LEAFS TIME MACHINE: Fraser on a mission and can Sittler’s document fall?

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Tie Domi was six years outdated when Darryl Sittler had his 10-point sport.

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That NHL document was nonetheless there when Domi started an 1,100-game NHL profession, is unbroken as son Max pushes age 30, nearing his first decade within the league — and can probably endure if a subsequent era of Domis play for the Maple Leafs.

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On this previous Wednesday’s 48^th anniversary of Sittler’s six targets and 4 assists versus Boston, Max was requested whether or not this period’s elite goaltending and meticulous pre-scouting of prime gamers might see 10 factors matched or bettered.

“No likelihood,” Domi stated, earlier than conceding a number of within the present elite of the league might need an out of doors shot. “You have a look at Connor McDavid and the stuff that man can do, (Nathan) MacKinnon and the fellows we’ve got right here with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. You by no means know. However I’m not going to carry my breath that’s for certain.”

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The league existed seven many years earlier than Sittler’s feat on the Gardens with solely two gamers, Maurice Richard and Bert Olmstead, reaching eight in a sport. Eight extra gamers bought so far as eight factors post-Sittler, together with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, if you’d suppose it was attainable of their period with out parity or hefty goaltending gear. But Sam Gagner, then with Edmonton, is the newest to succeed in eight and that was in 2012.

Quickly after Sittler beat up on Bruins goalie Dave Reece — good sport Reece got here again to Toronto to be a part of the 40^th anniversary — colleague Jim Proudfoot predicted the document would stand “after they play for the Stanley Cup on Mars.”

A manned mission is being thought-about for the Pink Planet within the 2030s — and ice is already there.

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For now, a have a look at a number of different NHL data held by the Leafs and if they might ever fall.

Most targets by a defenceman in a regular-season sport (5), Ian Turnbull, Feb. 2, 1977:

Coming nearly a 12 months to the day after Sittler, considered one of Detroit’s goalies that night time on the Gardens was present Canucks president Jim Rutherford.

“It was like day on the racetrack,” stated Turnbull, who broke the document held by Toronto Arenas’ Harry Cameron.

WILL IT FALL?: Erik Karlsson and Cale Makar are set-up males greater than heavy shooters and Zdeno Chara, regardless of his shot velocity, didn’t come shut. Bobby Orr had a slew of hat tips however surprisingly by no means reached 5, whereas Paul Coffey’s 4 is the one challenger the previous 40 years. Only one defenceman has 30 targets in a season this century (Mike Inexperienced).

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Most targets in a playoff sport (5), Sittler, April 22, 1976:

The one shiny night time of the Leafs getting whacked by the Flyers in three straight playoff years, Sittler shares this mark with 4 others. However after Lemieux had 5 in 1989, this the longest the league has gone with out a spring fiver.

WILL IT FALL: Playoff hockey was as soon as as broad open as common season, however now the clamps come out.

Most targets by a rookie in a sport (5), Howie Meeker, Jan. 8, 1947:

Kudos to Meeker for enlisting whereas in junior hockey, surviving a wartime harm and returning to win the Calder Trophy. This dwelling sport in opposition to Chicago actually helped him beat Gordie Howe, although it led to a decades-long feud with teammate Wally Stanowski, one other Leaf who lived properly into his 90s, about whether or not Howie ought to’ve bought credit score for all 5 that night time.

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WILL IT FALL? Don Murdoch had 5 for the Rangers in ’76, whereas Matthews had 4 in his NHL debut on Oct. 12, 2016, in Ottawa, which is a first-game modern-era document for rookies. With the designation of so many ‘generational’ gamers, Meeker might have firm quickly.

Quickest two short-handed targets in opposition to, Esa Tikkanen, Nov. 12, 1988:

Oilers teammate Kevin McClelland needn’t have fearful about taking a first-period interference penalty when ‘Tik’ raced down the ice and scored twice on Allan Bester. Jari Kurri assisted on each and the Oilers went on to a 6-2 win.

