Mats Sundin Or John Tavares?

[DitchMarner]

Which former Maple Leafs Captain was the better player? Not just for TOR but over their whole careers.


Sundin:

Tavares:

Click to read more...

 

[A1LeafNation]

Sundin not close

 

[DitchMarner]

I'm leaning toward Sundin.

Tavares was better with NYI than Sundin was for QUE/VAN, but I think Sundin was considerably if not substantially better in TOR. I watched a ton of games of both and he was more fluid and seemed like a better offensive driver and could carry a line better. He had less to work with as well. After Tavares' first season with TOR, it seemed like he stopped being a franchise type centre and became more of a very good net front presence and a guy who was a threat to score goals from the slot area.

 

[seafoam]

Sundin AINEC.

 

[BlueSeal]

..wut...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!

It's LEGENDARY LEAFS CAPTAIN MATS SUNDIN!

 

[EpochLink]

Sundin on his worst day is still better, come on man

 

[DitchMarner]

Sundin on his worst day is still better, come on man

Sundin is my favorite player, but there are some things that are in JT's favor, to be fair/honest.

For instance, he had two seasons as a Hart finalist with the Isles and he does have more seasons as a top ten scorer (goals).

I'd still go with Mats from what I witnessed in TOR, but maybe people are forgetting JT was a big star before signing with TOR.

 

[dj Mahoney]

Sundin really didn't have success when it counted most (In the Playoffs ) But compared to Tavares he was Sidney Crosby/Bryan Trottier/Jonathan Toews rolled into one .

 

[BlueSeal]

Sundin really didn't have success when it counted most (In the Playoffs ) But compared to Tavares he was Sidney Crosby/Bryan Trottier/Jonathan Toews rolled into one .

Compared to JT, Sundin's Leaf teams had far more playoff success than anything JT has ever had wearning any NHL sweater thus far.

Hell, Tavares walks past a literal statue of Sundin outside of Scotiabank on his way to work everyday.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Imagine Sundin getting PP time with Matthews, Marner and Nylander.

Dude was putting up numbers and winning games with Modin as his linemate

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Not even close

 

[VanillaCoke]

Canucks legend Sundin ainec

 

[Regal]

I feel like other than scoring goals around the net I’m not sure what Tavares was better at. Sundin was a better play driver at ES and better defensively.

Tavares has those two Hart finalist years, but a lot of that was timing/being on a bad team. There were a number of players on a similar or better level in ‘13 with similar or better point totals, and some with better all around games, but he made it because he had a poor supporting cast (he was only 4th in all star voting at center despite the Hart finish). Then in ‘15 there was one of the worst fields for forward competition ever. I think Sundin in his best years could have certainly been a finalist those years with the right things lining up. Just like how Sundin benefitted in ‘02 and ‘04 in terms of getting 2nd team All Star nods when I don’t think he was any better than some of his other years.

 

[Neutrinos]

I'm leaning toward Sundin.

Tavares was better with NYI than Sundin was for QUE/VAN, but I think Sundin was considerably if not substantially better in TOR. I watched a ton of games of both and he was more fluid and seemed like a better offensive driver and could carry a line better. He had less to work with as well. After Tavares' first season with TOR, it seemed like he stopped being a franchise type centre and became more of a very good net front presence and a guy who was a threat to score goals from the slot area.

Most years neither guy had much talent on their line, but overall, I think Sundin played with more talent

 

[WetcoastOrca]

I’ll vote for the Canuck player here.

 

[DitchMarner]

Most years neither guy had much talent on their line, but overall, I think Sundin played with more talent

Tavares had jack all in NY, but in TOR, the guy has regularly had Marner or Nylander on his line at ES. The wingers have basically had to drive the offense for the line. He's also had a ton of talent surrounding him on the PP in Toronto, although Sundin had good help there at times as well.

 

[McVespa99]

I always thought Sundin was kind of overrated but Im taking Sundin here

 

[Golden_Jet]

Sundin, in b4 lock

 

[centipede2233]

Sundin most playoff games in a season were ‘99 and 2000. His 2nd line centers were all time greats igor koralev and Steve Sullivan. His best 2 wingers during those seasons were berezin and hall of famer Steve Thomas. Sundin had 38 goals and 82 pts in 91 gp in career playoffs. The argument that sundin wasn’t a playoff performer is laughable

 

[EdJovanovski]

Funniest poll result I’ve ever seen

 

[Staniowski]

Sundin. He was a horse. Great and underrated player.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

If Sundin had the kind of talent to play with that the current Leafs have he might have won a cup with the Leafs lol this isn't close.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I take Walt Podubny over both those shmucks.

 

[JPT]

Results look like the Iraqi election in 1995

 

[Regal]

Results look like the Iraqi election in 1995

Hopefully it doesn’t end as poorly for the one person voting for Tavares as it would if they voted in that election.