Mats Sundin Burns the Leafs

Way to spoil the Trade Deadline party, baldy: Mats Sundin has decided not to waive his no-trade clause and will remain in Toronto for the rest of the season. TSN reports that Sundin and his agent J.P. Barry came to the decision on Sunday, and in a statement Sundin appeared a tad insulted that Toronto interim GM Cliff Fletcher and the Leafs had asked him to waive it in the first place:

"I have carefully considered the team's request that I waive my no-trade clause," Sundin said in a statement. "I have always believed I would finish my career as a Toronto Maple Leaf so the actual request was still a very difficult one for me to contemplate."

[...]

"I cannot leave my teammates and join another NHL Club at this time. I have never believed in the concept of a rental player. It is my belief that winning the Stanley Cup is the greatest thing you can achieve in hockey but for me, in order to appreciate it you have to have been part of the entire journey and that means October through June. I hope everyone will understand and respect my decision."

Sundin is a pending unrestricted free agent, and Fletcher told the Canadian Press that the forward is "not interested in entering into a deal for next year" at this time. Should the Leafs even welcome him back? Sundin has placed his own personal comfort ahead of self-sacrifice for the franchise he so dearly adores. The asking price was only going to rise as Tuesday's deadline grew near; there's no telling what improvements to next year's Leafs their captain just pissed away because of his nihilism toward the "concept of a rental player." Ice Junkies believes this decision is the epitome of class; I couldn't disagree more.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-25-2008 @ 12:57AM

BrendanEff said...

For veteran players, the NHL and their players have bargained the contractual ability to have a No Trade clause. God forbid the man wants to exercise that rite and not have to move his family and entire life for a few months on another team. Why have a no trade clause if you shouldn't use it?

2-25-2008 @ 1:02AM

Trogdor said...

Rarely do I read a post on here that pisses me off as much as this one. Let me get this straight. Sundin and the Leafs signed a contract that included a no-trade clause. The Leafs ask him to surrender his rights. He refuses, and asks them to honor the contract they willingly signed. And somehow to you this makes Sundin the opposite of class? I suppose that makes you the opposite of someone whose head isn't completely up his own ass.

2-25-2008 @ 7:11AM

Colonial said...

Should we mention how Sundin made the ultimate sacrifice a superstar player could make by signing well below market value to help management build a better team in the offseason? That no-trade clause was the only reason they got him at $5M.

Why should Sundin be the one blamed now that MLSE wants a mulligan on their recent poor signings?

2-25-2008 @ 8:42AM

Andy Backstrom said...

Way to show ignorance, fluffy. Go do Your homework, then come back and apologize.

2-25-2008 @ 8:44AM

Brad said...

I don't think you can say he's burning them unless/until he signs with another team in the offseason. The Leafs agreed to the NTC, so he's got no obligation whatsoever to waive that. And it's not as if he'd really be helping the team all that much, he'd just be giving them a few more pieces to mismanage. If he comes back to the Leafs (or retires, or goes to Europe to something, I don't know), then there's nothing wrong with this at all. If, in the offseason, he decides to sign with another team (especially if he's already planning it now), then you can make the case that he left them for nothing when he could have helped them out. Still, in the end, the Leafs have nobody to blame but themselves for being so NTC-happy with their contracts.

2-25-2008 @ 10:41AM

Heather B. said...

Don't want a guy to use a NTC, don't give it to him. Simple as that.

Considering how much of his career the Leafs have wasted, they should be thrilled someone actually wants to play there. Sundin has busted ass for them, made previous sacrifices to help the team and he doesn't owe them anything.

2-25-2008 @ 10:57AM

Jes Golbez said...

To cut and paste from my own blog:
http://jesgolbez.blogspot.com/2008/02/mats-sundin-wont-waive-no-trade-clause.html

1. Why shouldn't Sundin place his own personal comfort ahead of everything else? He signed a contract with a no-trade clause specifically because he *gasp* didn't want to get traded. If the Leafs wanted to trade him, perhaps they shouldn't have agreed to the clause. D'uh!

2. It's not Mats Sundin's responsibility to do anything other than perform well on the ice. Anything that has to do with how much talent surrounds Sundin is the sole responsibility of Leafs' management. The fact that the Leafs are in their current pickle is the fault of JFJ and his ilk.

3. Why the double standard? Do we now praise players because they choose to be rental mercenaries, or do we praise them because they show some actual loyalty?

