Too Good To Not Remember Well

Mats Sundin is in a rare position for an athlete.

The longer the distance grows between the last time he laced up his skates as a Maple Leaf, the greater his legacy becomes.

To some degree, that's because Leaf fans now surely understand the treasure they had in Sundin for all those years, if only because of what has followed. There isn't a Leaf on the roster now that holds a candle to him, not a Leaf who looks like he'll follow in Sundin's Hall of Fame steps. Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel aren't even close to what Sundin was as captain and best offensive player when he wore the blue-and-white.

Beyond the ice, Sundin's pure class from the moment he arrived in that famous trade with Quebec has yet to be replaced. He always said the right thing, never embarrassed the team, never found himself emerged in scandal or the slightest trouble, never was accused of not caring or not giving his all.

That there were critics of Sundin, vicious ones at times, now seems absurd, looking back. We have prominent players in town now, from Jose Bautista to Chad Owens and Ricky Ray to Andrea Bargnani, but none compare to the graceful Swede in terms of his consistency, durability and productiveness over more than a decade.

Some didn't like the fact he wasn't a fiery captain. Perhaps he wasn't a perfect one. But look at the trials and tribulations the team has experienced finding a new one since he left. Phaneuf wears the "C" today, but not with any particular comfort, not with any sense he earned it or was the natural successor to Sundin.

Was Sundin fully appreciated? I'd say he was, perhaps not as much as he would have been had he led the club to a Stanley Cup, and one is always mystified by those players who are deified as Leafs and those who can't ever earn their due. He accomplished more than any Leaf since Darryl Sittler, and he probably accomplished more as a Leaf than Sittler.

The ending wasn't perfect, but you only have to have a conversation with Sundin to understand how much he loves and appreciates our spectacular but athletically underachieving city - would you rather have an undesirable city and winning teams? - and given the long stream of athletes and coaches who have decided they'd rather be somewhere else, that's rare. 

He was an outstanding player and an ambassador for the franchise and the city, and the longer he's gone, the more powerful the void he left behind as athlete and personality seems.

Maybe only Frank Mahovlich was quite like this in Leaf history, and with the Big M, it was because he went on to bigger and better things.

Not Sundin. He was at his best and gave his best to the Leafs. Quebec City and Vancouver experienced a little bit of him, but not even close to what Toronto got.

Someday, another like him will come along. But it might not be soon.

 

 

Comments

[Jimbobray]

Quite the fawning hagiography, Damien. I would argue that Doug Gilmour was the best player that Toronto has had since the Sittler days, and that even though Sundin was consistently solid, he never was able to rise to the occasion. He also took some incredibly bad penalties at critically wrong times. More was expected of the big Swede but he just couldn't get reach down deep enough.

[Colin Macdonald]

Damien, you are right about Mats Sundin all the way along the long, until you let him off the hook much too easily for what he did at the end. I believe what he did to hurt the Leafs franchise should be part of ever story ever written about him. The Leafs may be affected by it for many years, why not him?

Compare what Sundin did to what Rick Nash tried to do for Columbus at playoff time, in appreciation of the fans, and of his years making millions of dollars there. Eventually, the Rangers sent a very promising package to Columbus.

A glaringly huge part of the reason the Leafs don't have their heir apparent to Sundin that you refer to, is that he handcuffed the Leafs at a time when they could have gotten a lot for him.

Sundin characterized his staying here as being something like a Captain going down with his ship. Many people at that time felt that he simply didn't want the inconvenience of being traded. Sundin could have helped this city he "loves and appreciates" immeasurably, had he not been so obstinate. Then he went and left the team anyway.

I believe Vancouver was one of the possibilities for a trade, were they not? So for those last few games, the Leafs not making the playoffs yet again, we had Sundin, a great Leaf, no doubt at all. When he left, we received nothing. You know that. The whole city knew it at one point. He was questioned as to why he was refusing a trade, many times in the media. The media as a whole seemed to also feel he was being selfish. At least that seemed to fuel their frustration and incredulity with Sundin at the time.

