Where will Sundin wind up?
At this point it is pretty obvious that the Leafs captain will return to NHL for one (if not a few) more season(s). Announcing his retirement in the summer time, in Sweden, would be like breaking up with your boyfriend/girlfriend with a text or a facebook message—it is simply doesn’t work that way.
A respected player like Sundin should want to end his career in some glorious way—even if it isn’t winning the Cup with the Leafs. As a gentleman—which Sundin is—he would at least say good bye to the Leaf fans.
Sundin has always wanted to retire in a Leafs jersey, but right now, he is a free agent. If you are a star hockey player like Sundin, would you choose to end your career in such a way?
Now that Sundin’s return to NHL is expected, where will he be—Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, or possibly even New York? Given a few clues revealed by Mats, it is obvious that he will be wearing a Leaf jersey when NHL starts in October.
I’ve read a lot of fans’ reasoning as to why Mats should sign with Habs or the Canucks or retire. But these are based on our opinions. If we take a look at some facts, we can be almost certain that Sundin will not play for the Canucks or the Canadiens.
Not the Canucks
The Canucks offered Sundin a huge contract of $20 million on July 1. And, perhaps as a way of luring him to Vancouver, Cancuks signed Sundin’s linemate Wellwood. Even with players trying to persuade Sundin to sign with the Canucks, and Gillis’ “Vancouver 2010” pitch, Sundin was not induced to make a decision.
If Sundin cared about the money, he would have signed with Vancouver already, but he didn’t. And the Gillis’ Olympic Theory is bogus—will Sundin still be playing world-class hockey in 2010? And when it comes down to CAN vs SWE, Canadians will still cheer for team Canada.
To start and to adapt a new life in Vancouver would be difficult, especially hard in the short term. Sundin would not play for such a team at this stage of his career.
Not the Canadiens
So why Sundin won’t sign with the Habs? Well, let’s look at why he should.
Of the four teams mentioned, people say that only the Habs are a Cup contender—and unfortunately, this is true.
The Canadiens have proven themselves—coming out of nowhere to clinch the first seed in the East, abd netting 261 goals along the way. We all know Mats wants to win a Cup, no doubt about that.
But does he REALLY want to win a Cup with a team other than the Leafs?
Let’s take a look back to February 2008, before the trade deadline. Sundin HAD the opportunity to a Cup, with Detroit, who had expressed interest in him. Sundin did not waive his no-trade clause, because:
- he does not believe in rental players.
- he wants to retire with the Leafs.
After 17 seasons in the NHL, 13 with the Leafs, playing for a different team at the end of his career does not fit Sundin's logic. Playing for any other team than the Leafs would be on the same scale as being a “rental player”.
Why would he sign with Toronto? Well, I’m pretty sure this isn’t the first article you read. There’s no point of repeating what is being said all along.
Expect Sundin to sign with the blue and white Toronto Maple Leafs when the time comes. May it be one year, two years—let’s let Mats decide.
22 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Alan Bass 11 months ago
im still convinced he's not coming back
Edit Comment Cancel
Scott Quinn 11 months ago
Right on Peter, I completely agree. He'll be back with the Leafs, and while he won't win a Cup, he will retire as a Maple Leaf and one of the greatest Leafs of all-time.
Edit Comment Cancel
Spencer Callaghan 11 months ago
LOL! Wellwood as a lure.
I'm pretty sure Sundin is looking to get away from his crappy Leafs linemates, not follow them around.
As for where he'll end up, I can't say one way or the other but the fact that he is taking this long with so much money on the table tells me he is likely not coming back.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jordan Walsh 11 months ago
hell. if hes following hes linemates, he may as well sign in Colorado, thats where Tucker and Raycroft are lol. But we dont need another leaf in the mountains!
Edit Comment Cancel
del snowy 11 months ago
You're dreaming. Sundin leaving at the trade deadline for a month with another club would be a rental. BUt going somewhere for a few years where you at least have a chance to a cup is far better than spending another year in the dreggs of the NHL (if not Canada) Toronto. He finally has the chance to get out and look good doing it...and that is the key. No one, not even the almighty center of the universe Toronto fans, would blame him for going somewhere else at this stage.
Say bye bye TO
Edit Comment Cancel
Ian Wilson 11 months ago
I wouldn't say that he positively won't be with the Leafs, but your "factual" presentation of why he won't go elsewhere is lacking. First off, let's acknowledge that Sundin is a "heart and soul" Leaf who wanted to retire in Toronto. True...however, his allegiance to the Leafs was shattered when they approached him to waive his no-trade clause and deal him to another team.
He doesn't want to be loyal to a team that isn't loyal to him, so that's created confusion. So, yes, he might go back to Toronto despite all that, but I can think of $20 million reasons that have nothing to do with Wellwood why he would sign in Vancouver and I can think of one very good reason why he would put aside the Habs-Leafs rivalry to play in Montreal (Stanley Cup).
But, Sundin may be so crestfallen - the state of the Leafs can do that to a player - that he'll just hang up his skates and start hitting the bottle. My limited money is on retirement or something other than the Leafs, Habs or Canucks.
Edit Comment Cancel
Big J 11 months ago
"There’s no point of repeating what is being said all along."
