How popular was Mats Sundin to the entire city of Toronto?

[cruzer]

Hmm, interesting. If you've been following for all that time, how the hell does Keon not get a mention?

I was thinking earlier today, does Sundin make my top 5 list for the last 50 years and I decided that my top 3 were easy, Salming, Sittler and Gilmour in that order and then it was between Sundin, McDonald and Clark for 4. Having reflected on that for a while, I decided that Sundin has to be 4 so he does indeed crack my top 5.

For sure, Keon would be included. Like I said "a good number of others". I was a much younger fan when he was around, so I wasn't tuned in as much as I was during later years. Totally appreciate his impact.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Yup. I would have preferred he accepted to be traded at the time, but it was/is small fish compared to the big picture. The fact that it gets mentioned to this day is just so petty, and an awful way to treat a guy who was a loyal captain and arguably the best player in the history of the franchise.

Let's not get carried away here.

 

[Gabriel426]

If Sundin had won a Cup with the Leafs, with his long career and how often he was the only one wearing the Blue and White that worth watching, he would probably be know as one of the Best Leafs in History, maybe even the GOAT if he led the Leafs to TWO Cups.
It is quite sad that some portion of Leafsnation still hold grudge when he didn't waive his NTC/NMC.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Gilmour and Clark are legends, Sundin is not in that class. Gilmour and Clark loved being a Leaf, injured themselves to win at all costs. Sundin wasnt like this, I hope everyone recalls Sundin looking world class for Sweden and not the same player with the Leafs. Sure he was still and NHL all star etc but looked like Gilmour and Clark did when he suited up for Team Sweden...meaning he was 100% all in wearing yellow, 93 and 17 were all in wearing blue and white.

Crazy fact — Gilmour never won a playoff round as captain of the Leafs.

I love Dougie. My second favourite Leaf after Mats. But let’s temper the notion Gilmour went all out and achieved great things while also diminishing the accomplishments of the franchise’s leading scorer (until Matthews or Marner overtake him in the next 6 to 8 years).

EDIT — And Gilmour orchestrated his trade out of town just as much Sundin abandoned the team if people still want to go down that route.

 

[socko]

Yup. I would have preferred he accepted to be traded at the time, but it was/is small fish compared to the big picture. The fact that it gets mentioned to this day is just so petty, and an awful way to treat a guy who was a loyal captain and arguably the best player in the history of the franchise.

A contract is a contract. If you don't want the player to use a NMC, don't give him one.

 

[hoglund]

Crazy fact — Gilmour never won a playoff round as captain of the Leafs.

I love Dougie. My second favourite Leaf after Mats. But let’s temper the notion Gilmour went all out and achieved great things while also diminishing the accomplishments of the franchise’s leading scorer (until Matthews or Marner overtake him in the next 6 to 8 years).

EDIT — And Gilmour orchestrated his trade out of town just as much Sundin abandoned the team if people still want to go down that route.

Gilmour went to the conference finals twice, yes Clark was the captain. The reason Gilmour is loved so much is because he took them the furthest one win from making the finals and if not for the missed call he took them to the finals. The closest that Sundin took them was to the conference finals in 2002 and I don't remember exactly, but it was more than 1 win away from the finals and they weren't cheated by the officials. Sundin was loved in Toronto, but he left on bad terms.

 

[ACC1224]

Gilmour went to the conference finals twice, yes Clark was the captain. The reason Gilmour is loved so much is because he took them the furthest one win from making the finals and if not for the missed call he took them to the finals. The closest that Sundin took them was to the conference finals in 2002 and I don't remember exactly, but it was more than 1 win away from the finals and they weren't cheated by the officials. Sundin was loved in Toronto, but he left on bad terms.

Conference final in 99 as well.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Sundin was a good man. Still is i assume

 

[NinjaKick]

a superstar around these parts... we went as far as Sundin could take us... a true leafs legend

 

[NMacrules]

Some of you won't like this. Sundin was a selfish player that only cared about money. He left under a cloud of lies. He was very lazy at times, never won anything. He was barely a point per game player.

His word was worthless. He said he would never go to a team if he couldn't complete 100% training camp. He left for Vancouver and missed their entire camp.

