From the Branches: The Doug Gilmour trade turns 25

On Jan 2, 1992 Toronto Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher changed the course of the Maple Leafs. Fletcher had a good team at this point, but needed something that could put them over the edge.

Fletcher was the former Calgary Flames GM, and after leading the team to the 1989 Stanley Cup, he moved on in 1991 to tackle the biggest GM job in the NHL: The Toronto Maple Leafs. In 192 he hired Pat Burns as coach, and just after Christmas he made his move.

Doug Gilmour was unhappy with the Flames at the time, he was looking for a raise that would triple his $450,000 salary while the team offered him an extra $100,000 and had walked out on the team over his contract. On January 1st he walked out on the…