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Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Who Deserve Retired Numbers

By Mike Jack

Nov 25, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The honored numbers of former Toronto Maple Leafs players Johnny Bower (1) and Red Kelly (4) and Ace Bailey (6) hang from the rafters before the start of the game against the Washington Capitals at Air Canada Centre. The Capitals beat the Maple Leafs 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The honored numbers of former Toronto Maple Leafs players Johnny Bower (1) and Red Kelly (4) and Ace Bailey (6) hang from the rafters before the start of the game against the Washington Capitals at Air Canada Centre. The Capitals beat the Maple Leafs 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHICAGO – 1952: Sid Abel of the Chicago Black Hawks takes a shot on goalie Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL game circa 1952 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
CHICAGO – 1952: Sid Abel of the Chicago Black Hawks takes a shot on goalie Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL game circa 1952 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) /

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)

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