Leafs legend Bobby Baun passes away at 86 years old

Longtime Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman and legend of the game Bob 'Bobby' Baun has passed away.

Baun spent most of his career with the Leafs and perhaps is most famous for scoring a Stanley Cup Final overtime winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings to even the series at 3-3 in 1964, all while playing on a broken ankle. Baun had blocked a shot from Red Wings superstar Gordie Howe earlier in the game and was forced to leave via stretcher. Doctors patch him up and told him that he couldn't worsen the injury anymore so Baun returned to action. His long-range point shot ended up finding the net and the rest is history. The Leafs would go on to win Game 7 and claim their 12th Stanley Cup championship. 

Just incredible, and frankly, something you probably wouldn't see in today's game.

In total, Baun would play 11 seasons for the Leafs and win four Stanley Cups with the franchise. In 1967 he was claimed by the Oakland Seals in the NHL's inaugural Expansion Draft and would go on to play just a single season for the new team. The Seals were so bad that Baun requested a trade back to a contending team, given that he was now in his mid 30s. He was then traded to the Red Wings where he enjoyed success for a few years, but was again claimed by a new team when he was picked up the Buffalo Sabres and immediately traded to the St. Louis Blues. At this point in his career Baun simply refused to report to St. Louis and was eventually traded back to his beloved Leafs. He'd play two more seasons in Toronto before having his career ended by a serious skate cut to his neck.

In total, Baun scored 37 goals and 224 points in 964 career NHL games. He's a four time Stanley Cup champion and was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Rest easy, Bobby.