The Toronto Maple Leafs have begun construction on an evolving touchstone team monument. In preparation of the team's 100th anniversary in 2017 the team preparing a series of statues outside of the Air Canada Centre in an area known as Maple Leaf Square. The art will feature "a maximum of 10 or 11" legends honoured in various poses on a team bench.
The first three honourees have been selected, and on Thursday the team announced the identity of the first legend - the great Teeder Kennedy. Kennedy was the long time captain of the dynasty Leafs teams in the late 1940s. He won 5 Stanley Cups and was the last Leafs player to win the Hart Trophy. Many consider him to be the greatest Maple Leafs player of all time.
Three to four other legends will be honoured each season until the project is complete.
Other legends with strong cases for inclusion are King Clancy, Charlie Conacher, Syl Apps, Turk Broda, Johnny Bower, Frank Mahovlich, Tim Horton, Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler, Borje Salming, Mats Sundin and Doug Gilmour.
It remains to be seen if the statues will be limited to strictly players. The team really should take this opportunity to also honour franchise founder Conn Smythe.
1 comment:
Just as long as they don't honour Harold Ballard.
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