How good was Mats Sundin when he played for Quebec Nordqiues? You never hear of his days in this club.
Did he have the same style in Quebec that he had with the Leafs?
Did he have the same style in Quebec that he had with the Leafs?
Mats Sundin in Quebec Nordiques
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Big Phil
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I've seen footage of Sundin before he hit the NHL, and he looked the same out there. He got bigger and thicker in the NHL though, used his size to his advantage and really became a pro at being hard to knock off the puck. But it was more or less the same style in Quebec. Just more seasoned by the time he hit Toronto. He was always tall either way.
Jets4Life
Registered User
It's fair to say that Toronto won that trade. If only Sundin had a crystal ball, and knew the move to Colorado was just around the corner, he would have most likely had an NTC written in his contract. Poor guy never got to hoist the cup,
Sundin played wing in Qubec if I recall. He was better suited playing wing come down flying. He scored huge goals for Sweden and in domestic league that way. His stickhandling was better on bigger ice than in NHL though. Remember Pat Quinn once noted that in a WC-tourny. Playing center offered even less space to deke.
popo
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As a hockey card fan growing up, few players had their height/weight stats fluctuate as wildly as Sundin. He started with rookie cards listing him as 6-2, 180 lbs.
A couple years later he arrives in Toronto and his stats are now up to 6-5, 220 lbs.
It's a wild jump, but does tell the story of a player who really filled out. That added size allowed him to dominate as a puck possession guy like we remember he for years in Toronto. He seemed slimmer and faster in Quebec in his younger days.
I believe he played Centre in Quebec as well by their 93 Playoff team. Was really just a winger in his initial season as he learned the North American game.
A couple years later he arrives in Toronto and his stats are now up to 6-5, 220 lbs.
It's a wild jump, but does tell the story of a player who really filled out. That added size allowed him to dominate as a puck possession guy like we remember he for years in Toronto. He seemed slimmer and faster in Quebec in his younger days.
I believe he played Centre in Quebec as well by their 93 Playoff team. Was really just a winger in his initial season as he learned the North American game.
MarkusKetterer
Shoulda got one game in
Probably. But without that trade, there likely would not have been the Clark for Lemieux trade, who was what the Nords/Avs needed.
Hobnobs
Pinko
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I think Avs wouldve done fine with Sundin instead of Lemieux.
FerrisRox
"Wanna go, Prettyboy?"
FerrisRox
"Wanna go, Prettyboy?"
Honestly?
For that 1996 team that won their first Cup, I have no question they were better off with Claude Lemieux and Sylvain Lefebvre.
MarkusKetterer
Shoulda got one game in
True. Although him and Curtis Leschyshyn blend into one person for me.
Quebec had 3 great first overall picks in a row 89-91, all of whom they traded for "more important" pieces for their great cup-winning team.
As much as I value Claude Lemieux and think he's a great playoff warrior, I honestly think that the Nolan trade was far more important. Avalanche could have won the cup with Sundin instead of Lemieux, but without Ozolinsh they had no dynamic defenseman.
As much as I value Claude Lemieux and think he's a great playoff warrior, I honestly think that the Nolan trade was far more important. Avalanche could have won the cup with Sundin instead of Lemieux, but without Ozolinsh they had no dynamic defenseman.
vadim sharifijanov
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yeah, they got practically an entire team —
wendel clark | peter forsberg | bag of cash
chris simon | mike ricci | landon wilson*
sylvain lefebvre | steve duchesne
sandis ozolinsh | kerry huffman
nolan baumgartner pick
thibault pick
hextall
* eventually traded for the first rounder that became robin regehr, who was flipped to rent theo fleury
Hobnobs
Pinko
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the baumgartner pick was dealt to the leafs as part of the Sundin trade. Nords ended up with a later pick and selected Jeff Kealty who went on to become the current director of player personnel for the preds.
vadim sharifijanov
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right but it did come quebec's way from the earlier lindros trade
but wow, jeff kealty, a name i don't think i've heard since probably 1994, good on him for still being in the league
Hobnobs
Pinko
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Yes, just clarifying that they didnt keep that pick since it was included in the clark trade which you included in the roster.
Tuna99
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Just remember his helmet looked massive when he was with the Nords. Definitely generated the least amount of excitement between Skaic, Nolan and Forsberg.
Hobnobs
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First of all, I said they wouldve been fine with Sundin. Nothing else but since you wanna get into it.
Mats Sundin>Claude. Thats just what it is.
as for Lefebvre. As much as I like him and think hes underrated, hes still a replaceable defenseman.
Were avs better off with both Claude and Lefevbre? Maybe but they wouldve been fine with keeping Sundin as well.
He was 23 at the time of the trade so in a similar CBA as today, he would not have been able to block a trade.
Stephen
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Sundin started his career built almost like Elias Pettersson:
He had one massive statistical year in Quebec. Better than any season in T-O. Don’t know if he was driving his line though, Sakic might have been elevating him that year
GlitchMarner
There was a Glitch and my username was switched
He outscored Sakic that season. I don't think it's the best season of his career. In terms of raw point production it is, but 1993 was a very high-scoring season and he had seasons in TOR where he finished higher in the scoring race, with less help on offense.
vadim sharifijanov
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for a little context, sundin started the year off on a 30 game scoring streak, which ended in the first half of december.
but bigger picture, that nordiques team was like two different teams, pre and post-new year. in the first half they were offensive dynamos and lived off a ridiculously effective PP, outscoring even pittsburgh. they also were close to the bottom of the league defensively.
in the second half, they tightened up defensively enough to be above average but their PP completely dried up. but their record was effectively the same in both halves, so they were neither less or more effective overall when sundin and sakic (and duchesne) were dominating the league offensively.
here are some numbers—
pre
sundin, 61 pts, 4th in the league
sakic, 60 pts, 5th (slightly earlier in december, sakic was 3rd, sundin was 4th, behind only mario and lafontaine)
duchesne, 49 pts, 22nd in the league, leading dmen by 4 over coffey, 8 ahead of murphy, 10 ahead of housley in 4th
sundin, 29 PPP, 7th (34th in ESP)
sakic, 33 PPP, 2nd behind mario (40th in ESP)
duchesne, 30 PPP, 5th
1st in PP
1st in PP%
22-12-6 record
3rd overall
1st in GF
7th most GA (24 teams)
post
sundin, 53 pts, 25th in the league
sakic, 45 pts, 51st
duchesne, 33 pts, 16th among dmen, tied with todd gill
sundin, 18 PPP, 48th (33rd in ESP)
sakic, 14 PPP (36th in ESP)
duchesne, 15 PPP
5th last in PP
2nd last in PP%
25-15-4 record
6th overall
10th in GF (24 teams)
11th least GA
but also nb, sundin was in a 7-way tie for league lead in SH pts, scoring 5 in the first half and 4 in the second
View media item 10147View media item 10146No, just no! Sundin was strong from get go and manhandled older players early on. Him and Patrik Sundstrom together with P Forsberg were amongst strongest teens coming out from Sweden. Then of course Sundin bulked up by the years. For us being around long time there is no similarity between Sundin and Pettersson. Who falls on his knees and ass alot.
Sundin started his career built almost like Elias Pettersson:
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