No Surgery for Sundin

Apparently Mats Sundin's career isn't in danger of being cut short after all.

A week after a published report in the Toronto Sun claimed the Maple Leaf captain might require career-threatening hip surgery, it turns out Sundin doesn't need any surgery at all.

Sundin was examined in Stockholm today by an orthopedic doctor specializing in sports medicine.

"The finding was that no surgery is required," said Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry.

The original report cited "medical sources" and said Sundin would definitely require surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, and that doctors would determine whether it was serious enough to be compared to the hip problems that ultimately wrecked Alexander Mogilny's hip.

As it turns out, the story was completely wrong, and there's great speculation in and around the Leaf camp that the story was planted to make it appear as though GM John Ferguson didn't have a handle on health issues facing his team as Ferguson prepared for today's pivotal meeting with the board of directors of Maple Leaf Sports and Enterntainment.

When the Sundin story appeared, Ferguson immediately dismissed it as inaccurate, and as it turns out, he was telling the truth.

The Leaf GM presented his budget and plans to the eight-man board today. It is expected he will soon begin negotiations with team president Richard Peddie on a new contract extension.

Comments

[Jeremy Lackey]

I am truly glad Mats does not have to undergo possible career ending surgery. I don't think Leaf Nation is ready to see life without captain Mats. However, with that being said, if Sundin really does want to win a championship with Toronto he should give the Leafs the Steve Yzerman discount. Why not sign a 1-year 1-million dollar deal so JFJ could persue some high profile talent. The Leafs have been good to Sundin, and he certainly is not in financial trouble. Perhaps it's time for him to step up to the plate and make some personal sacrifice in order to achieve a good shot at a Cup. On the other hand, maybe he doesn't want to win as Maple Leaf as badly as he lets on.

[Mark Galli]

Another sad sign of a completely dysfunctional sports franchise. It's a pity that Stanley cups aren't awarded for corporate branding or profit making. The Leafs are the champs at using their brand to make dough. They can hose customers like no other corporation can. Building a winning team does not fit into the business plan when the condo building is going so well!

[MC]

So every Leaf fan I talk to these days tells me that Sundin needs to be traded. My response is always "for who"? This question is usually met with vague generalities like "for some kids and picks" or alternatively with non-sensical aging veterans.

However, recently a friend suggested a straight up swap Sundin for Jordan Staal.

This would allow the Leafs to get much younger, clearly a good deal for them. This would also give Pittsburgh an experieenced playoff stud who would take pressure off sid the kid.

Considering that Pittsburgh is likely to be unable to sign Malkin, Crosby and Staal, what do you think of this type of deal?

[Sam Louie]

I recall reading a column where a certain columnist lashes out at Leaf Nation for not being able to handle the truth? Well someone certainly doesn't know how to report it. Either that or his sources are trying to "sabotage" him.

[Navin Vaswani]

Just another fine example of the wonderful journalism over at The Toronto Sun

[James Carr]

Why would the Leafs let someone of Sundin's choosing to determine if he needs surgery? the Leafs doctors should be doing the examination.

[billy rempel]

i wonder if the reporter who broke this false story will resign based on the principles he demands of everyone he reports on. i guess we will not be able to believe any of his future "scoops".

[Carl Hardwick]

I read your recent column supporting Ferguson.

The characterization of the current young Leafs on the roster did not mention that those players were drafted and developed during Quinn's time as GM.

If you look up Pat Quinn on Wikipedia, you'll see that he has a lifetime winning percentage of 69%. You stated that Ferguson has a winning percentage of .577. Strictly speaking, Ferguson's record should only include the most recent season and is a poor comparison to Quinn. But if your stat includes wins while Quinn was coach, it's certainly misleading.

Ferguson has made some terrible mistakes, overpaying Kubina and McCabe and trading a first round draft pick for a third string goalie, who was probably about to be released by Boston anyway.

Quinn made one terrible error in signing Khristich, as you pointed out in a previous column, but that pales in comparison to Ferguson's errors in obtaining Allison, Lindros, Kubina, Raycroft, Suglovob, Czerkawsi and Khavanov.

If Raycroft doesn't develop into at least an average goaltender (his stats place him anywhere from 28th to 40th in the NHL) and if Kubina continues to play like an average to below average defenceman, the Leafs will be salary cap crippled for the next two seasons.

IMO, Ferguson has had more than enough chances to prove his (in)competence and should be relieved right away.

Did you notice that Ferguson was quite emotional when the Leafs didn't make the playoffs this year (because it was entirely his team, from the net to the defence to the coach) but he wasn't nearly as heart broken last year when the Leafs didn't make it? Because last year missing the playoffs meant he could get rid of Quinn.

Missing the playoffs this year means Ferguson is at least half way to being fired, so he wasn't very happy as a result.

I think your previous prediction, that Ferguson wouldn't be fired but also wouldn't get an extension, is probably what should happen, given the split among the MLSE executive staff. If the Leafs fail to make the playoffs one more time and show signs of further decline, Ferguson will certainly be fired next year.

Ferguson's tenure with the Leafs strongly reminds me of Gord Ash's time with the Blue Jays. A corporate upper management that didn't know how to run a sports franchise (what experience does Peddie have to be making decisions about hockey and basketball teams?) prefers to leave poor management in place because they have no idea how to hire good management.

[Andre Barrie]

I genuinely like Mats Sundin. It didn't happen overnight. I think it was when he lost most of his teeth, had them surgically put back in, and still played, that I learned to appreciate him.

However, Had he required hip surgery, that would have been a good reason for the leafs not only to not pick up the option year, but also not make an offer to Sundin.

With the amount of cap room that would have freed up, JFJ could have aquired two high calibre forwards, or 1 high calibre and 2 good forwards, to compliment the growing core of youth they have, and a marvellous Darcy Tucker.

Of course, this will be a moot point if Sundin does agree to take a serious pay hit. then maybe they can aquire 2 skilled forwards AND keep Sundin. that would be Ideal, but we can't expect the Ideal when it comes to the Leafs.

Its too bad Sundin is expected to suffer with a pay cut, to make up for the bad contracts of McCabe, Kubina and Raycroft (and Belfour... still!)

[Jason Sinnarajah]

Mats Sundin is the greatest Maple Leaf ever. Yes, all you Leaf haters and Sundin haters, he is. Darryl Sittler had Lanny McDonald, Dave Keon had a bunch of Hall of Famers to play, Frank Mahovalich had the same thing. Ted Kennedy same thing. Mats Sundin has had garbage around him. If this guy ever was given a reasonable winger he would have close to 100 points ever year. The Leafs need to strip their budget down and get one of Daniel Briere or Chris Drury.

[Jim Boyd]

Now, who wants to bet Sundin will have surgery and or be out of the lineup by Xmas?

Not so fast Kawalski.............

[Sean Clugston]

Obviously Mats knows the Leafs medical staff better than anyone and went outside for an opinion. Based on the "insider" information and the way the Leafs medical staff has handled Owen Nolan, Eric Lindros and Jeff Ware's knee I wouldn't trust anyone, let alone the franchise player, to these people.

Mats deserves to finish his career in Blue and White and still leads the team in scoring. Seriously, if Mats was jettisoned who would lead this team? The Leafs would be closer to Phoenix than a playoff spot without him.

Sign him to a reasonable 2 year deal (say 5.5mil) and lets get on with rebuilding the team.