Photo: nhl.com | Dec. 18, 2008 The Mats Sundin sweepstakes has come to a long-awaited conclusion, as the 37-year-old centre has signed with the Vancouver Canucks, ending a wooing process that has continued since Canucks GM Mike Gillis gave Sundin a two-year, $20 million dollar on July 1st.
“We are very excited to have Mats join the Vancouver Canucks,” said Gillis. “Playing previously in two Canadian markets and consistently being among team and League leaders in scoring, Mats has proven that he can excel under pressure. He adds a wealth of experience, leadership and skill to the Canucks.”
Listen: Mike Gillis - on Mats Sundin.mp3
"I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks,” said Sundin. “Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process."
Sundin has been training the past two months in Los Angeles and had up to six teams in the running for his services a month ago, with the Canucks and Rangers as the final two teams. His agent, JP Barry, says Sundin will join the Canucks on December 27th, but won't play until at least a few days later. Sundin has been skating with a pro team in Sweden the past few days. Barry also admitted the Canucks arduous travel schedule was an issue early in the negotiations for Sundin.
"I think the travel issue was an issue early on in the summertime when he was evaluating the teams that came forward. It was something he talked about in the summertime, but as we got closer travel wasn't the issue - it was what was the right fit and what's the right team for me to play on, and it was Vancouver."
Sundin, 37, joins the Canucks organization after playing over 1300 career NHL regular season games with Toronto and Quebec. In an additional 83 Stanley Cup Playoff games, he has recorded 74 points (35-39-74) and 72 penalty minutes. In 1305 regular season games, Sundin has recorded 555 goals, 766 assists, 1321 points and 1065 penalty minutes. At the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, he held the Maple Leafs franchise record for most goals (420) and points (987) in a Toronto sweater.
At the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, the 6-foot-5, 230 pounds centre ranked 22nd all-time in career goals (555), 34th all-time in career assists (766) and 30th all-time in career points (1321).
The Bromma, Sweden native has also represented his home nation in a number of international tournaments. During his international career, Sundin has won the World Championships on three occasions (1991, 1992 and 1998) and was captain of Team Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympics, winning gold, alongside Canucks teammates, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Mattias Ohlund.
For his accomplishments on the ice, Sundin has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star game on nine occasions (missed 2003 due to an injury). In 2002 and 2004, Sundin was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team and was named to the Olympic Tournament All-Star Team in 2002.
Sundin was selected first overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, becoming the first European hockey player to ever be drafted first overall.
Mats Sundin’s Career Statistics:
Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1989-90 Djurgardens IF Stockholm SEL 34 10 8 18 16 8 7 0 7 4
1990-91 Quebec Nordiques NHL 80 23 36 59 58 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Quebec Nordiques NHL 80 33 43 76 103 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Quebec Nordiques NHL 80 47 67 114 96 6 3 1 4 6
1993-94 Quebec Nordiques NHL 84 32 53 85 60 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 47 23 24 47 14 7 5 4 9 4
1994-95 Djurgardens IF Stockholm SEL 12 7 2 9 14 -- -- -- -- --
1995-96 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 76 33 50 83 46 6 3 1 4 4
1996-97 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 41 53 94 59 -- -- -- -- --
1997-98 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 33 41 74 49 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 31 52 83 58 17 8 8 16 16
1999-00 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 73 32 41 73 46 12 3 5 8 10
2000-01 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 28 46 74 76 11 6 7 13 14
2001-02 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 41 39 80 94 8 2 5 7 4
2002-03 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 75 37 35 72 58 7 1 3 4 6
2003-04 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 81 31 44 75 52 9 4 5 9 8
2005-06 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 70 31 47 78 58 -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 75 27 49 76 62 -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 74 32 46 78 76 -- -- -- -- --
NHL Totals 1305 555 766 1321 1065 83 35 39 74 72 |
