Last Days of the Sundin Era?

No Leaf captain has retired in a Toronto uniform as captain since George Armstrong.

Now, we'll find out if Mats Sundin will be the latest to wear the "C" and be shunted out of town before he hangs 'em up.

Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler, Rick Vaive, Rob Ramage, Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour all captained the Leafs, but were sent packing for something that was supposed to be better at the time. In Keon's case, he was just allowed to leave to the WHA, although he would have preferred a trade to Long Island. Clark and Gilmour, of course, both played their last NHL games for the Leafs, but neither was wearing the "C" at the time.

Does it matter if Sundin gets to retire as a Leaf? The reality is, that is almost a quaint concept in an era in which money and contracts dictate where players play as much as loyalty or anything else.

TSN is reporting today that Leaf interim GM Cliff Fletcher has asked Sundin for a list of teams he would considering waiving his no-trade clause to join. The Star's Kevin McGran, meanwhile, confirmed with Fletcher that he had met with both Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry, and Bryan McCabe today. While 29 other teams would be good fits, it's almost impossible to guess which Sundin might actually select, if any.

Anaheim and Detroit, of course, are top teams, but would he want to go to either city? Peter Forsberg didn't.

Vancouver has the Sedin twins, Matthias Ohlund and Markus Naslund, so there's lots of Swedish content there. But would that in and of itself attract the Leaf captain, particularly given he's played his entire career in the east?

It seems unlikely Ottawa would even get a chance to bid on Sundin. But what about Montreal, given that Sundin did once play in Quebec City.

And if he's really considering re-signing with the Leafs again in the summer even if he's traded away, you'd have to figure he'd prefer not to go too far.

New Jersey?

It's all a total guessing game. As it's been for months.

Still, with Atlanta tomorrow night or a visit to Ottawa on Monday looming as possibly Sundin's last game in a Leaf uniform, speculation is about to reach a fever pitch. And I don't hear Fletcher denying that he's trying to move the big fella by Tuesday.

Comments

[Brad]

In response to the fact that Mats has played his entire career in the East... the Leafs were a Western Conference team up until 1998 I believe.. could be a little off with the year... however, I don't think that has anything to do with the trade process.

[Bal Virk]

I really think they should keep Mats and sign him to a two-year extension. Fletcher should spend his energy convincing McCabe and Kubina to go somewhere, but not the leader of the team. It's about time the Leafs began a tradition of letting their captain retire as a captain in the blue and white. Let's prove that tradition and loyalty mean something still, despite all the money-grabbing surrounding us these days. My vote is to keep Mats as a mentor to the future leader of the team.

[Leafer]

Armstrong wasn't the last Leaf to retire as captain. Ted Kennedy was. Armstrong retired in 1971. Keon had been captain since 1969.

Army was the last Leaf captain to retire a Leaf without ever having played somewhere else. Gilmour and Clark also managed to retire as Leafs.

[Werner Ott]

It's sad, in a way. Sundin has always acquitted himself with dignity and grace, even when the team around him floundered. Saddled with one failed experiment after another on his wing...and never a negative word about the dismal performance of the team, or the continual snafu that is MLSE.
But it's a business, and that's the sad part. I hope he goes, for his sake, and gets a nice long playoff run with a contender. He deserves it.
If he does come back and re-sign with the team in the off season, I'd welcome him back with open arms.

[Newton]

If they have the cap space look-out for the Devils:

Fletcher and sweet Lou consummated the Gilmour deal if I remember correctly and they might do the same now with Sundin.

Elias is a world class player. He and Sundin would be dynamite together. In a relatively weak eastern conference Sundin has more value to the team that acquires him in my opinion.

[Skiff]

It's sad, Mats doesn't want to leave, but in yet another testament to the ineptitude of this organization, their only hope of turning things around is trading away the loyalest captain they've had, and someone who without question should be retiring a Leaf Captain. What's more important, winning 1 cup as a rent a player on an established team, or leaving a legacy of pride, loyalty and sportsmanship in one city? Depends on your view I guess, but I think the latter.

