The trade that sent Rick Vaive from the Vancouver Canucks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1980 continues to reverberate through NHL history. On February 18, 1980, the Canucks traded Vaive and Bill Derlago to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Jerry Butler and Tiger Williams. At the time, the Canucks believed they could acquire more value by trading Vaive for a player who could make a bigger impact on the team. Few could have predicted the long-term implications of this deal, particularly for the Maple Leafs.

Vaive, drafted 5th overall by Vancouver in 1979, had a respectable start with 13 goals and 21 points in 47 games. However, his time in Vancouver was short-lived. In Toronto, he found his stride, becoming one of the most prolific scorers in franchise history.

In Toronto, Vaive teamed up with Derlago and Pat Hickey, with Derlago becoming Vaive's setup man. Vaive quickly became a key player for the Leafs, ultimately becoming the first player in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season. Before Auston Matthews broke his record in April 2022, Vaive held the franchise record for most goals in a single season. His 54 goals in the 1981-82 season stood as the franchise record for 40 years.

Vaive's offensive prowess made him a fan favorite in Toronto. He served as the team's captain from 1982 to 1986. In 534 games with the Maple Leafs, Vaive scored 299 goals and 537 points.

However, the Maple Leafs struggled as a team despite Vaive's individual success. In 1987, Vaive, along with Bob McGill and Steve Thomas, was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Al Secord and Ed Olczyk. Although Vaive's time in Chicago and later with the Buffalo Sabres didn't reach the heights of his Toronto years, he still had a productive NHL career.

The trade tree stemming from the Vaive deal continued to branch out. Secord was later traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for a 1989 fifth-round pick, which the Leafs used to select Keith Carney. Vaive's impact extends beyond his on-ice performance. He later worked for Leafs TV, connecting with fans and sharing his insights. His personal life includes his wife Joyce and their two sons, Jeff and Justin, with Justin being drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

The initial trade, while seemingly a simple player swap, had significant and lasting consequences. It solidified Vaive's place in Maple Leafs history and set off a chain of events that impacted multiple teams.