Gary Leeman
Gary Leeman (born February 19, 1964, in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1983–84 to 1996–97, amassing 466 points (199 goals and 267 assists) in 667 games across five teams.[1] Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, 24th overall, of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, Leeman spent the first nine years of his career primarily with Toronto, where he emerged as a key offensive contributor on the team's "Hound Line" alongside Wendel Clark and Russ Courtnall.[2] His most prolific season came in 1989–90, when he scored a career-high 51 goals and 95 points in 80 games, earning NHL All-Star selections in both 1988–89 and 1989–90.[1] Later in his career, Leeman was involved in one of the NHL's largest trades, a 10-player deal in January 1992 that sent him from Toronto to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Doug Gilmour and others, before being traded again to the Montreal Canadiens in January 1993.[3] With Montreal, he contributed to their 1993 Stanley Cup victory, appearing in 11 playoff games during the 1992–93 postseason.[2] He concluded his NHL tenure with stints alongside the Vancouver Canucks (1994–95) and St. Louis Blues (1996–97), followed by two seasons in Europe with teams in Italy and Germany before retiring in 1999.[4] Leeman's career was significantly impacted by a severe head injury sustained on October 16, 1988, when he was struck by a slap shot from Calgary's Al MacInnis, resulting in a cracked skull, concussion, and long-term issues including fatigue, anxiety, and panic attacks.[3] In retirement, he became an advocate for concussion awareness and player health, participating in charity tours and joining a 2013 class-action lawsuit by 318 former NHL players against the league for neurological injuries, which settled for $18.9 million USD in 2018.[3] Leeman has also collaborated on mental health initiatives, including work with the START Clinic in Toronto, and as of 2025 continues to participate in alumni charity hockey events.[3][5]Early life and junior career
Childhood and youth hockey
Gary Leeman was born on February 19, 1964, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[6] Growing up in Toronto, he participated in local youth hockey through the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), playing for the Wexford Raiders.[7] For high school, Leeman attended Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan, where he gained initial competitive hockey exposure with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Major AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL).[8] He played for the Hounds in the 1979–80 season (statistics unavailable) and during the 1980-81 season, when the 16-year-old Leeman recorded 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 24 games, while accumulating 28 penalty minutes.[4] At the youth level, he stood approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed around 175 pounds, shooting right.[1] This period at Notre Dame marked his development prior to entering major junior hockey.Junior hockey with Regina Pats
After completing his time with the Notre Dame Hounds in the Saskatchewan Major AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL), Gary Leeman transitioned to the Western Hockey League (WHL) by joining the Regina Pats for the 1981-82 season.[4] Earlier that year, he had been selected in the 1981 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection by the Niagara Falls Thunder in the sixth round, 76th overall, but chose to pursue opportunities in the WHL instead.[4] Leeman initially played as a forward in his early junior years but shifted to defense during the 1981-82 season with the Pats, a move that allowed him to leverage his offensive skills from the blue line.[8] In his rookie WHL campaign, he appeared in 72 games, recording 19 goals and 41 assists for 60 points, along with 112 penalty minutes, contributing to Regina's strong regular-season finish as runners-up in the East Division.[9] His performance in the playoffs included 4 points in 3 games as the Pats advanced to the WHL final.[4] In the 1982-83 season, Leeman solidified his reputation as a top defenseman, posting 24 goals and 62 assists for 86 points in 63 games, while accumulating 88 penalty minutes.[9] He earned the WHL's Charles Johnston Memorial Trophy as the top defenseman and was named to the WHL First All-Star Team, recognizing his speed, puck-handling ability, and offensive contributions.[8] In the postseason, he added 6 points in 5 games during Regina's East Division semi-final run.[4] Leeman's standout junior performances culminated in his selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, 24th overall, of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, where scouts highlighted his skating prowess and two-way potential as a defenseman.[9]Professional career
Toronto Maple Leafs
Gary Leeman made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1983–84 season, shortly after being selected by the team in the second round, 24th overall, of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft.[1] He split time between the Maple Leafs and their American Hockey League affiliate, the St. Catharines Saints, in subsequent seasons, including 1984–85 and 1985–86, where he honed his skills before establishing himself as a full-time NHL player.[9] Over his first few years, Leeman gradually increased his production, appearing in 52 games as a rookie with 4 goals and 8 assists, followed by steady contributions in limited roles during the mid-1980s.[2] Leeman's breakthrough came in the late 1980s, particularly during the 1988–89 season when he recorded 32 goals and 43 assists for 75 points in 61 games, showcasing his emerging offensive prowess.[1] He was a key member of the Maple Leafs' "Hound Line," alongside Wendel Clark and Russ Courtnall, a trio formed in the 1985–86 season and renowned for its aggressive, physical style combined with high-volume scoring that energized Toronto's fanbase and attack. The line's tenacity and chemistry made it a cornerstone of the team's identity during a rebuilding period, with Leeman providing consistent secondary scoring and grit. Leeman reached the peak of his Maple Leafs tenure in 1989–90, scoring a career-high 51 goals and 44 assists for 95 points in 80 games, becoming only the second player in franchise history to reach the 50-goal mark after Rick Vaive in 1981–82.[10][1] This performance highlighted his development into a reliable power forward capable of driving play in all situations. In total, over nine seasons with Toronto from 1983 to 1992, Leeman appeared in 545 games, accumulating 176 goals, 231 assists, 407 points, and 463 penalty minutes.[2] On January 2, 1992, amid a blockbuster 10-player trade, Leeman was sent to the Calgary Flames along with Craig Berube, Alexander Godynyuk, Michel Petit, and Jeff Reese in exchange for Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun, Kent Manderville, Ric Nattress, and Rick Wamsley, marking the end of his productive stint with the Maple Leafs.[11]Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens
On January 2, 1992, Leeman was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Calgary Flames as part of a blockbuster 10-player deal that also sent Craig Berube, Alexander Godynyuk, Jeff Reese, and Michel Petit to Calgary in exchange for Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun, Kent Manderville, Ric Nattress, and Rick Wamsley.[11][12] During the remainder of the 1991–92 season with Calgary, Leeman appeared in 29 games, recording 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points.[1] In the 1992–93 season, he started with the Flames, playing 30 games and contributing 9 goals and 5 assists for 14 points before being traded again.[1][9] On January 28, 1993, the Flames traded Leeman to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for center Brian Skrudland.[13][12] Joining Montreal midseason, Leeman played 20 regular-season games, where he posted 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points, providing offensive depth to the Canadiens' forward group.[1] In the 1993 playoffs, Leeman appeared in all 11 games as Montreal defeated the Quebec Nordiques, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, and Los Angeles Kings to win the Stanley Cup, their 24th championship; he recorded 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points while logging valuable minutes on the checking lines.[2][1] His role in the postseason, though not statistically dominant, contributed to the team's depth and resilience during their record-setting 10 overtime victories.[14] Leeman remained with the Canadiens for the 1993–94 season, appearing in 31 games and tallying 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points, continuing as a reliable veteran presence amid Montreal's competitive roster.[1][2] Overall, his tenure with Calgary and Montreal spanned limited regular-season games—59 with the Flames across two partial seasons and 51 with the Canadiens—but highlighted a key playoff contribution to the 1993 Cup victory, marking a notable achievement late in his NHL career.[1][9]Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues
Following his time with the Montreal Canadiens, where he contributed to their 1993 Stanley Cup victory, Gary Leeman sought to revive his career on the West Coast. On January 18, 1995, he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the NHL's lockout-shortened 1994–95 season.[15] Despite high expectations for the 30-year-old forward, who had previously notched 50 goals in a season with Toronto, Leeman appeared in only 10 games for Vancouver, recording 2 goals and 0 assists while posting a minus-3 plus/minus rating.[1] His limited production stemmed from lingering effects of multiple concussions sustained earlier in his career, including a severe skull fracture from a 1988 slapshot by Calgary's Al MacInnis that had already diminished his speed and vision.[3] The Canucks released Leeman after the season, marking a sharp decline from his peak years and highlighting the toll of his head injuries on his performance.[16] Leeman spent the 1995–96 season in Italy with Gherdëina of the Italian Hockey League, appearing in 20 regular-season games with 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points, plus 7 playoff games with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points.[4] He then attempted a comeback in the NHL. On September 26, 1996, he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues, hoping to secure a regular role at age 32.[15] However, injuries continued to plague him, restricting his play to just 2 games in the 1996–97 season, where he tallied 0 goals and 1 assist with no penalty minutes.[1] Ongoing post-concussion symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, and cognitive challenges, severely hampered his ability to compete at the elite level, as later detailed in his involvement in a class-action lawsuit against the NHL over head trauma.[17] Across his brief stints with Vancouver and St. Louis, Leeman appeared in 12 games, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points total—a stark contrast to his earlier offensive output and signaling the effective end of his NHL tenure due to age and health complications.[1]Hannover Scorpions
Following his departure from the National Hockey League after the 1996–97 season, Gary Leeman signed with the Hannover Scorpions of Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) ahead of the 1997–98 campaign, marking his transition to professional hockey in Europe.[9] This move provided Leeman, who had endured multiple concussions and other injuries during his NHL tenure, an opportunity to extend his playing career abroad.[18] In his first season with Hannover, Leeman adapted well to the DEL's style, appearing in 44 regular-season games and contributing 13 goals and 38 assists for 51 points, while accumulating 16 penalty minutes.[9] His offensive output helped bolster the team's attack, and he quickly earned a reputation among fans, achieving cult status as one of the Scorpions' notable import players during that era.[19] Leeman returned for the 1998–99 season on a reduced role, limited to 10 regular-season games where he recorded 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points, along with 31 penalty minutes.[9] At age 35, he retired from professional hockey at the conclusion of that campaign, bringing an end to a career that spanned over a decade in North America and two seasons in Germany.[20]International career
World Junior Championships
Leeman first represented Canada at the international level as an 18-year-old forward at the 1983 IIHF World Junior Championship, held in Leningrad, Soviet Union.[4] Playing all seven games, he recorded 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points, contributing to Canada's bronze medal finish with a 4-2-1 record.[21][22] The following year, Leeman returned for the 1984 IIHF World Junior Championship in Norrköping and Nyköping, Sweden, where he was loaned from the Toronto Maple Leafs to join the national team.[23] At 19 years old and positioned as a right winger, he appeared in all seven contests, recording 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points and tying for second in team scoring, helping the team secure a fourth-place finish despite a challenging tournament.[24][9] These appearances provided Leeman with valuable pre-NHL exposure against top junior talent from around the world.[9]Awards and achievements
NHL milestones
During the 1989–90 season, Gary Leeman scored 51 goals in 80 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, marking the second time in franchise history that a player reached the 50-goal plateau and surpassing the previous team mark set by Rick Vaive's 54 goals in 1981–82.[25] This performance also contributed to Leeman's career-high 95 points that year, establishing him as a key offensive force on a rebuilding Toronto squad.[1] He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1988–89 and 1989–90.[2] Leeman's most prominent team accomplishment came in the 1992–93 season when he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, appearing in 20 regular-season games and contributing to their playoff run; his name was engraved on the Cup alongside the 24 other players recognized for the championship.[9] Acquired midseason in a multi-player trade from the Calgary Flames, Leeman added depth scoring with 6 goals and 12 assists during his time with Montreal that year.[2] Over his 13-season NHL career spanning five teams, Leeman appeared in 667 games, accumulating 199 goals, 267 assists, 466 points, and 531 penalty minutes, reflecting a solid tenure as a right winger known for consistent production in the 1980s and early 1990s.[2]International and other honors
Leeman represented Canada at two IIHF World Junior Championships during his junior career. In 1983, he contributed to Canada's bronze medal finish, recording 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 games.[21] The following year, in 1984, Canada placed fourth overall, with Leeman posting 3 goals and 6 assists over 7 games.[26][4] In the Western Hockey League, Leeman earned significant recognition as a high-scoring defenseman with the Regina Pats. During the 1982-83 season, he was selected to the WHL First All-Star Team and received the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenseman, achieving 24 goals and 62 assists for 86 points in 63 regular-season games.[4][8] Leeman did not compete in major senior-level international tournaments for Canada. Following his playing career, he has participated in charitable events such as celebrity hockey classics and golf tournaments to support causes like Easter Seals.[27]Career statistics
Regular Season
Gary Leeman played 667 games in the National Hockey League regular season over 14 seasons from 1983 to 1997, accumulating 199 goals, 267 assists, 466 points, and 531 penalty minutes.[2]| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–84 | TOR | 52 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 31 |
| 1984–85 | TOR | 53 | 5 | 26 | 31 | 72 |
| 1985–86 | TOR | 53 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 20 |
| 1986–87 | TOR | 80 | 21 | 31 | 52 | 66 |
| 1987–88 | TOR | 80 | 30 | 31 | 61 | 62 |
| 1988–89 | TOR | 61 | 32 | 43 | 75 | 66 |
| 1989–90 | TOR | 80 | 51 | 44 | 95 | 63 |
| 1990–91 | TOR | 52 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 39 |
| 1991–92 | TOR/CGY | 63 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 71 |
| 1992–93 | CGY/MTL | 50 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 24 |
| 1993–94 | MTL | 31 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 17 |
| 1994–95 | VAN | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996–97 | STL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 667 | 199 | 267 | 466 | 531 |
Playoffs
Leeman appeared in 36 playoff games during his NHL career, recording 8 goals, 16 assists, 24 points, and 38 penalty minutes; his most notable postseason was the 1985–86 playoffs with Toronto, where he tallied 12 points in 10 games, and he contributed to Montreal's 1993 Stanley Cup victory with 3 points in 11 games.[2]| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–83 | TOR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1985–86 | TOR | 10 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 2 |
| 1986–87 | TOR | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 1987–88 | TOR | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1989–90 | TOR | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
| 1992–93 | MTL | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993–94 | MTL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 36 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 38 |
International play
Leeman's international career was limited to two appearances at the World Junior Championships, representing Canada in 1983 and 1984, with no participation in senior-level IIHF tournaments.[4] His performance in the 1983 IIHF World U20 Championship, held in Leningrad, USSR, where Canada earned bronze, is summarized below:[21]| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Canada U20 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Canada U20 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
European professional leagues
Following his NHL career, Leeman played in European leagues from 1995 to 1999. Below is a summary of his regular season statistics:[4]| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | Gherdëina | ITA | 20 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 59 |
| 1997–98 | Hannover Scorpions | DEL | 36 | 11 | 34 | 45 | 12 |
| 1998–99 | Hannover Scorpions | DEL | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 31 |
| 1998–99 | EHC Biel-Bienne | NLB | 8 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 10 |
| 1998–99 | HC Sierre | NLB | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 75 | 29 | 54 | 83 | 112 |