WILL IT FALL?: These 1988-89 Leafs gave up 358 targets that season, however now that parity is right here and growth groups flip into fast contenders, it might take a really brutal energy play to journey up twice that shortly.

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Most penalties in a playoff sport (8 for 38 minutes), Forbes Kennedy, April 2, 1969 in Boston:

This was a part of a bench-clearing brawl that ended the 10-0 Bruins win, the identical sport that Pat Quinn flattened Orr with a stiff shoulder. The roguish Kennedy started with roughing, slashing and cross-checking minors and one other slash that was the precursor to 2 fights and two misconducts. He additionally decked linesman George Ashley within the melee. The following suspension ended the P.E.I. native’s 14-year profession.

WILL IT FALL?: Kim Clackson and Dale Hunter additionally rang up eight within the ’80s, however fell quick on minutes. To maintain management of video games, officers have majors and ejections of their rulebook, so miscreants not hold round in video games that might grow to be ugly, whereas concern of suspensions in the event that they go away the bench is a deterrent.

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Oldest goalie in a sport, Johnny Bower at age 45, Dec. 10, 1969:

Already in superior years when he bought his NHL break with the Rangers, Bower was 43 when the Leafs received their final Stanley Cup and 45 on this final look, a 6-3 loss in Montreal. Moe Roberts additionally was 45 when he performed for the Chicago Blackhawks as a third-period harm alternative in 1951, however he was 18 years faraway from his NHL profession and serving as Chicago’s assistant coach.

WILL IT FALL?: Craig Anderson was the newest warhorse within the crease, making it to 42 earlier than retiring. Marc-Andre Fleury has made it to second in profession wins forward of Patrick Roy, however reaches 40 subsequent 12 months. David Ayres, the world’s most well-known EBUG/Zamboni driver, was 42 when known as out of the stands at Scotiabank Enviornment to safe a win for Carolina over the Leafs. As nice as that story was, it probably satisfied the league to make sure solely youthful and extra established goalies get that gig in future.

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ONCE A LEAF

That includes one of many greater than 1,100 skaters coaches and basic managers who’ve performed or labored in Toronto since 1917.

D Mark Fraser

Born: Sept. 28, 1986, in Ottawa, Ont..

Years with the Leafs: 2012-14

Video games performed: 68, common season/playoffs 0-2-2, 18 PIM) 0-10-10, 125 PIMs

Sweater numbers: 2, 45

THEN

Fraser’s arrival in a commerce with Anaheim for farmhand Dale Mitchell was excellent timing for a group in want of pop in its first playoff look in 13 years.

At 6-foot-4, Fraser helped present a secure flight zone for the membership’s extra expert gamers.

“Physicality was vital,” Fraser stated. “We had that sandpaper and toughness with me, Frazer McLaren, Colton Orr and others that allowed Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel to do their factor.”

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The Leafs have been at dwelling making an attempt to even the collection in opposition to Boston at 2-2 when Fraser took a Milan Lucic drive off his brow that cracked his cranium.

“There was the moment ache, then panic. There was potential bleeding within the mind. After I might open my eyes it was such a aid. It left lots of steel left in my cranium. I used to be very fortunate to come back out of it with what amounted to a really dangerous bruise.

“Everyone knows what occurred subsequent (the Leafs misplaced a three-goal lead in Recreation 7). But it surely was some consolation for me to listen to individuals say it might need been totally different if I’d nonetheless been within the collection.”

Fraser performed 19 video games the following season earlier than a commerce to Edmonton. A few years later, he and Lucic ended up teammates at Oilers camp.

“We’re good, we talked, however I don’t wish to re-visit it a lot. I used to be lucky to maintain taking part in in Europe a number of years.”

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NOW

With the world in COVID-19 lockdown and pictures of George Floyd’s homicide replayed all over the place, a retired Fraser discovered an outlet for frustrations that gnawed at him since his days of youth hockey.

The son of Jamaican immigrants (father Hugh was a Canadian Olympic sprinter and Ontario Courtroom Justice) approached his outdated group about re-shaping their relationship with what had grow to be a really totally different Leafs Nation in a multi-cultural city.

