In today's hot-take media landscape, an eighth overall pick going goalless for 19 games would be headline news. But in 1970-71, the Toronto Maple Leafs had the luxury of letting Darryl Sittler develop without the glare of daily scrutiny.
The highly touted rookie finally got on the scoresheet in game 20 of his NHL career. On November 28, 1970, the Leafs hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens. Toronto, off to a rocky start that season with just five wins in 20 games, had their way in this one, jumping to a 6-0 lead before Detroit finally broke the shutout.
At 1:41 of the third period, Sittler lit the lamp for the first time in the NHL, assisted by Mike Walton and Jim McKenny. The goal made it 7-2 Toronto. He wasn’t done. Sittler added an assist later in the period on a goal by Ron Ellis, capping off a strong two-point night. Both of Sittler’s points came against Detroit’s backup netminder Don McLeod, who had replaced Roy Edwards for the final frame.
Despite an injury-shortened season, Sittler added nine more goals over his 49-game rookie campaign. It was the beginning of a Hall of Fame worthy career: 484 goals, 1,121 points, and 1,096 games played with the Maple Leafs, Flyers, and Red Wings.
About Darryl Sittler
Darryl Sittler score 20 or more goals in 12 seasons, five of those with 40 or more. He topped out with a career high 45 for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1977-78. That year, he also had a career best 117 points which placed him third in the race for the Art Ross Trophy behind Guy Lafleur and Bryan Trottier.
Sittler was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989. In 2016, his jersey number 27 was retired by the Maple Leafs, a shared honour with Frank Mahovlich. A junior with the London Knights before being drafted to the NHL, Darryl's number 9 is retired by that club. He is the first ever first round pick to come out of the Knights.
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