NHL

Toronto’s GOAT Mountain of Sports: Dave Stieb, Kyle Lowry, Mats Sundin, and Darryl Sittler

The Sporting News GOAT Mountain project named four pro athletes from the nine cities that have had three of the following four leagues represented for at least 20 years – NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. Last summer, we looked at 13 four-sport cities. There were no hard-and-fast rules pertaining to the athletes selected. Our panels of experts considered individual resumes, team success and legacy within the sports landscape of each city. Not every franchise within a city needed to be represented. All sports fans have an opinion on this topic. This is ours. 

Toronto’s premier sports franchises feature a mix of both old and new. The Maple Leafs, one of the most storied teams across all sports, have won 13 Stanley Cups over longer than a century of play. They feature the most Hall of Famers of any team in professional sports, with 76 former players, coaches, or management gaining entry. A list of the best Toronto athletes wouldn’t be complete without healthy Leaf representation.

That’s why two Leafs made our GOAT Mountain list — Mats Sundin and Darryl Sittler. Many more were considered, but Sundin won out for his dominance in the record books and Sittler for his leadership during a rocky time in Leafs’ history.

The Blue Jays may not have the long history of the Leafs. But they’ve had their fair share of great players too since their opening season in 1977. Dave Stieb was there for most of those early rocky years. He helped lead them from the bottom of the standings to their first winning record, first playoff appearance, and many more firsts. Stieb stuck with the franchise through the good and the bad over a sterling 15-year career filled with individual and team accolades. 

The newest kid on the block, the Raptors, were founded in 1995. Vince Carter put them on the map after he was drafted in 1998. But Carter, Chris Bosh, and other stars were always a flight risk to leave the city. So was Kyle Lowry, at first. 

Lowry stuck it out and grew with the team. The franchise had never made it past the second round before his appearance. He led them well beyond that point, eventually winning a championship and the hearts of fans with his gritty play. 

As Toronto continues to thrive in the realm of sports, these four legends will forever be remembered as the epitome of greatness in Toronto sports history.

MORE: See the GOAT Mountain selections for all nine cities

DAVE STIEB (Blue Jays, 1979-1992, 1998)

Stieb was one of the most underappreciated players of his generation. He was arguably the best pitcher of the 80s, winning the second-most games and having far and away the best Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of the decade. 

Stieb was a natural pitcher, rising from the ranks as an outfielder that converted late in college. Just five years after throwing his first competitive pitch, he remarkably had the best WAR from 1982 through 1984 and would have put forth a good case for winning the Cy Young by today’s standards. 

Despite Stieb’s dominance, he received a fraction of the notoriety that he deserved. He pitched on bad teams with little run support. Wins were the most valued statistic by voters back in those days, and they were hard to come by for the Blue Jays. 

Stieb was a center fielder at San Jose City College (where his first baseman was Dave Righetti) and Southern Illinois University. Scout Bobby Mattick saw him throw a couple of innings at SIU and couldn’t believe his eyes. Dave began pitching professionally in September, 1978, and was with the Jays by June,1979.

“He was naturally blessed with near-perfect mechanics,” says Gillick

Which Stieb doesn’t deny. “I had to find a pregame routine, tried one, it worked the first time and I’ve never had to change,” he admits. “Some guys are forever experimenting. I never had to. Except for the beginning of last year, when I lost my slider, most of the time I’ve been able to try something and bave it feel right. So all I’ve had to worry about is what I want to do with the ball.”

—The Sporting News, June 27, 1983

That was part of the deal of playing for an expansion team in Canada. Stieb’s stellar pitching performances were mostly in the shadows. He came to the mound like clockwork and did his job anyway, throwing 103 complete games for the team over the course of 15 seasons.

“Stieb was a major, major competitor,” former Raptors play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky told Sporting News. “We toss around that word a lot, but when he got the ball, he was all business.”

Stieb left his emotions on the field, sometimes to his detriment. He hated losing more than anything, calling out teammates for errors and gaining a reputation as a surly player early in his career. He eventually learned to reign that side of himself in, but it cost him popularity and accolades that he should have earned. 

“He was so feisty, so fiery,” Sportsnet’s Michael Grange told Sporting News. “I guess he was tough on his teammates but it didn’t matter. You just loved watching this guy and the level of engagement.” 

Stieb’s frustration was understandable. Not only was he stuck on one of the worst teams in the league, but his luck was terrible throughout his career. Nowhere was this more apparent than his no-hit bids, where four times he lost attempts in the bottom of the ninth inning. Two of those came on consecutive starts in crushing fashion, when with one out to go batters reached base on weakly hit balls. 

“There were so many close misses with him,” said Grange. “He should have had multiple no-hitters. He should have been a guy who was pitching in the World Series, in the Hall of Fame. In a lot of ways, there are unfulfilled elements to his story. But when he was pitching, you didn’t miss it and were almost never disappointed.” 

