Mats Sundin about the Toronto Maple Leafs and Trey Kronor today
The storied Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won a playoff series in 19 years.
Is the curse broken now?
– They can definitely go to the end, says club icon Mats Sundin.
Eleven years have passed since Mats Sundin’s No. 13 was raised to the roof of what is today Scotiabank Arena. “Sudden” played 13 consecutive seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs and was the team captain for 10 of them.
He compares it to playing football at Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United.
– The Toronto Maple Leafs is an organization. Whether you’re an 80-year-old lady in Canada or a three-year-old girl, everyone has played hockey. Everyone knows what the Toronto Maple Leafs are like, says the 52-year-old.
The Maple Leafs are one of two Canadian “Original Six” teams in the NHL, which are still notable.
– If you speak French, you love the Montreal Canadiens and the rest love Toronto. And that continues even though there are more than 30 teams in the NHL today. When you play in Los Angeles, Tampa, Arizona or Vancouver, there are always the same number of Maple Leafs fans in the arena. Whether the playoffs or not. It’s very unique, it’s not like that with other teams.
Mats Sundin, The Toronto Curse
But the club is a sleeping giant. They have won 13 Stanley Cups, but the most recent was in 1967. Although they have been considered a de facto contender in recent years, they have not advanced beyond the first round since 2004.
On Sunday night, Swedish time, Toronto has a chance to break the curse. Leading 3-1 in games, they actually had a chance on Thursday, but it was a home ice loss.
Now they have two match balls remaining.
– I think it’s time this year. It looks good and I hope they turn it around, “surprise” she says.
Do you watch matches?
– I’m too old to get through a night’s sleep, but I usually watch summaries the next day. The NHL has really good six-minute clips where they cut games together.
Do you have any contact with Toronto today?
– I own. I can’t say sportingly, but most happen around the club. I have a good relationship with Toronto and of course I’m watching them in the playoffs.
Can they go all the way?
– Yes. Therefore, I probably wouldn’t trade the forward lineup for any other NHL club. I’ve always loved Ryan O’Reilly coming on. A personality player and important cultural bearer for the youth of Toronto, both in the locker room and on the ice. So the opportunity is definitely there.
William Nylander scored 40 goals in the regular season.
He may have had the best season of his career. Dare I say Auston Matthews is one of the best strikers in the league. Same with Mitch Marner. And then they have William Nylander and John Tavares…they have a great team. Great fun to have William in such a group of forwards.
“Erik Carlson is one of a kind – hats off”
Mats Sundin also showed great admiration for the San Jose Sharks’ Swedish star, Erik Carlson, who reached 100 points in the same season as his first appearance 30 years ago.
Eric is one of a kind. I was an advisor to Tre Kronor at the 2016 World Cup. It was the first time I got to know him a little bit better. He has unique excellence in his role and as a back. It’s gratifying that he’s having a good year after having a few less productive years. Hats off to an incredibly talented player.
Sam Hallam had a good start as captain of the Tri Kronor National Team. How do you see their chances in the water cycle?
– It should be good, I think. Sam Hallam has shown to be very successful at Växjö and where he has been. He has a good discipline and seems to build a good culture and values around the team he works for. This is amazing. I’ve seen Sweden have got some NHL players and it’s always important to get a little bit of an edge. But Sweden always has a chance to go far in the WC tournaments once they start because we have very talented players. But obviously it depends a bit on who gets rid of it from the NHL.
How important is it for viewers to get to see the stars of the National Hockey League and the Swedish Hockey World Cup?
– I think it is very important for boys and girls who think about what they should do for sports. So that people continue to choose ice hockey even though it is an expensive sport, this is a disadvantage. This costs too much. Stockholm Council doesn’t have many icy roofs, at least compared to the number of people who live here. It is easier to choose other sports, which are also not so expensive. So it’s very important that Tre Kronor continues to bring home the big stars to the WC and the Olympics.
Do you experience any difference in the number of people accepted today compared to when you were active?
– There are more Swedes now, but I still feel that Tre Kronor has a good system for maintaining good relations with the NHL guys. It seems he received yes from quite a few. Then you understand the NHL players who played the end of the season with different types of injuries and there are other reasons. But overall, I think the national team has done well in bringing home NHL players and they see great value in representing Sweden in the WC and the Olympics.
As a player, did you feel it would be easier to accept if other superstars did the same. Like a domino effect?
– Absolutely! Of course it helps. If we can convince the big Swedish stars yes, it will make it easier when you ask the next player.
World Cup hope: ‘very important’
The 2018 and 2022 Olympics were played without NHL professionals and Mats Sundin believes that the World Cup, which was last played in 2016 and is organized by the NHL with the best players available in the world, should be played regularly.
In November, it was announced that the tournament would not be held in 2024. Plans are underway to stage the World Cup in 2025 instead.
– I think it’s a good format and I hope it’s back soon. It is important for ice hockey to showcase the best ice hockey players in the world representing their countries. It is very important.
Especially when the last time NHL players weren’t at the Olympics?
– exactly. Then it becomes more important.
