The Tournament of Rick: Rnd 1 - VAIVE vs TOCCHET

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From the Sports II Bracket, it's the first round matchup of the NHL right wingers!

Rick Vaive

Richard Claude Vaive (born May 14, 1959 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), was a professional ice hockey player. Vaive was raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and was selected fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. His professional career, which started with the WHA's Birmingham Bulls, lasted from 1978 until 1993.

In 1980, the Canucks traded Vaive, along with Bill Derlago, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Dave "Tiger" Williams and Jerry Butler. Vaive scored prolifically with the Leafs, becoming the first 50-goal scorer in franchise history, surpassing that threshold three times. He recorded 54 goals in 1981-82, 51 goals in 1982-83, and 52 goals in 1983-84. He also served as captain of the Maple Leafs from 1981 to 1986. His trade from Toronto to Chicago before the 1987 season is still remembered as one of the highly criticized trades made by team owner Harold Ballard. He finished his NHL career playing parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Regular Season NHL Totals: 441 goals scored, 347 assists over 876 games played. Vaive had a career as a professional hockey coach in the East Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League after his retirement from the NHL. He served one season of the Mississauga Ice Dogs before Don Cherry took over as head coach. He currently hosts various shows on Leafs TV, an MLSE-run property focusing on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

VS

Rick Tocchet

Richard Tocchet (born on April 9, 1964 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada) is a retired professional ice hockey player. After being drafted in the 6th round (125th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, Tocchet returned to the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for another year of junior hockey. After registering 108 points with Sault Ste. Marie, Tocchet came to the Flyers for the 1984-85 season, scoring 39 points and helping the team to the Stanley Cup Finals. He was mainly known as a fighter in his early career, but soon developed his skills enough to become a respected power forward, team leader and a four time NHL All-Star. In 1992, Tocchet was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Mark Recchi. In 14 playoff games, he scored 19 points, helping the Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Tocchet became a well-travelled veteran in the league after his stint with the Penguins, taking roles with the Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, and Phoenix Coyotes. Rick returned to the Flyers in 2000, adding 11 points en route to an Eastern Conference Finals berth. Tocchet retired after 2001-02 season, being one of only two players in NHL history to collect 400 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. Regular Season NHL Totals: 440 goals scored, 512 assists over 1144 games played. He became an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche in 2002-03. In the summer of 2005, he became an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes. On December 17, 2005, Tocchet took over as interim head coach for Phoenix, stepping in while head coach Wayne Gretzky was out on an indefinite leave of absence due to his mother's illness (and subsequent passing). Gretzky eventually resumed his duties on December 28. Tocchet is currently taking an indefinite leave of absence from his job as assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes, due to being criminally charged in connection to financing a gambling ring.


Voting will be open for two days.