I'm not sure all Leaf fans are excited about Mats Sundin getting inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame today. Fans are down because of the current lockout and the demise of the Leaf team that hasn't made the playoffs since prior to two lockouts.
I sense people were more excited last season when Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, Ed Belfour and Mark Howe were inducted. After 3 of those inductees played for the Leafs and Howe played for the Marlie junior team. Those players collectively played 627 games for the Leafs. Sundin played 981 in Toronto, many of them as captain.
Sundin never got a fair shake from many fans because he was a European skill player in a town that seems to elevate Canadian grinders into superstars. Fans were frustrated that Sundin was unable to deliver a Stanley Cup when it was management that failed them by not building a true contender. Over the years Sundin has centred, Fredrik Modin, Steve Thomas, Jonas Hogland, Mikael Renberg, Gary Roberts, Tie Domi, Nik Antropov and Alexi Ponikarovsky. None ever scored 30 goals playing with a great centre.
He was a big body with soft hands. His reach and skating ability allowed him to swoop around defenseman. His backhand was about the best I've ever seen. As he filled out he began to play with a lot of grit although some people insisted he was soft. He always had a huge grin on his face and was extremely popular in the dressing room.
He endured 12 seasons in Toronto and 10 as captain without ever breaking under the pressure. Although he has no Stanley Cup rings, he has a Olympic gold medal and 6 World Championship medals including 3 golds.
Other deserving Hall of Famers have been inducted without a Cup win including Marcel Dionne, Gilbert Perreault, Jean Ratelle, Brad Park, Cam Neely, Mike Gartner, Peter Stastny, Pat Lafontaine, Borje Salming and Dale Hawerchuk.
No question Mats Sundin deserves to stand next to these hockey greats!
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