TLN’s All-Time Greatest Leafs Team: Babe Dye

Here’s the funny thing about Cecil “Babe” Dye… He scored exactly zero points in the only six games he ever played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. That said, Dye was an absolute stud in years prior with the Toronto St. Pats, joining the team in its inaugural 1919 season and leading the team in scoring from 1920 to 1925 when Dye himself was only in his early 20s.

Does that count? Sure it does. After all, the St. Pats changed their names to the Maple Leafs in 1926 when it was the club was sold to new ownership. For all intents and purposes, it’s the same organization.

Dye was born in Hamilton, Ontario in May 1898, moving to Toronto soon after and player junior hockey in the city. After impressing in the OHA, Dye would sign on with the St. Pats just as they were preparing to join the newly formed National Hockey League. A multi-sport talent, Dye also played baseball and football at a very high level even during his hockey career.

Lead the NHL in goals in 1920-21. Lead the NHL in goals and points in 1922-23 and in 1924-25. Dye wasn’t just one of the greatest players in Leafs/St. Pats history, but he was one of the most dominant players of his time.

Without a doubt, Dye’s most memorable stretch of hockey was the 1922 Stanley Cup Finals. Not only did Dye score nine goals of Toronto’s 16 goals in the five game series, but he also scored four of Toronto’s five goals in a 5-1 Stanley Cup clinching victory.

Besides being the most dominant player in St. Pats history, Babe made these cool before Mats made them cool.