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Mats Sundin Tribute thread.....

Sorry, I know it's bad form to cut and paste entire articles from other sites but I just can't resist this time... From Down Goes Brown today;

http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2012/02/brief-history-of-mats-sundin.html

A brief history of Mats Sundin;

October 4, 1990 ? One year after being taken first overall by Quebec, Sundin makes his NHL debut in Hartford and records his first career goal in what to this day remains one of the most memorable moments in recent Nordiques/Whalers history.

June 28, 1994 ? A blockbuster trade sends Sundin to the Maple Leafs, with Wendel Clark going to the Nordiques. Upon witnessing the outrage in Toronto over the deal, Sundin makes a mental note that Leaf fans obviously really hate it when a popular veteran captain is traded for younger players.

September 30, 1997 ? Sundin is finally given the captain?s ?C? a full seven months after the Doug Gilmour trade had left it vacant, a delay caused by team president Ken Dryden?s desire to ?say just a few quick words? prior to the presentation.

January 7, 2004 - The league suspends Sundin for one game after he tosses his broken stick into the lower bowl at the ACC, arguing that if they condone that sort of behavior it could someday happen in a different arena and potentially endanger actual hockey fans.

May 4, 2004 ? Despite a dramatic tying goal from their captain late in the third period of game six, the Leafs suffer a series-ending overtime defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers. After the game, a disappointed but determined Sundin vows that he will never again lose another playoff game in Toronto.

February 26, 2006 ? Sundin plays a critical role in Sweden?s upset gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics when he convinces Daniel Alfredsson to guarantee they?ll win bronze.

October 14, 2006 - Demonstrating his flair for the dramatic, Sundin scores his 500th career goal in overtime while shorthanded to complete a hat-trick, although some fans will later point out that the accompanying unicycle and torch juggling may have been a little over the top.

October 11, 2007 ? Sundin scores a third period goal that breaks Darryl Sittler?s all-time franchise records both goals and points on the same play; or, as the Toronto media will later describe it, ?Sundin fails to breaks Sittler?s single game scoring record?.

February 24, 2008 ? While announcing his controversial decision not to waive his no-trade clause, an obviously conflicted Sundin tells reporters ?I cannot leave my teammates and join another NHL club at this time?. He then pauses, look around warily, and adds ?Soooo, if someone could tell Cliff Fletcher to stop honking the horn of the moving van in my driveway, that would be awesome.?

December 18, 2008 ? After repeatedly vowing that he had no intention of playing half a season for a team and then winning the Stanley Cup, Sundin proves true to his word by signing with the Vancouver Canucks.

February 21, 2009 ? Sundin makes his return to Toronto and scores the winning goal in the shootout, giving Leaf fans one last chance to see him come through without any help from his wingers.

February 11, 2012 - After watching his number rise to the rafters and realizing that he should do something to acknowledge the outpouring of affection from Maple Leaf fans, Mats Sundin finally agrees to wave.

:)
 
I am in Florida and don't think the cable here will give me the leaf/hab game. Any suggestions for online viewing? Want to see Mats get his honour tonight.
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
Highlander

Try firstrowsports eu
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firstrow has been shutdown. this should work http://livetv.ru/en/allupcomingsports/2/ if not try a google search ice hockey free stream kind of thing.
 
It may not be common knowledge but the NHL Network in the States often shows HNIC on Saturday night. Right now, they have the complete Hockey Day in Canada package on.
 
Saint Nik said:
Al14 said:
When he could have really helped the team, he copped out!  He should have allowed himself to be traded for the good of the team.  Instead, he talked about not wanting to join a new team mid-season!  And then, he goes and signs up to play with Vancouver half into the next season.  He lied, and for that, I'll never be a big fan of his time as a Leaf.
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Look, let's nip this in the bud right now. Someone changing their mind about something a year later does not qualify as a lie. He didn't cop out. He wasn't a liar. Every single day the guy was in a Leafs uniform he gave it his 100%. That's all we can expect from a player. Expecting a player to do accept a trade when he doesn't want one "for the good of the team" is nonsense. Unless you're more interested in your employers well being than your own you have no business expecting that of anyone.

