Strong Canucks, Mild Sundin

For those who used to watch Mats Sundin regularly compete in playoff hockey for the Maple Leafs, this was nothing like it used to be.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Now is the time for Sundin to really deliver in Vancouver.

Of course, that was five years ago. So the fact that in his first playoff game Wednesday night as a member of the Vancouver Canucks the former Leaf captain was all but invisible, well, maybe you chalk that one up to the passage of time.

Sundin played 15 minutes and 53 seconds, had two shots and at best one quality scoring chance. The Canucks were impressive in grinding out a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues in the opener of their best-of-seven series, riding the strong netminding of Roberto Luongo and excellent penalty killing to the victory.

Sundin, meanwhile, has now gone 14 games without a goal. Even though the top Vancouver line of the Sedin twins with Alexandre Burrows attracted the No. 1 Blues defensive pair of Barret Jackman and Roman Polak most of the night, along with checking centre Jay McClement, Sundin and his linemates, Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra, weren't able to capitalize against the other St. Louis forward and defensive units.

That alone, of course, is a big change for Sundin. For years as a Leaf, he would always attract the most difficult checkers. Now, it's the Sedins who do, which theoretically should open up more room for Sundin and his linemates. That didn't happen in Game 1, although Demitra did set up a first period goal by Daniel Sedin.

Based on Wednesday night, the Canucks may not need much in the way of contributions from Sundin to beat the determined but youthful Blues. But to get far in these playoffs they will, and right now he doesn't look a great deal different than he did in January, still seemingly struggling to get his timing and a little slow afoot. He just doesn't look anything like the player he was as recently as last year, as if the months of indecision about playing at all this season compromised his once impressive skill set.

Damien is taking your questions and questions throughout the NHL playoffs and will publish a daily selection in this space. Click here to submit a question or comment and check the blog daily for answers.

Wednesday night was his 84th playoff game, by far the most of any Vancouver player, so that experience should allow him to at the very least be a steadying influence. But the Canucks paid him a lot of money to do more than that, and they're still waiting.

Comments

[bill]

One playoff game is irrelevant. You overpay for experience so that experience can deliver when it counts, not during Game One. Mats may or may not be finished, but you're writing the obituary far too early. Of course, you'll sing his praises just as quickly if he pops three points in Game Two. I suppose Bi-Poler Disorder does that to a journalist, highly paid, in a hockey market.

I doubt you'll approve my comment.

[Punji]

Its ridiculous how slow he looked!! He wasn't able to gather passes, not was he able to make them. He's not even moving his feet to give himself a chance to win. It's sad to see a great a man reduced to a hallow shell of himself.

[Bold Bravado]

Sundin continually disappeared in the playoffs when with the Leafs. Although strong point production, a lot came in games when the outcome had already been decided. This was a knock against him. In addition given the age factor, a 6 month hiatus was not in his best interest. Vancouver got what they deserved, a high paid underachiever.

[Marijan Kalman]

Here is Green from last nigth. -2 and he played 1:44 when they where shorthended for 8 minutes.
On power play he played 11:24 from 14 minutes.
Mike Green is not DEFENSIVE PLAYER. HE IS FORWARD.HE DOESN'T PLAY DEFENSE.

[Dennis Regan]

He'll come through. Much too good to not make a mark. Don't expect him to be what he was last year though. Still needs time, but alas, the year is too short for him now. His experience and greatness will show occasionally. Hopefully it will be when it is needed.

