Wendell Clark

Number 17 needs to introduction in Toronto.  Clark was a first overall pick in 1985, and from that day he began building his stellar career for the maple leafs.  Fans instantly fell in love with this defensemans hard hitting, and high scoring style.

“He was the ultimate competitor, he was a 185-pounder who played like a 210-pounder, and he played more games than any other player in terms of being held together by the training staff,” said Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher

Doug Gilmour will have his number 93 raised in January.

Clark played larger than his five-foot-11 and 180-pound body would suggest. He stood toe-to-toe with the league’s toughest heavyweights. Who can forget the Clark/McSorley fight when McSorley knocked Gilmour almost senseless with a flying hit . Clark dropped the gloves immediately and showed McSorley who was boss.  Here is a clip  of that fight and many others.

“You remember the fights and you remember the goals, but it was his character that really stood out,” former Leaf Mark Osborne said. “I remember going into Joe Louis Arena at a time when he was having back problems, but he was still willing to engage Bob Probert even though he wasn’t feeling great.”

The Leafs do not have any players with the work ethic, grit, or determination that Clark had.  But after trading Clark away, raising his number might remind the current team what a proud Maple Leaf looks like.