by Mike Jack, Mike Jack's Hockey Articles
Captain Mats Sundin has been meditating and reflecting in his homeland of
Sundin’s possible choices are:
a) Sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team he’s lead for the last 13 seasons for an alleged $7 million one-year deal.
b) Sign with the Vancouver Canucks, the team that offered the most money - a $10 million per season, two-year deal. That would make him the highest paid player in the league.
c) Retire.
I believe Mats Sundin has made his choice and he will play for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.
On Sunday, Aftonbladet (a Swedish newspaper) published an interview with Mats Sundin. This is what he had to say:
“I will make a decision in the end of July or beginning of August.”
“If I am going to play, it’s for the full season and I want to be there from the beginning of August.”
“If it was all about the money, I would have signed with
“I feel strongly for
“Joe Nieuwendyk has come into the club’s front office, and he’s a fantastic leader and has got a real winner’s mentality. I believe he’s going to help a lot in the process of building a club that’s strong and can fight for the Stanley Cup in the future. I believe they’re going to get a good team already this season.”
I translate this as: “I will announce my decision by the beginning of August. I want to play a full season. It’s not about the money, so I’m not going to
With Sundin in the line-up, the Leafs roster will definitely be an improvement on last year’s team. With the key additions being Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers, Jeff Finger and Custis Joseph, and the key departures being Darcy Tucker, Kyle Wellwood and Andrew Raycroft.
The Leafs also have a lot of young players who will continue to improve. Among them are Anton Stralman and Jiri Tlusty who have played excellent hockey for the Toronto Marlies and both saw at least 50 games for the Leafs last year in their rookie seasons. Highly touted prospects Luke Schenn and Nikolai Kulemin may also make the club this season.
Last seasons key pick-ups, Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake should also improve this season. Toskala was a bit shaky in his first 15-20 starts as he not only had to adjust to becoming a first time starting NHL goaltender, but he also had to do it in Toronto, the center of the NHL universe. Blake’s battle with his newly diagnosed cancer and his troubles adjusting to his new line-mates made it difficult to attain a great follow up to his 40-goal season the year before. Both players improved as the season went on and should start strong in the up coming season.
Without Sundin though, the other improvements will be out weighed by the loss of their super star leader.
On another note, don't you think Captain Mats looks a little like Captain Picard?
3 comment(s):
Part of me wants him to stay but another says let him go. In juries are becoming a factor and considering the Leafs current state of affairs, perhaps the money would be better spent on a younger player.
I think the Leafs did try to sign a younger star player, but now there's nobody left.
The Leafs have about $8 million left in cap space and no body else to really spend it on.
I also think that the leafs took a couple stabs at free agency as well as tried some moving and shaking at the draft but nothing really came forth.. but i just wanted to say congratulations to the Toronto Maple Leafs for bringing back a blast from the past in Curtis Joseph.. if anyone scares me it's him.. signed a sens fan.. p.s Jeff finger for that money though hahahhahahahhaa
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