Connect with us

Toronto Maple Leafs

Interesting Facts in Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scoring (Goals & Assists) History

During the Toronto Maple Leafs, there have been some great players. Which ones have stood out in terms of scoring over the seasons?

Things have changed over the many seasons the NHL has been in existence. In today’s post, I want to look at some of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ interesting history as far as its scorers go. Here are some of the most interesting facts.

Related: Why Did the Maple Leafs Give Travis Dermott Such a Big Raise? Seattle?

Interesting Fact: Two Current Players Rank in the Top 10 in Goal Scoring in a Single Season

When you look at the best Maple Leafs’ single scoring season, it’s dotted with names from history. For example, you’ll find Rick Vaive’s name in the top 10 single-season’s goal scorers (including ties) three times. During the 1981-82 season, Vaive set the single-season record by scoring 54 goals. He followed up with 51 goals during the 1982-83 season and with 52 goals during the 1983-84 season.

During the entire history of the Maple Leafs, only three different players – Rick Vaive, Dave Andreychuk (with 53 goals in 1993-94), and Gary Leeman (with 51 goals in 1989-90) have scored more than 50 goals during a single season. However, only two current players – John Tavares and Auston Matthews – are in the top 10. Both scored 47 goals, Tavares did it during his first season with the team in 2018-19 and Matthews accomplished the mark the next season (2019-20).

Auston Matthews UD Card Toronto Maple Leafs MVP
Auston Matthews UD Card Toronto Maple Leafs MVP Card

It’s also interesting that Lanny McDonald, who went on to perhaps more fame with the Calgary Flames, made the top 10 of season’s goal scorers two times. Like Matthews and Tavares, he, too, scored 47 goals in 1977-78 and the season before scored 46 goals (in 1976-77).

Perhaps more interesting, none of the top four goal scorers in Maple Leafs’ history – Mats Sundin with 420 total goals, Darryl Sittler with 389 goals, Dave Keon with 365 goals, and Ron Ellis with 332 goals – ever made the top 10 during a single-season. Sundin scored 41 goals during two seasons (1996-97 and 2001-02). These players are the only four in Maple Leafs’ history with over 300 goals scored in a Toronto uniform.

The only other two Maple Leafs players to be in the top 10 for goals in a single season were Frank Mahovlich, who scored 48 goals during the 1960-61 season, and Wendel Clark, who scored 46 goals in 1993-94.

Also interesting, Austin Matthews currently has scored 199 goals. Should he score 32 goals next season, he’d move into the top 10 all-time in Maple Leafs scoring surpassing Ted “Teeder” Kennedy with 231 goals.

Related: Five Interesting Facts in Toronto Maple Leafs’ Goalie History

Interesting Fact: Maple Leafs Defensemen Have Ranked in the Top 10 in Assists During a Single Season Four Times

During the past, the Maple Leafs have had some strong defenseman. Probably the best defenseman in Maple Leafs’ history was the great Swedish player Borje Salming. Salming wasn’t simply a strong defensive player, he could also put points on the board. Two times he led the Maple Leafs in assists during a single season – in 1976-77 (with 66 assists) and in 1980-81 (with 61 assists). During the 1977-78 season he came in second to Darryl Sittler (who had 72 assists) with 60 assists. Salming is also the Maple Leafs’ all-time assists leader in franchise history with 620 assists.

By the way, Tomas Kaberle was the other Maple Leafs’ defenseman in the top 10 for assists during a single season. During the 2005-06 season, he totaled 58 assists. That places him 10th on the list.

Sittler made the top 10 in assists two times. Other than the 1977-78 season, he also had 59 assists during the 1975-76 season. However, the King of Maple Leafs’ assists is none other than Doug Gilmour. Gilmour had an amazing 95 assists during the 1992-93 season. During that great season, he also added 32 goals and scored 127 points (the Maple Leafs’ best scoring total in franchise history). Gilmour also added 84 assists the next season (1993-94) and totalled 111 points (third most in Maple Leafs’ history).

Mitch Marner Toronto Maple Leafs UD
Mitch Marner Toronto Maple Leafs Upper Deck Card

The only current Maple Leafs’ player on the top 10 assists leaders in Maple Leafs’ history is Mitch Marner, who scored 68 assists during the 2018-19 season for fourth place all time for single-season assists leader. That season also bumped Marner into the top 10 for single-season point total with 94 points.  

The only other name not mentioned in the single-season assists leaders was Vincent Damphousse, who scored 61 assists during the 1989-90 season.

Again, interestingly, the great Mats Sundin never made the top 10 in single-season assists. His best scoring season with the team was during the 1996-97 season with 94 points. However, his longevity helped him total the second most assists in team history with 657.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Maple Leafs' Joe Thornton's Still in Toronto: Now, Isn't That Odd?

  2. Pingback: Maple Leafs’ Joe Thornton’s Still in Toronto: Now, Isn’t That Odd? – Hockey 1 on 1

  3. Pingback: After the Kraken Draft: What's the Maple Leafs 2021-22 Season Roster?

Leave a Reply

More News

Discover more from NHL Trade Talk

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading