Playing Career
He attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan and was a standout defenceman for two seasons with the WHL's Regina Pats where he was voted the league's Top Defenceman and a First Team All-Star.
Leeman was drafted 24th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft as a defenceman, and returned to junior for a season where he scored 86 points in 63 games.
He also represented Canada at the World Junior Championships twice, in Leningrad and in Sweden.
Leeman converted to a winger in the National Hockey League. He was best known as a speedy and gritty scoring machine and he had a 50 goal season to his credit for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He formed the "Hound Line" along with Wendel Clark and Russ Courtnall while helping the Leafs come within a game of the semi-finals. Starting in 1986–87, Gary was a top goal scorer with Toronto and had four straight 20 goal seasons.
After nearly nine seasons in Toronto, Leeman needed a change of scenery and was the key player sent to the Calgary Flames in the blockbuster trade that brought Doug Gilmour to Toronto. To date, the 10 player deal is the largest in NHL history.
As well as the Leafs, Leeman also played for the Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks and the St. Louis Blues. He won a Stanley Cup in Montreal in 1993. He played 667 regular season games in the NHL, scoring 199 goals and 267 assists for 466 points.
He finished his career in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the Hannover Scorpions. He retired in 1999.
Read more about this topic: Gary Leeman
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