Posted by Rangerblue on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 13:45:06 EST
Contributed by Trevor
The Toronto Maple Leafs have decided to honour one of their most beloved captains and leaders of all time, Doug Gilmour. Despite being remembered as a Maple Leaf, Gilmour played for various teams thoughout his career bringing a sense of class and leadership wherever he went.
"The Killer", Doug Gilmour was a 7th round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 1982 NHL entry draft after being passed over entirely in the 1981 draft. In St. Louis, Gilmour played with intensity and prowess that quickly silenced critics who said he was undersized for the NHL game and that his skill in junior would not translate to the big league.
In 1987, he was dealt to the Calgary Flames in a 7 player trade which, when looked back upon, was rather lopsided in favour of the Flames simply because of Gilmour being included. He went on to help lead the Flames to the 1989 Stanley Cup. During the 1989 finals, Gilmour kissed and shook hands with Don Cherry for good luck in one of the most memorable moments from Hockey Night in Canada, Gilmour went on to score the winning goal in game six against the Montreal Canadiens.
3 years later, in 1992, Gilmour became a Toronto Maple Leaf in one the largest and most lopsided deals in NHL history, helping the Leafs to a near matchup with rival Montreal in the 93 finals. The Leafs lost 5-4 in the 7th game of the conference finals, mising a chance to advance in game 6 due to the infamous non-call on Wayne Gretzky which made referee Kerry Fraser a public enemy in Toronto for the remainder of his helmetless career.
The Leafs dealt The Killer to New Jersey in 1997 in exchange for Steve Sullivan, Alyn McCauley and Jason Smith. Following his one and only season with the Devils, he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and played in the final game at Maple Leaf Gardens as Chicago defeated Toronto 6-4. Gilmour scored in the game and received a standing ovation from Leafs faithful on hand for the historic occasion.
In 2000, he was again traded. This time to the Buffalo Sabres. In the summer of 2001 he signed on in Montreal to provide veteran leadership on a young club just getting back into the playoff after several years absence.
Finally, in 2003, amid rumours that he was contemplating retirement. The Habs moved Gilmour to the Maple Leafs to finish out his career. Unfotunately, Gilmour only made it to the second period of his first game back as he suffered a knee injury, somwhat ironically, against the Calgary Flames. General Manager John Ferguson Jr. who brought Toronto great players such as Andrew Raycroft and contracts such as Jason Blake, Pavel Kubina and Bryan McCabe, declined to bring back the former captain for one last campaign with the club, much to the shagrin of most of Leafs Nation.
In total, Gilmour played 5 and a half season's for the Maple Leafs, scoring over a point per game in each of his first two and a half season with the team.
Accomplishments With Maple Leafs:
1414 PTS in 1474 GP (All Time/Career)
Runner up for Hart Trophy in 93
Winnder of Selke Trophy in 93
Most Points for a Maple Leaf in 1 season: 127
Most Assists for a Maple Leafs in 1 season: 95
Number 93 will be raised to the rafters of the Air Canada Centre, Saturday night when Toronto is at home to Pittsburgh, one of the few teams which Gilmour does not have a direct connection to.
