Sundin injured, out at least a month

According to the latest information from the Leafs, Mats Sundin's eye injury means he will be out of action for four to six weeks, a span that could run to about 20 games.
What now?
It would appear the door is wide open for Eric Lindros to assume a bigger role.
Last night against Ottawa, with Sundin gone after just seven minutes due to a broken lower orbital bone, Lindros eventually logged nearly 25 minutes of ice time -- most among the forwards. He seemed to get better as the night wore on, too, delivering several big checks and scoring a goal in the third period.
At least offensively, Jason Allison appeared right at home, and he too, moves up a rung on the depth chart at centre with Sundin out.
Then there's the Jeff O'Neill situation. He didn't practice today, and his shoulder is bothering him enough that he is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game.
Kyle Wellwood is expected to be called up. And what about that story early this week -- the one about Steve Thomas being advised to stay by the phone?

One game down, 81 to go, and the Leafs have issues.
How do you think they handle this? Who has to step up? If you're John Ferguson Jr., are you putting that call in to Thomas? And how well equipped are the Leafs to deal with this kind of an injury, this early in the season?

Comments

[Kam M.]

My initial thoughts were that the Leafs would break down mentally after losing their star captain. However, if history tells us anything, it's that the Leafs usually do well in the face of adversity.

One such occasion that comes to mind is the 2002 playoffs where Sundin was out with a wrist injury for most of the post-season. It was veterans like Roberts who stepped up to the leadership challenge and helped drive to team to the conference finals.

Hopefully, guys like Lindros will fill that role in this young season...

[Nelson Y.]

If you ask me, it's a little silly to lose Sundin. Especially when you consider after a year of no hockey, he gets to play only 7 minutes. Partially his fault, too, for not wearing a visor. I would've thought that after the long "vacation" everyone's primed and ready to go. Major setback. Hopefully, Leafs can hang tight until he recovers and have players step up to fill the void.

[Shaun C]

Leafs will be fine without Sundin. They do face adversity well and will use it as a reason to "DO IT FOR MATS!". What I'm wondering, is when Mats will decide that wearing a shield on his helmet might help.

[matty p]

'tis a shame about Mats, though I'm looking forward to seeing Wellwood in action. I think the Leafs have more depth than they're made out to have and I think they'll do just fine...but even better when Mats returns.

[Joe M]

Call me heartless, but I'm having trouble
feeling sorry for Mats. How many times
do you have to go down before you finally
wear the visor? Mats, have a chat with
your old buddy Bryan Berard and see what
he thinks you should do. This macho
thing really borders on stupidity.

[Ben]

It's the curse of the video game cover.

[Ced]

Don't know why they just don't regulate face masks or visors in the NHL? Should insurance companies take the risk of insuring players that choose to leave off safety equipment?

I've heard of the excuses players use about restricting vision, but as far as I can tell, they don't have trouble seeing the ball in lacrosse while wearing masks.

It's a disappointment having star player like Mats go down because of something so preventable.

[Chaz L]

After losing Matts to a silly injury that a visor would have prevented, the Leafs will now be without expericene for the next four to six weeks. Now's a good time to consider bringing back Steve Thomas.

Go leafs Go

[Andrew Spencer]

Mats started his NHL career wearing a visor, and then presumably caved into tough guy pressure and took it off. This isn't his first near miss with losing an eyeball. How daft is this man?

Meanwhile, if The Big E steps up and leads the team while Sundin is out (as he did last night), the Leafs should be fine. Of greater concern to me is the fact Jeff O'Neill is injured and likely won't face Montreal on Saturday.

[patti]

This might the proverbial stupid question, but why don't players play with visors? Given Sundin's predilection for facial injuries (and Lindros' glass jaw for that matter), I don't understand why these incredibly expensive athletes don't protect themselves better.

[Eric L]

Wow Mats.. even though I think you're a great player and a nice guy overall... YOU GOTTA WEAR THAT VISOR.

[Tim O'Neill]

Yes, opportunity now exists for Steve Thomas and they should bring him back. But Leafs
need a big-scoring winger too.

[Tim]

Sundin is out. Now all you Ferguson Fanatics, what do you think of the GM now?

He let Roberts, Niewendyk, and Leetch
walk away and there is no player available
now who can take up Sundin's slack.

Should have signed at least some of these
players and then traded them if the Leafs
could not afford to keep them.

[john]

I think the leafs will be ok if BIG E steps it up like last night throughout the first quarter of the season with sundin gone, JFJ doesn't look so stupid after all by signing Lindros & Allison, I'M sure the leafs will be fine they have more depth then most people think. When Sundin gets back look for him to be really really hungry , and I for one can't wait for that, with Lindros playing hungry, Allison setting up plays on the power play and Sundin playing a more physical and hungrier game leafs will be dangerous

[Carlos Dimarco]

I have no clue why they don't use Visors?

