Did This NHL Star Play For The Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Or Both?
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Sports
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are two of the most prestigious franchises in the National Hockey League, not only because they have won the most Stanley Cups (Toronto with 13 and Montreal with 23), but also because they are the oldest franchises in the league. Many fans believe the Original Six (Toronto, Montreal, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Detroit) all entered the league together, but the Maple Leafs and Canadiens were actually part of the league's first official season back in 1917, whereas the other teams didn't join the league until years later. Toronto and Montreal are also two of the biggest cities in Canada, which mean they're two of the biggest markets in terms of hockey coverage.
That means if you're a star with either the Canadiens or Maple Leafs, you're going to be an even bigger deal than if you played for another Canadian team like the Calgary Flames and especially even more so if you were a member of a small-market American team such as the Arizona Coyotes or Carolina Hurricanes. However, it can be both a blessing and a curse; things are great if the team is riding high, but if the individual and/or the team starts struggling, the media can and will drag you through the mud.
Did Mats Sundin play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Bromma, Sweden, this player became the first ever European selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft when the Quebec Nordiques selected him in 1989. A 6-foot-5, 231-pound center who was an above-average skater, he wasn't necessarily a physical presence, but his large frame and speed made him an effective offensive force. He played 1,346 games with three different teams throughout his career and recorded 1,349 points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
Did Curtis Joseph play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Best known as Cujo because of the first two letters of his first and last name as well as the fact he donned the fearsome dog on his mask for most of his career, Curtis Joseph went undrafted out of junior hockey, but caught the attention of the St. Louis Blues after one year of college hockey with the University of Wisconsin. The native of Keswick Ontario played with six different teams throughout his career and posted a record of 454-352-96 to go along with a 2.79 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.
Did Saku Koivu play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
One of the most respected and humble players of his era, Saku Koivu is a native of Turku, Finland who was drafted 21st overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He missed almost all of the 2001-02 season due to receiving chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but returned for three games at the end of the year and was subsequently awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy. He had an incredibly successful career following that, playing a total of 1,124 games and recording 832 points.
Did Yanic Perreault play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, this player was selected in the third round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft after recording a whopping 185 points with the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He went on to spend three seasons in the AHL and in this third posted 105 points in 62 games, which was finally enough to earn him a promotion to the NHL. He went on to play 859 games in the league for six different teams and recorded 516 points.
Did Michael Ryder play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Few predicted Michael Ryder would become one of the greatest NHL players from the Canadian province of Newfoundland, but that's ultimately what happened after the former eighth-round pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft played 806 career games and recorded 484 points. After beginning his career in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), he finally earned a shot in the NHL during the 2003-04 season and finished as a runner up for the Calder Trophy with 63 points in 81 games.
Did Matt Stajan play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A second-round pick in the 2002 NHL Draft, Matt Stajan was - and is - a rather unassuming player, but he has managed to carve out a successful and lengthy career in the league due to his skating ability, dedication to training, and leadership abilities. A former member of the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Belleville Bulls, he made his NHL debut at the tail end of the 2002-03 season and has since appeared in 947 career games. He was dealt to the Calgary Flames back in 2010 and has since become a fixture on the team's bottom two lines.
Did Owen Nolan play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Though born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Owen Nolan played for the Canadian national team several times throughout his career as he grew up in Ontario. He played his junior hockey with the Cornwall Royals of the OHL and was made the first overall pick by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. Although he had a relatively disappointing rookie season, he recorded an impressive 73 points the following year and his career took off from there. Nolan retired in 2010 as a veteran of 1,200 career games in which he recorded 885 points.
Did Sheldon Souray play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A hard-hitting defenseman who also had one of the hardest shots in the league, Sheldon Souray is a native of Elk Point, Alberta who has drafted in the third round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He had a rather unassuming start to his career in the AHL as well as during his first few seasons in the NHL, but his career really took off in 2003-04, when he scored 15 goals and added 20 points. Three years later, he recorded a career-best 64 points. He retired in 2013 with 300 points in 758 career games.
Did Mike Komisarek play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
The seventh overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, this New York native played college hockey with the University of Michigan, where he was an offensive-minded defenseman who recorded 30 points in 39 games. He lost his offensive touch in the NHL, but was an effective shutdown defenseman for a few seasons, even earning a trip to the NHL All-Star Game early in his career. However, he quickly became a whipping boy after signing an expensive free agent contract and failing to live up to those expectations. He retired in 2014 as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Did Andrei Markov play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A current member of Kazan Ak-Bars of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia, Andrei Markov recently left the NHL despite being 10 games shy of reaching his 1,000th career game. The 38 year old defenseman was drafted in the sixth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and developed into a steady, smooth-skating defenseman capable of both running a power-play and a penalty-kill unit. Although he has never won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman, he has consistently been among the best in the league year in and year out.
Did Ian White play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Steinbach, Manitoba, Ian White is currently in some hot water with law enforcement due to owning unauthorized fire arms, which is a shame because he's still only 33 years old and was once a talented defenseman who should still be in the league given his young age. Selected in the sixth round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, the 5-foot-10 blueliner played junior hockey with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and went on to play 503 career games in the NHL with five different teams.
