5 Things You Might Not Know About the Maple Leafs Ian Turnbull
Ian Turnbull isn’t always the first name that comes up when Maple Leafs fans talk about great defencemen from the past, but he probably should be mentioned more often than he is. He was one of those rare blue-liners in his era who could drive offence at a high level, jump into the rush, and actually change a game with his shot. “Turbo” wasn’t just a nickname — it kind of summed up how he played when everything was clicking.
Here are five things Maple Leafs fans might not know about “Turbo.”
Thing One: Turnbull was a scoring machine before the NHL even started.
Before turning pro, Turnbull put up 250 points in 235 games in the Ontario Hockey Association. That came over three seasons with the Montreal Jr. Canadiens and one with the Ottawa 67’s. For a defenceman, that kind of production was well ahead of its time and made him a very obvious first-round talent.
Thing Two: The Maple Leafs didn’t hesitate to bring Turnbull straight into the NHL.
Toronto drafted him 15th overall in 1973 and immediately threw him into the fire. No long development stretch, no seasoning in the minors — he played all 78 games in his rookie season and put up 35 points right away.
Related: Knies Trade Noise Misses the Point in Toronto.
Thing Three: Turnbull had a brutal sophomore year, but didn’t stay down for long.
After a strong rookie season, he hit a wall in year two, playing just 22 games with limited production. But instead of fading away, he rebounded and worked his way back into a top offensive role on the blue line.
Thing Four: Turnbull’s 1976–77 season is still a Maple Leafs record.
That year, Turnbull played all 80 games and posted 79 points (22 goals, 57 assists). That still stands as the highest single-season point total by a Maple Leafs defenceman. No one in blue and white has topped it since.
Thing Five: Turnbull did something no other NHL defenceman has ever done.
On February 2, 1977, Turnbull scored five goals in one game against the Detroit Red Wings, doing it on just five shots. It remains the NHL record for most goals in a game by a defenceman, and he is still the only player ever to do it.
The Bottom Line:
Ian Turnbull’s Maple Leafs career is one of those remarkable stories. He wasn’t just a steady defenceman; he was a legitimate offensive weapon from the back end, capable of record-setting nights and franchise-best seasons. Even today, his name still sits in the record books in a way that hasn’t been touched, which says a lot about how unique his game really was.