Reggie Leach
Reggie Leach won the Conn Smythe Trophy as a losing finalist in 1976.
Reginald Joseph Leach (born April 23, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 NHL seasons from 1970 to 1983 with the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings. He is most associated with the Flyers, where he won the Stanley Cup in 1975 and was part of the LCB line.
Nicknamed "The Riverton Rifle" and "The Chief," Leach was selected third overall by Boston in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. He scored his first NHL goal in a 6-0 home win over St. Louis on January 31, 1971, and totaled nine goals with the Bruins. In February 1972, Boston traded him, Rick Smith, and Bob Stewart to California for Carol Vadnais and Don O'Donoghue. After three seasons in Oakland, the Golden Seals dealt him to Philadelphia in May 1974 for Larry Wright, Al MacAdam, and a 1974 first-round pick. He helped the Flyers win the Cup in 1974–75 and finished his NHL career with a single season in Detroit.
Leach’s finest season came in 1975–76, when he set career highs with 61 goals, 91 points, 11 game-winning goals, and a plus-minus of +73. Those 61 goals led the league and remain a Flyers franchise record for most goals in a season. He is best remembered as one of only six players—and the first Flyer and first non-goaltender—to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP while on the losing team in the Final, following Roger Crozier (1966) and Glenn Hall (1968), and preceding Ron Hextall (1987), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003), and Connor McDavid (2024). In the 1976 playoffs, he set NHL records with 19 goals in 16 games (breaking Newsy Lalonde’s 1919 mark of 17) and a 10-game goal-scoring streak (surpassing Maurice Richard’s seven). The 19-goal record was later matched by Jari Kurri in 1985, but Leach did it in two fewer games; the 10-game streak still stands. That postseason, he also scored five goals in a game against Boston, a feat shared with Richard, Darryl Sittler, Mario Lemieux, and Lalonde. His combined 80 goals in the regular season and playoffs set an NHL record that stood until Mike Bossy scored 85 in 1980–81.
In 934 career NHL games, Leach recorded 381 goals and 285 assists for 666 points. He was part of the Flyers’ still-standing 35-game unbeaten streak in 1980, as well as their 22-game home unbeaten streak that same year.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Right wing
- Played For
- Boston Bruins / California Golden Seals / Philadelphia Flyers / Detroit Red Wings
- Shoots
- Right
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 180
- Ntl Team
- Canada
- Birth Date
- 1950-04-23
- Birth Place
- Riverton, Manitoba, Canada
- Draft
- 3rd overall
- Draft Team
- Boston Bruins
- Draft Year
- 1970
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Leach was drafted third overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft and scored his first NHL goal in Boston's 6-0 home win over St. Louis on January 31, 1971. He scored nine goals during his time with the Bruins before being traded to California on February 23, 1972. After three seasons in Oakland, the Golden Seals traded him to Philadelphia on May 24, 1974. He contributed to the Flyers' Stanley Cup win in 1974-75. Leach's best season was 1975–76 with the Flyers, when he set career highs in goals (61), points (91), game-winning goals (11), and plus-minus (+73). His 61 goals earned him the goal-scoring title and remain the Flyers franchise record for most goals in a season. Leach is perhaps best remembered for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs while his team was swept in the final by Montreal. He set NHL records that postseason for most goals in a single post-season (19 in 16 games) and longest consecutive games goal-scoring streak in the playoffs (10 games). The latter record remains unrivaled; the former was matched by Jari Kurri in 1985, though Leach established it in two fewer games. During that playoff season, Leach recorded a five-goal game against the Boston Bruins, a record he shares with Maurice Richard, Darryl Sittler, Mario Lemieux, and Newsy Lalonde. His total of 80 goals for the season and playoffs set a new NHL record, which stood until 1980-81 when Mike Bossy scored 85.
Reader's Guide
Leach's significance lies in his unique achievement as the first Flyer and first non-goaltender to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as a member of the losing team in the Stanley Cup Final, following Roger Crozier and Glenn Hall, and preceding Ron Hextall, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, and Connor McDavid. His 1976 playoff performance set enduring NHL records: most goals in a single post-season (19) and longest consecutive games goal-scoring streak (10), the latter still unmatched. His 61-goal regular season in 1975-76 remains the Flyers franchise record. Leach was also part of the Flyers' 35-game unbeaten streak in 1980, a record that still stands, and the Flyers' home game unbeaten streak of 22 games that same year. He played for Team Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup, helping win the championship, and was an NHL All-Star in 1976 and 1980. His career totals of 381 goals and 666 points in 934 games reflect a productive 13-season NHL career. Off the ice, Leach is of Ojibwe ethnicity, a member of Berens River First Nation, and his son Jamie Leach won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Leach entered rehab for alcohol abuse in 1985 and has remained sober for over 30 years.
Did You Know?
- He set an NHL record with a 10-game goal-scoring streak in the 1976 playoffs, which remains unrivaled.
- Leach scored 61 goals in the 1975-76 season, a Philadelphia Flyers franchise record that still stands.
- He is of Ojibwe ethnicity and a member of Berens River First Nation in Manitoba.
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