Mats Sundin Retires
by Yankee Canuck on Sep 30, 2009 7:25 AM PDT
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PrintWell there's a good morning for ya:
Mats Sundin has ended the speculation and has officially announced his retirement.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain made the announcement around 6:40am eastern at a press conference in Sweden.
From a Reuters article (g/t Kukla):
It's a little sad to announce that my career as a professional hockey player is over," he told reporters at a press conference in Stockholm.
"I would have loved to play until the age of 65, but as a hockey player you obviously retire a little earlier than that," added the 38-year-old, who began his NHL career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1990 after being drafted in the first round in 1989.
From the A.P.:
"Toronto is and will always be my second home," Sundin said.
One of Sweden's key players in the 2006 Turin Olympics, where Sweden beat Finland in the final, he recently ruled out playing for his home country in next year's Olympics in Vancouver.
Sundin singled out winning Olympic gold along with playing in the NHL playoffs as the highlights of his career.
"It was a special experience," Sundin said. "The NHL? All playoff games and reaching the semifinals twice."
Well the big guy made a decision. Sweet.
I never wanted Sundin to be a Canuck for multiple reasons. However, though not always on the scoreboard, he did help the team during the playoff stretch last year, providing a much needed lift to Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra and giving the Canucks the sort of secondary support they've always been lacking. He was also fantastic at faceoffs, yet another Vancouver weakness.
And, though not always healthy during his final two rounds of NHL playoff hockey, he did score some timely goals against both St. Louis and Chicago. As it turns out, this was Sundin's final NHL goal:
If he really knew he wanted one last shot at the Cup, I suppose it's flattering he selected Vancouver (it also helped we have the coin to afford him). But, in the end, this guy is a Leaf through and through and I hope he's remembered fondly in Toronto after his brief stint as a Canuck. I doubt that will be a problem.
As for Vancouver? He certainly wasn't as toxic as the last bald mercenary who swung through town. For that we should be grateful.
And as a hockey player? One of the best clearly. A standing ovation for an amazing NHL and international career.
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A sobering reminder of what the goal is this year...
…being reminded of Game 6 @ CHI on the day before the season starts.
But yeah, Mats is/was awesome.
Can’t escape your past.
Also it makes you wonder what last season would have looked like had he been this proactive with his decisions before the season started.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Sep 30, 2009 7:56 AM PDT up reply actions
He would have been awesome. The indecisiveness put a little dent in an awesome career. So did the fact that he never got to the Finals.
At least he finally made up his mind! Now I don’t have to read Swedish papers anymore! Finally.
Pokerstars has been hounding him for a decision as well. They want the ambassador to go on European tours. I’m sure we’ll be seeing him on the tube in that regards someday.
Mats was my favorite player over the past decade and a half. It’s sad to see him hang the skates up while he still had a bit more to give. Happy retirement Mats. Thanks for all the memories.
Thanks for being tasteful in your send-off, Mike :)
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 30, 2009 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Every once and awhile I can be tasteful. Far better than my Messier retirement treatment.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Sep 30, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions
It's my sad duty to report
Sean Zandberg has slit his wrists in grief and will no longer be writing for NM. I’ll miss his photoshopping expertise.
\:-)
Haha….I think a bit of a celebration with alcohol is in order….not DEAAAAATH!
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 30, 2009 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Just think, had he jumped at the original $20M 2 year offer from Gillis, he would be on the books for $10M this year, even if he had retired. And if he did play, he certainly isn’t a $10M player – not even Ovechkin, Crosby or Malkin make that much. Canucks fans should be dancing in the streets he was as indecisive as he was last year.
Gillis got lucky in my mind. That contract would have been a major blunder and could have really messed up the roster and cap of this team this year. As it turns out, no harm or foul at the end of the day and I actually think his brief stint with Kesler went a long way towards the overall maturation of Kesler we are seeing unfold.
I still suspect that the orig offer was tempered strongly by a gentleman’s agreement, else Sundin wouldda just grabbed it straight away.
But I cannot, of course, offer proof!
I have always thought that casual. That deal was designed to announce to the rest of the league that we WANTED Sundin last year. I wish he could have came in in better shape, and been more productive in those first ten games.
Once he was up to snuff, I had no problem with his game. I enjoyed his short time in Vancouver, and agree that Mats will go into the HOF in a Leafs jersey.
Thanks anyhow Mats…good luck.
vancitydan
I think Yaota is recruiting more people who share his opinions. To the battlements!!
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
Kesler’s numbers will speak for themselves…I predict decline. Anyone with me? HAIL MATS!
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 30, 2009 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Seeing that black eye…hhmm.who else had their face messed up last year? oh yeah.