Did Doug Gilmour play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
The winner of the 1993 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, Doug Gilmour was more so known for his offensive abilities. Despite the fact the 5-foot-11 native of Kingston, Ontario wasn't drafted until the seventh round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, he proved himself as one of the league's best forwards, recording three consecutive 50-point seasons to start his career and then reaching 105 in his fourth season. The Hockey Hall of Famer retired in 2003 with 1,414 points through 1,474 career games.
Did Jason Allison play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of North York, Ontario, Jason Allison was selected 17th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals after a 118-point season with the OHL's London Knights. He recorded 142 points the following season with London and spent the next two seasons bouncing between London, Portland of the AHL, and the Capitals. He finally established himself as an offensive star after a trade sent him to Boston in 1997. The following year, he recorded 83 points and later reached a career-high of 95 points during the 2000-01 season.
Did Trevor Linden play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Trevor Linden was selected second overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft after recording 110 points in 67 games with his hometown Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. He later became captain of the Canucks, but also played for three other teams throughout his career. Linden retired in 2008 with 867 points in 1,382 career games. The 47 year old is currently the president of hockey operations for the Canucks.
Did Mike Peca play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Best known for his defensive capabilities as a forward, Mike Peca is a two-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy, having won the award in 1997 and 2002 as a member of the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders respectively. A second-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Peca also had decent offensive skills as he scored over 20 goals four times in his career and reached a career-high 60 points in 2001-02. He retired in 2009 with 465 points through 864 career games.
Did Shayne Corson play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
The eighth overall pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Shayne Corson played for five different teams throughout his career, including the St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers. The hard-checking forward wasn't one of the most skilled players in the league, though he did record a career-high 75 points in the 1989-90 season. He managed to carve out a lengthy career, however, due to his checking and defensive abilities. He retired in 2004 with 693 points in 1,156 career games.
Did Alexei Ponikarovski play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Alexei Ponikarovsky was selected in the fourth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and played three seasons in the AHL before earning a full-time roster spot in the NHL. Though not particularly a prolific scorer, he reached a career-high 61 points during the 2008-09 season (23 goals and 38 assists), but he didn't come anywhere close to those numbers in the next few seasons. In fact, in the next four seasons alone, Ponikarovsky played for six different teams. Though he hasn't played in the NHL since 2013, he's still playing in the KHL, where he is a member of Kunlun Red Star.
Did Mikhail Grabovski play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Arguably the best player to ever come from Belarus, Mikhail Grabovski was drafted in the fifth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and played two seasons in Russia before attempting to build a career in the NHL. He played one season in the AHL before becoming a full-time regular in the league and has since played for four different teams, most recently the New York Islanders. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2016-17 season due to concussion problems and, although he was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, it appears his career could be over at only 33 years old.
Did Nikolai Kulemin play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Magnitogorsk, Russia, Kulemin played extensively with the aforementioned Grabovski early in his career as the pair formed a formidable duo. Though particularly known for his defensive capabilities as a penalty kill specialist, Kulemin scored a career-high 30 goals in 2010-11. However, he hasn't topped 16 goals in any other of his nine seasons in the league. Still, the New York Islander forward has had a fairly productive career to date with 274 points in 669 career games.
Did Sergei Samsonov play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Selected eighth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Sergei Samsonov was a dynamic winger who had his most productive seasons in his first four years in the league in which he twice topped 70 points. Though he seemed to regress in regard to offensive ability in the middle portion of his career, he rebounded in 2008-09 as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, tallying 48 points, which was his highest total since recording 70 as a member of the Bruins in 2001-02. The former Calder Trophy winner retired in 2011 with 571 points in 888 career games.
Did Erik Cole play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of New York, Erik Cole is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound left winger best known for his time with the Carolina Hurricanes, although he played for four other teams throughout his career. Selected in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, he recorded 40 points as a rookie and continued to progress with the Hurricanes. His career-high point total is 61, which he reached twice. He retired following the 2014-15 season as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
Did Francois Beauchemin play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A third-round pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Francois Beauchemin played five seasons in the AHL before finally earning a roster spot in the NHL. The stay-at-home defenseman hasn't let the long wait affect his career; instead, he continues to be a valuable blueliner at 37 years old and, if he stays healthy, should reach 900 career games by the end of this season. He currently has 273 points in 851 career games, but he's mostly known for his defensive ability, especially on the penalty kill.
Did Clarke McArthur play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Like Grabovski earlier, Clarke MacArthur is a player whose career has been significantly impacted by concussion concerns. He missed almost all of last season, but returned to the shock of many and had a memorable playoff run with the Ottawa Senators. Unfortunately, he failed his physical in training camp this year and his career is once again in jeopardy. It's a shame for the Lloydminster, Alberta native as he is one of the more likeable players in the game. He has 304 points through 552 career games.
