In today’s NHL, one of the scarcest commodities is a good right-handed defenseman. The league seems to be overflowing with left-handers, but finding a top-tier right-handed blue liner can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The Toronto Maple Leafs recently played a game where they iced five left-handed defensemen, two of them playing on their wrong side.
For a team like the Maple Leafs which is steeped in history and tradition, having good right-handers has long been a problem. It’s a scarcity that still haunts the team; and, seemingly, that’s always been the case.
Maple Leafs Brought in Ilya Lyubushkin to Partner with Morgan Rielly
This season, in their search for defensive balance, the Maple Leafs acquired a right-handed defenseman to partner their star, left-hander Morgan Rielly. That defenseman was Ilya Lyubushkin; and, fortunately, he’s been with the team before so he shouldn’t take a long time getting up to speed with the team’s systems.
Still, the trade deadline came and went, and the Maple Leafs found themselves short of right-handed options. This challenge is nothing new for the franchise. Throughout the team’s long history, the Maple Leafs have consistently faced the dilemma of scarcity in the right-handed defenseman department.
This fact begs a look at who were the Top-5 right-handed defensemen in Maple Leafs history. Here are the top five right-handed defensemen who have been the best in the history of the franchise.
The Best Right-Handed Defensemen in Maple Leafs History
Despite the current shortage of right-handers on the blue line, because the Maple Leafs are such a storied NHL franchise, they are bound to have had several standout right-handed defensemen throughout their history. Aren’t they?
The fact is that they have – well, sort of. [As you’ll see with Borje Salming.] Here are the five most notable right-handers who have made significant contributions to the team:
Number One Right-Hander: Borje Salming
Admittedly, naming Borje Salming as the best right-hander in Maple Leafs history is cheating a bit. While he was arguably the greatest defenseman in Maple Leafs history to play on the team’s right side, in honesty Salming was a lefty playing on the “wrong” (right) side. Yet, even playing on his “wrong” side, he revolutionized the position during his time with the team from 1973 to 1989.
Salming was known for his offensive skills, smooth skating, and ability to log heavy minutes. Salming’s impact on the Maple Leafs and the NHL as a whole earned him induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.
Number Two Right-Hander: Tim Horton
A legendary figure both on and off the ice, Tim Horton was a cornerstone of the Maple Leafs’ defense during the team’s dynasty years in the 1960s. There’s a funny thing, however. While he predominantly played as a right-handed defenseman, Horton also occasionally lined up on the left side during his career with the Maple Leafs.
On either side, however, Horton was known for his durability, physical play, and leadership. He was a key part of four Stanley Cup championship teams with Toronto.
Number Three Right-Hander: Larry Murphy
Although he only spent three seasons with the Maple Leafs late in his career, Larry Murphy showed steady play and veteran leadership. That said, he was a lot more appreciated by hockey insiders than he was by Maple Leafs hockey fans. As a highly skilled defenseman, Murphy played a key role in helping Toronto reach the conference finals in 1999 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
However, during his time with the Maple Leafs, the team was not very good and Murphy took much of the brunt of the fans’ unhappiness. The team was inconsistent. Despite reaching the conference finals in 1999, it had some lean seasons as well. Some fans unfairly attributed the team’s struggles to Murphy.
Number Four Right-Hander: Ian Turnbull
Ian Turnbull had a long and impactful tenure with the Maple Leafs in the 1970s. He was an offensive defenseman who is best remembered for his record-setting five-goal game as a defenseman against the Detroit Red Wings in 1977. That feat has yet to be matched by any other NHL defenseman.
Turnbull’s standout season with the Maple Leafs was in 1976-77. During that season, he scored 22 goals and added 57 assists for a total of 79 points in 80 games.
Number Five Right-Hander: Al Iafrate
Known for his booming slap shot and imposing physical presence, Al Iafrate was a fan favorite. He played with the Maple Leafs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although injuries cut his seasons and his career short at times, his skill set made him a force on the blue line when he was healthy. He scored more than 20 goals two times in his Maple Leafs career.
The Bottom (Blue) Line for Right-Handed Defensemen
These are just a few of the right-handed defensemen who have left their mark on Maple Leafs’ franchise history. However, they are five of the best. Each player brought unique talents and skills to the team. However, they were rare right-handers on a team that had and still has trouble finding impactful right-handers to play on the right side of the team’s defensive pairings.
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