TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs honored former captain Doug Gilmour on Saturday night before their 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh, raising his No. 93 to the Air Canada Centre rafters to chants of "Dougie! Dougie!"
"You guys cheered us each and every night," Gilmour told the crowd. "You inspired our hockey club and made us that much better, so keep cheering. I love you guys in Toronto."
The 45-year-old Gilmour is the 17th player to be honored by the Maple Leafs. Only two numbers — Bill Barilko's No. 5 and Ace Bailey's No. 6 — are officially retired. A Toronto player hasn't worn No. 93 since Gilmour left the team.
Gilmour was a central part of the Toronto teams that made consecutive appearances in the conference final in the 1990s. He set a franchise record with 127 points in 1992-93 and eclipsed the playoff mark with 35 more that spring.
He was traded during the 1996-97 season and went on to play for New Jersey, Chicago, Buffalo and Montreal.
Toronto acquired him at the trade deadline in 2003, but he only dressed for one game, sustaining a career-ending knee injury in Calgary. He began his career in St. Louis and helped Calgary win the 1989 Stanley Cup.