You say "when he really had a chance to help the team". So that only applies to his last season on the team where he was above a ppg at 37 years old and the worst thing you can say about him is that he didn't want to accept a trade made advantageous to the team only because the team you think he should have sacrificed to help ran itself into the ground? His "chance" to really help the team didn't apply to his all-world play and tireless effort during the 12 years he played for the team? Scoring all of those overtime goals, carrying all of those crummy linemates on his back, that wasn't him "really helping the team"?

If Mats Sundin was the kind of player who would "cop out" on the Maple Leafs it would have happened at one of his many opportunities to go elsewhere and sign with a team where he didn't have to deal with the media headaches, clubhouse lawyers and Jonas Hoglund's of the world. Any team would have jumped at the chance to add him but he stuck it out with the Maple Leafs and only played elsewhere when the team told him they didn't have room for him.

If you look over Mats Sundin's career and don't think that he was dedicated enough to the team, that he let the team down when they needed him, then I really question whether or not following sports is for you. If you want stories about people being as dedicated to something as you expected Mats Sundin to be the corporate entity that is the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, read the Twilight books or some other BS fairy tale.

Mats Sundin owns just about every meaningful record you could own on the Maple Leafs. He wasn't a show-off, he wasn't a coach-killer and he never embarrassed the team. He was active in the community, dealt with the media with pretty extraordinary honesty and patience and played through pain. He scored big goals, was a great leader on the ice and did it all while representing his country as well as any hockey player.

You don't want to be a "big fan" of that? Fine. Scotiabank Place is thataway. Don't let the door hit you.
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Bravo
 
I have to say, the "Should Mats Sundin go into the Hall of Fame" questions I've been hearing are just driving me nuts. The idea that it's even a question doesn't really speak well to a general understanding of these things. Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli and Clark Gillies are in the HHOF but Sundin is a maybe? Cam Neely's half a career gets in but Sundin is a tough question?

I mean, ignore the realities of the fact that Sundin played in an era where it was tremendously tough to score points, that he was as clutched and grabbed as much as anyone and played with crummy linemates most of those years he still scored 1349 points.

If Mats Sundin isn't a HOFer on his first year of eligibility I'm burning the place down.
 
Saint Nik said:
I have to say, the "Should Mats Sundin go into the Hall of Fame" questions I've been hearing are just driving me nuts. The idea that it's even a question doesn't really speak well to a general understanding of these things. Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli and Clark Gillies are in the HHOF but Sundin is a maybe? Cam Neely's half a career gets in but Sundin is a tough question?

I mean, ignore the realities of the fact that Sundin played in an era where it was tremendously tough to score points, that he was as clutched and grabbed as much as anyone and played with crummy linemates most of those years he still scored 1349 points.

If Mats Sundin isn't a HOFer on his first year of eligibility I'm burning the place down.
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I'll bring the Jerry can!
 
i still remember that one playoff game against the sens where Sundin went on a one man rush from end to end and snapped a wrist shot past lalime

i could just imagine how awesome it would be to have sundin between lupul and kessel
 
Saint Nik said:
I have to say, the "Should Mats Sundin go into the Hall of Fame" questions I've been hearing are just driving me nuts. The idea that it's even a question doesn't really speak well to a general understanding of these things. Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli and Clark Gillies are in the HHOF but Sundin is a maybe? Cam Neely's half a career gets in but Sundin is a tough question?

I mean, ignore the realities of the fact that Sundin played in an era where it was tremendously tough to score points, that he was as clutched and grabbed as much as anyone and played with crummy linemates most of those years he still scored 1349 points.

If Mats Sundin isn't a HOFer on his first year of eligibility I'm burning the place down.
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If nothing else he is best Swede in the NHL ever and that should make it
 
Saint Nik said:
I have to say, the "Should Mats Sundin go into the Hall of Fame" questions I've been hearing are just driving me nuts. The idea that it's even a question doesn't really speak well to a general understanding of these things. Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli and Clark Gillies are in the HHOF but Sundin is a maybe? Cam Neely's half a career gets in but Sundin is a tough question?

