Mats Sundin Tribute thread.....

[Madferret]

Congrats Mats

 

[Highlander]

Thanks for the tips, saw the game on NHL Network. Mats was great...to bad the Loafs showed up not the Leafs.

 

[armche123]

Congrats Mats.

One of the stand out moments was having Kabs get love from Sundins whole family.

 

[cw]

I think his record in international play is exceptional.

Between 1991 and 2006, he played in six best-on-best tournaments. He was the cumulative leading scorer for those tournaments and had the best ppg of any player who played more than a handful of games. He was one of only two players who cracked the all star team for those tournaments three times (Chelios was the other). Among the team leaders in scoring in 2006, he captained Sweden to Olympic gold which was their only best-on-best tournament gold in their hockey history.

He also led Sweden to three golds in the World Championships where he led them in scoring and was either a tournament all star or the MVP. In 1991, he scored a Henderson-like goal where he skated end-to-end through the Russian team, faked-out Fetisov and scored the gold medal winning goal. In 1992, he did the same thing to the Russians going through all five before burying a backhander to ice the game and the Swedes went on the win the gold. In 1998, he was again the team MVP, all star and leading scorer for that gold medal winning effort.

Mats elevated his game and was a star nearly every time he pulled on a Swedish jersey in international play. If he wasn't the top international player during that era in those tournaments, he was darn close.

Couple that with what he did in the NHL and what he did to grow the game of hockey off the ice with his Beliveau-like demeanor and he's a lock for the HHoF. It's just a question of when.

 

[ZBBM]

I think his record in international play is exceptional.

Between 1991 and 2006, he played in six best-on-best tournaments. He was the cumulative leading scorer for those tournaments and had the best ppg of any player who played more than a handful of games. He was one of only two players who cracked the all star team for those tournaments three times (Chelios was the other). Among the team leaders in scoring in 2006, he captained Sweden to Olympic gold which was their only best-on-best tournament gold in their hockey history.

He also led Sweden to three golds in the World Championships where he led them in scoring and was either a tournament all star or the MVP. In 1991, he scored a Henderson-like goal where he skated end-to-end through the Russian team, faked-out Fetisov and scored the gold medal winning goal. In 1992, he did the same thing to the Russians going through all five before burying a backhander to ice the game and the Swedes went on the win the gold. In 1998, he was again the team MVP, all star and leading scorer for that gold medal winning effort.

Mats elevated his game and was a star nearly every time he pulled on a Swedish jersey in international play. If he wasn't the top international player during that era in those tournaments, he was darn close.

Couple that with what he did in the NHL and what he did to grow the game of hockey off the ice with his Beliveau-like demeanor and he's a lock for the HHoF. It's just a question of when.

As usual cw, you've done our homework for us.  Many thanks.

To this I would add that if not for Tommy Salo dominating Belarus it is quite possible that Sweden could have won gold in Salt Lake in 2002 -- offensively they were rolling, and Sundin was hot. It sure would have been a hell of a championship game.

And, in the other docket, I give you the inimitable Ken Campbell, who opines that the only reason Sundin will get voted in -- IF he gets voted in -- is because he played for the overexposed, overrated Leafs.  :

I think when the electors, most of whom I trust are less biased than Campbell, look at his NHL + international accomplishments we will see a class of Sakic, Shanahan, and Sundin.  It would be fitting.

 

[bustaheims]

During the period in which he was an active player, Sundin was 4th in points and 5th in goals.

 

[drummond]

Congrats Mats.

One of the stand out moments was having Kabs get love from Sundins whole family.

He is no doubt more close to his family and has more personal ties than Dion Phaneuf or any other current Leafs. It was quite obvious that for Kabs it was far more than traditional handshake and having Kabs there also helped Sundins parents, his mom especially, to have a familiar face around as she was very, very touched by the whole ceremony.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

18. Best story I heard about Sundin: One year, the Maple Leafs were playing in Florida on St. Patrick's Day. After the game, the team wanted to celebrate, so the bus pulled up at an Irish pub. Bouncer: "Sorry, we're full." Sundin pulled out $500. Bouncer: "Plenty of room for you!"

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/02/jets-under-winnipegs-microscope-30-thoughts.html

 

[rjd]

Nice post Nik.  Captures Sundin perfectly.

I just miss watching him play.  He gave me faith that the Leafs would win.  He could win a game by himself.  No one currently on the Leafs gives me that same feeling.  He was the franchise, number 1 overall, player to build around.  The organization just failed to capitalize on his greatness.

 

[Nik]

Couple that with what he did in the NHL and what he did to grow the game of hockey off the ice with his Beliveau-like demeanor and he's a lock for the HHoF. It's just a question of when.

That's probably true and it's also probably true that I shouldn't care too much about someone getting in in their first year of eligibility but if Sundin doesn't get in that first year I really do think it would speak poorly to the voters(not that we need more evidence of that but still)

Compare Sundin to Shanahan, someone who I don't think anyone would argue with in terms of a no-doubter hall of famer, and I think that becomes clear. Sundin's career PPG is 1.002. Shanahan's is .888. Of course, people will say that Shanahan will be going in for his post season accomplishments, right? Sundin's career playoff PPG is .902 while Shanahan's was .728(It's worth specifically mentioning that Sundin's playoff scoring rate beats Shanahan's regular season numbers). Context? Shanahan not only played his career with better linemates but also played more of his career before the advent of the deadpuck era.

So, I mean, if Shanahan is a no-brainer and Sundin isn't, what's really being said? Yes, Shanahan won three cups. But he did so as the, at best, 3rd best forward on those teams and 4th best player. I know the Hall has already made their feelings clear on this with Fuhr and Glenn Anderson but it really shouldn't be the Hall of Guys with Great Teammates.

 

[rjd]

Couple that with what he did in the NHL and what he did to grow the game of hockey off the ice with his Beliveau-like demeanor and he's a lock for the HHoF. It's just a question of when.

That's probably true and it's also probably true that I shouldn't care too much about someone getting in in their first year of eligibility but if Sundin doesn't get in that first year I really do think it would speak poorly to the voters(not that we need more evidence of that but still)

Compare Sundin to Shanahan, someone who I don't think anyone would argue with in terms of a no-doubter hall of famer, and I think that becomes clear. Sundin's career PPG is 1.002. Shanahan's is .888. Of course, people will say that Shanahan will be going in for his post season accomplishments, right? Sundin's career playoff PPG is .902 while Shanahan's was .728(It's worth specifically mentioning that Sundin's playoff scoring rate beats Shanahan's regular season numbers). Context? Shanahan not only played his career with better linemates but also played more of his career before the advent of the deadpuck era.

So, I mean, if Shanahan is a no-brainer and Sundin isn't, what's really being said? Yes, Shanahan won three cups. But he did so as the, at best, 3rd best forward on those teams and 4th best player. I know the Hall has already made their feelings clear on this with Fuhr and Glenn Anderson but it really shouldn't be the Hall of Guys with Great Teammates.

Yeah that's where the cups argument breaks down for me when it comes to the hockey hall of fame.  Winning a cup is a team thing.