Mats Sundin leaves the Leafs
Mats Sundin finally signed with the Vancouver Canucks this afternoon, ending months of speculation as to where, or if, he would play this season.
Within the last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs repeatedly tried to get Sundin to waive his no-trade clause in an attempt to jump-start their rebuilding process, but the Leafs management were rebuffed and frustrated by Sundin, who repeatedly said he wanted to ‘retire a Maple Leaf’ during the 2008 trade deadline media frenzy that took place in Toronto.
While Sundin certainly did earn the right to his no-trade clause by becoming the Leafs’ all-time goals and points leader, he was not true to his word, and the Leaf’s missed out on a rare opportunity to restock their system with prospects in an attempt to turn around a franchise which has been unable to reach the post season since the 2004 lock-out.
After also claiming Kyle Wellwood off of waivers earlier this season, the Canucks have recruited what were arguably Toronto’s two most offensively gifted players from last season, and they did not give up anything but money to get them. They already have the NHL’s best goaltender in Roberto Luongo and one of the strongest defense corps in the league. This move makes the Canucks a legitimate Cup contender, but they would still have to battle through an incredibly tough Western Conference to even make it to the finals.
