentage twice
Top 10 in NHL Save Percentage three times
Top 10 in NHL Wins four times
7th Most Single Season Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (34) 1977-78
6th Most Career Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (129)
Red Horner (1928-1940)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #27
Toronto Maple Leafs Captain 1938-1940
Stanley Cup Champion 1932
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Record for Leading NHL in Penalty Minutes seven times
Led NHL Defensemen in Assists and Points 1937-38
Top 10 in NHL Goals by a Defenseman for five seasons
Top 10 in NHL Assists by a Defenseman for 11 seasons
Top 10 in NHL Points by a Defenseman for 10 seasons
Bob Baun (1956-1967, 1970-1973)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #30
6th in Hart Trophy voting 1971
5th in Norris Trophy voting 1971
8th in Norris Trophy voting 1965
Played in Four NHL All-Star Games
Four Stanley Cup Championships
Top 10 in NHL Goals by a Defenseman for two seasons
Top 10 in NHL Assists by a Defenseman for one season
Felix Potvin (1991-1999)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #45
NHL All-Rookie Team 1993
Calder Trophy Finalist (3rd in voting) 1993
4th in Vezina Trophy voting 1993
3rd in NHL All-Star Team voting 1993
Played in two NHL All-Star Games
Led NHL in Goals Against Average 1992-93
2nd in NHL Save Percentage 1992-93
Top 10 in NHL Save Percentage three times
Top 10 in NHL Wins twice
7th Most Single Season Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (34) 1993-94
3rd Most Career Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (160)
Norm Ullman (1968-1975)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #34
9th in Hart Trophy voting 1969
14th in Hart Trophy voting 1971
Played in three NHL All-Star Games
#90 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Top 10 in NHL Goals twice
Top 10 in NHL Assists twice
Top 10 in NHL Points twice
48th Most Career Goals in NHL History (490)
46th Most Career Assists in NHL History (739)
42nd Most Career Points in NHL History (1229)
Lanny McDonald (1973-1980)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #19
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1977
Top 5 in NHL All-Star Team voting three times
Top 10 in NHL All-Star Team voting four times
Played in two NHL All-Star Games
Number Retired by the Calgary Flames
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Top 5 in NHL Goals twice
Top 10 in NHL Goals three times
Top 10 in NHL Points twice
7th Most Single Season Goals in Toronto Maple Leafs History (47) 1977-78
10th Most Single Season Goals in Toronto Maple Leafs History (46) 1976-77
45th Most Career Goals in NHL History (500)
90th Most Career Points in NHL History (1006)
Jimmy Thomson (1945-1957)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #40
Toronto Maple Leafs Captain 1956–1957
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1951, 1952
Played in Seven NHL All-Star Games
Four Stanley Cup Championships
Led NHL Defensemen in Assists three times
Led NHL Defensemen in Points 1950-51
Top 10 in NHL Assists twice
Top 10 in NHL Goals by a Defensemen for one season
Top 10 in NHL Assists by a Defensemen for eight seasons
Top 10 in NHL Points by a Defensemen for six seasons
9th Most Career Assists by a Defenseman in Toronto Maple Leafs History (208)
Mitch Marner (2017-2022)
1st NHL All-Star Team 2021
NHL All-Rookie Team 2017
3rd in NHL All-Star Team voting 2019
5th in NHL All-Star Team voting 2020
19th in Hart Trophy voting 2021
Played in 2020 NHL All-Star Game
4th in NHL Points 2020-21
Top 5 in NHL Assists twice
Top 10 in NHL Assists three times
4th Most Single Season Assists in Toronto Maple Leafs History (68) 2018-19
10th Most Single Season Points in Toronto Maple Leafs History (94) 2018-19
Phil Kessel (2009-2015)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #48
3rd in NHL All-Star Team voting 2014
Top 5 in NHL All-Star Team voting three times
Played in three NHL All-Star Games
Top 10 in NHL Goals twice
Top 10 in NHL Points three times
Rick Vaive (1980-1987)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #20
Toronto Maple Leafs Captain 1982–1986
6th in NHL All-Star Team voting 1982, 1983, 1984
Top 5 in NHL Goals twice
Top 10 in NHL Goals three times
Most Single Season Goals in Toronto Maple Leafs History (54) 1981-82
3rd Most Single Season Goals in Toronto Maple Leafs History (52) 1983-84
4th Most Single Season Goals in Toronto Maple Leafs History (51) 1982-83
5th Most Career Goals in Toronto Maple Leafs History (299)
10th Most Career Points in Toronto Maple Leafs History (537)
66th Most Career Goals in NHL History (441)
Tomas Kaberle (1998-2011)
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #37
Played in Four NHL All-Star Games
Top 10 in NHL Assists once
Top 10 in NHL Assists by a Defensemen for six seasons
Top 10 in NHL Points by a Defensemen for five seasons
10th Most Single Season Assists in Toronto Maple Leafs History (58) 2005-06
5th Most Career Assists in Toronto Maple Leafs History (437)
4th Most Career Goals by a Defenseman in Toronto Maple Leafs History (83)
2nd Most Career Assists by a Defenseman in Toronto Maple Leafs History (437)
2nd Most Career Points by a Defenseman in Toronto Maple Leafs History (520)
35th Most Career Assists by a Defenseman in NHL History (476)
Now here is our Top 10:
10. Jacques Plante (G) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1970-1973)
Hockey Hall of Famer, Jacques Plante, is one of the greatest goaltenders of all time as he owns the NHL record for winning the most Vezina trophies taking home the award seven times.
