Rick Vaive

Canadian ice hockey right winger who became the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to score 50 goals in a season, achieving this milestone in 1982.

Rick Vaive was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1959. He became the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to score 50 goals in a season — doing so in 1981-82. He accomplished the feat again in 1982-83 and 1983-84, becoming one of the very few players in NHL history to score 50 goals in three consecutive seasons. He was selected to one All-Star game. His career produced 441 goals — a total that placed him among the most prolific right wings of his era. He was the Maple Leafs' captain from 1982 to 1986 — stripped of the captaincy by owner Harold Ballard in 1986 after oversleeping for a practice, one of the more controversial disciplinary actions in franchise history. Despite the controversy he remains one of the franchise's most celebrated goal-scorers. His three consecutive 50-goal seasons placed him in historical company occupied only by a handful of players in NHL history.

Vaive was a powerful right winger known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability and accurate shot. He possessed a quick release and was particularly effective in front of the net, using his size and positioning to create scoring opportunities. His consistent ability to find the back of the net made him one of the most reliable offensive threats of his era.

Vaive's three consecutive 50-goal seasons with the Maple Leafs established him as one of the franchise's most prolific scorers and demonstrated that elite goal-scoring was possible even during the team's struggling years in the early 1980s.

• First 50-goal scorer in Maple Leafs history (1982)
• All-Star 1x
• Maple Leafs franchise records