“Within the wake of Floyd’s homicide, I used to be broken-hearted by hockey’s incapacity to react to one thing I believed was very human. When the Leafs bought again within the bubble, I noticed all of them sporting Black Lives Matter T-shirts, led by captain John Tavares, which was admirable, however most likely one thing that hadn’t been unanimous within the dressing room.

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“I hoped I used to be able to create some options inside the framework of hockey. The Leafs wished to do one thing, too, and although we each weren’t certain what it was, I had dialog with (basic supervisor) Kyle Dubas and the remainder of MLSE.”

That led to Fraser’s appointment as the corporate’s first director of tradition and inclusion.

“I used to be not the one one Black who had witnessed ache and trauma, refined or not, and in dialog having to consistently dis-arm privileged authority.”

A few of Fraser’s challenges have been confronted proper in his dwelling rink.

“I’m a Black man with dreadlocks and, even when I’m sporting group attire, typically I’m greeted as if I’m a trespasser in my very own constructing. Which will be exhausting as a result of, past my position right here, I’m additionally an alumnist as a participant.”

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Fraser has recruited assist from different minority Leafs, the primary wave of the late Nineteen Eighties — Val James, John Craighead, to Corridor of Fame goalie Grant Fuhr, Robbie Earl and Andre Deveaux.

The Leafs Black Alumni, nicknamed the Brotherhood inside the Brotherhood, search to remind others of their wealthy historical past within the sport — going again generations to unknown gamers, Willie O’Ree breaking the color barrier in 1958, the 70’s stars Tony McKegney, Mike Marson, on to Fuhr, Wayne Simmonds and right now’s massive names.

Fraser has been featured on Sportnet’s Black Historical past Month movies that embrace Hockey Corridor of Famer Angela James, PWHL gamers and a rising variety of hockey media reminiscent of David Amber.

“We’re shining a lightweight on one thing that already exists,” Fraser stated. “And Toronto has all the time been a various neighborhood. Maybe there was nothing higher after the work we did throughout all-star week right here (clinics, boards, and many others.) than having guests say ‘Wow, in order that’s what hockey in Toronto is all about’ and celebrating the reverse perspective.”

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Fraser assembled the Leafs Black alumni in a collaboration with the native trend model Too Black Guys and Mitchell & Ness, an American-based nostalgic clothier, for a brand new ‘city vibe’ line of Leafs put on. A video was filmed across the merchandise that includes younger clients of The Throne, a lifestyle-themed barber store, getting hair styled much like Fraser’s.

There’s a philanthropic angle to the clothes gross sales with 20% of income to Towards All Odds Black Aces, a youth hockey program.

“I’m not naive sufficient to suppose there’ll be adjustments in a single day,” stated Fraser, who was en path to Detroit to talk to the Pink Wings as a part of a larger effort by Black veterans to deal with all NHL groups with their ‘navigation tales.’

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“For me, it may be bodily and emotionally taxing. However after I consider the primary assembly, we’ve come a good distance in 2½ years.”

FAVOURITE LEAFS MEMORY

“After I bought to the Leafs, I’d been empowered with confidence from (Marlies coach) Dallas Eakins, (Leaf GM) Brian Burke and my earlier coaches in New Jersey, Jacques Lemaire, Larry Robinson and Adam Oates.

“I used to be from Ottawa, however getting an opportunity to put on that Toronto jersey felt so proper, given my dad and mom and grandparents have been such Leafs followers.

“That (2013) was my finest statistical 12 months ever (taking part in 45 video games of that 48-game lockout-shortened season with a group excessive plus-18). The town embraced me. I simply want we had an extended playoff run.”

THIS WEEK IN LEAFS HISTORY

Tuesday marks 25 years for the reason that Gardens closed to NHL hockey … Valentine’s Day marks 97 years for the reason that group headed by Conn Smythe purchased the Toronto St. Patricks and re-named them … 100 years in the past Saturday, Corridor of Famer Bud Poile was born, a member of the 1947 Cup-winning Leafs and father of long-time NHL GM David.

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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