[mark]

Mats may not be the force he was, but I think this article glosses over a few things that are more likely the cause of his non production than a perceived drop off by Mats. First, there's ice time. Mats won't be Mats with 16 minutes a game. He's got to be 22-24 minutes. He also needs to be on the first power play unit. The other thing I saw was that Mats isn't the down low guy on his line... it's Kesler for some bizarre reason. Mats is far more dominant down low. I kept seeing Kesler lose battles and on more than one occassion Mats started the give and go... never to get the return pass. Mats should be the guy down low setting up Dimetra. Kesler (or someone else) should be high in the slot...going in close to muck things up in front if it looks like there's a good scoring chance (e.g. break in coverage). If Canucks don't want to use him like that; then that's their choice (but it begs the question...then why sign him in the first place?). One thing that is clear, whether we as fans think that Mats is performing or not isn't really relevant. Gillis might be trying to spin things a bit (after all...he signed him), but he consistently says he and the coach are thrilled with Mats contribution. I guess that's the bottom line and if the Canucks go deep into the playoffs who can argue?

[Steve C.]

Remember Damien, a couple years ago you yourself once suggested that Sundin should show his self-confessed 'loyalty' to the Leafs by signing with them for 1 million. Like Kariya did with the Avalanche, this would free up money to sign other UFA's. Of course Sundin didn't do this. (His well known 'holding his wallet close to his chest' was evident long ago.)

That, along with his actions of last year - which, by the way also made the other 'Muskoka Five' decline trades (hello Jeff Carter!) - show a continual pathological selfishness that has SCREWED this team for years to come. And yet you derided the Leaf fans who wanted to boo his return in February. Why are you such a fan of his? Are you that easily won over?

I find it so unfortunate that he has rewritten the Leaf record books and that his jersey will be raised to the ACC's rafters one day. Other than his point totals he is the prototype of what NOT to be as a professional athlete.

Of course he signed with the biggest offer from the Canucks. Of course he has disappeared down the stretch - and will continue into the playoffs. His M.O. cannot be any clearer.

Thanks for listening.

[kenny]

I look forward to when a week can pass without someone mentioning Jeff Carter or Bobby Ryan's name. Poor reactions to rumours, not fact; and backed up only with 20/20 hindsight, not insight. I don't see anyone ever mentioning Steve Bernier, but I guess if he has a big season next year, the angry shoulda-woulda-coulda fantasy GMs will come crawling out to tell us what a selfish punk Kubina is.

[Earl Nelville]

You said it. It's been 5 years since he has played in playoff hockey and now he is also the 'rental player' he vowed never to be. I've always been a big fan of Sundin and always will be but just like the Rolling Stones...it's time to retire Mats.

[Raoul Britannia]

It has to be said that Mats was a great player, a franchise player. It's sad that the franchise was the Maple Leafs, an albatross so onerous as to break the back of any one player - and that sad fact for the last half-century, too. And I'm a (weary) blue-and-white bleeding Leafs fan who can remember the three Sixties Cups.
Still, one would assume that at the end of his career, with one last chance - however farfetched - at Lord Stanley's shotglass, that Mats would have upped his game, Gary Roberts-style, and be willing to take it to the wall, even into Georges Laraque territory.
For one last shot? C'mon Mats! You're almost as heavy as Eric Lindros and an inch taller - and without the ongoing Tweety Bird chirping in your ears. Throw your weight around a bit if you can't put the puck in the net. Prove Don Cherry wrong about Euro-tourists!

[Peter]

to Steve C
Sundin did take a pay cut. he was making $5M in his last years with the Leafs which was much less he could get on the open market. and if it would have been only money, he would have taken the $20M offer in the off-season. it wasn't his fault that putting up huge numbers wasn't enough without a supporting team around him...
i still think he has a good effect on the Canucks even if he's not scoring tons of goals. if nothing else the other team has to pay attention to him therefore creating more space for the other players.

[mark]

I still shake my head at some of the 'Sudin' bashers out there. A dominate guy in the league the entire time he wore white & blue, including playoffs (disappeared? sure, when he was injured). And all this nonsense about his contract. Is it really Mats fault that the last GM of the Leafs was a complete moron? Stop drinking the MLSE cool aid. Mats out manueverd the suits that run the Leafs... he owes them nothing and gave the fans more than most of them deserve.