No Surgery For Sundin As Ferguson Faces Brass
Posted May 9, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mats Sundin‘s future with the Maple Leafs is far from solidified, but it appears that the Toronto captain will at least be playing for someone in the NHL for a few more years.
According to Dr. Anders Valentin, widely regarded as the top orthopedic sports medicine specialist in Sweden, the hip injury many speculated would force the 36-year-old to undergo potentially career-ending surgery won’t in fact force him under the knife. A report at the beginning of May quoted an anonymous medical source as saying Sundin would need hip surgery similar to the kind that ended the career of former Lear Alexander Mogilny. Leafs general manager John Ferguson Jr. and Sundin’s agent J.P. Barry both refuted the report.
“He had a full evaluation of his hip and the diagnosis was no surgical intervention,” Barry said. “He’ll just continue the way he is, just resting and proceeding with his normal summer protocols.”
The determination was made following an extensive examination, and while it’s still accepted that Sundin has a minor tear of the labrum in his hip, the surgery that could have kept him from ever playing again and certainly would have hindered his performance this season doesn’t appear to be necessary. Valentin’s expected to file a full report with the Maple Leafs medical staff soon, and Sundin’s continuing his usual off-season workout schedule. Sundin has one season left on his contract, and is in extension talks with the club. But Sundin’s not the only part of Leafs hockey in flux right now.
While young defenceman Ian White was locked up for three years with an extension Tuesday, Wednesday marked a important meeting for Ferguson Jr. as he sat down to discuss his future with the club with Leafs brass.
The meeting with the Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Board had many people questioning whether the much-maligned GM would be shown the door after the Leafs missed the playoffs for the second straight year, but with the signing of White it appears he still has the confidence of President and CEO Richard Peddie. Ferguson insisted the meeting was simply to allow him to lay out his future plans for the club with a summer of drafting and free agency ahead.
Photo Courtesy Getty Images/Dave Sandford