He’s more known as a former member of the Montreal Canadiens where he spent 11 seasons winning six Vezina trophies, a Hart trophy and six Stanley Cups, but his greatest season may have been as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs
During the 1970-1971 season, Jacques Plante set the current record for best single season save percentage in NHL history (.944) and also led the league with a 1.89 goals against average which is the fourth best single season goals against average in Toronto Maple Leafs history.
Plante only played three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so he was barely eligible to make this list, but he was among in the top 10 NHL goaltenders for save percentage and goals against average in all three seasons he was in Toronto.
His three year totals in Toronto also earn Jacques Plante the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise record for career save percentage (.925) and the eighth best career goals against average in Toronto Maple Leafs history (2.46).
The Toronto Maple Leafs #1 Goalies
Jacques Plante wore the #1 which has already been retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and therefore has already been taken out of circulation.
It would be amazing to see Plante’s banner up beside the other honoured Leafs goalies to wear #1, Johnny Bower and Turk Broda. It would also be the first retired number to honour three players from the same team in NHL history.
Plante’s number has already been retired by the Montreal Canadiens, so he would become the 10th player to have his number retired by two teams joining former Leafs legends Tim Horton and Red Kelly along with other NHL greats Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Ray Bourque, Patrick Roy and Scott Niedermayer.
It would be fitting for Jacque Plante, arguably the greatest goaltender in NHL history, to join that exclusively elite group.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1971
5th in Hart Memorial Trophy voting 1971
#13 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players
Number Retired by the Montreal Canadiens
Hall of Fame Inductee
NHL Record for Best Single Season Save Percentage (.944) 1970-71
Led NHL in Save Percentage and Goals Against Average 1970-71
5th in NHL Wins 1970-71
Top 5 in NHL Save Percentage twice
Top 10 in NHL Save Percentage three times
Top 10 in NHL Goals Against Average three times
4th Best Single Season Goals Against Average in Toronto Maple Leafs History (1.89) 1970-71
Best Career Save Percentage in Toronto Maple Leafs History (.925)
8th Best Career Goals Against Average in Toronto Maple Leafs History (2.46)
9th Most Career Wins in NHL in History (437)
9. Carl Brewer (D) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1957-1965, 1979-80)
Carl Brewer began and ended his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs playing nine seasons in total with the Leafs while helping them capture three consecutive Stanley Cup Championships.
No Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman has ever won the Norris trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman, but Carl Brewer came as close as any member of the Leafs when he was runner-up in 1963.
Only three other players have been runner-up for the Norris trophy as members of the Toronto Maple Leafs: Tim Horton and Borje Salming have already had their numbers retired and the other player is coming up on this list.
Carl Brewer was also named to three NHL All-Star Teams: 1st NHL All-Star Team in 1963 and 2nd NHL All-Star Team in 1962 and 1965.
The only players to be named to more NHL All-Star Teams as members of the Toronto Maple Leafs are Tim Horton (6), Frank Mahovolich (6), Borje Salming (6), Charlie Conacher (5), Syl Apps (5), King Clancy (4), who all have had their numbers retired by the Leafs, and one more player who is in the top 5 on this list.
Why Carl Brewer hasn’t already been honoured by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Some say Carl Brewer hasn’t been honoured by the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Hockey Hall of Fame because of his falling out with the team and league over contract negotiations throughout his career.