So, Mats made a personal decision and didn't want to upset his family and be a pawn in the NHL's Meat Market. Good for him. Mats has fulfilled his obligations to the Leafs, and is not obligated to play the role of trade bait. Why do we insist on treating players like commodities? It would be akin to me chastising Greg for not quitting FanHouse so that we can go out and hire Al Strachan.

2-25-2008 @ 11:10AM

Greg Wyshynski said...

Jes,

Your analogy lacks two key pieces of information:

1. Sundin was going from a team in the lottery to one that could win the Stanley Cup (in theory).

2. Sundin was going to be re-signed by the Leafs as a UFA (in theory).

So more to the point: It would be like me quitting FanHouse so you can hire Al Strachan and get a bunch of new readers, while I have a chance to win the blogger Pulitzer at a more successful site and still come back this summer and get my old job back for a raise.

2-25-2008 @ 12:47PM

strokes said...

Perhaps winning a Cup is priority #1 in Sundin's career right now, as much as some people think it should be.....like NHL fans who get all jacked up to see a huge trade.

2-25-2008 @ 3:50PM

Katebits said...

I don't think Sundin's decision is a reflection of his "class". (Good GOD the hockey blogosphere has made me hate the word "class".) He's exercising his rights under a contract he negotiated with his employer. He probably gave something up to get the NTC, and the Leafs probably got something in return. This is not a matter of "class".

2-25-2008 @ 4:38PM

Pookie said...

What Mats did is certainly selfish, but as a fan I find his commitment to keeping chintzy rental players from winning Cups a refreshing bit of integrity. Carlton "The Most Honest Man in the Organization" The Bear would be proud.

2-25-2008 @ 5:46PM

shustringracing said...

Just adding to the list of reasons I can't stand bloggers! Some little weasel, who has done exactly what in Hockey??.. Gets to go online and call one of the most selfless players in the NHL , and arguably the greatest Captain the Leafs have ever had, classless?
Dude, use your oh so clever analogy and quit Fanhouse, because you obviously are not a "fan".

Crankin said...

2-26-2008 @ 8:22AM

Barb said...

To Mr. Sundin,

You sir, have a lot of class. My father introduced me to the leafs when I was a young girl. I won't say how old I am now but have been a fan for many, many years. I have 4 children, 3 of whom enjoy the leafs. We live in Salmon Arm, B.C. so alas, the fourth daughter, 26 yrs. was led astray to the Vancouver Canucks. *sigh*

It is so rare these days to see a player stay with the team that he loves and shows his loyalty, rather than going to another team for the money. You have my utmost respect and support for your decision.

I do hope there is a decent general manager in September.

Congratulations on a well thought out decision.

Barb

2-26-2008 @ 4:11PM

rosco said...

Leaf Fans make me laugh, and its because of this that we have no Stanley Cup. The Bottom Line is SUNDIN is done,13 years of service, Fine, but its time to move on Leaf Fans,its time for the kids to come in, start fresh. It's time to Rebuild,Mats is our key 1# asset, let him go. The Leafs have done everything they needed for Sundin, Now its time for Mats to do for the Leafs, and he bails, cause he doesn't beileve in a Rental player. Come on Man. Now Sundin can become a free Agent and walk away. Thanks Sundin, for me pack your bags and get out of here. Im sick of Losing.....

2-26-2008 @ 4:14PM

Greg Wyshynski keep up the Blog, your calling it like it is,your doing a GREAT JOB. Just there are to many Loyal Maple Leaf fans to a player that accomplished nothing in this orgaization. The STANLEY CUP is the most important this in this League. By Sundin not waiving, he put a stop to the future developement of this team. It happens in every league out there in this World, what makes SUNDIN so special. Cause he doesn't want to pick up his bags for 3months, Come on, if he doesn't want to play for a CUP, then what did he wanna play for when he was a LEAF. Another Sad day to be a leaf fan in this City.

2-29-2008 @ 6:29AM

Mitch said...

Sundin has been a superb talent throughout his entire career. He signed a contract with the Leaf Organization which he is honoring. Management is to blame for signing players with no trade/move clauses. Horrible practice!

5-01-2008 @ 3:05PM

craig said...

to mr washedupski ...

there are two obvious facts that should end your argument and your insults to mats before they start ...

1. you're an ignorant ass

2. you're a jerk

to mr sundin ...

thanks for your efforts over the years on behalf of an organization that never deserved you in the first place ...

cb
toronto