Gary Leeman | |||
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Born |
Toronto, ON, CAN |
February 19, 1964 ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb) | ||
Position | Right Wing | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for |
NHL Toronto Maple Leafs Calgary Flames Montreal Canadiens Vancouver Canucks St. Louis Blues AHL St. Catharines Saints Fredericton Canadiens Worcester IceCats |
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NHL Draft | 24th overall, 1982 Toronto Maple Leafs |
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Playing career | 1983–1999 |
Gary Spencer Leeman (born February 19, 1964) is a former professional ice hockey player in the NHL. He is best known for being the second Toronto Maple Leaf player ever to score 50 goals or more in a single NHL season (Rick Vaive being the first in 1981-82).
He attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan and was a standout defenceman for two seasons with the WHL's Regina Pats where he was voted the league's Top Defenceman and a First Team All-Star.
Leeman was drafted 24th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft as a defenceman, and returned to junior for a season where he scored 86 points in 63 games.
He also represented Canada at the World Junior Championships twice, in Leningrad and in Sweden.
Leeman converted to a winger in the National Hockey League. He was best known as a speedy and gritty scoring machine and he had a 50-goal season to his credit for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He formed the "Hound Line" along with Wendel Clark and Russ Courtnall while helping the Leafs come within a game of the semi-finals. Starting in 1986–87, Gary was a top goal scorer with Toronto and had four straight 20 goal seasons.
After nearly nine seasons in Toronto, Leeman needed a change of scenery and was the key player sent to the Calgary Flames in the blockbuster trade that brought Doug Gilmour to Toronto. To date, the 10 player deal is the largest in NHL history and, looking back, is seen as lopsided in favour of Toronto.