Mats Sundin played four seasons with the Quebec Nordiques before he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the transaction that sent Wendel Clark the other way. It was a tough start for Sundin in Toronto, as Clark’s popularity in Toronto was astronomical, but Sundin proved quickly that Toronto won the trade.
Sundin could not match the 114 Points he scored in the 1992-93 season as a Nordique, but the rules changed that favored a more defensive game, and he was still a Point-per-Game player with Toronto. From 1995-96 to his final year in Toronto, 2007-08, Sundin scored at least 70 Points and would lead the Leafs in scoring eight times. The Swedish Center would be a two-time Second Team All-Star and was arguably the face of the franchise for a decade. Toronto might not have won or even made a Stanley Cup when Sundin was their leader, but any player at the top of their food chain for an Original Six team is a legendary figure.
Sundin entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, which would be the same year his name was added to honored players at the ACC. The Maple Leafs retired his number #13 in 2016.
Comments powered by CComment