Two seasons ago we followed along with great anticipation as Matthews chased down the 40-year-old franchise record held by Vaive. Not only was Vaive the first Leaf to score over 50 in 1981-82, he did so in a year when then-owner Harold Ballard traded half of the team away.

Much like Matthews, everything Vaive seemed to touch found the back of the net as he racked up 54 goals in 77 games and followed that up with 51 and 52 goals the next two seasons.

You’d think the only player in the history of an Original Six team to score 50 three times would not only have his jersey hanging in the rafters but also merit having his likeness sculpted in bronze and standing beside other Leafs greats on Legends Row outside Scotiabank Arena.

But for Vaive, that is not the case. He remains one of the best scorers in the team’s illustrious history — he’s also 12th on the franchise points list — but has been left without any tangible acknowledgment of his contributions.

Many have suggested Vaive did himself no favours when he lost the captaincy in 1986 after he overslept and missed an early team practice in Minnesota. Others have even tried to link it to current Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, who felt slighted at age 14 when the Leafs superstar declined to sign an autograph for him. Years later, an 18-year-old Shanahan arrived in the NHL and lined up next to Vaive at a faceoff before dropping the gloves to get his revenge.