Rick Vaive (born May 14, 1959 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), was a professional ice hockey player. Vaive was raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and was selected fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. His professional career lasted from 1979 until 1993.
In 1980, the Canucks traded Vaive, along with Bill Derlago, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Dave "Tiger" Williams and Jerry Butler. Vaive scored prolifically with the Leafs, becoming the first 50-goal scorer in franchise history, surpassing that threshold three times. He recorded 54 goals in 1981-82, 51 goals in 1982-83, and 52 goals in 1983-84. He also served as captain of the Maple Leafs from 1981 to 1986. Vaive was stripped of his Leaf captaincy during the 1985-86 NHL season, after missing a morning practice.
His trade from Toronto to Chicago before the 1987 season is still remembered as one of the highly criticized trades made by team owner Harold Ballard, other notable ones include the trades that made Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald leave the Leafs.
Regular Season NHL Totals: 441 goals scored, 347 assists over 876 games played.
Vaive had a career as a professional hockey coach in the East Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League after his retirement from the NHL. He currently hosts various shows on Leafs TV, an MLSE-run property focusing on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
