Leaf builders won’t have home on Legends Row

Many of the hockey people instrumental in 100 years of Toronto’s NHL franchise never played a game.

Which has led to many discussions through the years about how Conn Smythe, Foster Hewitt, Punch Imlach and others should be honoured by today’s Maple Leafs. Club president Brendan Shanahan has thought about that too, but — diplomatically — said it won’t be on Legends Row, the popular statue/photo op outside the Air Canada Centre.

“The concept behind Legends Row, which was decided before I came here, was as a players bench,” Shanahan said Tuesday as he passed through the Leafs practice facility. “The statues there (14 by sculptor Erik Blome, counting coming additions of Frank Mahovlich, Red Kelly, Charlie Conacher and Wendel Clark) represent many great players and teams, but it’s a players bench and not the right spot for a builder or management.”

Shanahan added there’s great respect for Smythe, the team patriarch and driving force behind the building of Maple Leaf Gardens; hockey broadcast pioneer Hewitt, and four-time Stanley Cup winning GM/coach Imlach, and was asked if they’ll be honoured at a later date in or outside the building.

“That could be,” Shanahan said. “We have not decided.”

He still plans to cap Legends Row at 14 players, other than save one space for a Leaf in this or a future generation who might distinguish himself.

NORSE DIVISION

Did a Viking long boat suddenly come ashore in Toronto this week?

Joining the Leafs summer workouts are defencemen Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen and 2017’s No. 1 pick Timothy Liljegren. Also in town is Finnish forward Miro Aaltonen, via the KHL. All might end up starting with the AHL Marlies, but other than Liljegren, they aren’t teenagers and intend to catch coach Mike Babcock’s eye when main camp starts in about two weeks.

“I’m still a little jet lagged, but it’s good to be here,” said Borgman, the 22-year-old rookie of the year in Sweden, who added 10 playoff points with league champion HV71.