Canucks-Maple Leafs: Mats Sundin Returns

Mats Sundin makes his return to Toronto this Saturday for his first ever appearance at Air Canada Centre with a visiting team.

The former captain of the Leafs signed with the Vancouver Canucks last December, and Saturday's game will be the first time he has returned to Toronto for an NHL game.

Sundin played 13 seasons in Toronto, accumulating 987 points (420 goals, 567 assists) in 981 games, making him the franchise's all-time point leader. He now has 1,332 points in 1,321 NHL games.

In 17 games with Vancouver, he has six goals, six assists, 12 points, and is -2 in the plus/minus category.

It was this time a year ago when Sundin said he couldn't imagine playing for any NHL team other than the Leafs. Interim GM Cliff Fletcher wanted Sundin to waive his no-trade clause but he wouldn't do it.

Sundin was named captain of the team during the 1996-'97 season, and remained so until his official departure. He is considered one of the top seven Leafs of all time, along with Davey Keon, Darryl Sittler, Tim Horton, Johnny Bower, Borje Salming, and Doug Gilmour.

The Vancouver Canucks are 29-21-8, good for 66 points and second place in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are 21-26-11, for 53 points, last place in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.

The Canucks announced that Sundin had signed with the club to a one-year, $8.6 million contract. Pro-rated for the remainder of the season, Sundin's salary works out to $5 million.

Taking a $1.4 million paycut from the Canucks' original yearly offer, Sundin reportedly decreased his contract willingly in order to give the Canucks added salary cap space to potentially bolster their lineup before the end of the season.

Sundin has said he would like to return to Toronto next year and end his career playing for the Maple Leafs.