FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH: SUNDIN DESERVES TO STAY IN TORONTO

by E. Spencer Kyte, Bugs and Cranks

The Canadian Press is reporting that Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Mats Sundin informed interim General Manager Cliff Fletcher that he has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause heading into tomorrow's trade deadline.

"I cannot leave my teammates and join another NHL club at this time. I have never believed in the concept of a rental player. It is my belief that winning the Stanley Cup is the greatest thing you can achieve in hockey but for me, in order to appreciate it you have to have been part of the entire journey and that means October through June. I hope everyone will understand and respect my decision."
- Toronto Maple Leafs Nobleman Mats Sundin

The truth is, Sundin deserves to stay in Toronto.

He's as delusional as Leafs fans. They're a match made in Hockey Heaven.

Captain Mats doesn't want to flee the sinking ship and Leafs fans barely acknowledge that the ship is sinking in the first place. Even better is that Leafs fans and the rabid Toronto media are going to have a field day with this, I guarantee it.

They'll call him selfish and say that if he really cared about Toronto he would do what is best for the team and accept a trade, thereby netting Toronto some prospects to build around. They'll say that he could then re-sign in Toronto during the summer and it's a win-win.

One or two might remember that it wasn't Sundin who put the Leafs in this predicament to begin with.

Maybe someone could mention that Sundin is only one of five Leafs with a no-trade clause, one of whom, Tomas Kaberle, has already ixna'ed a trade to Philadelphia, presumably because he is looking forward to representing his homeland at the World Championships while Philly takes a run at the Stanley Cup.

I understand the nobility of Sundin's actions and his loyalty to the Leafs and his teammates, but what will that nobility bring him come July when Toronto decides not to re-sign him?

Chances are they will because it's Toronto and they have a hard time letting go of the guys who brought them marginal success and zero Stanley Cups over the last half-century, but let's say they don't offer Sundin a contract. Then what?

Instead of fleeing Hockey Hell for a shot at the Holy Grail, you've put up with undue scrutiny for an extra two months, lost a whole lot of games and have nothing to show for it in return. Yep, that sounds like a wise decision.