His intense contract talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs saw him leave the NHL in his prime first to sit out and then to play in the IHL and Finland. Toronto ended up including his rights in a blockbuster deal with the Detroit Red Wings along with Frank Mahovlich, Pete Stemkowski and Garry Unger for Doug Barrie, Paul Henderson, Floyd Smith and Norm Ullman.
Brewer eventually returned to the NHL to play with Detroit for one season before being trade to the St. Louis Blues. After a couple seasons with the Blues, Brewer had another couple stints of sitting out between playing a season with the WHA’s Toronto Toros before re-joining the Leafs for one final NHL season.
Off the ice, he was seen as a trouble maker during his career, but in retrospect, he was a trailblazer fighting for the rights of all NHL players.
He was the major player in the 17 year lawsuit against Alan Eagleson, the first executive director of the NHLPA, over money taken from the player’s pension fund which ended with $40 million going to the players and Eagleson serving six months of his 18 month sentence while being removed from the Order of Canada and forced to re-sign from the Hockey Hall of Fame.
This should all be water under the bridge now as Toronto Maple Leafs management has turned over several times since Brewer’s playing days, and he should now be seen as a hero. Hopefully we’ll see his number in the rafters and his plaque in the Hockey Hall of Fame soon.
Carl Brewer wore #18 when he entered the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs and #28 during his second stint with the Leafs. However, in 1961, he switched to the #2 when it became available. That’s the number he wore during his prime with the Toronto Maple Leafs and later with the St. Louis Blues. The #2 is the number that should be retired in Brewer’s honour.
No one is currently wearing that number on the Leafs, so it wouldn’t have to be vacated if retired now. The last Leaf to wear the #2 was Ron Hainsey in 2019.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #32
1st NHL All-Star Team 1963
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1962, 1965
Norris Trophy Runner-Up 1963
4th in Norris trophy voting 1962
6th in Norris trophy voting 1965
Played in Three NHL All-Star Games
Three Stanley Cup Championships
Led NHL in Penalty Minutes twice
Top 10 in NHL Goals by a Defensemen for one season
Top 10 in NHL Assists by a Defensemen for four seasons
Top 10 in NHL Points by a Defensemen for four seasons
8. Allan Stanley (D) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1958-1968)
Allan Stanley played 10 of his 21 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs winning four Stanley Cups with the team.
Stanley’s best seasons were with the Leafs as he was runner-up for the Norris trophy in 1960 and was also a finalist in 1961. He was also selected to the 2nd NHL All-Star Team in 1960, 1961 and 1966.
As I said when discussing Carl Brewer, no player has won the Norris trophy as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and along with Brewer, Allan Stanley is the only other Leaf to be runner-up for the award but not have their number retired by the team.
Like Brewer, Stanley was selected to three NHL All-Star teams and there is only one former Toronto Maple Leafs player with more selections to not have their number retired and they are #5 on this list.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981, and hopefully Allan Stanley will have his #26 hanging from the rafters in Toronto soon. The last Leaf to wear #26 was Stefan Noesen in 2021.
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 Finalist (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
7. Curtis Joseph (G) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1998-2002 & 2008-09)
Curtis “Cujo” Joseph is one of the winningest goaltenders in NHL history. He is ranked seventh with 484 NHL career wins.
Some of his best seasons were with the Leafs where he also became one of the winningest goaltenders in Toronto Maple Leafs history as he has the 5th most career wins in Maple Leafs history with 138 wins as a Leaf.
In 1999-2000, he recorded the fourth most single season wins in Toronto Maple Leafs history with 36 wins, and in 1998-1999, he recorded the sixth most single season wins in Toronto Maple Leafs history with 35 wins.
No Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender has won the Vezina trophy since the criteria for the award changed to be awarded by vote to the NHL’s best goaltender, but Curtis Joseph has come the closest when he was runner-up in 1999. He was also a finalist for the Vezina in 2000. The only other member of the Toronto Maple Leafs to be a finalist for the Vezina was Ed Belfour in 2003.
Cujo was also close to becoming a Hart trophy finalist in 1999 when he was fourth in Hart trophy voting.
Joseph hasn’t been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, but his name seems to be mentioned every year. Some say it’s because he didn’t win a Vezina or a Stanley Cup, but he had tough competition playing in an era with some of history’s greatest goaltenders like Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy and Ed Belfour – all Hall of Famers.
