If you ask a Toronto Maple Leafs fan what they think of Mats Sundin, you’d better have some time on your hands. Spend that money elsewhere? Invest in the Leafs’ future? Or keep the fan favourite who has bled blue and white for 13 straight seasons?
One thing is for sure - everyone in Toronto has a pretty well-formed opinion on Sundin. Ask them what the Swedish centre’s trade status is, however, and you’ll get an answer that changes daily.
Going West for sure… probably
The latest news to hit hockey town over the weekend is that the Leafs captain is “in clear for Vancouver”. Tabloids screamed. Fans burned their No. 13 jerseys. People boycotted Ikea. Or maybe they would have done if anyone had any faith left in the trade rumors that have surrounded Sundin since Toronto’s latest depressing exit from Stanley Cup playoff contention.
Lost in translation
The Vancouver Province looked into the report by the Swedish Dagens Nyheter newspaper, bemused that confirmation of the Canucks deal, which would make Sundin the highest paid player in the NHL, had slipped by them.
The report was run through an online translator (always the best choice for an error-free translation) and then ripped apart. That Sundin is “bigger than the town’s mayors” could be debated from both sides. But that he is “leaving ice hockey’s capital for Vancouver” is simply not true.
Well, not yet anyway. Sundin’s agent, J. P. Barry, confirmed shortly after the inevitable media buzz that the Swedish newspaper’s headline was not accurate. As it turned out, the Dagens Nyheter had been informed by Sundin’s Swedish representative that its information was totally wrong before publication, but for some reason this didn’t stop them publishing it.
Hot property
Sundin has been the subject of special interest from several other clubs including the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings. Returning to Toronto isn’t off the cards either. In some ways I feel sorry for him (not that sorry – he earned $5.5 million last season on a one-year, no-trade clause deal).
He’s 37, has yet to play in a Stanley Cup final, and is slowly falling out of favour with the home fans who until recently idolized him. Between the Leafs and the Quebec Nordiques he’s scored more than 550 goals and racked up 766 assists. But what has he done for me lately – apart from a team best 32 goals and 78 points this past season?
OK so the guy can play hockey. Now if he could just pick a team to play for.
Life without Mats
Half the problem with Sundin’s indecision is the state of confusion it leaves the Leafs in if he does go. Nik Antropov will be the leader of the Leafs’ offense which isn’t everyone’s idea of a perfect solution. Who gets the captaincy gig is trickier still. Three assistant captaincies? Captaincy by committee? Rock Scissors Paper?
It’s been over 100 days since he skated under the spotlights and somehow everyone, including Sundin’s agent, is still in the dark about what he’s going to do. Put us out of our misery Mats! Are you in, or are you out? Answers on a postcard….