gold star for USAHOF

14. George Armstrong

14. George Armstrong

Known as “Chief” due to his Algonquin heritage, George Armstrong would become the most tenured Toronto Maple Leaf of all time, participating in 1,188 Games.

Armstrong first appeared in a Leafs uniform in the 1949-50 Season, and was a stalwart at Right Wing two years later.  While he was not a gifted skater, he had a high hockey IQ, expert positioning and rarely lost a grind in the corner.  

Armstrong was not a potent scorer but was the most consistent player for a 15-year period.  His career-high in Points was only 53 (1961-62), but he cracked the 40-Point mark seven times, and he was very good on the defensive side of the ice.  Armstrong became the team captain in 1957 and held that post for twelve seasons, overseeing four Stanley Cups, arguably making him the most successful Maple Leaf to don the "C."

Retiring after the 1970-71 Season, Armstrong scored 726 Points and remains one of the most respected players in franchise history. 

Armstrong was chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975, and the Leafs hung his likeness to the rafters of the Air Canada Center in 1998.  His number 10 (along with Syl Apps) was retired in 2016.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Right Wing
  • Acquired: Signed before the 1949-50 Season.
  • Departed: Retired after the 1970-71 Season.
  • Games Played: 1188
  • Notable Statistics:

    296 Goals
    417 Assists 
    713 Points 
    726 PIM 
    0.60 PPG 
    +101 Plus/Minus*
    66.0 Point Shares 

    110 Playoff Games
    26 Goals
    34 Assists 
    60 Points 
    52 PIM 
    0.55 PPG 
    +16 Plus/Minus*

    *Plus/Minus was not a statistic until the 1959/60 Season.

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Stanley Cup (1962, 1963, 1964 & 1967)
    All-Star (1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964 & 1968)

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