Mats Sundin performed for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1994 to 2008. Throughout his tenure with the crew, he was their captain and chief. He’s at the moment the franchise chief in objectives and factors and was thought of top-of-the-line energy forwards of his time.
Sundin was a six-time NHL All-Star and helped the Maple Leafs attain the 1999 Jap Convention Finals. On this publish, I’m going to share seven cool issues concerning the former captain of the Maple Leafs.
Cool Factor #1: Mats Sundin was a fantastic participant
One shocking factor about Sundin as a participant is how tall he was. He was 6 ft 5 tall and weighed 231 kilos. Such is his status that he was often known as a bodily participant on the ice. He was robust and had good physique management.
The present tallest participant on the Maple Leafs is Pierre Angévall, who can be 6 ft 5 however weighs “only” 215 kilos. Maple Leafs followers in all probability consider Jake Muzzin as a tall defender, however he’s quick compared to Sundin. Muzzin is 6 ft 3 tall and weighs “just” 227 kilos, 4 kilos lower than Sundin.
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Good Factor #2: Sundin was one of the vital profitable European gamers
Sundin was one of the vital profitable European-born gamers to play within the NHL. He was the primary European captain to steer a crew to the Stanley Cup Finals and is at the moment one of the vital completed European-born gamers in NHL historical past.
Sundin was a prolific goaltender throughout his NHL profession. He amassed 564 profession objectives and 785 profession assists (for 1,349 factors) in 18 NHL seasons. He’s at the moment the one Swedish-born participant in NHL historical past to have scored 500 or extra objectives.
Cool Factor #3: Sundin turns into first European-born participant to be drafted №1
Sundin was the primary European participant to be chosen as the primary draft choose within the NHL Entry Draft. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as the primary general choose of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.
Matt Sundin (Mike Linoff Pictures)
On the time, Sundin was a extremely regarded contender, having had an excellent season with Swedish crew Djurgårdens IF. The Nordiques believed that his measurement, talent, and offensive skill would make him a robust NHL participant. you had been proper.
Sundin performed eight seasons in Quebec earlier than being traded to the Maple Leafs. He performed 13 seasons with Toronto.
Cool Factor #4: Sundin’s cope with the Maple Leafs was prime
On June 28, 1994, Sundin was traded by the Nordiques to the Maple Leafs. It was a fantastic commerce for the Maple Leafs. Nevertheless, there was some backlash from Maple Leafs followers on the time as a result of one in all their hottest crew members — Wendell Clark — was transferred again east.
Matt Sundin, Quebec Nordiques, early Nineties
(Photograph by Dennis Brodeur / NHLI by way of Getty Pictures)
As a part of the deal, the Maple Leafs despatched Clarke, Sylvain Lefebvre, Landon Wilson and a first-round choose (the Nashville Predators choose that grew to become Brad Brown) to the Nordiques in change for Sundin. Again then he was wanted as a primary line heart ahead and was thought of top-of-the-line. He scored 110 factors within the season previous to the commerce.
Cool Factor #5: Sundin has a protracted tenure as captain of the Maple Leafs
Sundin captained the Maple Leafs from 1997 to 2008. Throughout his tenure, he introduced many vital qualities to the crew. This included his management within the dressing room. He was additionally a vocal presence on the ice.
Sundin set a great instance; He displayed a robust work ethic and willpower. He was not solely probably the most profitable participant within the crew, however he was additionally one of the vital hardworking gamers within the crew. Briefly, he was a unifying pressure on the crew.
Cool Factor #6: Sundin performed for the Maple Leafs throughout a crew famine
Sadly, Sundin’s groups had combined success throughout their time with the Maple Leafs. Though the Maple Leafs made the playoffs a number of instances throughout Sundin’s time with the crew, they weren’t thought of a robust crew. As beforehand talked about, the Maple Leafs reached the 1999 Jap Convention Finals.
Nevertheless, the Maple Leafs additionally struggled in Sundin’s later years, failing to make the playoffs frequently. The crew is but to seek out consistency. It lacked depth and by no means surrounded it with gamers gifted sufficient to make a deep playoff run.
Cool Factor #7: Sundin’s Maple Leafs legacy is stable
Regardless of Sundin’s lack of success throughout his time with the Maple Leafs crew, he continued to carry out effectively in each the Maple Leafs and the NHL. He was top-of-the-line gamers within the league.
Think about Sundarin’s profession if the Maple Leafs had been good
Sundin is likely one of the biggest Maple Leafs gamers of all time.