Adios

April 3, 2008 @ 11:58

I was pleased to read the news this morning that Mats Sundin wouldn’t play the final two games of the Leafs season.

I was pleased because it means the end of the Mats Sundin era in Toronto could be over that much sooner. To be honest, I hope Mats Sundin has played his final game for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sundin represented a weird situation in Toronto. A marvelous hockey player, who might arguably go down as the greatest Maple Leaf in history (definitely not my opinion) Mats Sundin really didn’t do much for the franchise over his 14 seasons.

With him, they won nothing. Without him, they almost did.

I don’t want to go over it again and again, but without Mats Sundin in their lineup during the playoff runs of 1999 and 2002, the Leafs actually played better without him and sagged when he came back.

I don’t know why. Maybe it was a compliment that the other players slacked off when he was in the lineup, but the bottom line is, they did better without him.

Last year when they need their captain down the stretch, he scored one goal in the last twenty games. This year when they needed their captain, he went missing with a groin injury.

Yes I know, you can’t blame a guy for an injury, but I still maintain, Dougie, Darryl and Wendel would have played.

Maybe the groin injury is too painful, but I just find it amusing that once again, Sundin is gone when the pressure was on.

And there’s more.

For all his accolades as a great captain, it’s interesting that Sundin allowed Tie Domi to control the dressing room for so many years.

It’s amazing for such a great Maple Leaf; he stood in the way of the franchise using his asset to make a trade for youth at the deadline.

Word is Cliff Fletcher will try to make Sundin commit to another season with the Leafs next year, because it’s “important” to have his leadership next year.

Spare us. The last thing this franchise needs is another year of Mats Sundin.

We don’t need him out there reminding us what could have been if he’d showed even a small measure of a desire to win. To accept a trade and play hockey rather than worrying about how quickly he can get back to Sweden.

We lost with him. We can lose without him.

It’s time to move on.

Category: Sports

20 Responses to "Adios"

dave
April 3, 2008 / 13:31

Wrong, as Jim Ralph so nicley put it with tongue in cheek, "let a 3rd round draft pick play centre next year!"

By the way Dougie, Wendell and Darryl don't have Leaf Stanley Cup rings either.

Russ
April 3, 2008 / 13:41

Dave, you're missing the point.

Dougie, Darryl and Wendel played with a lot more guts and desire.

With that you can't argue.

Argie
April 3, 2008 / 14:05

Russ,

I always thought Gilmour was a terrific player but he had no guts in the way he so often would bitch and shove with opposing players but never dropped the gloves. He always waited for Wendy or another goon to come to his rescue.

Paul
April 3, 2008 / 15:40

I always argued that Mats would have done better if they gave the C to somenone else. He's a good player, but I don't think he has the personality to be a Captain. Anybody notice when you're watching a nail biter of a game and they pan down the bench, Mats is the only who seems to be oblivious to what is going on? As if his mind is on the beer chilling in the cooler for after the game?

Anyways, do a search on YouTube for Wendel Clark. It'll remind you of what we're so desperately missing in a Captain. In particular, click and watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEltpSMTDPM

Miss you Wendy!

christian
April 3, 2008 / 16:56

Roberts was the real leader of the team during the playoff run. When Mats came back they didn't play nearly aswell. Roberts had the heart and soul attitude and gritty play Sundin always seemed to lack.

Pete McPhedran
April 3, 2008 / 17:08

Whatever...

Wendel
Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
793 330 234 564 1690 95 37 32 69 201

Mats
Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1305 555 766 1321 1065 83 35 39 74 72

I hope this works in Freddie's little entry window...

The numbers speak for themselves, you find a way to measure heart and I'll cheer for Ottawa in the playoffs. If they make it;-) As mentioned, Dougie, Wendy and Darryl never won a cup in T.O. either.

Mats for Deputy Mayor of Toronto under Rob Ford.

--Pete

Paul
April 3, 2008 / 17:18

Pete from what I can tell (unless its the formatting), the ratio of goals vs. games played both are at 0.42 goals per game. Difference is that Clark had to retire from the beating he put his body through.

neil
April 3, 2008 / 17:22

the good people of vancouver gladly trade you Naslund for Sundin. strait up. agreed Freddie, they both need new homes. woof.

Max Taffey
April 3, 2008 / 19:56

Three things to say on this one:

1)Freddie - you continue your baffling assertion that Sundin was injured in the 99 playoff run. Once again, the Leafs played 17 games in the playoffs, and Sundin was there for everyone, and notched 16 points. And if you are talking about the 99-00 season, the Leafs played 12 games in the playoffs and Sundin was there for all of them. Please stop it.

2) Paul - if Mats is oblivious to what is going on during these nailbiter games, how is it he holds the Leafs record for most game winning goals, and most overtime goals?

3) Argie - never, ever refer to Wendel as "Wendy".

Thanks all.

Pete McPhedran
April 3, 2008 / 20:04

@Paul,

I respectfully disagree, even if you give Wendy a break due to injury, it still doesn't fly. The stats I quote are from http://www.hockeydb.com and Wendel's stat are for a 20 year career and Mats' are for 19 years and the current year is only for the first 74 games.

If you are thinking that Wendy is a greater leader because he has 1690 PIM in half the games played in a 1 year longer career with a little more than half the points than Mats, then you and I disagree on what defines a leader.

People say Mats should play more, hurt or other wise, then they turn aroud and say "why is he playing injured when a healthy player cold have been out there..." Bah, Mats Sundin is the greatest Leaf to ever lace up the skates. Usual disclaimers about being impossible to compare guys like King Clancy, etc....

Wendel was no leader, he was nearly a goon and didn't do anything better than Mats except fight and that is no leader. His penalties kept him off the ice and score board, his injuries meant that he played half the games in more seasons than Mats. Maybe he was a fan favourite for his energy and fights, but I still don't see a Stanley Cup ring on his finger.

--Pete

Paul
April 3, 2008 / 21:40

Pete, that is besides the point. I think a captain should be able to raise the team to another level. Maybe I'm wrong, Sundin goes out and pots the goal himself... not sure if that is what makes someone a good captain.

I don't think anyone is arguing if Sundin is a good player. I for one wish I had a 10th of his talent... but again being a good player doesn't make you a good captain.

Argie
April 4, 2008 / 10:29

Max: That’s what Tollar called him.

Max Taffey
April 4, 2008 / 10:35

Tsk tsk Argie. Do you want to alienate me too? I'm one of the few here that "gets you" (occasionally)! Wendel is, and shall always remain GOD.

Greg M
April 4, 2008 / 11:24

Very interesting article, you'd almost swear it was influenced by Freddie and John Derringer! Let's see if Domi sues McLeans for being mentioned

Greg M
April 4, 2008 / 11:25

http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20080402_25296_25296&page=4

Argie
April 4, 2008 / 15:15

Ok Max. You’re an ally so I won’t say anything more on about Wendel.

Romy
April 7, 2008 / 07:44

Slice the numbers however you prefer - the fact is that Mats Sundin is one of the greatest Leafs - ever. Rip him if you want for not leading Toronto to a Cup (line forms to the right to enter that club, by the way...) but you simply don't know hockey if you can't acknowledge the man's gifts as a great offensive talent.

http://paulromanuk.com/Blog/Entries/2008/2/25_Mats_Sundin....html

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August 3, 2010 / 17:40

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