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
For some reason, this irks me:
While Sundin had his share of success – a Swedish league title, World Championships in 1991, ’92 and ’98, and an Olympic Gold in 2006 – he was never able to capture a Stanley Cup. The eight-time NHL All-Star said the lack of a Stanley Cup ring did not bother him.
“No, not really,” chuckled Sundin when asked if he had regrets over not winning a Stanley Cup. “I don’t feel bad. On the other hand, I had so much fun playing in the NHL and I experienced so much, I feel I got what I wanted from that league.” -TSN
Face value, I’d wanna see more passion about winning the Cup, even after retiring. I want to hear about regretting it.
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 30, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions
He comes across as “never won a Cup before…but who fucking cares?! I won gold for ma Sweden!”
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 30, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions
it's Sundin
he always said the less emotional thing to say… he is not a wear your heart on your sleeve kind of guy, the emotion he displayed in his return to Toronto while wearing a Canucks sweater kind of thing is a once in a lifetime display.
Had you ever watched Mats in the playoffs for the Leafs, his grit and determination are NOT the reason he never got a cup. It takes more than one player to win it.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Sep 30, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I know why the Leafs never won a Cup with Mats. I watched all their playoff games over the past 15 or so years with Mats in the lineup. Sundin was a game breaker, and his team rarely grasped the concept of defence…or just wasn’t good enough.
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 2, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
he always said the less emotional thing to say
That is true, actually. Thanks for pointing that out.
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 2, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Sundin is only trying to convince himself, methinks. Of course it hurt, otherwise he wouldn’t have come to Vancouver last year. And he didn’t do it for the money, either, cuz he couldda signed on to the full $20m if he’d wanted to and he didn’t. He came back cuz he really wanted a cup.
Have to get it as a coach now.
Sundin is only trying to convince himself, methinks.
Sure, there’s no doubt that that is a likely possibility
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 30, 2009 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t believe it is final. And I won’t. Until the man has no pulse. So do you think he’ll sign with the Rangers?
by Beantown Canuck on Sep 30, 2009 9:56 AM PDT reply actions
about bloody fucking time he announced retirement.
http://canuckpuckbunny.blogspot.com
GO CANUCKS GO!
OK, back to chewing iron bars and spitting out nails then. I, er, gather that you were a wee bit tired of the Sundin saga, eh? Given his hip issues, I kinda figured he wouldn’t be back, cuz hips and backs are two things that, when they go, can really make your life miserable.
Mats musta really wanted to play some more to have delayed admitting the obvious as long as he did. Hope he enjoys his new life. I have a funny hunch we’ll meet him again someday as a coach … just a hunch, no more than that … but we’ll see.
i was never really crazy about him being a canuck. when he signed last year, i thought “ok, let’s see what you can do”, not “omg, he’s our saviour”. he never did impress me on the ice, so i’ve never really liked having him on the team.
http://canuckpuckbunny.blogspot.com
GO CANUCKS GO!
oh man
you guys…..
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Sep 30, 2009 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions
here
4th highest scoring forward in the dead puck era. How’s that for overfated?
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Sep 30, 2009 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions
uh
overrated. I get more typos when riled up.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Sep 30, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
big deal
the only all-time great forwards on that list are the three guys that are way ahead in ppg.
He’s tied with Daniel Alfredsson, good comparable player too him, but not a superstar either.
A superstar Mats was. It’s not only about the points with him…even though his ppg are impressive regardless.
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 2, 2009 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
he never did impress me on the ice, so i’ve never really liked having him on the team.
Never? That’s a little harsh isn’t it?
If he had showed up for camp, maybe we woudn’t be having this coversation.
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
You’re both kinda right. Sundin started slow – to be expected – but even as he settled in he became a good player, but not a superstar. He just got old, I think.
I remember seeing a really good analysis once of NFL QBs. When they hit age 38, their performance plummets. Some might do it half a year before or after, but somewhere in that range the athletic gifts, which were probably declining anyway, seem to cross a threshold.
A handful of players in the NHL seem to avoid it, but in general, I think it’s a pretty accurate best-before point for most players, if they even get that far.
well… i think mats deserves a pat on his back….i personally think mats put in respectable effort for our team last year, although he was out of shape when he signed with us, he at least got better as the season went along and was a center piece to a line that was dominant during the early stages (the famed RPM Line)… and my critique of it is, he was serviceable although some might say not at the price he signed for… but less we forget, Gillis had to make a splash in his first year, in order to show the rest of the league that canucks do have credentials and $$$ to sign STAR players, and mats picked us over several other options…so we should be glad… and congrats on his retirement, he was a great player in this league and a great captain and leader throughout his career…its good to see mats hang it up and enjoy being married…at least he took the high road… unlike a certain football icon that i know who helps SEARS with a commercial that ironically portrays his inability to make decisions…..oh we all know who that is…even if he doesn’t play hockey….
p.s. – personal grudge against No. 4….
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