What was your own take at that time, Damien? Mats often answered as if he had no idea what they were talking about, deflecting the critcism, but not ever facing it head on, and having any sort of satisfactory reasoning. Then he left anyway.

Yesterday at the ACC, and really, ever since that important time in Leafs future, all was forgotten. Mats got the biggest ovation of the new Hall of Fame inductees, a standing ovation. I was one of the few who remained seated. I liked Sundin to that end point in his career, but can't forgive his selfishness towards this city, where he made millions of dollars, and left at his own convenience, to great detriment to the team.

The Leafs continue to struggle without Sundin, yes, but largely because of those choices Sundin made, we don't have the stars we might have had. The Leafs organization is showing a lot of class, taking part in, and even leading honours for Sundin. They are in a no-win situation. I wonder if privately, there are some angry people in Leafs management.

A further part of this argument that hurt the Leafs future is that other players, following Sundin's lead, also refused to be traded. I believe Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle and Darcy Tucker were involved. This selfish idea has affected the Leafs franchise ever since, and will be felt for many years to come.

Yes Damien, we should remember Mats Sundin for the good things he did here. Professional hockey players should also see that there is some reaction, some accountability required, when they commit an act that hurts a franchise for conceivably a decade or more!

Yet we stand, applaud, show highlights and raise his banner to the rafters.

[Mike]

A class act...And a great player..
Well deserved induction to the hall.
Congratulations Mats Sundin...Mike in Australia

[Ken Chevis]

I agree with jimbobray.....Gilmour was head and shoulders above Sundin. Sundin's personal stats were considerable, but what did he do for the Leafs in terms of playoffs and the Cup? If I recall correctly, Sundin was on the disabled list with an eye (?) injury when Gary Roberts (interim captain) last took Toronto to the playoffs.

[Chris]

I have to agree with Damien. I think like many Leafs fans I wish Clark and Gilmour were better players than Sundin. They played the game with a fierce grittiness, they did it all; scored, hit & fought. They were the type of players that I have always wished would join the Leafs and lead them to glory. But they didn't. In fact they didn't even last that long.

Mats Sundin wasn't the quintessential Leaf. He didn't have those qualities that endeared me to Clark or Gilmour. But for 13 years, night in and night out he got it done for the Leafs. When the game was tied or the Leafs were down a goal I always moved closer to the edge of my seat when 13 was on the ice. He didn't always bury it in those situations but he always came close. He always made you think it was possible. Today there is no one on the current Leafs roster that gives me such a feeling. Not 81, not 3, not 41, 84 or 16. No one.

[Chad]

Colin says: "The Leafs continue to struggle without Sundin, yes, but largely because of those choices Sundin made, we don't have the stars we might have had."

really? you're blaming the Leafs struggles of today on Sundin, because he refused to waive his no-trade clause? it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Fletcher, Quinn, and JFJ spent all those years trading away countless picks and top prospects, which completely wrecked this teams future.
yup, it's all on Sundin. 100% his fault...

[jani7]

Yes Chad, it is precisely Sundin's fault. A true test of his character that he wasn't interested in moving to a contender where he would have had an opportunity to win a cup. He was comfortable being on a team with little serious chance to win, but where he was idolized. Not to mention a chance to help out 'his team' with providing the opportunity to acquire young prospects. Yes Mats, thanks for your legacy of 'me first'.

[Sanj]

Damien, you give Leaf fans too much credit.

They appreciate the likes of Tie Domi then Sundin. Didn't Joe Lunchbucket and his little son Johnny buy as many or more Domi jersey's then Sundin back then?

Didn't people at the ACC get more excited in Domi fighting with the other team's goon as opposed to Sundin scoring a hatrick?

Leaf fans wouldn't appreciate talent if it punched them in the face!