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Speculation: Rick Vaive

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It’s such a joke that the Leafs have not retired his number 22. Yeah Wendel’s is retired but not Vaive’s?! No logic in that. Clark, loved him when he was here but he never had the goal numbers Vaive did when he was here.

Does anyone know why they decided not to retire 22? Perhaps due to his off ice issues post career?
 
KnightsFan110 said:
It’s such a joke that the Leafs have not retired his number 22. Yeah Wendel’s is retired but not Vaive’s?! No logic in that. Clark, loved him when he was here but he never had the goal numbers Vaive did when he was here.

Does anyone know why they decided not to retire 22? Perhaps due to his off ice issues post career?
Click to expand...

Seems it's for logistical reasons, more than personal:

editorinleaf.com

Toronto Maple Leafs Rick Vaive Should Have His #22 Raised to the Rafters

The Toronto Maple Leafs have honoured many of their legends by sending their numbers to the rafters. Leafs legend, Rick Vaive should be next.
editorinleaf.com editorinleaf.com

Why haven’t the Toronto Maple Leafs Raised Rick Vaive to the Rafters?
There is a fear that if a franchise retires too many numbers, eventually there wont be enough numbers available for the players on their roster. The Leaf currently have the second most retired numbers in the NHL with 13. The Montreal Canadiens has the most with 15.

Besides Ace Bailey and Bill Barilko, the Toronto Maple Leafs used to “honor numbers” instead of retiring them until the club decided to retire all the honored numbers in 2016. Honored numbers were raised to the rafters just like retired numbers. If the Maple Leafs still practiced the act of honoring numbers instead of retiring them, raising #22 Rick Vaive to the rafters might be an easier decisions.

A few teams including the Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes and Ottawa Senators have created what they call their “Ring of Honour” as a way to honor franchise legends without taking their jersey number out of circulation. The Philadelphia Flyers have created their own “Flyers Hall of Fame.” These teams still retire numbers, it’s just a way to honor players without reducing available jersey numbers too much. The Leafs don’t do this, but if they did, it’s the least they could do to honor Rick Vaive.
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I believe Vaive's single season goal mark as a Leaf is 54. Looks like Matthews is a couple of goals away from a new, personal best for himself and still very much on track for etching his place in Leaf history though.
 
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I listened to the interview. Vaive is certainly proud of the record and so he should be. Deep down everyone wants their record to stand. But he is aware of the inevitability of it falling and he said he would be honoured to be involved with some gesture of congratulations on some level. Even just shaking his hand. He had the utmost of respect for Matthews’ skill and goal scoring ability. He marvelled at Matthews abilities and said it’s impossible to compare players decades apart, citing different training and development and focus across time. It was a great interview and you can tell he is both proud and excited to be involved in the discussion.
 
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When people say records are meant to be broken, there's something satisfying about the fresh pursuit that breathes life into the old numbers. The fact that Matthews is hot on Vaive's trail demonstrates to us how great of a season he's having, but also honours Vaive in reminding everyone what a great accomplishment it was, even if it was way back when.
 
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Let me start out by saying Rick Vaive was a great offensive player. It stops there. That was all he was. He was one of the worst defensive liability players in the entire league. Mathews is described as one of the most complete 200 foot players in the league. Vaive rarely stepped over his own blue line. He had a cannon of a shot that hammered goals past opposition goalies. He was also fairly physical early in his career. Vaive was good but he was a fair distance away from being great. And yes I did cheer for him every night through his Leaf career.
 
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Is there anyone really saying he's anywhere near Matthews league as a player? Vaive was never in consideration for any league trophies including the Rocket and the team sucked beyond belief while he was a player. Class guy and excellent player, though kinda lucky to hang on to the record this long. More an indictment on the team than anything else. Both Frank M. and Lanny were both superior scorers and players. Surely a few others too.
 
Rick Vaive scored >= 50 goals in 3 straight seasons for Toronto from 1981-82 thru 1983-84, with the most being 54 in a single season.

Even when Matthews ends up holding the record for most in a single season, Vaive can still for now say he reached 50+ goals 3 times, and this will only be Auston's first.
 
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Mess said:
Rick Vaive scored >= 50 goals in 3 straight seasons for Toronto from 1981-82 thru 1983-84, with the most being 54 in a single season.

Even when Matthews ends up holding the record for most in a single season, Vaive can still for now say he reached 50+ goals 3 times, and this will only be Auston's first.
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It seems to me like goal scoring was much more inflated back in Vaivers day.
 
ACC1224 said:
It seems to me like goal scoring was much more inflated back in Vaivers day.
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It was the Wayne Gretzky Era after all so when Wayne was scoring 93 goals and Mike Bossy was scoring 50 goals in 50 games then Vaive's achievement was certainly dulled in comparison, although he did finish 6th in goal scoring the year he reached 54.
 
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Niagara Bill said:
I sure hope acc1224 can prove that statement.
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We all know he can't. Once again, he's wrong.

"COVID-19 then got in the way, halting him at 47 when the entire NHL shut down with a dozen games remaining.
“I was hoping he’d do it then,” said Rick Vaive"

“I’ve held it 40 years and I’m happy someone such as Auston ties it or beats it."
 
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Mess said:
Rick Vaive scored >= 50 goals in 3 straight seasons for Toronto from 1981-82 thru 1983-84, with the most being 54 in a single season.

Even when Matthews ends up holding the record for most in a single season, Vaive can still for now say he reached 50+ goals 3 times, and this will only be Auston's first.
Click to expand...
This would be Auston's 3rd consecutive 50 goal season if not for f'n Covid
 
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mapleleafs34 said:
This would be Auston's 3rd consecutive 50 goal season if not for f'n Covid
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Thanks for pointing out what should be obvious. Let's not ignore the fact that if Auston played full seasons in the 80's he'd likely have 6 straight 50's and maybe a 60 or 2.
I should probably expand to say this is in no way a diss on you, in fact the opposite. hehe (you are probably one of the only ones that understands that though lol)
 
KnightsFan110 said:
It’s such a joke that the Leafs have not retired his number 22. Yeah Wendel’s is retired but not Vaive’s?! No logic in that. Clark, loved him when he was here but he never had the goal numbers Vaive did when he was here.

Does anyone know why they decided not to retire 22? Perhaps due to his off ice issues post career?
Click to expand...
I mean, show me a Leaf who hasn't pissed himself at a police station.
 
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