Published 2024-10-19 22.30
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Mats Sundin never managed to win the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
During his last season there, close friend Nicklas Lidström tried to get him to the Detroit Red Wings.
At the age of 37 “Sudden” refused and never got to lift the trophy, a few months later “Lidas” won the title again with the Michigan club.
During the last time in the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mats Sundin had a no trade clause.
This means that he could decide for himself whether he wanted to stay or change clubs.
Nevertheless, both the club and other clubs were interested in trying to bring about a change.
General manager Cliff Fletcher told that there were clubs that had shown interest and that there was a chance for Mats Sundin to win the Stanley Cup.
While he himself didn’t want to play for any club other than the Toronto Maple Leafs, he still believed they could make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup that season.
– They probably had some good suggestions from other clubs. Where they could trade me for future players. I understand with hindsight that the club had the chance to get something short-sided, a fast, much improved younger talent pool than what they had in the team, says “Sudden”.
Talked to Lidas privately
The media began reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs had asked him to waive the no trade clause and that he had refused.
The Detroit Red Wings sent forward Nicklas Lidström to lure over Mats Sundin.
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1 / 2Photo: Pontus Orre / Schibsted
In the newly written biography “Tur och retur – My story” Mats Sundin writes: “At the beginning of February, when we were going to play against the Detroit Red Wings in Toronto, my friend Nicklas Lidström, who was now the Wings’ team captain, said that he would like to see me trejd to his team. It was something that Nicklas and I also talked about privately. Lidstrom had won the Stanley Cup three times by then and never missed a playoff game in his 17 years in Detroit. He knew better than anyone what it took to win, he knew I could contribute to the Red Wings winning once again.”
Mats Sundin continued to decline, because according to him he felt too much loyalty to his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.
– Lidas called me. You know what Lidas, I don’t want to win the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings. I wanted to win in the Toronto Maple Leafs, I wanted to fight there. Regardless of whether I had a minor role in the team. If you have received a no trade clause, you have received it. I have no regrets about it. When you have played for so long, it becomes a different value. I didn’t want to go around with the dent anywhere and thought this should have been in Toronto, says “Sudden”.
Mentally stressful months
He felt let down by how the media had portrayed him as too comfortable and selfish.
– You can have such a conversation with the general manager and it would have stopped there. Now it was that it came to the media and it became a hell of a life until the trading deadline. It is clear that at that time it was difficult to answer those questions. I was 37 years old and had an incredibly good season, we were close to a playoff spot. It was both that it went very well personally and that I understood the club, there are always two sides. They had a chance. You are like a stock. This Sundin share will not be worth more, then maybe it is time to get something for it, says “Sudden”.
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full screen Photo: Magnus Wennman
The Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs, after 13 seasons with the club and ten of them as captain, Mats Sundin left with his contract expiring for one final season with the Vancouver Canucks.
The Detroit Red Wings and Nicklas Lidström won the Stanley Cup in the 2007/2008 season when Mats Sundin had the chance to get there.
Broke several club records
After his playing career ended in 2009 at the age of 38, Mats Sundin has moved back to Stockholm with his wife Josephine and children Bonnie, Nathanael and Julian.
During his career, Mats Sundin won, among other things, an Olympic gold and three World Cup golds with Tre Kronor, he was also the first European player to be drafted when the Quebec Nordiques selected him in 1989.
In the Toronto Maple Leafs, he has scored the most points and goals of all time, 1057 points and 452 goals in 1058 games.
The right-shooting majestic center with number 13 is 195 tall and weighed 105 kilograms during his career.
The book is written by Mats Sundin at the age of 53 together with Canadian author Amy Stuart and will be released on October 22.
