Darcy Tucker Reveals Why he left the Maple Leafs

Tucker, despite his not-so-imposing stature at 5'10". He was known for his physicality, never shying away from tussling with the biggest players in the league. He racked up over 100 penalty minutes in a season and almost hit 200 PIMs a few times!

Yet what prompted him bolting for the Colorado Avalanche, was for personal reasons.
He said on Spittin' Chiclets podcast, the transition hit him hard, leaving him feeling like a piece of him was missing.

It wasn't just about hockey for Tucker. It was a family decision to put his family first. Despite offers to keep playing, he realized that uprooting for another NHL stint just wasn't in the cards. His heart was with his kids, not chasing silver sticks for a thousand games.

Tucker's NHL journey was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, spanning nearly a thousand games with stops with the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and finally Colorado Avalanche. He could score too. He had a seven-year stint with the Leafs, notching up several 20-goal seasons for the blue and white.

Yet things took a turn when the Leafs decided to shake up their roster, leaving Tucker out despite his four-year deal. Eventually, they bought out his contract, paving the way for his move out west.

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