Go West, Mats

Like the Pet Shop Boys said, life is peaceful there. Peaceful, as in, across the country from the Toronto media, and a few bitter Maple Leafs fans. And that jersey looks familiar. Blue and white, with just a touch of green.

I know what you're thinking: "here we go again." But as Sundin's Secretary of Defence, I've got to weigh in once more on everyone's favourite former captain.

Now that the man, the myth, and the legend known as Brian Burke has officially landed in town - "it's one small step for man, but one giant leap for the Maple Leafs"- Sundin is back in the news. Apparently the Leafs don't exactly fit the profile of team he's looking to join.

Well, no shit.

Mats is 37. He'll be 38 in February. It's December. I don't see him suiting up for game action until January. He's looking for a place to play for four months. Of course he's not coming to Toronto. Why would he? The Leafs are terrible.

Once again, however, Leafs fans are chastising him. Now that it's looking like his Leafs career is truly over, the vultures are back, and circling. Chemmy, one of the great Pension Plan Puppeteers, had this to say after Burke said Sundin likely won't be coming back to the nest:

"Fuck Sundin. Way to not take a deadline trade, like an asshole."

That comment gets to me. I mean, really gets to me. That sense of entitlement. That Sundin, because he was asked, owed it to us, all of us Toronto Maple Leafs fans out there, to accept a trade out of town when he didn't want to go.

You know why he didn't want to go? Because he believed that the team - his team - could still make the playoffs. Yeah, what an asshole.

 

Of course, fans like Chemmy will argue that at issue is not the fact that Sundin is not returning, but that he is looking for short-term employment elsewhere. Mats did say, after all, that he did not want to be a rental player, and that he wanted to be a part of the "journey" from day one.

I'll be the first to admit that I can't much defend those statements. No matter where Sundin signs, he will be a rental player. And he will not have been a part of the journey since day one. But, hey, that's life. Things change. Sometimes things don't work out the way we plan for them to work out. Deal with it. Let it go. Perhaps Sundin really did think he would return to Toronto. Perhaps he believed he really was ready for retirement. The truth is, we'll never know.

None of this, however, tarnishes Sundin's legacy in these eyes. And it shouldn't in yours. Mats went down with the sinking ship. Don't forget that. 

And Brian Burke is right. Sundin's a better man for staying on the sidelines this season instead of collecting a paycheck when his heart isn't in the game. 

My good friend MF37 over at Bitter Leaf Fan Page has, amidst all the Sundin fallout, been asking a great question: where's the hatred for Darcy Tucker? I was as big a Tucker fan as they came, but I'm beginning to ask myself that question as well. Why are people still all over Sundin, when Tucker also didn't waive his no-trade clause, and saddled the Leafs with a cap hit? 

Tucker, a warrior yes, was a perpetual minus hockey player. He had become a one-trick pony on the power play and a liability five-on-five. The Leafs are now paying $1 million a year against the salary cap for him not to play in Toronto, and will be until 2013. Yet everyone's still pissed at Sundin, who only went about his point-per-game business for, oh, the last 15 God damn years, because he wouldn't leave.

It's unbelievable, really, how fans in this town think sometimes.

I've got no issues with Sundin joining Montreal, New York, or Chicago. But I want him to become a Canuck. Although the fellas at CoxBloc would probably disagree, Vancouver's a wonderful city. A laid-back Toronto, some say. The Canucks are sitting atop the Northwest Division, and Sundin would look great between the Sedin sisters. When Roberto Luongo comes back from his injury, the Canucks could really use Mats' offence down the stretch.

It pains me that I never got to properly say goodbye to Mats, but it's cool. I want him to go west. I want him to try and win that Cup. I'm truly beginning to think that, thanks to a few petty, bitter fans in this city, we don't deserve him anyway.

Don't Look Back, Mats...

Mats Sundin has not signed with the Vancouver Canucks. At least not yet. But I get the feeling that he is closer and closer to finally making a decision on his future.

I'm scared, I admit it. I convinced myself that Sundin, having not jumped at any of the lucrative offers that came his way when free agency opened on July 1st, was going to return to Toronto and retire as a Toronto Maple Leaf, something he's always publicly stated he wants to do.

Now I'm not so sure anymore. I won't be surprised if Sundin does indeed agree to head out west to finish his illustrious career.

Even after yesterday's false report, Sundin's agent continues to spew the same crap he's been giving us for months now, that Mats doesn't even know if he's going to play at all next season. I think that's some bullshit.

The Star's Garth Woolsely is reporting that, "according to reports," Sundin is working out, so it does indeed look like he'll be suiting up next season. The million dollar question, or $10 million dollar question, remains where.

I'm a big fan of British Columbia. Vancouver's a great city, and one I can see myself living in one day. I don't know, something about the mountains. Oh, and I hear the dope is great.

On a serious note, I would completely understand if Sundin chooses that route. If it comes down to a choice between Toronto and Vancouver, the Canucks roster looks a whole lot more inviting. Sundin could join some pretty gifted offensive players in Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and Pavol Demitra, along with some solid young players like Taylor Pyatt, Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond, and Alexander Burrows.

I know, both the Leafs and the Canucks missed the playoffs last year, but the Canucks got a weak season out of their former captain Markus Naslund, and saw Kevin Bieksa, Lukas Krajicek and Brendan Morrison miss a ton of time due to injuries.

Think about it: Sundin on a team with underachieving players and a ton of injuries. He would fit in perfectly in Vancouver.

Oh, and they have that Roberto Luongo guy in goal. He's good. Any team with Luongo in the pipes has a chance to win the Stanley Cup (uhm, except the Florida Panthers).

I've come to the point where I'm ready for the Sundin soap opera to end. Everyone who reads (I won't say it, Greener, and where the fuck are you man?) this weblog knows how I feel about Mats. I've always been in his corner and always will be in his corner. But it's time for him to make his decision. James Mirtle put it best: "It's been 114 days since (Sundin) stepped foot on an NHL ice surface, and we still don't have a clue what he'll do." That's a mighty long time to decide.

Before I forget, check out this piece - Mats Sundin vs. Brett Favre: One is worse - over at Down Goes Brown. Sean nails it, as usual.

If Sundin does become a Canuck, I wish him nothing but the best, and harbour no ill will. You all know this. You also know that I'll be the first one at the mall, cash in hand, ready to buy my new Mats Sundin Vancouver Canucks jersey (yes, that does feel disgusting even writing it).

But all I ask, Mats, is that you don't look back. Because, man, I don't think I can deal with that. I am emotionally taxed. If you're going to leave, just go already, Mats. Just go...