It seems fitting that Sundin wore number 13 and played for the Leafs for 13 seasons. Just sounds good, non? Not as good as "Stanley Cup Champ," but still. Silver linings. No. 13 carried the Toronto club on his back through the NHL's trap era, bearing the brunt of any and all criticism tossed at the team, as well as lazy journos repeatedly waxing philosophical as to why the city never fully embraced him and always seeming to land on "too Swedish" as an answer.
In honor of his (Toronto) career, we unleash our 13 Reasons to Thank Mats Sundin. It's an emotional time. I'd probably have a single tear running down my cheek if he had just WAIVED THAT DAMN NO-TRADE CLAUSE FROM HELL. OK, on to the list. (After the jump)
13. First player to score 500 as a Toronto Maple Leaf.
12. Sparing Leafs fans from having a Captain with a comb-over once this started to disappear. (See below: Sundin at the 1989 draft, with a full head of hair and his manager, Bubbles.)
11. Maple Leafs' all-time goal leader, second in assists.
10. Tied (with Joe Nieuwendyk) for 20th on NHL's all-time goal list.
9. Scaring many children into wearing visors with his impression of Frankenswede.
8. Nine-time NHL all-star.
7. Beating Ottawa.When it counted.
6. Olympic Gold medalist.
5. One of the best Nike hockey commercials ever.
4. Being a positive role model for bald white men with gargantuan, gleaming heads everywhere.
3. For keeping his damn mouth shut. Some hated him for being so reserved, but Sundin brought class and composure to an organization that was too often a bit too full of over-hyped blowhards. (cough TUCKER! coughcough DOMI! cough)
2. For not winning a Cup somewhere else. (Yes, it's selfish but whatever. Leafs fans have been suffering for 40 years, all he had to endure was 13 of those.)
1. Getting us to like you this much.
Sundin had class he was the best that Toronto ever had.
Fans in Toronto have no class.They are only Maple Leaf Fans.
They are not HOCKEY FANS
Posted by: shadows | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 04:54 PM
@shadows - you're a clown.
Nice post BEER
Posted by: Pension Plan Puppets | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 06:52 PM
Dumb list. Sundin never beat Ottawa when it counted. If the Leafs had gone onto the stanley cup final after beating Ottawa, then it would have counted otherwise, Sundin accomplished absolutely nothing for his team...nothing. It was all about him as an individual player.
Posted by: smashmouth | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 09:13 PM
The best I ever saw Toronto play was when Sundin was sitting in the stands - injured.
Posted by: redwinglover | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Sundin was an assist leader and I watched him feed the puck to his fellow players a lot. He was always ALL about the team and I saw him defeat Ottawa enough times that I smile when I think of those past games and knocking Ottawa out of the playoffs :) Too bad he never had anyone of his skill level to play with. He was always the teacher and just because he wasn't a loudmouth, doesn't mean he didn't lead. Just ask anyone who played with him.
The team hasn't had an identity or leadership since he was forced out and it will be very difficult to replace someone who had the character he did. Thanks Mats.....good times....good times !
Posted by: ottawasucks | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Not a Sundin fan or a leaf fan, does he not lead the leafs in most scoring catagorys?
Where's the rest of team? Leafs organization has a rich history in treating their captains poorly, Keon,Sittler,Clarke,Sundin.
What would have fans in Detroit done had the red wings treated Yzerman, like the Leafs did to Sundin? Yes keep blaming Mats for all of your poor draft picks.
They draft them, and then get rid of them. Hopefully Burke may turn them around, too bad Hamilton did not get a team. Perhaps this would have forced Toronto to put a better product on the ice. May their record speak for itself. Oh one last thing, now they can stop blaming Mats for all of their misfortunes. As long as everyone in Toronto keeps paying over inflated ticket prices, the ice product will never get better. FYI $40 U.S. ice level in Buffalo!
Posted by: G-Man | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:51 PM
hahahah it was funny when he scored the winner in the shootout against toronto tho!! GO CANUCKS GO!!!
Posted by: GG | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 11:34 PM
edit: it was awesome when he scored the winner in the shootout against toronto tho!! GO CANUCKS GO!!!
Posted by: GG | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 11:35 PM
I just want to say that commenter "smashmouth" is the arguably the dumbest person. Ever.
Posted by: eyebleaf | Thursday, October 01, 2009 at 09:36 AM