Nobody wore the number 34 for the Toronto Maple Leafs until 1983, when Leigh Verstraete donned the number for the first time.
Nobody wore it consistently until Jamie Macoun carried it over from wearing it with the Calgary Flames in 1992, holding on to it for all seven years he was in Toronto.
The number changed hands a few more times, and then it became James Reimer’s for the six seasons he was a Leaf.
But Reimer is gone. Well, kind of; he’s technically back in Toronto right now, but as a member of the enemy. And someone else has already taken over his #34. Talk about no respect, right?
Reimer on Matthews taking his old No. 34 with Leafs: "It's terrible. I can't believe the kid did. Maybe I'll slash him in warm-ups tomorrow"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 26, 2016
Reimer is still the best.
Auston Matthews is now the 16th player to wear #34 for Toronto. It’s so incredibly early, but... do you think he might be the last?
Or is he gonna have to pull a Reimer and slash the next guy to wear it after him? Fair’s fair, just not too hard, please. Matthews still has lots of goals to score.