Here’s an excerpt from The Hockey News (Ken Campbell):
As far as Montreal is concerned, Sundin is apparently quite honestly having trouble seeing himself wearing a Canadiens sweater after all his years with the Maple Leafs. If so, it’s a noble gesture in an era when most players see themselves as nothing more than hired guns who have no problem turning their backs on their teams for the right price.
But if you believe some of the whispers out there, at this stage of his career, Sundin has no interest in going to a team where he will be placed under intense pressure to lead a team to the Stanley Cup, which would undoubtedly be the case in Montreal, where Sundin would instantly be installed as the Canadiens’ No. 1 center ahead of Tomas Plekanec and Saku Koivu.
Those who know Sundin maintain he is content with winning the Olympic gold medal in 2006 and three World Championships and doesn’t believe his NHL career needs to be defined by whether or not he wins a Stanley Cup. And with $74 million in career earnings, he doesn’t see the need to pad his bank account with the ridiculous amount the Canucks are willing to pay him.
That leaves either retirement or the Maple Leafs and given Sundin’s agent recently said he thinks Sundin will play next season, the smart money is on the Maple Leafs.
Habster:
To be honest, at this point in time, nobody really has a handle on where Sundin will end up next season…..not even a Leafs supporter like Ken Campbell!!!
Vancouver has the best contract offer but the worst travel arrangement. They also will be lucky to make the playoffs even with a Mats Sundin in their lineup (think Mark Messier here).
Montreal gives Sundin the best opportunity to win a Stanley Cup ring with an attractive offer but there would be more pressure in a hockey crazed province with the largest media contingent in the NHL covering the team’s every move. The expectations will be very high with a contending team that won the Eastern Conference last season and the organization celebrating its centennial year in the NHL, a first for the league. Does Sundin want or need the added pressure after being in a Maple Leafs organization which had low expectations the last few years?
Then there’s Toronto, home sweet home for Mr. Sundin. A place he has called home for the last 13 years and has diplayed true loyalty to the franchise. Needless to say, there is a level of comfort he will not get in Montreal or Vancouver. As Ken Campbell stated in his article:
Those who know Sundin maintain he is content with winning the Olympic gold medal in 2006 and three World Championships and doesn’t believe his NHL career needs to be defined by whether or not he wins a Stanley Cup.
If Sundin does believe winning a Stanley Cup isn’t a career defining moment, then everything points towards his return to the Maple Leafs and not the Canadiens…….it’s a big “IF” but certainly realistic from Sundin’s point of view.