Curtis Joseph also had a great career playing with the St. Louis Blues, and I’m surprised his #31 hasn’t been retired by the Blues either. He was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 though, so hopefully he’ll get honoured by the Blues, Leafs and the Hockey Hall of Fame soon.
The last Leaf to wear #31 was Frederik Andersen in 2021.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #35
King Clancy Memorial Trophy Winner 2000
Vezina Trophy Runner-Up 1999
Vezina Trophy Finalist (3rd in voting) 2000
4th in Hart Memorial Trophy voting 1999
11th in Hart Memorial Trophy voting 2000
Top 10 in Vezina Trophy voting four times
Top 5 in NHL All-Star Team voting twice
Played in 2000 NHL All-Star Game
2nd in NHL Wins 1998-99
Top 5 in NHL Wins twice
Top 10 in NHL Save Percentage once
Top 10 in NHL Wins three times
4th Most Single Season Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (36) 1999-2000
6th Most Single Season Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (35)1998-99
5th Most Career Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (138)
9th Best Career Goals Against Average in Toronto Maple Leafs History (2.49)
7th Most Career Wins in NHL in History (484)
6. Auston Matthews (C) – Toronto Maple Leafs (2016-Present)
What?! How can Auston Matthews have his number retired when he isn’t even retired yet? Hopefully Auston Matthews won’t retired for a long time, but in my opinion, he’s already done enough to warrant his number in the rafters as soon as he’s done with it.
You might not be too surprised to see him here if you noticed Mitch Marner and Phil Kessel in the honourable mentions. They aren’t retired yet either.
Auston Matthews is the first and only Toronto Maple Leafs player to win the Maurice Richard trophy and the first Toronto Maple Leafs player to lead the NHL in scoring since Gaye Stewart in 1945-46.
Matthews was also runner-up for the Hart trophy in 2021 becoming the first Toronto Maple Leafs Hart finalist since Doug Gilmour in 1993. Gilmour’s #93 was raised to the rafters in 2009.
Since Auston Matthews also won the Calder trophy in 2017 (becoming the first Toronto Maple Leafs player to do so since Brit Selby in 1966) he is tied for the second most NHL awards in Toronto Maple Leafs history.
Dave Keon won the Calder, two Lady Byng’s and a Conn Smythe, while Johnny Bower won two Vezinas, and Syl Apps won the Calder and a Lady Byng. Keon, Bower and Apps all have their numbers retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A Lady Byng trophy should also be attainable in Auston Matthews’ future as he has been a finalist for the award in each of the passed two seasons.
Auston Matthews is only 24 years old, so he should have a lot more hockey left to play and I can’t wait to see what else he can accomplish. Hopefully a Hart trophy, maybe another Richard or two, but I’d most like to see him holding a Stanley Cup.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Maurice Richard Trophy Winner 2021
Calder Trophy Winner 2017
2nd NHL All-Star Team 2021
NHL All-Rookie Team 2017
Hart Trophy Runner-Up 2021
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Runner-Up 2020
Lady Byng Finalist (3rd in voting) 2021
10th in Hart Trophy voting 2020
11th in Hart Trophy voting 2017
Top 5 in NHL All-Star Team voting three times
Played in three NHL All-Star Games
Led NHL in Goals 2020-21
2nd in NHL Goals 2016-17
Top 3 in NHL Goals three times
Top 10 in NHL Points twice
7th Most Single Season Goals in Toronto Maple Leafs History (47) 2019-20
5. Busher Jackson (LW) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1929-1939)
Ralph Harvey Jackson played 10 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of the Leafs famous “Kid Line” with Joe Primeau and Charlie Conacher. Conacher has had his number retired by the Leafs and Primeau is an honourable mention on this list.
Busher Jackson was selected to five NHL All-Star Teams: four times to the 1st NHL All-Star Team and once to the 2nd NHL All-Star Team. Every other former Toronto Maple Leafs player with four or more NHL All-Star Team selections has had their number retired.
Jackson played before the Art Ross trophy was introduced in 1948 but would’ve won the award after he led the NHL in points during the 1931-32 season. He was also second in NHL goals and points during the 1932-33 season.
Busher Jackson may be the next most likely Leafs legend to have their number retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs as he was ranked #16 on the top 100 list released by the organization in 2016 for their centennial season .
