Leafs Legend Darcy Tucker Shares Hilarious Story Behind Bizarre Friendship with Former Rival
Toronto Maple Leafs legend Darcy Tucker shares hilarious story on Spittin' Chiclets Podcast about former rival Steve Thomas joining team after numerous fights.
The Maple Leafs are one of the most historic franchises in hockey, having been a part of the Original Six teams that formed the NHL in 1917-18.
With such a long history, being a Maple Leaf comes with rich stories and a large, dedicated alumni base. One notable alumnus who remains highly involved in the Toronto community is Darcy Tucker.
Tucker was a key player for the Maple Leafs, known for his physical play, his short fuse, and his ability to score goals. Tucker truly was a rare breed.
During a recent appearance on the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast, Tucker reminisced about his first day as a Maple Leaf, sharing a funny story about how he met his future teammate Steve Thomas:
To which Steven Thomas replied:
Co-host Paul Bissonnette was curious as to who won the 3 fights between the two former Leafs. Tucker was quick to admit that the first one didn't go his way, but stated that fights 2 and 3 were much more even, as Thomas nodded along.
I was going after Mats [Sundin] and he didn't like it, so he absolutely hammered me. I didn't have the puck or nothing. He just smoked me."
It was then that Thomas interjected, stating that Tucker had actually threatened him to initiate the subsequent.
"His two eyes are swelled shut in the team picture," Tucker said, while fighting off a fit of laughter.
Hockey is a tough sport, where fighting and big hits are still part of the game. It's a sport where fierce rivals can quickly become close friends.
Tucker was never one to shy away from a fight, amassing a total of 1,410 penalty minutes (PIMS) over his 947-game NHL career. Steve Thomas, also known for his gritty play, accumulated 1,306 PIMS in 1,235 games.
As the Maple Leafs prepare to face the Buffalo Sabres in an Atlantic Division showdown without Anthony Stolarz, a burning question is when will veteran Matt Murray make his season debut?
With the Leafs set to play back-to-back games this Friday and Saturday, we may see Murray in the lineup as early as Saturday against the New York Islanders.
