244. Jim Thomson

Published in Hockey
Read 2096 times
Rate this item
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
5 4
(4 votes)

Jimmy Thomson was the flashier of the “Gold Dust Twins,” but along with his partner Gus Mortson, he provided the defensive backbone for the Toronto Maple Leafs for many years. Like Mortson, Thomson was a very rugged player, but he was a better passer than his defensive partner, and he would have five seasons of 20 or more Assists. He would anchor the Leafs to four Stanley Cups, and individually he was a two-time Second Team All Star and was a three-time leader in Defensive Point Shares.

All of the above is very impressive, but he might be best known for working towards forming a players' association, which raised the ire of Conn Smythe, the Leafs' President, who punished him throughout the season. He was sold to the Blackhawks shortly thereafter, where he would finish his career.

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Eligible Since: Sunday, 01 January 1961
Position: Defence
Games Played: 787
Notable Statistics:
19 Goals
215 Assists
234 Points
N/A Plus/Minus**
920 PIM
N/A Blocked Shots*
N/A Hits*
N/A Takeaways*
N/A Giveaways*
67.1 Point Shares

63 Playoff Games
2 Goals
13 Assists
15 Points
N/A Plus/Minus**
135 PIM
N/A Blocked Shots*
N/A Hits*
N/A Takeaways*
N/A Giveaways*

*These became stats in the 2007-08 Season.
**Plus/Minus became a stat in the 1959-60 Season.
Played For: Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs
Non-NHL Teams: St. Michael's Majors (OHA)
Major Accolades and Awards:
Stanley Cup Rings (4) (Toronto Maple Leafs, 1947, 1948, 1949 & 1951)
Second Team All-Star (2) (1951 & 1952)
All-Star (7) (1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 & 1953)
Most Defensive Point Shares (3) (1948, 1951 & 1955)
Notable Top Ten Finishes: 2 Top Ten Assists Finishes
2 Top Ten Penalties in Minutes Finishes
1 Top Ten Short-Handed Goals Finish
7 Top Ten Defensive Point Shares Finishes
2 Top Ten Point Shares Finishes
Rankings: 97. Defensive Point Shares: 55.2

These rankings are as of the end of the 2024-25 Season.