If there is a player who inspires near-hysteria among the Leafs Nation, it is Doug Gilmour. Selected by St. Louis in the seventh round, he eventually started in 1983 when the Blues’ depleted roster required a call-up. Nicknamed ‘Killer’ for his intensity, Gilmour played like a man much larger.
After five seasons and the 1987 Canada Cup tournament, the Blues traded Gilmour to Calgary. That year, he was a star in the playoffs (22 points in 22 games) and the Flames won their only Stanley Cup. After three more seasons, he was traded to Toronto in the biggest deal in league history. In his first full season, he earned 127 points, a Maple Leaf franchise record and still won the Frank Selke trophy for best defensive forward!
The Leafs made him captain in 1994, which he remained until he was traded to New Jersey in 1997. He then bounced between Chicago, Buffalo and Montreal before returning to Toronto. In 1656 games, he finished with 510 goals and 1092 assists for 1602 points. Doug was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011. Doug works with many different charity groups lending his name and time to great causes and works with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an Ambassador along with other Leafs greats like Clark and Sittler.
