Mats Sundin Tribute thread.....

[maplesyrup]

Nik, that's the best post I've read here in a very long time. Thanks for articulating so forcefully what I think are all the essential truths about Sundin's career as a Leaf.

I'm confident that the know-nothings will all be somewhere else tomorrow night and that the ceremony will be something to remember.

I'll echo that, ZBBM and I'll add that the idea he wasn't a "franchise player" is just beyond [somebody help me with the word.] I mean, good God, man!

 

[Deebo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPtbeDOYhM&feature=colike

This was what the showed on HNIC when he announced his retirement

 

[Deebo]

I forgot about this game:

http://youtu.be/lxDoSo-G7K4

The 2nd goal is just awesome.

 

[Tigger]

Nik, that's the best post I've read here in a very long time. Thanks for articulating so forcefully what I think are all the essential truths about Sundin's career as a Leaf.

I'm confident that the know-nothings will all be somewhere else tomorrow night and that the ceremony will be something to remember.

I'll echo that, ZBBM and I'll add that the idea he wasn't a "franchise player" is just beyond [somebody help me with the word.] I mean, good God, man!

 

[L K]

Nik, that's the best post I've read here in a very long time. Thanks for articulating so forcefully what I think are all the essential truths about Sundin's career as a Leaf.

I'm confident that the know-nothings will all be somewhere else tomorrow night and that the ceremony will be something to remember.

I'll echo that, ZBBM and I'll add that the idea he wasn't a "franchise player" is just beyond [somebody help me with the word.] I mean, good God, man!

To be fair, 500 goal scorers grow on trees....oh wait, there are only 42 of them in the history of the game...oh and he's 21st all time.  Yep, mediocre run of the mill garbage. 

 

[Peter D.]

Nik...nothing more to say but excellent post.

 

[Darryl]

A true legend of the Maple Leafs franchise. I can only imagine would he could have done had he been surrounded with more elite talent in his prime years here.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

When he could have really helped the team, he copped out!  He should have allowed himself to be traded for the good of the team.  Instead, he talked about not wanting to join a new team mid-season!  And then, he goes and signs up to play with Vancouver half into the next season.  He lied, and for that, I'll never be a big fan of his time as a Leaf.

Look, let's nip this in the bud right now. Someone changing their mind about something a year later does not qualify as a lie. He didn't cop out. He wasn't a liar. Every single day the guy was in a Leafs uniform he gave it his 100%. That's all we can expect from a player. Expecting a player to do accept a trade when he doesn't want one "for the good of the team" is nonsense. Unless you're more interested in your employers well being than your own you have no business expecting that of anyone.

You say "when he really had a chance to help the team". So that only applies to his last season on the team where he was above a ppg at 37 years old and the worst thing you can say about him is that he didn't want to accept a trade made advantageous to the team only because the team you think he should have sacrificed to help ran itself into the ground? His "chance" to really help the team didn't apply to his all-world play and tireless effort during the 12 years he played for the team? Scoring all of those overtime goals, carrying all of those crummy linemates on his back, that wasn't him "really helping the team"?

If Mats Sundin was the kind of player who would "cop out" on the Maple Leafs it would have happened at one of his many opportunities to go elsewhere and sign with a team where he didn't have to deal with the media headaches, clubhouse lawyers and Jonas Hoglund's of the world. Any team would have jumped at the chance to add him but he stuck it out with the Maple Leafs and only played elsewhere when the team told him they didn't have room for him.

If you look over Mats Sundin's career and don't think that he was dedicated enough to the team, that he let the team down when they needed him, then I really question whether or not following sports is for you. If you want stories about people being as dedicated to something as you expected Mats Sundin to be the corporate entity that is the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, read the Twilight books or some other BS fairy tale.

Mats Sundin owns just about every meaningful record you could own on the Maple Leafs. He wasn't a show-off, he wasn't a coach-killer and he never embarrassed the team. He was active in the community, dealt with the media with pretty extraordinary honesty and patience and played through pain. He scored big goals, was a great leader on the ice and did it all while representing his country as well as any hockey player.

You don't want to be a "big fan" of that? Fine. Scotiabank Place is thataway. Don't let the door hit you.

Standing O.

 

[harps64]

Awesome Nik........I nominate you to do the intro for the big man himself tonight.

 

[brothert]

The records speak for themselves.  Mats was a good player for so long for the leafs.  He was in my house every winter for 13 years.  Putting up 75 points a season.  He was everything a fan could want in a player.  Skills, personality, presence, leadership.  He's almost family.  It will be happy and sad times tonight.  I hope to see another player in blue just like him in my lifetime, but I doubt I will. (Jonas Hoglund as first line partner!  Geez that burns me up) 

 

[nutman]

After reading this post, and the fact someone said he was not a franchise player just blows my mind. he was a super star of the game, hands down.
any team in any era would be all over him, he is the player every team wants six of.
All I can say is thanks for all the great hockey all them years, you are on my wall of fame in my rec room and its not easy to make that wall.

as for the fan on these boards that said he was not a super star, maybe you should go watch pee-wee and learn the game.

