The Sundin plot thickens

[langway05]

From the sportsnet.ca

Pierre LeBrun Achives

Mats Sundin's standard answer did not come this time. And that has raised some eyebrows.

For years, Sundin has always said the same thing whenever his contract was brought up. He wanted to remain a Toronto Maple Leaf. Winning a championship in Toronto mattered most.

On Wednesday, after accepting the Mark Messier Leadership Award at the Stanley Cup Final, while still maintaining his first option was to remain with the Leafs, for the first time he opened the door just a crack at possibly wearing another uniform.

This might be an interestin' turn of events in Leafland?

 

[quincy]

He's worn another uniform already.

 

[KabbyKev]

He's worn another uniform already.

That one doesn't count

 

[TheGriceBoys]

That one doesn't count

You're right, because that team won two Cups, unlike his current home.wned:

 

[GrimUSMC]

hes no different from Ray Bourque, he deserves the right to play for a contender before he bows out, and possibly hoist the cup.


Bill

 

[KabbyKev]

You're right, because that team won two Cups, unlike his current home.wned:

Ouch! Pull the knife out!

I hope if he does go somewhere, that he can win a cup. The guy's great no matter what happens. He's given this city his heart and soul and (except for maybe 2 years) never had a contending team around him.

Doesn't matter though - if he stays the "fans" will be upset he's taking so much salary cap...if he goes, then all hell will break loose with the "but you said you weren't going to" talk...

I just hope he's up front with his decision and wish him the best.

 

[quincy]

I will restate what I've always said of Sundin: the play he has brought and continues to bring to the NHL is less than the game he plays for his country. Unless he plans to change that, I hope the Cup continues along without his name on it.

 

[SHedberg]

I will restate what I've always said of Sundin: the play he has brought and continues to bring to the NHL is less than the game he plays for his country. Unless he plans to change that, I hope the Cup continues along without his name on it.

I couldn't possibly disagree more. Mats Sundin is a class act and brings a LOT to the ice in the NHL. Try watching Jaromir Jagr play for a while and then tell me that Mats doesn't give it his all every night.

Or even worse, watch Brendan Shanahan play a few shifts, then tell me Mats is slacking.

 

[bidds55]

I hope Bob Gainey is on the phone with him right now!

 

[nauticalcounsel]

He's either trying to increase his salary or signalling that's he's on his way out.
Toronto is without a doubt the toughest market to play in, and he has been consistently good for the leafs: not bad for a guy who was traded for a washed-up winger.
I don't expect to see him in blue and white come October, and I truly hope that Fletcher knows what he is doing.

 

[SHedberg]

I think he's just trying to make it known that he might be available... might as well get people considering him in case he doesn't like the direction the team is heading with their new GM and coach...

 

[slckrsx]

It'll be interesting to see how's he treated here in Toronto if he decides to sign with another team. He wouldn't wave his no trade clause to help the leafs get some young players and now decides to leave for nothing, I'll I can say is it won't be pretty.

 

[AVSfan]

He could have jumped on board of the Red Wings train if he would have accepted a trade. Now Detroit doesn't need him...

 

[will-411]

Villify the team for giving him a no trade clause, not Sundin for exercising his contractual rights.

And Q, I have to disagree with your assessment of Sundin passion for play in the NHL. The situations are completely different. His style of play lends itself extremely well to playing with other skilled players; his style enjoys limited success when paired with cement hands A and Cement head B, whoever they may be at the time. Toronto has paired him with some rather useless driftwood in the past to promote 'balanced scoring'... well, I guess if you have ZERO on both ends of the scale, that's balanced.

Cory

 

[Robert.Colianni]

I couldn't possibly disagree more. Mats Sundin is a class act and brings a LOT to the ice in the NHL. Try watching Jaromir Jagr play for a while and then tell me that Mats doesn't give it his all every night.

Or even worse, watch Brendan Shanahan play a few shifts, then tell me Mats is slacking.

I couldn't possibly agree more! Steve is correct and that is exactly how I have always felt. Being a Peter Forsberg fan, I really started to get into the SEL and World Juniors as well as World Championships and Olympics. Sweden has always played well and it is because of players like Mats who just blow everyone's mind with their ability on the ice that they let out in support for their home country while wearing the crowned jersey. The Sedin's are very good players, but not exactly what everyone expected. As an Avalanche fan, I dislike them during the NHL season, but adore them come world battles. Mats is the same. I can not respect what he does on the ice for the Maple Leafs, although he is a force nonetheless, because I have seen his heartfelt play while trying to win gold medals for his homeland. Mats may work well with another team, but he may not. I could care less if he wins a cup to cement his place in history. I think he needs a cup in order to show exactly what he has done, but it seems like his heart is with his countrymen, not his second family.
Rob

 

[27Leafs27]

Show me one player, I don't care which nationality, who doesn't give it the extra mile while representing their country.
Mats always gets the bad rap for this. As Cory stated Mats level always rise's with the the level of talent surrounding him, unfortunately it usually isn't very high in Toronto.
I've watched Mats play here since he arrived and believe me, he flat out brings it every night, the guy's a horse, just ask any of his coach's he's had in Toronto.
There will be no shortage of teams talking to Mats' agent about his availability, you can bank on that.

Dan.

 

[sprague11]

I've always thought Rick Nash has looked very good playing for COlombus, but Superhuman playing for Canada myself.

 

[27Leafs27]

I've always thought Rick Nash has looked very good playing for COlombus, but Superhuman playing for Canada myself.

This is my point John. Its much easier to put out the big effort for your country in a short series as opposed to the grind of an NHL campaign.

Dan.

 

[sprague11]

I guess a guy looks better when Naslund/Zetterberg or Thornton/Doan are his linemates as opposed to Antropov/Ponikarovski or Vyborny/Chimera

 

[MIKEYSLEAFS]

It'll be interesting to see how's he treated here in Toronto if he decides to sign with another team. He wouldn't wave his no trade clause to help the leafs get some young players and now decides to leave for nothing, I'll I can say is it won't be pretty.

i would not say nothing,talks are he will sign for the leafs and traded to a team of his choice,or there is talks a team will give up a player to talk and sign him before july first,so saying nothing might be just a little in-accurate.