Sundin - The cost of complacency

Would a great leader not go play hockey for a contending team for 2 months if it meant "his team" would gain significant assets... where he could potentially win a Stanley Cup then still return in the summer to his home team? Apparently not, instead he would stick around with all his buddies for an inevitable failed playoff run, piss around all summer,  all the way through training camp and the first 3rd of the season. Then after (perhaps intentionally) wearing out his welcome at home, sign as a free agent rental player for an entirely different team. Seems like an easy way out to me. What was there that was admirable about Captain Mats sticking around last year for the Maple Leafs failed playoff run and resulting crap draft position?

For the record,, this article isn't questioning whether Mats Sundin was right or wrong,, it's just stating the bad air that some of us feel about him joining the Canucks mid season this year and his refusing to join the Habs mid season last year and what could have been in exchange for two months with another team. Of course Mats was in an awkward position but you'd think a great leader would think outside the box, look at the bigger picture and make a few small sacrifices outside the rink if it were to benefit the team he loves.

"I never believed in rental players to start with. I think if you want to be part of the team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup or a team that is going far in the playoffs, my opinion has always been that you want to be there from training camp or the start of the season to be part of the group." -Sundin comments as reported by Sportsnet

Will Sundin be a rental this year? No, not per se as he was a free agent but still a rental from the free agent pool in my eye.

Was Sundin at the Canuck's training camp? Nope.

Was Sundin playing at the beginning of the season? Nope.

Was Sundin entitled to stay in Toronto last year? Yep.

Did Sundin help Toronto staying in Toronto last year? Nope.

Was there a chance to win a cup in Toronto last year? Nope. Chance to make the playoffs? With such a miserable team, why would you even want to make the playoffs. A better lottery draft position is what we needed.

You can look at it any way you want but from a business/team side of things, Sundin has slowed the rebuild process significantly. I understand why Sundin was granted a NTC by previous management and I understand why he exercised his right to refuse a trade (because he was contractually able to and wanted to) but I hate the fact that he did and I hate the fact that he gave us some shit story about "loyalty" and wanting to start with a team from training camp and be part of a "team" from beginning to end.

Did his loyalty to Toronto help the Leafs? Nope.

ALSO! The Sundin spiral of loyalty (twilight zone music here)....

Since Sundin refusing to waive his NTC inspired the rest of the NTC holding players ("Muskoka 5") to stay in Toronto and miss the playoffs yet again, here is what Mats Sundin and his "loyalty" possibly cost the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans... Of course the past is the past but it sure is fun to put the Toronto 'Maple Nots' on paper.

Jeff Carter
Christopher Higgins
Kyle McLaren
Mikhail Grabovski
2008 1st PHI (19th)  ( Luca Sbisa. Or could have been Michael Del Zotto, Jordan Eberle, Tyler Cuma)
2008 1st MTL (25th)  ( Greg Nemisz. Or could have been Victor Tikhonov, Tyler Ennis, John Carlson)
2008 1st SJS (26th)  ( Tyler Ennis. Or could have been Victor Tikhonov, Greg Nemisz, John Carlson)
2008 5th TOR (128th) ( Greg Pateryn. Later traded to Montreal for Grabs)
2010 2nd TOR (TBD)   ( Later traded to Montreal for Grabs)

You could also say Sundin staying in Toronto last year helped the Leafs win a few extra games thus costing the extra picks required to trade up to 5th overall in the 2008 entry draft to land Luke Schenn. (Swapped 7th overall for 5th overall and additionally gave up a 3rd in 2008 and 2nd in 2009.) Potentially the Leafs could have been even lower all on their own without Sundin, 3rd or 4th maybe... and better lottery odds. (yaya ya ya)

Additionally, the Leafs probably could have gained better return for McCabe if he had of waived his NTC earlier.

Here are some confirmed or speculative trades (dominoes) that may have been possible and brought the above mentioned players/picks to Toronto had Sundin been interested in winning a cup with the Habs. (instead of losing with the Leafs and setting the team back)

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SUNDIN TRADE
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To Montreal
Sundin

To Toronto
Grabovski
Higgins
1st

Confirmed by Bob Mackenzie

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KABERLE TRADE
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To Philly
Kaberle

To Toronto
Jeff Carter
1st rounder

Confirmed by Bob Mackenzie. Kaberle may have been the most reluctant still not to move but if Sundin left, he may have as well.

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KUBINA TRADE
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To San Jose
Kubina

To Toronto
Kyle Mclaren
1st

Confirmed by Wilson

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McCabe TRADE
========================
Speculative..
To Florida
McCabe

To Toronto
Mike Van Ryn
David Booth
========================

blah, blah, blah...

All of the "Muskoka 5", Sundin, Kaberle, Tucker, Kubina and McCabe were within their rights.  They surely had personal motivations for not wanting to move on,,, their home was in Toronto, their families and friends, the easy way was all in Tornto.  What was best for their careers and the team didn't seem to factor but that of course doesn't matter. They were only exercising their contractual rights (to be complacent) so you cannot hold that against them.

That said, complacency, convenience, pamper me poor me bullshit loyalty tales get old quick. There is a serious problem when players within an organization are content with losing.  Unlike other teams in similar situations who were able to make mutually beneficial moves with NTC/NMC players,,, Fletcher was unable to persuade any of these players to move on for their own sake or the obvious direction of the team. Thanks Sundin.