The Leafs need to rebuild their tradition, and they don't get that by constantly trading away people who should (and want to) retire in Toronto. As proven time again by this organization, high draft picks are useless when you constantly select bad players. Some teams do better with the bottom third of the 1st round than the Leafs will do with one of the top three picks. Shame on the Leafs...shame...

[James Skarnikt]

The Leafs want to get talent yet all people can talk about is trading away possibly one of the most talented players in the history of the game? This is stupid. Focus on keeping our greatest asset, not driving him nuts.

[Ankur Arora]

Sad day, common people this a business, but more important Sundin played on some pretty good leaf team as well, the leafs were a strong team from 1998 till the 2004 season. They had strong goaltending and some hard nosed veterans, that 2002 run without Mats really stands up in my mind, that how Sundin was not a winner or had the ability to take the leafs to the next level will always be remembered. I do apperciated the last few years he has put here, but again he has failed many times, last year people are quick to forget he did not score in the final 20 games of the season and they ended up missing the playoffs. Leaf fans gotta realize right now he has great trade value and he can help re-build this team, and if he like he can come back and lead the younger players or he can go play some other city that has a chance to win, thats up to him.

[Lewis McClain]

Lets keep Mats, and most of the other guys. A draft choice can be a bug bust. This team has potential,but needs time and effort to do it.The team overall is young, and some good people on the marlies. It would be a shame to see the traded ones come back to bite us. Stay the course,keep the faith..

[H Liu]

I'm no hockey expert. But I really want Sundin to stay. How can we judge what's best for him when we are not even him. He decided to stay in Toronto and that was his decision. Him staying is what's best for him - in his eyes. Lets try to see things from his point of view and not ours. If he wanted to go join a team for a playoff chance, then he would have waived his no-trade clause. But the fact of the matter is he didn't. I think he is a great leader. Something a lot of young players should learn to become and look forward to.

After saying all that I am still fustrated with the performance of our team. Anyways, I only hope for the best.

[Faraz]

Damien and Co. who merely are resurrecting bogus mass media careers out of this mess, are I am sure, proud of their excellent contributions.

They have done a disservice to their profession and to the Leafs Nation by fuelling trade activities by specifically targetting lack lustre Leafs at times when all they needed was a break from all the attention.

I am disgusted to the nth degree with the antics of some of our media men...they all think they can out think and produce a better Leafs organizations.

They covet this Steve Stamkos but what if this Stamkos comes to Toronto and has a career-ending injury then what !!??

All this trade talk affects players and their on-ice body language is evident that their minds are not on the game.

What a mess; these bottom feeders (media men and women) should all be transported to some hick town where they enjoy doing what ever the hell they want, not in Toronto.

[Chris Belanger]

If Mats gets traded, Anaheim would probably be best for our selfish interests. They have Edmonton's first pick next year and that would give us two chances at the Stamkos lottery; Actually we would have two of probably the top four picks. Plus whatever else Burke would package in.
It has personally been distressing to see what Mats has been put through. The team sucked so much again this year. They could have had a dozen more victories if they just learned how to play with a two or three goal lead. I hope that if he does leave he gets to come back, as long as management doesn't pull the same trade bait technique with him next year. Sort of like a yo-yo. I also can't help but remember the joy he had with winning the championship with the Swedish National team a couple years ago. It would be nice to see him do that in the NHL.

[Mark]

You trade Sundin and get good value for him to improve the team, and then you re-sign him in the summer. His contract is up anyways. It's the carrot to get him to waive his no-trade clause. It's a win-win situation all around.

[Geez]

If Mats wants to exercise his no trade clause, then he is within his rights, and I respect his desire to stay.

But let's not get hysterical about the damage to the franchise if he is traded. He is a free agent in a few months for crying out lout.

The best possible scenario is a trade for picks and/or prospects, and then try to sign him again in the summer. It's not like keeping him for the rest of this disaster of a season is going to do anyone any good, other than a higher finish and a lousy draft position.