Did Vincent Damphousse play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Montreal, Vincent Damphousse played junior hockey with the Laval Titan of the QMJHL and recorded an impressive 155 points in his draft year, which led to him being the sixth overall pick. The skilled center twice reached 94 points and recorded a career-high 97 points during the 1992-93 season. The one-time Stanley Cup winner played for four different teams and retired following the 2003-04 season with 1,205 career points in 1,378 games. He's a borderline Hall of Famer who is still awaiting his call into the Hall.
Did Joffrey Lupul play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Though he hasn't played a game in the NHL since the middle of the 2015-16 season, Joffrey Lupul is still being paid as he is under contract but on the long-term injured reserve list. A native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, the 34 year old left winger was selected in the first round of the 2002 NHL Draft after a 106-point season with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. He played for four different teams throughout his career and registered a combined 420 points through 701 career games.
Did Darcy Tucker play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Known for his aggressive style of play as well as his crazy eyes that indicated he might do just about anything on the ice, Darcy Tucker was selected in the sixth round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. The native of Castor, Alberta was not only wild (he once jumped into an opposing bench during a playoff game), but had some decent skill, recording a career-high 61 points in 74 games during the 2005-06 season. He retired as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2010 with 476 points in 947 games.
Did Lars Eller play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Rodovre, Denmark, Lars Eller is a 28 year old center who currently plays for the Washington Capitals. A solid two-way center with diminishing offensive skills and above-average defensive capabilities, Eller was selected 13th overall in the 2007 NHL Draft and has since played 538 career games with three different teams and compiled 191 points. He also has 23 points in 50 career playoff games. Outside of the NHL, he has also played for JyP HT Jyvaskyla in Finland and Frolunda HC in Sweden.
Did Travis Moen play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of small town Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan, Travis Moen was selected in the fifth round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames. Fifth-round picks rarely pan out, but Moen was able to carve out a decent career as a checking-line winger who could kill penalties. His career high point total was only 21, but he continued to find work given his speed and checking ability. He retired following the 2015-16 season with 136 points and 801 penalty minutes in 747 career games.
Did Kirk Muller play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
The second overall pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Kirk Muller was a highly-coveted player out of junior hockey following a 94-point season in only 49 games with the OHL's Guelph Platters. He made the NHL the following season as a 19 year old and recorded 54 points in 80 games with the New Jersey Devils. Surprisingly, he never won any major awards in the NHL, despite being a prolific scorer early in his career and later developing into one of the league's best defensive forwards.
Did Cody Franson play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Sicamous, British Columbia, Cody Franson is a 6-foot-5, 224-pound defenseman who played his junior hockey with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL before transitioning to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He finally made his NHL debut in 2009-10 and was part of an impressive core of Nashville Predators defensemen that also included Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, and Dan Hamhuis. He has since played for three more teams and racked up 208 career points in 534 games.
Did Colton Orr play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
An undrafted free agent who played his junior hockey with the Swift Current Broncos, Kamloops Blazers, and Regina Pats of the WHL, Colton Orr was signed by the Boston Bruins in 2002. Were he playing today, he would never be offered a contract as the league has moved away from players whose only ability is fighting (Orr had only 28 points in 164 junior games), but it was a different time in the early 2000s and, as such, Orr was a fan favorite throughout his career. He played 477 career games with three different teams and recorded 24 points and 1,186 penalty minutes.
Did Sergei Berezin play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A native of Voskresensk, Russia, Sergei Berezin was a flashy forward who was selected in the 10th round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut two seasons later, recording 41 points in 73 games. His NHL career was short-lived despite his obvious talent as he dealt with injuries and was often signaled out for his inability to get back and play defense. Nonetheless, he played 502 career games in the league and racked up 286 points for a respectable career.
Did Hal Gill play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
Known affectionately as the "Gentle Giant" for the fact he never really utilized his 6-foot-7, 244-pound frame as a powerful physical defenseman, Hal Gill was nonetheless an effective blueliner throughout his NHL career, mostly because of his long reach and ability to keep defenders to the outside. An eighth-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, he played 1,108 games for six different teams throughout his career and compiled 184 points to go along with 962 penalty minutes.
Did Pavel Kubina play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
A seventh-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Pavel Kubina quickly proved himself a decent second-pairing defenseman in the NHL. He made his debut with the Lightning one season after being drafted and went on to produce two 40-point seasons thanks in part to his booming shot from the point, which he effectively utilized in power-play situations. Kubina retired from the league in 2012 after playing 970 career games and recording 386 points to go along with 1,123 penalty minutes.
Did Tomas Kaberle play for the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or both teams?
One of the league's most prolific defensemen born in the Czech Republic, along with, of course, Zdeno Chara, Tomas Kaberle was selected in the eighth round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. Despite his late selection, he was playing full-time in the league by the 1998-99 season, in which he recorded 22 points in 57 games. He recorded at least 30 points in the next 11 seasons, including a career-best 67 points during the 2005-06 season. Kaberle left the NHL in 2013 with 563 points in 984 career games.