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Sep 07, 2023

Emblematic Ink: Ranking The Toronto Maple Leafs Players' Tattoos

Apr 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews

Apr 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) is congratulated by goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) after he scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of game four of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

There is a great deal to explore about the Toronto Maple Leafs and while countless articles and social media posts are written daily about the athletes in blue and white, fans don't really get to know them personally.

Perhaps the best way to get to see past their visor and discover the people who wear the Toronto Maple Leafs crest is by exploring their personal self-expression told through their tattoos.

A number of the athletes playing on the Maple Leafs have gotten some form of ink.

We will focus on the top three, paying careful attention to their significance, artistry, and impact.

Angel baby got a new tattoo and I am into it pic.twitter.com/dXhHXBIXSy

— Steph Driver (@StephaliciousD) August 20, 2017

Mitch Marner's first tattoo was his family's crest, which he wears on his right arm, just below his shoulder.

That isn't the tattoo that makes this list. Instead, it's the one he has of Zeus.

Marner was reading Greek mythology when he came upon the image of the god of thunder and sky, and he thought it looked cool.

With Zeus's flowing hair and long inter-tangled beard, the artwork is fantastic.

The tattoo was done by Village Ink in Yorkville, Toronto. It was an upscale tattoo and piercing shop that has since closed.

Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews got himself a massive lion tattoo. 👀https://t.co/HG6sxS6rQf pic.twitter.com/3MyW5qnCNj

— theScore (@theScore) June 6, 2017

In 2017, at age 19, Auston Matthews decided that while he was home in Scottsdale, Arizona, he would visit Old Town Ink.

While there, he decided to get a massive tattoo on his upper right arm. The ink the sniper chose was a lion wearing a crown. The detail and intricacy of the artwork is astounding.

In 2016, Matthews was selected first-overall in the NHL Entry Draft.

The man who went second, was Patrick Laine. In 2019, Laine followed Matthews once again. He copied Matthews’ style and got a lion tattooed on his right arm as well. From ink to the draft, Laine just can't help following Matthews.

– loves Marvel movies– has a tattoo for his best friend Drew Brown, who died of Ewing's sarcoma in 2017 (https://t.co/C28XjIUpeD…)– wears #52; it's MacKenzie Weegar's # and he thought it was funny to "steal it" after a prank he played on Weegar when he joined the Panthers pic.twitter.com/SCLn7JxBbq

— katie (@itsmitchmarney) February 19, 2023

Noel Acciari has a number of tattoos, but there is one that holds great significance. That would be Acciari's "Gone Fishing" tat. It carries a special story.

The artwork was done in memory of his friend, Drew Brown who passed away at the young age of 25 from a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing's sarcoma. The pair of Acciari and Brown were extremely close. Brown was even described by Acciari as "part of the family".

Brown was a fishing and hunting enthusiast, which is why Acciari has a deer and a fish hook woven into the tattoo. It is also accompanied by the number seven. That was the jersey number Brown wore while playing along side Acciari as teammates for the the Providence College Friars.

It can be difficult to see the players’ tattoos under all their equipment while at the rink. Stay tuned to Editor in Leaf get all the updates you need on new team ink.