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.

Hockey, on both sides of the Atlantic lost a great one today.

Borje Salming, who was diagnosed with ALS, passed away at the age of 71.

Salming was last seen at the Hockey Hall of Fame Game earlier this month, where the Leafs iced an all-Swedish lineup to begin the game aginst their opponent, Vancouver.  Salming, who was still mobile, had already lost the ability to speak due to the disease, dropped the ceremonial first puck.

When Salming was first courted to try out for the Maple Leafs, the National Hockey League was of the belief that Swedish players were not tough enough to survive the rigors of the North American game.  The Defenseman not only made the team, but excelled, earning six Post-Season All-Star Selections.  Salming scored 798 Points in the NHL, and was the domino that broke through Europeans to thrive in the most competitive league in professional hockey.

Salming was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996, the first Swedish player to have that honor.  Two years later, he entered the IIHF Hall of Fame.  His number #21 was also retired by Toronto.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to offer our condolences to the friends, fans and family of Borje Salming.

Borje Salming was not just one of the first hockey players from Scandinavia to play in the NHL, but the Swedish Defenseman was the first from his region to emerge as a superstar on the NHL level.

Salming signed with Toronto in 1973, but not much was expected as the NHL and North America generally viewed Europeans as soft and unable to maintain the rigors of their league.  Salming immediately proved the naysayers wrong,  scoring 39 Points as a rookie and finishing fifth for the Norris.

In the six years that followed, Salming was either a Second Team or First All-Star, and while he was never a Norris Trophy winner, he was never lower than fourth in the voting.  From 1976-77 to 1979-80, Salming netted at least 70 Points, and he forever changed the perception of what Europeans could accomplish in the NHL.

Salming played with Toronto until the 1988-89 season, and he had one final year in the NHL as a Detroit Red Wing.  With the Leafs, Salming played 1,099 Games, scoring 787 Points. 

Salming’s overall play in the NHL laid the groundwork that other Swedish and European players followed.  He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996, and his name was honored at Air Canada Center in 2006.  Ten years later, his #21 was officially retired by the team.

Borje Salming not only was the first Swedish player to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame, but was the man who paved the way for Swedish players to enter the National Hockey League and prove that the Scandinavian nation belonged on the world stage.   Salming would join the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1973 and he immediately made an impact on their blue line.  The Swedish Defenceman would be named to six post season All Star teams, but most importantly he shattered the myth that players from Sweden could be tough enough to hang in the elite professional league.  Every player in Sweden who looks across the Atlantic Ocean with dreams of the National Hockey League owes a debt to Borje Salming.