Toronto Maple Leafs: What Jersey Numbers Will New Signings Wear?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had somewhat of a makeover this summer, with departures and new arrivals in key positions.

Ahead of the new season, new squad numbers have started being handed out to some of the newest members of the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.

Given that the team have 13 retired numbers (14 including the league-wide retirement of the number 99), the newcomers may not have had their first choice of number.

However, you would have to imagine that they’re all happy to be pulling on a Maple Leafs jersey more so than caring too much about the number on the back.

What Jersey Numbers Will The Newest Toronto Maple Leafs Wear?

Courtesy of the ever useful Twitter account NHL Jersey Numbers, the following new signings’ squad numbers for the Toronto Maple Leafs have been confirmed:

#30: Matt Murray

Arriving this summer in a trade with the Ottawa Senators, Matt Murray is a two-time Stanley Cup winner from his days as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the history of the number 30 on the Toronto Maple Leafs, no single player has laid claim to it on a long-term basis. It has always been worn by goalies with Bruce Gamble, Ken Wregget and Allan Bester among those wearing it historically.

The most recent player to wear the jersey being Michael Hutchinson, with the number becoming available for Matt Murray this summer as Hutchinson departed for the Vegas Golden Knights.

#35: Ilya Samsonov

Ilya Samsonov will be the other half of the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending tandem this coming season and will be wearing the number 35.

That number has been associated traditionally with goalies, most notably Vesa Toskala and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. It’s most recent owner was Petr Mrazek, who Samsonov will certainly be hoping to outshine in the Leafs  net.

#71: Adam Gaudette

Adam Gaudette projects to be a depth piece for the Toronto Maple Leafs this term. He joins Mike Foligno, David Clarkson and the oft-maligned (if only because of the cost to trade for him) Nick Foligno as the latest player to wear the number 71 jersey for the team.

He arrives with health concerns having somewhat stunted his development as a full-time player in the NHL. Thankfully, the Leafs have shown a knack for revitalizing the careers of players in similar situations.

#96: Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Nicolas Aube-Kubel arrived via free agency, having last played on the Stanley Cup winning roster of the Colorado Avalanche. He wore the number 16 in Colorado, but had little chance of claiming that number again, with Mitch Marner laying claim in Toronto.

As such, he’ll be wearing the number 96, previously worn by Egor Korshkov. The only other player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to wear the number is Hockey Hall of Famer, Phil Housley in his very brief final stop of his playing career.

#98: Victor Mete

Victor Mete may not make the opening night roster, acquired to boost the Leafs  defensive depth. However if he does, he will become the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to sport the number 98; a number he also wore with the Ottawa Senators last season.

Get used to seeing these numbers on the back of Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys; all five players will be hoping to do them justice.