If you were MLSE, or Tim Leiweke, what Maple Leaf numbers would you retire?

My intent today is not to trigger a debate about whether numbers of former Maple Leaf greats should be retired or not.  We all have differing views, and we also know that Leaf ownership has never done what, say, the Canadiens have done in Montreal—actually formally retire the jerseys of their legendary players.

In Toronto, our approach has been to “honour” numbers. The jerseys of old Leafs are raised to the rafters, but the number of the player still remains in circulation. (Not so in Montreal, where no one will ever wear the number 9, for example, of Rocket Richard, seen at right, or the number 4 of the equally legendary Jean Beliveau, among many others.)

I guess what got me thinking about this was MLSE’s (Tim Leiweke’s?) decision to create a new statue/monument viewing area in Maple Leaf Square to celebrate some old time Leafs like the late Teeder Kennedy. That will create some buzz, no doubt.  But my question for VLM readers today extends the discussion a bit.  

You may have been following the Leafs since the 1940s or ‘50s (for me it began in earnest in the late 1950s) or the 1960s.  Or, you may have “only” started supporting the blue and white in the ‘80s/‘90s. Regardless, we have all seen some outstanding Leafs in action. If you were the individual making the decision, which Leaf players so stood out for you, based on your personal observations over many years, that you would not hesitate to retire their number for good—never to be worn by a Leaf player again?

You set the criteria. It could be excellence combined with longevity.  It could be their contributions to championship teams.  They may have been a great scorer, a tremendous leader, or a blood and guts kind of old-time Maple Leaf.

You may think we should retire Doug Gilmour’s number 93, though the man we called “Dougie” was actually only a Leaf for a handful of seasons.

Personally, I can only speak for the Leafs I followed closely since the late ‘50s.  Clearly, there were worthy Leafs before my time like Kennedy and Syl Apps and maybe Turk Broda and others that longtime Leaf followers could talk about much better than I could.

My own assessment is that I would retire Johnny Bower’s number 1, because he was—and still is—a special Leaf on and off the ice. His then unique story - not making the NHL until he was into his 30s, and not becoming a front line NHLer until well past that - was certainly out of the ordinary.  He was a heroic Leaf, not retiring until he was 45 years of age.

Bobby Baun had two stints with the Leafs and was a heart and soul player (and scored one of the most famous goals in Leaf history, on broken ankle, no less), but I’m not sure I would retire his number.  Arguments could be made for Allan Stanley and Tim Horton, both cornertsones on those 1960s championship squads.

George “Chief” Armstrong, yes, for sure, I would retire the number of the longtime Leaf captain.  He was not an extraordinary scorer, but he was the glue that held the Leafs together under their fiery coach, Punch Imlach. Few were as good at controlling the play along the boards during his 20-year NHL career.

Dave Keon, yes. Ron Ellis…that’s a tough one.  He was certainly a fine Leaf and very well respected. Darryl Sittler would have to be a consideration.  His Leaf teams were never quite good enough to get to the finals, but he was a special Leaf.  (He was also a big part of the 1976 Canada Cup squad along with linemate Lanny McDonald, who should never have been traded.) Wendel Clark was a three-time Leaf, and clearly one of the most popular Maple Leaf players of the modern era.  He helped restore Leaf pride after a difficult few years in the early 1980s.

I’m guessing many would suggest Borje Salming’s #21 should be in this special category, too. And what about Mats Sundin, a bit of a lightning rod during his time with Toronto, but surely a guy we all dearly wish we had on the roster now as we talk year after year about needing a front line center?

(Quick aside: I happened to hear a Toronto radio host make the claim a couple of days ago that the Leafs have never had a truly "great" player.  Some very good players, he said, but not great.  I guess it depends on one's definition of great. In my view, Dave Keon, while not a Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux, was one of the best overall players in the NHL between 1960-'61 and 1966-'67. He was consistently outstanding, a marvellous skater and two-way player who, in modern day terms, was also a "shutdown" centre, playing against the best opponents in his era. The Leafs would not have won those four Cups in the '60s without him.  He played 15 seasons in Toronto, won several major NHL awards (Calder, Byng, and Smythe) and was twice an end-of-season All-Star.  In that generation, and especially in his first ten or twelve years in the league, I don't think anyone did more things well than Keon.  Was he not "great"?)

One thing that struck me as I was penning this piece:  we of course think of Leaf players who should be honoured, either via retiring the jersey or now, a bronze statue.  But I believe the first bronze statue should have gone to Conn Smythe, even ahead of Kennedy, because without Smythe, there would never have been Maple Leaf Gardens, or the Maple Leafs. (Conn and his son Stafford, above right, were the guardians of the Leaf dynasties during the franchise's hey day.)  But that's a discussion for another day.

I’m obviously missing some great names that should be included in any discussion about retiring numbers (like "Red" Kelly, who had been an award-winning defenseman in Detroit, and proceeded to win four Cups as a forward with Toronto), but again, you set the parameters. You’re in charge—you make the decision.

Given the chance, which numbers should we retire?