Stieb eventually got his no-hitter in 1990, and a bittersweet World Series ring where he was too hurt to contribute in 1993. One of the best sliders in baseball wreaked havoc on his arm later in his career. 

Stieb did have his high moments, though. In 1982, his 19 complete games and 3.25 ERA earned him the AL Pitcher of the Year award from The Sporting News. He started the All-Star game a year later, leading the Blue Jays to their first winning season in franchise history. And in 1985, they made their first playoff appearance, with Stieb leading the team to wins in Games 1 and 4 before losing Game 7, his third start in nine days.

Stieb was there for all of the formative periods of the Blue Jays, from bottom-dweller up to one of the best teams in baseball. He still leads the franchise in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games, and WAR. 

Dave Stieb By The Numbers
Years with Blue Jays 15
WAR with Blue Jays 56.8
All-Star appearances 7
Wins with Blue Jays 175
Strikeouts with Blue Jays 1,658

KYLE LOWRY (Raptors, 2012-2021)

Lowry wasn’t the longest-tenured Raptor, or the most gifted. But there’s a reason why one of his nicknames is G.R.O.A.T. That stands for Greatest Raptor of All Time, given to him by the fans and agreed upon by teammates like DeMar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka. Lowry has earned that acclaim. 

“When you look at Lowry, it’s the volume of his work that makes him so special,” said Swirsky.

Lowry holds franchise records in assists, steals, and 3-pointers. He ranks in the top five in almost every other statistical category. 

Lowry’s impact went far beyond the numbers, though. He did whatever it took to win, contributing in every facet of the game. He possessed a unique skillset that grew on fans and was only truly appreciated by those that watched him on a daily basis.

“By the end of his time here, there was an appreciation for how he played and people seeing his genius,” said Grange. “His quick passes up the floor and how that impacted early offense, or the ability to draw charges, or little nuances, like two for ones at the end of a clock, getting into help for a steal, being impossible to post up on a switch. And these things started aggregating. When you added it up to his more obvious statistical contributions, you’re like, ‘Man, this guy is a winning basketball player.’” 

The Raptors were always in danger of losing their stars to more prestigious franchises before Lowry arrived. During his time there, he changed their reputation, bringing them a championship and turning them into winners. He built himself up too in the process, as Raptors writer Katie Heindl saw firsthand.  

“From quiet and moody to an expressive, thoughtful leader, someone who always had supportive, honestly tender things to say about the guys he brought up under him, Lowry matured in Toronto and fans got his whole arc,” Heindl told Sporting News.

Lowry came to the Raptors via trade in 2012 and was almost gone after only a year. A deal with the Knicks fell through at the last minute, and he immediately went on to lead the team to wins in 10 of their next 13 games, helping them improve by 14 wins over their previous 34-48 record. That began a steady climb up to championship contention. It wasn’t always easy, but he gave it his all through every step of that process. 

“More than anything he played with the kind of heart, resiliency, and perfect amount of cockiness of someone who wanted to be on the floor, wanted to win, who saw himself fully in it for the long haul, however long it took,” Heindl continued.

“I think he gave fans something to be proud of.”

Lowry was a winner, making the playoffs in seven of his nine seasons with the Raptors. That included a Conference Finals appearance in 2016 and a title in 2019. 

Lowry had a number of signature games. His most important one may have been in Game 6 of the 2019 Finals. He scored the first 11 points for the Raptors, finishing with 26 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and three steals in their closeout win against a dynastic Warriors team. 

Lowry’s signature game came a year later, during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Facing elimination from the Celtics, he played over 53 tough minutes, scoring 33 points on 12-of-20 shooting while adding eight rebounds and six assists to force a Game 7. 

Those were just a few snapshots in a magnificent Raptors career for Lowry. His Toronto averages of 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds only scratch the surface of the impact that he had both on and off the court. 

“He’s created a standard going forward for Raptors players,” said Grange. “In the future, it will be how much do you contribute to winning, and the shorthand is what Kyle Lowry could do in so many areas of the game.” 

Kyle Lowry By The Numbers
Years with Raptors 9
Points with Raptors 10,540
All-Star appearances 6
All-NBA appearances 1
Championships 1

MATS SUNDIN (Maple Leafs, 1994-2008)

Sundin is inarguably one of the greatest players in Maple Leafs history. He’s the team’s all-time leader in goals (420) and points (987). His skating skill and powerful shot were hallmarks of his game. More than his raw numbers, Sundin was a leader, serving as captain for 10 seasons and winning the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2008. 

“In addition to being a good player, he had the respect of that locker room,” Swirsky said. “He trained very hard. Work habits off the charts.” 

Sundin made an immediate impact with the Leafs. He scored 23 goals and posted 47 points in 47 games in a lockout-shortened 94-95 season. That was the start of his remarkable consistency, where he scored over 70 points and played in over 70 games for 12 straight seasons with the Leafs. He was named to the NHL All-Star Team nine times, missing one due to injury. In 2006, he became the first Swedish player to score 500 goals in the NHL.

