Honour Sundin's #13 NOW!

Mats Sundin's retirement announcement doesn't come as much of a surprise. He showed last year that even as a part time player, he didn't have it any more. The Canucks will carry on without him (read: They'll be knocked out in the first couple rounds of the playoffs again.) But this post isn't about Sundin's failed attempt to be a role player in an attempted Stanley Cup run; it's about his legacy in Toronto, the place he played the bulk of his career and could never win over the fans despite being the greatest Leaf in forty years. The place that, if management has any sense, they would be honouring his #13 right now.

Sundin was acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Quebec Nordiques after the 1993-94 season in a trade that saw team captain (and fan favourite) Wendel Clark go the other way. Clark would find his way back to Toronto for two more stints. But it was Sundin who stuck around for the next 14 years (13 seasons). It was during that time that Sundin rewrote the entire Leafs' record book. At the end of his tenure in Toronto, Sundin was the team's all-time leader in points, goals, power-play goals, game winning goals, playoff game winning goals and over-time winning goals. The last of these he shares with Jaromir Jagr for most in NHL history. In addition, Sundin was the team's scoring leader in 12 of his 13 years and only once did he fail to score 30 goals over the span of a full season (explanation: Sundin had 23 goals in 47 games during the lockout shortened 1994-95 season).

Early on the team saw the potential for leadership in the Swede and in prior to the 1997-98, Sundin was named Captain becoming the first non-Canadian bestowed with this honour. Mats did not disappoint. Over the next few years, Sundin captained teams made the playoffs in final six seasons prior to the lockout. Twice in that span (1999 and 2002) Sundin's Leaf teams made the conference championships - a feat that equaled the 1978, 1993 and 94 editions of the Buds. Sundin's team were consistent and finished as well as ANY Leafs team after 1967. In the '99 post-season, Sundin played arguably his best hockey posting eight goals and eight assists, and two game winning goals before being stopped by the Dominick Hasek led Buffalo Sabres. In the second round series against Pittsburgh he posted three goals and four assists, and famously laid out Jaromir Jagr.

In 2002 Sundin was injured for most of the playoffs but returned for the the tail end of the Carolina series. While that playoff run was notable for the play of Alexander Mogilny and Gary Roberts, my greatest memory of that entire playoff was seeing Sundin score the equalizer in game six to force overtime and give the Leafs one more chance to extend the series. Seeing the game in person, I've never in my life heard a louder roar at the ACC.

But here's my big argument for this man and for why he deserves immediate honour. Who was on those "spectacular" teams? Steve Thomas, a player who enjoyed two very good years near the end of his career largely was never all-star; Jonas Hoglund, a career journey-man who was able to pull off 20 goals seasons playing on Sundin's wing; Sergei Berezin, a player who showed a lot of potential after scoring 37 goals in 1999 only to never reach these heights again; Gary Roberts, a former 50 goal scorer who never managed to score 30 goals as a Leaf, and I say this spite of his 2002 playoff performance. Roberts never before or never again had a similar performance. The only exception was Alexander Mogilny who, while oft-injured, was most talented winger Sundin ever played with in Toronto. He produced on Sudin's wing highlighted by his team leading 33 goal, 79 point 2002-03 season as well as a team leading eight goals in 2002 playoffs. Other "notable" Leafs from this era were Owen Nolan, Igor Korolev, Dmitri Khristich and Freddy Modin. And of course the one player that could have made a difference, Steve Sullivan, was insanely jettisoned for the aforementioned Khristich.

In all Sundin led the team in all categories during his tenure despite playing with medicore talent. Darryl Sittler had Lanny MacDonald; Doug Gilmour had Dave Andreychuk and Wendel Clark. Sundin had next no one yet still did so much. Do the right thing MLSE. Honour that number 13 sweater.

Please note that I've deliberately omitted Sundin's decision not to waive his no-trade clause at the end of the 2008 season. For all the rhetoric and bullshit on Sundin, it comes down to this: Don't give players no-trade clauses end then whine when, heaven forbid, they actually use them.