Drillon accomplished something in 1937-38 that no member of the Toronto Maple Leafs has equaled: He led the NHL in points (52; 26 goals, 26 assists). It was the best of his seven seasons in an NHL career that ended when he joined Canada's military in 1943 and never resumed after World War II. It was the best of his seven seasons in an NHL career that ended when he joined Canada's military in 1943 and never resumed after World War II.

There wasn't much subtlety to Drillon's game. As players like Phil Esposito and Dave Andreychuk did decades later, Drillon excelled at parking himself in front of the net and scoring on tips and rebounds. He wasn't much of a back-checker, but his skills in front of the net largely compensated for any failings at the other end of the ice during his NHL career.

Drillon joined the Maple Leafs in 1936-37 and was an immediate hit when he scored 16 goals and finished with 33 points, coming in second in voting for the Calder Trophy given to the top rookie in the NHL. One season later, he was named a First-Team All-Star and voted winner of the Lady Byng Trophy for skillful and gentlemanly play. In the 1938 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Drillon led all scorers with seven goals and eight points, although the Maple Leafs lost to the Chicago Black Hawks in the Stanley Cup Final.

He was a First-Team All-Star again in 1938-39, when Toronto returned to the Final but lost to the Boston Bruins. Drillon again led all players in goals (seven) and finished with 13 points in 10 games.

Beginning in 1939-40, Drillon scored at least 21 goals and finished with at least 41 points each season. He finally became a Stanley Cup champion in 1942 when the Maple Leafs became the first team in NHL history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games. Toronto fell behind 3-0 to the Detroit Red Wings in the Final but won the next four games -- though none of them with Drillon on the ice. Coach Hap Day benched him as part of a lineup shuffle and was a spectator during the comeback.

The Maple Leafs sold Drillon to the Montreal Canadiens in 1942-43 and he finished with 50 points, including an NHL career-high 28 goals. But the 29-year-old joined Canada's war effort after the season and never returned to the NHL as a player, though the Moncton, New Brunswick, native later rejoined the Maple Leafs as a scout in the Maritimes.

Drillon was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. He was 73 when he died Sept. 23, 1986.