 

[cw]

Great post, Nik.

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=461296
?The truest test of leadership comes during periods of adversity. When presented with difficult times during the season, Mats Sundin remained committed to his teammates ..."
Mark Messier when presenting Sundin with the Mark Messier Leadership Award for the 2007-08 season - when Sundin declined the trade option.

Salming was a great player but not as complete in leadership and how he handled himself off the ice.

Sittler was a great player, great leader and in some circles, arguably more complete because he'd fight but Mats was a significantly more gifted scorer and more dominating player in my opinion.

Gilmour had the best season I ever saw a Leaf have but he couldn't sustain that - closer to a one or two season wonder.

Keon was a wonderful two way player but nowhere close to Mats in skills or leadership.

The Cup teams in the 60s were the first Leafs teams I saw. Sundin is the best hockey player I ever saw wearing a Leafs jersey. I also thought he was the best Leafs captain over that time.

I saw a number folks asked what their favorite Mats moment was. Mine were several and fairly constant over the years: how sincerely delighted he was when a teammate scored - he always looked genuinely happier then compared with when he scored himself. That says a lot about the type of person and team first hockey player he was.

 

[maplesyrup]

Question: Will the ceremony begin @ 7, pushing the game or is the ceremony scheduled to begin earlier... and if so, what time?

 

[nutman]

Question: Will the ceremony begin @ 7, pushing the game or is the ceremony scheduled to begin earlier... and if so, what time?

It will start at 7pm the game will be delayed , and rightfull so.

 

[4th Liner]

Great post, Nik.

I saw a number folks asked what their favorite Mats moment was. Mine were several and fairly constant over the years: how sincerely delighted he was when a teammate scored - he always looked genuinely happier then compared with when he scored himself. That says a lot about the type of person and team first hockey player he was.

Agreed on both points.

Excellent post Nik.

And cw, I thought it was funny that when I was thinking about my own memories of Sundin, that I came up with the same thing. Despite all the wonderful individual moments he provided, seeing the utter joy he expressed when someone scored for the Leafs was what I remember most. The ultimate team player, leader and captain.

First Keon and then Sittler were my idols growing up - Sundin came along later, but I think I came to appreciate him more than either Keon or Sittler, maybe it's just a function of my age, I'm not sure.

Anyway, it will be a special night for Mats - and a well-earned one.

 

[maplesyrup]

Question: Will the ceremony begin @ 7, pushing the game or is the ceremony scheduled to begin earlier... and if so, what time?

It will start at 7pm the game will be delayed , and rightfull so.

Cheers.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

Great post, Nik.

I saw a number folks asked what their favorite Mats moment was. Mine were several and fairly constant over the years: how sincerely delighted he was when a teammate scored - he always looked genuinely happier then compared with when he scored himself. That says a lot about the type of person and team first hockey player he was.

Not to threadjack, but I think this is one of the reasons why people (myself included) really like Grabo.

 

[ZBBM]

This is a must-read:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1129565--dimanno-mats-sundin-returns-for-maple-leafs-tribute-with-no-regrets

?People ask me all the time: Are you bitter about not winning a Stanley Cup? Of course I wish that had happened. I wish if for myself and for the city. But the best thing that ever happened to me in my life was coming to Toronto. It?s something you really don?t realize until you?re retired ? the career that you?ve had, what you?ve been a part of.

?I wouldn?t change it for the world. I wouldn?t trade in my 13 years as a Leaf, even for a Stanley Cup ring.??

That?s the other factor to understand about Sundin ? the value he places on allegiance and fealty. ?I?m loyal. It?s maybe my strength and maybe my weakness too.??

Humility and loyalty.  And helping endow research on maternal and early-childhood disease?  Building a "regular" house, not a "monster" house?

What a credit to the Leafs, and to the game, he is.

 

[Deebo]

LeafsTV is all Mats mode today, they've been showing Sundin goal after Sundin goal seperated by clips of his community service.

 

[dappleganger]

This is a must-read:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1129565--dimanno-mats-sundin-returns-for-maple-leafs-tribute-with-no-regrets

?People ask me all the time: Are you bitter about not winning a Stanley Cup? Of course I wish that had happened. I wish if for myself and for the city. But the best thing that ever happened to me in my life was coming to Toronto. It?s something you really don?t realize until you?re retired ? the career that you?ve had, what you?ve been a part of.

?I wouldn?t change it for the world. I wouldn?t trade in my 13 years as a Leaf, even for a Stanley Cup ring.??

I wouldn't trade Mats' 13 years as a leaf for a Stanley up ring.