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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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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ONTARIO – NOVEMBER 15: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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

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