Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023-24 revision of our top 50 Toronto Maple Leafs.

As for all of our top 50 players in hockey, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Maple Leafs again made the playoffs but faced their usual result: a first-round exit.  Despite this, the team was loaded with veterans and saw significant elevations in the Top 50.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Syl Apps
2. Turk Broda
3. Tim Horton
4. Charlie Conacher
5. Borje Salming 

You can find the entire list here.

On the strength of his 69-Goal season, Auston Matthews rocketed to #8 from #15.

Right Wing Mitch Marner advances to #33 from #36.

Defenseman Morgan Rielly moved up four spots to #38.

Center John Tavares climbed to #39 from #40.

William Nylander went to #45 from #48.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022/23 revision of our top 50 Toronto Maple Leafs.

As for all of our top 50 players in hockey we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Toronto finally broke through and made it to the second round of the playoffs, but in “Six” it is all about winning it all.  Last year yielded several elevations and two new entrants, which is impressive considering we are talking about an organization that is over a century old. 

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Syl Apps

2. Turk Broda

3. Tim Horton

4. Charlie Conacher

5. Borje Salming

 

You can find the entire list here.

Former Hart Trophy winner, Auston Matthews, continues his ascension, as he is now ranked at #15, having risen from #18.

Right Wing, Mitch Marner, climbed to #36 from #43.

Former #1 Draft Pick, John Tavares makes his debut at #40.

Defenseman. Morgan Reilly, advanced to #42 from #47.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

A strong argument can be made that the first true power forward in hockey was Charlie Conacher, and at the very least, he was one of the first to define the role.

Conacher was a dynamo in junior, leading the Toronto Marlboros to two Memorial Cup wins (1928 & 1929).  Conacher stayed in Toronto as a pro, signing with the Maple Leafs, and he rapidly became a star, scoring a goal in the opening game in the 1929-30 season.  

The Canadian earned the nickname of the “Big Bomber," using his strength and powerful shot to terrorize opposing netminders.  Taking Toronto to a Stanley Cup in 1932, Conacher became the first player to lead the NHL in Goals five times, and he was also a First Team All-Star three times and a Second Team All-Star twice.  Conacher was also the runner-up for the Hart Trophy in 1934-35 and was a two-time scoring champion.  Considered to be the top Right Wing in the first half of the 1930s, his bruising style caught up with him, and injuries piled up.

Conacher was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, and as a Maple Leaf, he scored nearly a Point per Game (324 Points in 328 Games).  

Conacher entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, and he was part of the group that had a banner honored by the Leafs in 1998.  His #9 (along with Ted Kennedy) was officially retired by Toronto in 2016.

A five time goal scoring champion in the National Hockey League, Charlie Conacher was a star player for the Toronto Maple Leafs and was the Right Wing of their famed “Kid Line”. Conacher was aptly nicknamed “The Big Bomber” for his powerful shot that scared goaltenders for years. He was not a one trick pony, as he was an underrated skater who could also elude defenders with his stick handling ability. He would suffer a wrist injury in 1936 that though was not considered serious at the time, but caused him to miss major chunks of the next two seasons. Although Conacher would play for a few more years, chronic injuries prevented him from returning to the top ten in scoring and he was out pro hockey at the age of 30.