Maple Leafs legend Rick Vaive to appear at Niagara Falls store

The Toronto Maple Leafs' first 50-goal man is headed to Niagara Falls to sign autographs.

Rick Vaive, whose 54 goals for the Leafs in the 1981-82 season was the most in franchise history until last season, will make an appearance at Icon Autographs on Feb. 17.

Vaive's record was broken by Auston Matthews, who scored 60.

Vaive remains the only Leafs player to break the mark three times, also scoring 52 in 1982-83 and 52 in 1983-84.

His 537 points is tenth all-time among Leafs players. He is fifth all-time in goals for the team with 299, behind Ron Ellis, Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler and Mats Sundin.

Vaive was drafted fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 1979 and was traded to Toronto the next year. He would spend eight years with the team but his stay ended in controversy when he was stripped of his captaincy during the 1985-86 season for missing a practice session. He was traded to Chicago before the 1987 season.

Vaive ended his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres in the early '90s.

He'll sign photos and memorabilia from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Niagara Falls store at 4056 Dorchester Rd.

John Law is a St. Catharines-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. Reach him via email: john.law@niagaradailies.com