The Toronto Maple Leafs Records That Will Never be Broken

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a long and storied history. The franchise is as old as the country of Finland has had its independence. The organization took root in 1917, founded during the penultimate year of the first World War.

Since then, there have been many great players who have pulled the Toronto Maple Leafs sweater over their shoulders.

Having played over a century of hockey, the organization has seen those athletes find huge successes and collect accolades.

There have also been plenty of records set. While some, like Auston Matthews’ single season goal total, look like they won’t stand the test of time, others will never be broken.

The Impossible Toronto Maple Leafs Record to Break

Let’s begin with the impossible. There is a Maple Leafs record that has no chance to be broken. It belongs to Turk Broda who was a goaltender for Toronto from 1936 until 1952. He played 14 seasons and 629 games in the NHL, all of which for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In that span, Broda won 304 and lost 222 games. Both those numbers are franchise records. However, it’s the 102 ties that will never be bested.

That’s because of the updated game rules. If the score remains even after overtime, the game is decided by a shootout. There are no more ties in today’s NHL.

Those aren’t Broda’s only franchise records. He also has the most shutouts at 61 and most goals against with 1608. All those records have come because the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has played the most games of any goaltender in the organization’s history. The next closest goalie was Johnny Bower who played 475 games.

Bower owns some records of his own and was also named a Vezina Trophy winner. Bower faced the most shots against, has the most saves, and has the most goals saved above average.

There’s a very good chance that many of the current goaltending records will stand the test of time. On the other end of the ice, there is less security in maintaining the records.

The Record No One Wants

Börje Salming owns a record that no one wants.

It will also never be broken. He leads the Toronto Maple Leafs in total goals on-ice against. Salming saw 1933 pucks go into his own team’s goal while mid shift.

That’s the sixth-highest total in NHL history. Tim Horton is second on the list with 1020.

There is no shame in the record. The all-time NHL leader is the Great One, Wayne Gretzky. He was on ice for 2286 goals against.

The reason no one will top Salming’s Leafs record is because he played 16 season with the Buds. Players today do not typically play that long a career with just one franchise anymore. Salming did play a 17th season in the NHL, finishing his career with the Detroit Red Wings. If he remained in Toronto, his untouchable record would be even greater.

In order for someone to catch Salming’s record, they would not just have to play a very long time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they would also need to log a lot of minutes.

Ryan Suter happens to be NHL’s leading skater in time on ice. It’s no coincidence that he’s also the NHL leader in active players for on-ice goals against. That’s a man that’s been playing since 2005-06. He’s been on for a total of 1451 goals.

Even with Suter’s longevity in the NHL and having played with three different franchises, he’s still seen 482 fewer goals scored while on the ice in his career than Salming did with just the Maple Leafs.

The Loneliest Record

Most records involve cooperation.

After all, hockey is a team game. However, there is a record that is lonelier than others. That’s because to break it, it meant having to spend a lot of time alone. There is one Leafs player who has been given more time for reflection in the penalty box than any other.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had their share of bad boys. When the rules were broken, the players were sent to the sin bin to serve their time. No one has spent more time in there as a member of the Leafs than failed comedian, Tie Domi. He had a ridiculous 2265 total penalty minutes as a Leaf. For his career, Domi had 3515.

The player with the most career penalty minutes in the NHL is Dave “Tiger” Williams.

That’s a name very familiar to Maple Leafs fans. He spent six seasons in the big smoke where he got very well acquainted with the penalty box. Williams served 3,971 minutes in penalties over his 17 year career. 1670 of those minutes came while he was in a Leafs uniform. He happens to also be second in total penalty minutes as a Leaf, behind Domi.

How did Domi accrue so many penalty minutes? It may not be surprising to learn that he is the NHL’s leader in career fights. He had 274 of them.