May be Don Cherry is always ranting that Visors are for French playes?

[leaffan]

There's no doubt this hurts. Matts is a leader and a key offensive force. For his sake I sure hope he comes back wearing a visor. His face seems to be a puck magnet. The Gerry Cheevers of forwards. I don't buy the manditory argument. Too many guys spent their entire pro career without masks and find them to be a distraction. That said, I'd agree with a rule that mandates masks for all rookies and future NHLers. They have played their entire hockey lives with a mask so they know nothing else.

Back to the road ahead without Matts. The Big E will step up to the plate. Allsion will join him. I like the idea of Wellwood getting a chance. I think he'll do well. Stajan is at a point where we need to see him take a regular shift night in and night out. Let's answer the question...is he the player we think he is?

Matts is a huge loss but he's not the Eagle. That's the bridge too far for the Leafs. We can't succeed without Belfor. We can win more then we lose while Matts heals.

Heal well Matts and please consider a visor.

GO LEAFS GO

[steve grogan]

Great to see Domi hop the boards and start his Charles Manson act again after Sundin took the puck in the face. What was he planning on doing, beating up the puck?

[Jlo]

There are plenty of better players than Steve Thomas out there to take the empty forward spot. Maybe if O'Neill is hurt too, but Wellwood should fill in at centre while the captain is out. Eric Lindros looked very good out there. And you know, if you anagram Aki Berg you get Ark Big E. This is Lindros' boat now.

[Brian]

I agree that Mats should consider the visor but I am not worried. I see this as an opportunity for Lindros to step up and be a leader. With Lindros ALlison Leafs should be fine and the new sky line with Lindros kinda a new Legion of Doom line .

[Another Mats]

I can only agree with the above posters and wonder why the wearing of visors or face masks isn't regulated. I've heard the complaints from the players as well but in all international tournaments where it is mandatory they don't seem to have any problems.

I sure hope Mats will get well soon to contribute his talent to the Leafs. But I'm sure the Leafs will manage without him. They've done it before and will do it again.

GO LEAFS GO

[mcbee]

It took Yzerman 20+ years to wear a visor. How long will it take Sundin? I'm sure Don Cherry will be on his pulpit ranting against visors this Saturday, and macho-minded NHLers will nod in approval. Meantime, the 6-7th highest paid player in the league is out with a crushed eye. Make visors mandatory.

[Rocky]

Remember that old Construction Safety Association commercial where the guy is hammering a nail, only to have have a piece of the nailhead fly off right into his eyeball? Remember the 3-D effect as the shrapnel flies in the direction of the viewer? Powerful stuff. I suppose seeing Stevie Yzerman almost become Stevie Wonder wasn't as convincing. On a personal level, I feel for Mats. At the same time, I am perversely amused that the NHL, the NHLPA, and their respective insurers are so willing to treat players' eyeballs as catcher's mitts for wayward stick blades and pucks that ricochet at speeds upwards of 100 mph. Idiots.

[Jorge Garretón]

Watching ESPN's Sportscenter Thursday morning here in Santiago-Chile, I was yet again surprised at Mats Sundin's stupidity. The last time he injured his face, he promised to wear a visor. Time and maturity has not improved hockey players and Mats Sundin's I.Q. Nor it looks like GM Ferguson and Coach Quinn have little regard at protecting their most important asset from not wearing full facial protection that may have prevented the serious injury now everyone, including Sundin, regrets. When will the stupidity culture of NHL players end. This is not macho culture, because macho culture wears out when a teenager becomes a full grown man. Hockey players are men, but with little I.Q. I am sorry for Sundin and Maple Leaf fans everywhere, it is time to force players to wear eye protection, and for the media to ask point blank hockey players if they are stupid for not wearing visors. It is time to put an end to teenage macho culture and force grown NHL men to finally answer for their irresponsible behaviour. I hope Sundin recovers fully from his irresponsibility and for his lack of judgement.

[Sinky]

They have to grandfather the visors in, they are mandatory at every level other than the NHL/AHL, so every new player coming in, keep on the shield. You'll never get current players that don't wear one to put one on. I think the only reason Mats doesn't wear one is because he's a European Captain of a Original Six team that's never had a leader wear a mask. He wore one in Quebec folks. He'd take too much grief for wearing one - but after this, I don't think anyone in the Leaf Nation would say anything derogatory about Mats wearing a visor if it means we keep him in the lineup. Here's to Wellwood who should have made the team in the first place with his Spezza-like AHL numbers. Hope he stays up.

[JO SORRILL]

How stupid is it to play hockey without wearing a visor. No sympathy coming from this corner. NO game is worth losing your sight over.