After another summer of indecisiveness, Mats Sundin has decided to hang the skates up, retiring from the NHL. It’ s too bad that it was a year too late, as he should have went out a Maple Leaf. He was an icon in Toronto for years. Many fans (including myself) were ticked off when he refused to waive his no trade clause at the trade deadline, but hopefully we can all put that behind us.
Drafted 1st overall in 1990 by the Quebec Nordiques, Sundin was traded to the Maple Leafs after 4 seasons. He spent the next 13 seasons leading the Leafs, but never was able to lead them to the promise land. He was the face of this organization, never giving up faith that ‘this year could be the year’. Sundin said all the right things, and loved the city.
Sundin’s career spanned 18 seasons and 1346 games, over which he tallied 564 goals, 785 assists for 1349. He retires as the highest scoring Maple Leaf and Swedish player, and has most likely punched his ticket in to the hall of fame.