I mean, ignore the realities of the fact that Sundin played in an era where it was tremendously tough to score points, that he was as clutched and grabbed as much as anyone and played with crummy linemates most of those years he still scored 1349 points.

If Mats Sundin isn't a HOFer on his first year of eligibility I'm burning the place down.
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Most of the "arguments" against Sundin (no Cup etc.) applied equally to Darryl Sittler and he went in his first year of eligibility, so there's that.
 
I don't usually get into things such as who the Leafs should be trying to get and such, and I am happy to cheer for the team we have every night, and I accept our losses and hope for greater success, but Fuck would I ever like to see a Mats like player in a Leaf's sweater!!!  Watching some replays made me realize just how much I miss him.  Thanks for the memories.
 
Nik your on fire today. 8)  I don't condone voilence or arson, but I'll join ya!

Beautiful ceremony and very fitting for such an awesome player and even more awesome human being!  We love ya Mats!
 
Saint Nik said:
I have to say, the "Should Mats Sundin go into the Hall of Fame" questions I've been hearing are just driving me nuts. The idea that it's even a question doesn't really speak well to a general understanding of these things. Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli and Clark Gillies are in the HHOF but Sundin is a maybe? Cam Neely's half a career gets in but Sundin is a tough question?

I mean, ignore the realities of the fact that Sundin played in an era where it was tremendously tough to score points, that he was as clutched and grabbed as much as anyone and played with crummy linemates most of those years he still scored 1349 points.

If Mats Sundin isn't a HOFer on his first year of eligibility I'm burning the place down.
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You're 2 for 2 Nik.  I'm hiring you as my mouthpiece.
 
So was his number "honoured" or "retired"?  I always thought it was kind of neat that they only retired the numbers of players who had tragedy befall them while being a member of the team.

If they are retiring numbers now, there's a handful of other players that deserve to have their number raised to the rafters as well.
 
Saint Nik said:
I have to say, the "Should Mats Sundin go into the Hall of Fame" questions I've been hearing are just driving me nuts. The idea that it's even a question doesn't really speak well to a general understanding of these things. Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli and Clark Gillies are in the HHOF but Sundin is a maybe? Cam Neely's half a career gets in but Sundin is a tough question?

I mean, ignore the realities of the fact that Sundin played in an era where it was tremendously tough to score points, that he was as clutched and grabbed as much as anyone and played with crummy linemates most of those years he still scored 1349 points.

If Mats Sundin isn't a HOFer on his first year of eligibility I'm burning the place down.
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Do not forget his international play. There is a whole section in the Hall
just for that. On that alone he should be in. Sundin is golden
 
Mats a Hall-of-Famer?  Definitely.  Some fine criteria to consider.  Read on:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/10/fox_sundin_hall/

Count the leadership vote:
...longest-serving non-North American captain in the history of the NHL.

Sundin entered the NHL a leader: He was the first European-born player to be selected first overall in the 1989 Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques.

n 2008, the league recognized Sundin with the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

Count the comparison vote:
Sundin essentially owns the Leafs? record book... Doug Gilmour -- whose career stats pale in comparison to Sundin?s ? was inducted into the Hall.

Count the statistical vote:
...Sundin was the model of consistency. Sundin scored 20 goals in his first 17 seasons; Marcel Dionne (a Hall of Famer) is the only other guy in the history of the league to do the same.

You remain better than a point-per-game player for 18 NHL seasons, you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

He retired with more goals, assists and points than anyone from his country. Not only was the Bromma-born Sundin the first Swedish player to make the 500-goal and 1,000-point clubs, he was a beast in international play.

...With 77 points in 71 games played during international tournaments...

Count the big-moments vote:
He shares the NHL records for most regular-season overtime goals (15) and fastest overtime goal (six seconds)...

His 97 game-winning goals rank him seventh on the all-time list, ahead of Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, and Wayne Gretzky.

...NHL?s 35th 500-goal scorer...


 
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