Uh... what part of this article is news? Sundin won't be playing in T.O. next year. If he is, then he doesn't want to win. Does anyone really believe that there is a single professional sports player out there that would give up a chance to win consistently just to be 'loyal' to a city? I don't think so. Sakic is loyal to Colorado but the Av's are a consistently competitive organization. The Leafs are neither competitive nor consistent. The Habs are a good choice for Sundin because it is relatively close to T.O. so it isn't a big move. Vancouver is also a good choice for him because with him in their lineup the Canucks would look good... real good.
I couldn't disagree more with this article. Montreal and Vancouver are Sundin's only choices... unless he retires, and the one thing that I do agree with is that he won't be retiring.
Edit Comment Cancel
Dlynn 11 months ago
Don't agree at all.
There's a bitter taste in his mouth re TO right now and I think it's time to move on. Pride often weighs into decisions...and Mats seems like a proud man.
I'm not at all convinced that he won't sign with Vancouver or Montreal. You've done nothing to convince me otherwise...I think it's probably wishful thinking on your part (going to check and see if you're a Leaf's fan now).
Edit Comment Cancel
Dlynn 11 months ago
Yep, you are.
I wish you good luck, but think you've got this completely turned around backwards...it's Toronto he's not signing with. Pretty sure that would've already been a done deal by now.
Edit Comment Cancel
Igor Tebroc 11 months ago
So, for the numerous sentimental reasons you give, Sundin will not play for a different team. But the Leafs, to whom he is supposed to be loyal, were ready to usher Mats to the airport in exchange for a handful of prospects and draft picks. Then, when he vetoes any trade, the fans and media in TO castigate the poor guy for wanting to finish up with the same guys and organization he has been playing with for 13 years. The Canucks have one of the top two goaltenders in the league, a rock solid defence, one good offensive line, one great checking line, and once Mats joins Pavol Demitra, they'll have a second top-tier offensive line.
Edit Comment Cancel
James Chan 11 months ago
Let me get this straight, when Mats doesn't take Vancouver's offer right away, it's a sign that he won't come to Vancouver. But whe Mats Sundin doesn't take Toronto's offer right away, it's because he definitely is coming back to TO. I totally understand.
Your article is based on YOUR opinion, there are not "facts" here, just your interpretation of certain events and quotes, which constitutes opinion. Why is it inappropriate to retire when you're overseas? Why woudl a glorious ending be with the Leafs? Why is moving to Vancouver difficult? Why does the fact that TO essentially tried to push him out the door last year not factor in to his decisions? You have answered all these questions with YOUR OPINIONS, not facts.
Here is another opinion. Mats is his own man, he is taking his sweet time to make a decision because he CAN, not because he wishes to be a Leaf. Pwned.
Edit Comment Cancel
josh charles 11 months ago
He'll return to the Leafs.
Edit Comment Cancel
Wes C. 11 months ago
He's coming to Vancouver enough said this article is rubbish Toronto sucks Montreal is a rival and Vancouver has Roberto luongo the best goalie in the league and he will be the highest paid player in the league now that is the respect Sundin deseves to be recognized like this
Wes
Edit Comment Cancel
george wasnusky 11 months ago
toronto dosent deserve a player like sundin to play on their team. first of all, they insulted him when the asked him to wave his no trade clause. I do think that montreal will have the biggest chance at signing him because of their chances at a cup. If he wanted the money he would have signed with the cunucks earlier. Go habs go
Edit Comment Cancel
wes C. 11 months ago
the habs suck they won what one playoff round last season and haven't signed any big free agents they aren't going anywhere Luongo is the best goalie in the nhl
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan Fleury 11 months ago
Montreal signed George Laraque (speaking of big free agents) which makes every player on the Habs about 3 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier (science people... it's a "fact") and traded basically nothing for Alex Tanguay, he should add a few more goals to an already potent offense.
The young Pens got their asses handed to them by the Sens in '07; turns out a year later they learned how to play playoff hockey and conquered the east. Expect the habs to do the same (don't forget Laraque), Pens-Canadiens conference final in 2009, should be good. Of course I could be wrong, Panthers-Leafs maybe? pffff, Maroons-Americans is more likely.
Luongo is a damn good goalie! AND 2+2=4 and birds go tweet. Carey Price can (almost) go toe to toe with Luongo and let's not forget about Jaroslav Halak; he would be a welcome starter on several NHL rosters, such as the Leafs, but who wants to play there? not Mats to name one.
My gut says Mats lands in Montreal for a cup run or hangs up his skates. But if he's really stupid he'll play for Toronto.
I'm obviously biased... boo Leafs.
Edit Comment Cancel
Matt Serre 11 months ago
good one wes, Vancouver won how many playoff round last year.... oh yeah they didnt even made it...
Losing naslund and replacing him by Demitra and wellwood, well thats a team going somewhere...
enough said Go Habs Go
Edit Comment Cancel
ben hannon 11 months ago
Sundin will be a Vancouver Canuck .. mark my words.
He is a perfect fit for this team .. not to mention the nice retirement nest egg he would have.
20,000,000.00 USD = 120,450,829.91 SEK
United States Dollars Sweden Kronor
^^^ enough said.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jason R 11 months ago
Nice "factual" article *rolleyes*
Edit Comment Cancel
Jason R 11 months ago
Nice "factual" article *rolleyes*
Edit Comment Cancel
marc cars 11 months ago
sundin going the best nhl city montreal
Edit Comment Cancel
Marcus Miller 11 months ago
Would someone other than a Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal fan give us some good info on Sundin's decision. Im getting tired of hearing fans from each team say only what they want to hear. I am a Canucks fan and would love to see Sundin come to Vancouver, but what is actually going to do.....
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.