Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!








Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

According to the venerable Ottawa Sun, Sens owner Eugene Melnyk recently sat down with Mats Sundin and his agent J.P. Barry to convince the reluctant Swede to come to Ottawa...

The Mats Sundin Circus Continues

by Spencer Callaghan (Analyst)

4

1,005 reads

Opinion

October 09, 2008


According to the venerable Ottawa Sun, Sens owner Eugene Melnyk recently sat down with Mats Sundin and his agent J.P. Barry to convince the reluctant Swede to come to Ottawa.

While I appreciate Melnky's enthusiasm, and at one point I did favour trying to bring Sundin in to Ottawa, now I think Mats should stop wasting everyone's time and go away.

I have a hard time believing that a guy who is this uncertain about even playing can actually contribute anything positive to the Sens. It's like saying, "I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning—but sure, I'll take the job!"  Not exactly confidence-inspiring.

But most of all, I just want to stop talking about Sundin, something the Toronto media seems reluctant to do.

The Sundin circus is reaching such baffling proportions that last week Sundin made front-page news on Sportsnet.ca for his ceremonial puck-dropping.

Yes that's right, Sportsnet's Ian Mendes felt that the big Swede was so impressive he saw the need to file a completely separate story on the event, even before filing his game story.

I'm going to give Ian the benefit of the doubt and assume he was forced to file such an inane story by his Toronto editors—but nonetheless, it was a bizarre situation.

So here's the deal, Mats—go away. We already have an aging but still dynamic Swedish powerhouse around here, and his name is Daniel Alfredsson.

If the day comes when Sundin decides he wants to play for the Sens, I'll accept him.  But please—can we all stop grovelling, and leave the guy to wallow in peace.

Author Poll

Do the Sens need Sundin?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Go away Mats!
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Do the Sens need Sundin?

  • Yes

    49.5%
  • No

    24.2%
  • Go away Mats!

    26.3%
  • Total votes: 99
Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

4 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. ...

    lol, the comment about Ian Mendes made me laugh. I could literally think of about 25 people on this site that could contribute more to that site than Ian Mendes does.

    As for Sundin, we all want it to go away. And I share your thoughts Spencer, if he has taken this long to decide, how much does he really want to play.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...
  2. ...

    Sometimes I really wonder about our sports media.

    So many great stories to tell and all they can talk about is a guy who doesn't even have the will to play.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...
  3. ...

    I think the gold ring on Sundin's finger has much to do with his undecidedness. It seems that since he got engaged to "Barbie", that his hockey career definitely took a backseat. As a die-hard Leafs fan, I was disappointed at first when it appeared Sundin wouldn't be back with Toronto, but now I think it is obvious where his heart is and it is not with hockey.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...
  4. ...

    Ho does everybody feel now that Alfredsson's surgery hs been announced? I always thought Sundin would end up in Chicago. I think Ottawa is less attractive than Montreal for a guy at the end of his career.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

  • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »



    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.