Every player ranked higher than Jackson on Toronto’s centennial list has had their number retired, and Jackson placed higher than four players that have retired numbers: Hap Day, King Clancy, Ace Bailey and Bill Barilko.
Busher Jackson primarily wore #11 while playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The last Leaf to wear that number was Zach Hyman in 2021.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #16
1st NHL All-Star Team 1932, 1934, 1935, 1937
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1933
Stanley Cup Champion 1932
#55 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Led NHL in Points 1931-1932
2nd in NHL Goals and Points 1932-33
3rd in NHL Assists 1931-32
Top 3 in NHL Goals three times
Top 5 in NHL Goals four times
Top 5 in NHL Points four times
Top 10 in NHL Goals five times
Top 10 in NHL Assists three times
Top 10 in NHL Points five times
4. Gordie Drillon (RW) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1936-1942)
Gordie Drillon played six of his short seven season NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He left the NHL at the age of 29 to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.
Drillon was known for creating what we now know as the “net front presence” style of hockey where he’d stand strong in front of the opponent’s net to redirect shots and tap in rebounds. Using this innovative technique, Gordie Drillion led the NHL in goals and points during the 1937-38 season.
Like Busher Jackson, Drillon played before the Art Ross trophy was awarded and way before the Rocket Richard trophy was around. During Drillion’s final NHL season, he actually played with Maurice Richard on the Montreal Canadiens during Richard’s NHL rookie season.
If Drillon was retroactively given the Art Ross and Rocket Richard trophies to go along with the Lady Byng he won in 1938, he would be the second most decorated players in Toronto Maple Leafs history behind only Dave Keon.
His three NHL All-Star Team selections (1st NHL All-Star Team in 1938 and 1938, 2nd NHL All-Star Team in 1942) are the most by any Toronto Maple Leafs player to not have their number retired and not named Busher Jackson.
From what I can find, Gordie Drillon wore #12 as a Toronto Maple Leaf. The last Leaf to wear that number was Alex Galchenyuk in 2021.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #29
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Winner 1938
1st NHL All-Star Team 1938, 1939
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1942
Calder Trophy Runner-Up 1937
Lady Byng Trophy Runner-Up 1937, 1941, 1942
4th in Hart Trophy voting 1938
Stanley Cup Champion 1942
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Led NHL in Goals and Points 1937-38
3rd in NHL Assists 1937-38
3rd in NHL Goals 1942-43
3rd in NHL Points 1940-41
Top 5 in NHL Goals five times
Top 5 in NHL Points three times
Top 10 in NHL Goals six times
Top 10 in NHL Assists twice
Top 10 in NHL Points four times
3. Harry Lumley (G) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1952-1956)
Harry Lumley only played four of his 16 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they were the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career and some of the best goaltending performances in Toronto Maple Leafs history.
Lumley took home the Vezina trophy in 1954 and was runner-up for the Hart trophy in 1955. He was the goaltender voted to the 1st NHL All-Star Team both seasons and also led the league in goals against average during both season. Those two seasons also currently rank Lumley as having the third and fifth best single season goals against averages in Maple Leafs history.
Though he only played four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lumley is the seventh most winningest goaltender in Toronto Maple Leafs history with 103 wins as a Leaf.
Harry Lumley wore the #1 as that was the number assigned to most goaltenders in the early days of hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs have already retired #1 for Johnny Bower and Turk Broda, but it would be amazing to see Harry Lumley’s banner hanging beside them (perhaps with Jacques Plante as well).
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #47
Vezina Trophy Winner 1954
1st NHL All-Star Team 1954, 1955
Hart Trophy Runner-Up 1955
5th in Hart Memorial Trophy voting 1954
Played in two NHL All-Star Game
Hall of Fame Inductee
Led NHL in Goals Against Average twice
Top 3 in NHL Goals Against Average three times
Top 5 in NHL Goals Against Average four times
3rd Best Toronto Maple Leafs Single Season GAA in History (1.86) 1953-54
5th Best Toronto Maple Leafs Single Season GAA in History (1.91) 1954-55
5th Best Toronto Maple Leafs Career Goals Against Average in History (2.18)
7th Most Career Wins in Toronto Maple Leafs History (103)
45th Best Single Season Goals Against Average in NHL History (1.86) 1953-54
2. Babe Pratt (D) – Toronto Maple Leafs (1942-1946)
Walter Peter Pratt only played four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but in that time he was a league leader and record breaking defenseman playing the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career.