[Sanj]

Sundin should never have been is this situation. Punks like Tucker, Kubina or McCabe should take a long look in the mirror and agree to wave their no trade clauses. It would be so nice if one them said, hey Cliffy I will agree to be moved but only if Sundin stays. They should rally behind their leader and sacfrice themselves in order for Sundin to stay. But I guess I am being unrealistic.

[Jerry]

I would like to see Sundin in a Leaf uniform for the next couple of years but I would also like to see some promise for the future. Sundin can bring some hope by agreeing to a trade as a rental thus allowing the team to lose a little more than if he stayed. That should bring a decent draft pick itself and if he did get traded he should at least bring a decent young player or very high prospect as well as a first round and perhaps a second round pick in this year's draft. If he wants to come back as a free agent in the summer then Leaf fans could conceivably have the best of both worlds.

[jimmy]

"stay the course and keep the faith" it amazes me that people who know nothing about hockey are the first ones to post on these boards.

[SundinFan]

Every Year around this time we go through the same cycle "trade the Captain...keep the Captain...trade the Captain". It's about time we show him as much respect as he has shown this team and the city of Toronto. He has had several opportunities to leave the team and go to a contender but he remained loyal to the team. If you are a fan of Sundin then show him the same respect and allow him to go to a contender so he can put the crown on his tremendous career.

[TT]

I wouldn't want to see Sundin leave either. That's seems to be the response of a lot of people's comments. However, for his own sake, it would be better for him to go somewhere rather than being bombarded by all these media showing him the quickest way out of town. They're doing a better job than Fletcher on persuading Sundin to wave his no trade clause.

Damien, seems like you start appreciating the job that Fletcher has done so far, rather than dismissing him before he even arrived.

[David]

Hej,

I am a fellow Swedish Canadian and I think that Mats should remain free to decide his own fate. He is a world class athlete and I am sure there are many physiological, emotional, and personal factors that we know nothing about that could influence his decision.

Lets not forget that the trade talk sells newspapers and is another form of NHL Packaged Entertainment

[Barb]

Hey Damien,
I hope you're not serious about Sundin going to Montreal. The Canadiens have a great core of young talented players who are playing as a cohesive unit - we don't want to risk losing any of them, especially not to the Leafs. If the Habs pick up anyone, Hossa would be a much better fit. Go Habs!

[Russ]

Um... who was it that gave Mats the no-trade clause in the first place? Oh, right. MLSE.

[John Hammett]

Matt has been a Leaf of which all should be proud. I have been a fan since Bill Barilko. I would like to see Matt with a Stanley Cup....I can think of no-one so deserving. Matt...go to Aneheim for Bobby Ryan and Edmonton`s first draft pick....I think that by doing that I`ll be in a Bay Street Parade again before I die, and I`ll see you with a "Cup" !

Thanks for everything Matt
You deserve nothing but the best
John Hammett

[Paul L]

A look at the Eastern Conference right now and you have to think that New Jersey and Montreal look good. They have those key elements that matter so much in the playoffs, goaltending and coaching. I get the feeling both of those teams will give the goods for Sundin. In the West Detroit suddenly looks a little old, Anaheim has got to be the front runner. A dark horse in the West is Minnesota. Anaheim and Minnesota have great coaching and great goaltending. For the Leafs the best deal comes from the team that offers the best player. That would likely be Anaheim in the form of Edmonton's first pick this summer. If that pick ends up being a top 5 pick it could along with Toronto's own pick give Toronto 2 major building blocks that change the course of the franchise. Regarding Bryan McCabe you hear some Toronto journalists say that they don't think anyone will take him. If the Leafs put McCabe out there I wouldn't be surprised to see them bring back a top prospect or a couple of late first round picks. In a best case scenario the Leafs get the EDM pick '08 from Anaheim and a prospect for Sundin. And for McCabe they bring back Jeff Carter.

[David]

Mats has been the good soldier for 13 years and as captain has had to defend the indefensible - this sorry Leaf organization. Stay or go, it's up to Mats. He doesn't owe the Leafs a thing.