When he was in his final year, he let the GM know that he would have first crack at re-signing him, and that he would help Toronto get assets, and there were 3 big deals on the table that he turned down. One in San Jose, One in Detroit and one in Vancouver. He left and the Leafs got nothing.

He was the Leafs best player for the better part of 10 years of his 13 years. I would argue Mogilny was better.

Sundin was a lying POS, that simple.

He was a lazy, lying, pos that never used his size, and left the leafs with nothing. Said he wanted to win and at that time, Detroit was close but Sundin went to Vancouver who was not close to winning at all, but got a big contract from them. Ask anyone from Vancity if they would do it again. They would ALL say no.

Those are the facts.

 

[NMacrules]

One of the greatest captains in our history and maybe even the best. Didn't get enough appreciation whether it was his humble personality or nationality, but he was a class act. He wasn't the most vocal but what he did was come up clutch in big moments as a captain should.

You must be very young. He wasn't even top 5. He didn't get appreciation because he was lazy and took nights off. He was also a liar.

 

[NMacrules]

Yup. I would have preferred he accepted to be traded at the time, but it was/is small fish compared to the big picture. The fact that it gets mentioned to this day is just so petty, and an awful way to treat a guy who was a loyal captain and arguably the best player in the history of the franchise.

YOu just dont have a clue in your whole note. We did a survey here a couple years ago and he didn't even crack the top 10. If you think he was better than Sittler, Keon, Salming, Horton, Gilmour, etc give your head a shake. He wasn't even better than Mogilny. If both Matthews and Marner stay long enough, they will demolish his record of points. They are on pace to break his record by year 9.

 

[Jozay]

People still bitter about Sundin

 

[1specter]

YOu just dont have a clue in your whole note. We did a survey here a couple years ago and he didn't even crack the top 10. If you think he was better than Sittler, Keon, Salming, Horton, Gilmour, etc give your head a shake. He wasn't even better than Mogilny. If both Matthews and Marner stay long enough, they will demolish his record of points. They are on pace to break his record by year 9.

This might be the worst post ever made on this forum.

Edit: scrolling up I take that back, you might have a couple of even worse ones alone

 

[NMacrules]

This might be the worst post ever made on this forum.

Edit: scrolling up I take that back, you might have a couple of even worse ones alone

Dont like the truth much do you? Believing Sundin was the greatest leaf just shows your age. He was a liar. Deny that? He lied about 4 things as written in the media. If you don't like it, move on and don't read it. Not my fault you were brainwashed by the young posters here to believe he was something he was not and that was honesty. And what part did you not like, the fact that if Matthews and Marner play 13 years here they would not destroy Sundins record. Is that it?

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

Being born in 1991 and growing up in the 90's and early 2000's just hearing his name takes me back watching him play with my dad in person at the air canada center or even in our living room. 'Scored by number 13, Mats Sundin' still sends shivers down my spine. Good ol' days. I want to go back in time.

 

[freshwind]

Dont like the truth much do you? Believing Sundin was the greatest leaf just shows your age. He was a liar. Deny that? He lied about 4 things as written in the media. If you don't like it, move on and don't read it. Not my fault you were brainwashed by the young posters here to believe he was something he was not and that was honesty. And what part did you not like, the fact that if Matthews and Marner play 13 years here they would not destroy Sundins record. Is that it?

you could not be more wrong.
been watching the leafs since the mid 60's and mats was a star in his era ... comparing 60's to then and further on to today is a fool's game
many of the stars from the 60's could not play today ...
the game has changed, not saying better or worse, just changed

as for mats lieing, not real sure where you get that fantasy from

his statement regarding being with a team from the camp on was in relation to getting traded, not signing as a ufa - that is a fact

he had a standing 1 yr offer from the leafs for 7 mill for that year from fletcher, burke was hired and pulled the offer - that is a fact

burke said mats did not fit in what he wanted to do here, when the globe made the previous meeting with burke and sundin public burke backtracked and said mats did not think he would fit in toronto

as a ufa contemplating retirement he decided he missed the game and then signed in vancouver... don't change history because you don't like the player... fans are allowed to like or dislike any player they want ... there is no need to denigrate the player