Babe Pratt is one of only two players in Toronto Maple Leafs history to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. The only other player is Ted Kennedy who has his number retired by the team.
Pratt also set an NHL record for most assists by a defenseman in one game with six assists while he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The only players with more assists in one game are Wayne Gretzky and Billy Taylor who each tallied seven assists and are both forwards.
The 1945 Stanley Cup winning goal was scored by Babe Pratt in game seven of the finals versus the Detroit Red Wings.
Pratt played before the Norris trophy was introduced in 1954, but if it were around back then he may have won at least once with the Maple Leafs, especially the year he won the Hart trophy. In four seasons in Toronto, Pratt led all NHL defensemen in points twice, goals once, and assists all four seasons.
Babe Pratt wore #2 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, so while they’re raising his banner, they might as well raise Carl Brewer’s #2 as well.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #49
Hart Memorial Trophy Winner 1944
1st NHL All-Star Team 1944
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1945
Stanley Cup Champion 1945
#96 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
NHL Record for Most Assists in One Game by a Defenseman (6)
Toronto Maple Leafs Record for Most Assists in One Game (6)
Led NHL Defensemen in Goals 1943-44
Led NHL Defensemen in Assists four times
Led NHL Defensemen in Points twice
Top 10 in NHL Assists for one season
Top 10 in NHL Goals by a Defenseman for four seasons
Top 10 in NHL Assists by a Defenseman for four seasons
Top 10 in NHL Points by a Defenseman for four seasons
1. Babe Dye (RW) – Toronto Maple Leafs/St. Patricks (1919-1926, 1930-1931)
What?! How many “Babes” played for the Toronto Maple Leafs? It’s a nickname you don’t see anymore. It should totally make a comeback.
Cecil Henry Dye played seven seasons with the Toronto St. Patricks and returned to Toronto after playing with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Americans when the team was re-named the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dye led the Toronto NHL franchise to their first and only Stanley Cup Championship as the “St. Pats” in 1922 before their name was changed to the Maple Leafs in 1927. Their only previous cup was won as “the Arenas” in 1918.
Even after all this time, Babe Dye remains one of the most prolific goal scorers in NHL history leading the league in goals four times. Only seven players have lead the NHL in goals more times than Dye, and they are all legends: Alex Ovechkin (9), Bobby Hull (7), Phil Esposito (6), Charlie Conacher (5), Maurice Richard (5), Gordie Howe (5) and Wayne Gretzky (5).
Every player to lead the NHL in goals five times or more has their number retired by an NHL team except for Ovechkin who will probably get a banner as soon as he retires. Dye also led the NHL in goals more times than legends Mario Lemieux (3), Brett Hull (3), Teemu Selanne (3) and Pavel Bure (3) who have all had their numbers retired by NHL teams.
Babe Dye also led the NHL in points twice, and there are only nine players in NHL history to lead the league in points more times: Wayne Gretzky (11), Gordie Howe (6), Mario Lemieux (6), Phil Esposito (5), Jaromír Jágr (5), Stan Mikita (4), Bobby Hull (3), Connor McDavid (3), and Guy Lafleur (3). All of them have their numbers retired by an NHL team except McDavid and Jagr.
Dye also has the fourth best career goals per game average in NHL history behind only Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux and Cy Denney.
If the Rocket Richard and Art Ross trophies were given out retroactively, Babe Dye would have six NHL trophies and be the most decorated player in Toronto Maple Leafs franchise history.
It truly boggles my mind how a goals scorer as prolific as Babe Dye could slip through the cracks of franchise history this way. It’s almost embarrassing that his memory hasn’t been honoured with a #6 banner in the rafters alongside Ace Bailey’s #6 – the first number retired in professional sports history.
Achievements with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 #31
Toronto St. Patricks Captain 1925–1926
4th in Hart Trophy voting 1925
Stanley Cup Champion 1922
#83 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Led NHL in Goals four times
Led NHL in Points twice
2nd in NHL Goals twice
2nd in NHL Assists 1922-23
Top 3 in NHL Points four times
Next. Top 10 Leafs Not in the Hall of Fame. dark
Top 5 in NHL Points six times
Top 10 in NHL Goals seven times
Top 10 in NHL Points seven times
4th Best Career Goals per Game in NHL History (.746)
8th Most Times Leading in NHL Goals in History (4)
10th Most Times Leading in NHL Points in History (2).
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