“My first two years as a Maple Leaf weren’t really a disappointment to myself, but I knew I had more potential than I’d shown,” Sundin says. “I wanted to raise the level of my game. This is the first season I came to camp with the feeling that I could dominate a game like I did when I played junior hockey in Sweden. And I came to camp with the confidence that I could be a leader on the team.”

In the process. Sundin has grown mentally and physically. More important, he now can be grouped with the NHL’s top power forwards such as Eric Lindros, Brendan Shanahan. Keith Tkachuk and John LeClair. 

—The Sporting News, Nov. 18, 1996

Sundin wasn’t a particularly vocal player, never seeking self-promotion.

“He showed up, worked his tail off, really good player, polite, respectful, but he didn’t beat his own drum,” Swirsky recalled. “Every season, he just got it done.”

Despite that quiet nature, Sundin connected with the people around him. Grange got to see that up close. 

“He’s an exceptional dude, a Swede with a big heart,” said Grange. “And you couldn’t believe how big he was. I’m 6-foot-2, and he towered over me.” 

At 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds, Sundin could get ferocious when he needed to. 

“We had these amazing seats right behind the net,” Grange recalled. “I remember Sundin, he comes across as a little placid. He ended up behind the net in front of me fighting for the puck, and I thought he was trying to kill the guy. I couldn’t believe how fierce and physical and determined he was.” 

Unfortunately, Sundin never won a Stanley Cup with the Leafs. But he did lead the team to the playoffs eight times during his career and earned the nickname “Captain Clutch” for his penchant for scoring game-winning goals. The former Leaf captain ranks 12th all-time in game-winning goals. 

Perhaps none was more memorable than his 500th. Entering a game against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 14, 2006, with 497 goals, he completed the hat trick, scoring his third goal in overtime to win the game. 

Sundin retired from the NHL in 2009. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, his number 13 was retired by the Leafs in 2016, and he was named one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players in 2017. He is still the all-time leader in goals and points for the Leafs. 

Mats Sundin By The Numbers
Games with Leafs 981
Goals with Leafs 420
Points with Leafs 987
All-Star appearances 8

DARRYL SITTLER (Maple Leafs, 1970-1982)

When it comes to the history of the Leafs, there have been many legendary players who have donned the blue and white. However, few have left a lasting impact quite like Sittler. 

In 1970, Sittler was drafted by the Maple Leafs as the eighth overall pick. He possessed incredible hockey sense, fierce loyalty to teammates, and the biggest heart on the ice. 

Those skills, combined with his relentless work ethic, made him a force to be reckoned with. Sittler’s offensive contributions helped the Leafs reach new heights, and he became the face of the franchise during his tenure. That wasn’t always easy given the challenging ownership situation under Harold Ballard. 

“What he was trying to accomplish against the environment he was doing it in was pretty staggering,” Grange said. “It was a completely dysfunctional organization under the Ballard years.” 

Sittler led by example, displaying a tireless work ethic and a dedication to the game. His teammates respected him immensely, and he set the standard for professionalism and commitment.

“Sittler as the captain of the team was thrust in the middle of it and forced to act as a kind of buffer and perform on the ice, while all of these antics were going on off the ice,” said Grange. “You look back amazed at the way he was always able to stay classy.”

One of the most memorable moments in Sittler’s career came on February 7, 1976, in a game against the Boston Bruins. In what would forever be etched in Leafs history, Sittler scored an astonishing 10 points in a single game. He netted six goals and added four assists, setting an NHL record that still stands today. 

Sittler’s impact extended far beyond one memorable moment. 

“Everyone remembers that 10-point game,” Swirsky said. “But the sustainability of what he did game after game in a Maple Leafs uniform, he was playing close to full seasons every year and then got banged up late. He played over a thousand career games.” 

Sittler was one of the top players in the NHL for years. He finished in the top 10 in voting for the Hart Trophy five times. 

In addition to his leadership qualities, Sittler was also a clutch performer. He consistently delivered in big moments, stepping up when the team needed him the most. His series-clinching goal against Czechoslovakia in overtime of the 1976 Canada Cup tournament is one of the most famous ever in Canadian history. 

While Sittler’s time with the Maple Leafs came to an end in 1982 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, his legacy in Toronto remains untarnished. 

“He was able to handle himself in an era where hockey was really tough and pretty dangerous, frankly,” Grange said. “And everything unraveled so quickly once he got sent away.” 

Sittler’s contributions to the franchise and the game of hockey cannot be understated. Even years after his retirement, his impact is still felt by fans, players, and the organization as a whole.

Today, Sittler’s number 27 jersey hangs proudly in the rafters of the Scotiabank Arena, alongside the other Maple Leafs legends. It serves as a constant reminder of his greatness and the indelible mark he left on the franchise. 

Darryl Sittler By The Numbers
Games with Leafs 844
Points with Leafs 916
Goals with Leafs 389
All-Star appearances 4

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