Has Sundin Played His Last Game As A Leaf?
Posted April 2, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Has Mats Sundin played his last game as a Maple Leaf?
That much isn’t clear, but one thing’s for sure, he won’t play in another one this year.
With just two games remaining in another disappointing season, the Leafs captain announced Wednesday that a groin tear will keep him sidelined, meaning unless he returns in 2008-09, the Swedish great has suited up in his last contest for Toronto.
On Wednesday, Sundin admitted that the injury is still a problem.
“If it doesn’t improve drastically which I don’t think it will I don’t think I’m going to play,” Sundin said, all but squashing any potential return.
Sundin, who will become an unrestricted free agent July 1st, said that he hasn’t made any decision on his future. The 37-year-old centre has repeatedly stated that he would like to retire as a member of the Maple Leafs, the team he’s played for since 1994.
As far as the likelihood of a return, much depends on a meeting of minds between Sundin and the team’s interim GM Cliff Fletcher. Fletcher has often stated he hopes to bring Sundin back for another year, but finding a price tag that everyone’s happy with is another issue altogether.
For his part, Sundin says he just wants to win.
“After two years without making the playoffs and now a third one, I think everyone’s screaming for changes,” Sundin admitted. “The Toronto Maple Leafs hockey fans deserve to have a hockey team that goes into the playoffs.”
Sundin had 32 goals and 78 points in 74 games this season, but was unavailable when the Buds were making a last-minute push for the playoffs.
